History WesternAnimation / Toystory

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[[caption-width-right:300:''[[Music/RandyNewman You've got a friend in me...]]'']]

''Toy Story'' is a CGI animated film series and Creator/{{Disney}} media franchise that began with the original 1995 [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory1 film of the same name]], produced by Creator/{{Pixar}} and distributed by Disney.

The franchise focuses on a group of [[LivingToys toys that secretly come to life]] and end up unexpectedly embarking on life-changing adventures. The first two films of the franchise were directed by [[Creator/PixarRegulars John Lasseter]], and the third by Lee Unkrich, who acted as the co-director of the second film (together with Lasseter and Ash Brannon). The fourth was handled by ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut'''s co-director, Josh Cooley.
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!!Animated Films:[[index]]

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'' (1995): A cowboy doll named Woody finds his place as his owner Andy's favorite toy threatened by the arrival of action figure Buzz Lightyear, who believes he's a real space ranger and doesn't know he's a toy. The two end up having to find their way home together and contend with what it means to be a toy.
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'' (1999): Woody is stolen by a greedy toy collector. While Buzz leads a rescue mission to find him, Woody is confronted with the ominous question that is his future with Andy.
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'' (2010): Ten years after the previous film, Andy has grown up leaving his remaining toys to ponder their future. After accidentally arriving at a daycare, Woody and his friends find themselves trying to escape not just obstacles that risk stymieing their return to Andy, but their very lives.
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory4'' (2019): Woody is struggling to find his place in the newest chapter of his life. A new toy leads him to a reunion with a long-lost loved one and a crisis in which Woody must decide whether or not to make the biggest decision of how he will spend the rest of his life.
* ''Lightyear'' (2022) - An animated OriginStory film based on the ShowWithinAShow that spawned the InUniverse ''Buzz Lightyear'' toyline, starring Creator/ChrisEvans as Buzz.

!!Animated Shorts:

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryTreats'' (1996): Interstitials produced to air during ABC's Saturday morning line-up. They're comedic skits PlayedForLaughs, so don't sweat the continuity issues.
* ''Buzz Lightyear: Mission Logs'' (2010): A series of shorts detailing the story of how a real-life Buzz Lightyear toy went into space.
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryToons'' (2011-2012): Shorts produced to run as precursors to Disney's theatrical releases at the time.
** ''Hawaiian Vacation'' (2011): Premiered before ''WesternAnimation/Cars2''. Barbie and Ken are given a Hawaiian vacation in Bonnie's home by her toys.
** ''Small Fry'' (2011): Premiered before ''Film/TheMuppets''. Buzz finds himself an unwilling participant in a toy support group when he's left behind at a fast food restaurant, while a fast food toy of Buzz goes home to Bonnie's in his place.
** ''Partysaurus Rex'' (2012): Premiered before the 3D release of ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo''. Rex helps Bonnie's bath toys throw a wild party in the bathtub.
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryOfTerror'' (2013): A Halloween special in which Jessie contends with her lingering claustrophobia as the toys find themselves at a spooky motel during a family trip.
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryThatTimeForgot'' (2014): A holiday special in which Trixie, wanting to be appreciated as a dinosaur toy, befriends Reptilius Maximus, the leader of a large assortment of dinosaur toys who have just been given to Bonnie's friend Mason.
* ''WesternAnimation/LampLife'' (2020): Premiered on Creator/DisneyPlus. A short that depicts Bo Peep's years-long journey between the prologue of ''Toy Story 4'' and the film proper.

!!Comic Books:

* ''Disney's Toy Story'' (1996) - [[/index]]Creator/{{Marvel}} series using screenshots from the first film.
* ''Toy Story: Mysterious Stranger'' (2009)[[index]]
* ''ComicBook/ToyStory'' (2009-2010) - Creator/BoomStudios[[/index]]
* ''Toy Story: Tales From the Toy Chest'' (2010)
* ''Toy Story'' (2012) - Creator/{{Marvel}}
* ''Toy Story'' (2012)
** ''Toy Story 2'' (2012)
** ''Toy Story 3'' (2013)
* ''Toy Story'' (2013) - Digital one shot.
* ''Toy Story Adventures'' (2019)
* ''Toy Story 4'' (2019)
* ''Toy Story Special Collector's Manga'' (2019)

!!Literature:
* ''Toy Story (Classic Storybook)'' (1996)
* Wonderful World of Reading
** ''Toy Story'' (1996)
** ''Toy Story 2'' (1999)
** ''Toy Story 3'' (2012)
* ''Literature/LittleGoldenBooks''
** ''Toy Story 2'' (2006)
** ''Toy Story'' (2009)
** ''Toy Story 3'' (2010)
** ''Toy Story: The Pet Problem'' (2011)
** ''Toy Story: A Toy Christmas September'' (2011)
** ''Toy Story: A Roaring Adventure'' (2012)
** ''Toy Story 4'' (2019)
* ''Toy Story: Woody's White Christmas'' (2010)
* ''Toy Story: Christmas Toys'' (2012)
* ''Toy Story: Merry Christmas, Woody'' (2013)
* ''Toy Story 4: Forky in Craft Buddy Day'' (2019)
* ''Toy Story 4: Made To Play!'' (2019)
* ''Toy Story 4: Old Friends, New Friends'' (2019)
* ''Toy Story 4: Bonnie's First Day of School'' (2019)

!!Scripts:
* ''Script/ToyStory3'': A script for an cancelled DirectToVideo sequel by {{Creator/Disney}} rather than {{Creator/Pixar}}, preceding Pixar's own ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3''.

!!Series:[[index]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' (2000-2001): Spinoff TV series not made by Pixar, though they did animate the CGI intro sequences for the PilotMovie and the series proper.
** ''VideoGame/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' (2000): Video game adaptation of the TV series.
* ''WesternAnimation/ForkyAsksAQuestion'' (2019): Premiered on Creator/DisneyPlus. The ever-innocent Forky asks the toys around Bonnie's room questions about life.

!!Video Games:

* ''VideoGame/ToyStory'' (1995): Video game adaptation of the first film.
* ''VideoGame/ToyStory2'' (1999): Video game adaptation of the second film.
* ''VideoGame/DisneyFriends'' (2007): An alien appears in the tutorial as an interactive friend.
* ''VideoGame/ToyStory3'' (2010): Video game adaptation of the third film.
* ''VideoGame/DisneyHeroesBattleMode'' (2018): Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Rex, Slinky, Zurg, Bo Peep, Duke Kaboom and Ducky & Bunny appear as playable characters.
* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'' (2019): At the 2017 D23 Expo, Toy Story became the first-announced Pixar world in ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. The game's events are set between ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'' and ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3''. Allegedly, [[https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/02/11/kingdom-hearts-3-the-challenges-and-rewards-of-working-with-disney Pixar told the game's director]], Creator/TetsuyaNomura, that the events of ''Kingdom Hearts III'' canonically happened within the timeline of the films.
[[/index]]
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!!This franchise provides examples of:
* ActorAllusion:
** In the first film, Woody is crushed by a Binford toolbox (Buzz's voice actor Creator/TimAllen starred in ''Series/HomeImprovement'', where Binford was the sponsor of a ShowWithinAShow) and Mr. Potato Head's hockey puck one liner (Mr. Potato Head is voiced by insult comic Creator/DonRickles, known for calling anyone he insults "hockey puck").
** In ''2'', Buzz's reaction to seeing the Buzz Lightyear utility belt sounded very much like a [[Series/HomeImprovement Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor]] reaction.
** In a commercial featuring the characters for the USPS, Hamm is dressed as a mailman. Hamm is voiced by [[Creator/PixarRegulars John Ratzenburger]], who played another mailman, Cliff Clavin from ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
* AdultFear: Underneath the wackyness, the theme of abandonment by the ones you love in the later installments of the series can really hit home hard to children and grown-ups alike.
* AirVentPassageway: Justified, since the toys are actually small enough to fit. Happens [[OnceAnEpisode once a film]]: Legs and Ducky walk through the vents of Sid's house in the first, Buzz #2 and the rescue team travel through the vents (and elevator shaft) of [[VillainousGlutton Al]]'s apartment building in the second, and in the third, Woody and [[LoyalAnimalCompanion Slinky]] use the ventilation system to [[spoiler:get into the Sunnyside security room and incapacitate the [[CymbalBangingMonkey cymbal monkey]]]].
* AllCGICartoon: The original ''Toy Story'' was the first feature-length example of this trope.
* AnimalLover: Jessie is described as loving all animals by Andy and her favourite creature is Bullseye the horse.
* AscendedExtra: Mrs. Potato Head in the third, whereas she was only a minor character in the second.
* AscendedFridgeHorror: The series starts out taking the concept of sentient toys pretty lightly, but as it goes on, it explores the FridgeHorror of the concept more and more thoroughly, eventually to a further extent than most people would probably expect from a children's film series.
* BadassCrew: The main group of toys eventually becomes this.
* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: Parodied '''''and''''' averted in the first movie. Parodied, because Buzz (as a toy) think he's on an alien planet (possibly with no atmosphere). Averted, because he's a toy, '''''and''''' he's breathing Earth atmosphere. ''2'' contains a CallBack to this with the [[CaptainSpaceDefenderofEarth Utility Belt Buzz]].
* BookEnds: The first shot of ''1'' and both the first shot and the last shot of ''3'' are of a blue sky with uniquely-shaped white clouds, that of Andy's old wallpaper.
** The first film ends with Andy moving into a new house. The third ends with him leaving.
* BottomlessPit: One is seen in the video game opening sequence inside Zurg's fortress, and the elevator shaft in Al's apartment building.
** One is also seen in Andy's imagination of the Western robbery of One-Eyed Bart and Betty from the first film recreated in the third film.
* BrandX: A few of the minor characters are based off popular retro toys — without technically ''being'' said toys (probably due to ExecutiveMeddling). Lotso is essentially a Franchise/{{Care Bear|s}} with the tags cut off and Stretch resembles a Wacky Wallwalker.
** Averted with the Potato Heads, Slinky Dog, Franchise/{{Barbie}}, Etch-A-Sketch, Trolls, and a whole bunch of other toys. The copyrights all get mentioned in the end titles.
** In fact, Pixar wanted Barbie for the first film to be Woody's girlfriend, but Mattel would not grant them permission to use the trademark. They changed their mind when they saw how the film improved sales of Mr. Potato Head.
* BreakUpMakeUpScenario: In each film, Woody has an argument. In ''1'', with Buzz when they are lost, near the end when the other toys think he killed Buzz. In ''2'', with Jessie and later when he refuses to follow his friends back home. In ''3'', when he doesn't want to stay with them at Sunny Side. In ''4'', with [[spoiler:Bo Peep about trying to get Forky again after a failed attempt when Bo Peep chastises him about putting the others in danger]].
* ButtMonkey: Mr. Potato Head.
* CanonWelding: Apparently, Pixar considers the Toy Box world of ''Kingdom Hearts III'' to be canon to the films, and canonically set between ''Toy Story 2'' & ''3''.
* CaptainSpaceDefenderOfEarth: Buzz Lightyear, of course.
* CassandraTruth: Woody the first three films. ''1'': "Buzz is alive!" ''2'': "Andy didn't break me intentionally!" ''3'': "Andy didn't throw you away!"
** [[spoiler:The third installment also has Woody's warning about Sunnyside not being as pleasant as they expect it to be, but even Woody didn't anticipate just how bad it would turn out to be.]]
* CastingGag:
** This is Creator/LaurieMetcalf's [[Series/{{Roseanne}} second role]] as a woman with a son named Andy.
** Also, Creator/WayneKnight once again plays a [[Film/JurassicPark fat, greedy slob who steals something valuable to make a quick buck]].
** In ''3'', Lotso is generally a corrupt enforcer. His voice actor, Creator/NedBeatty, played a [[CorruptHick corrupt sheriff]], who's much of a {{Jerkass}} like Lotso, in the 1973 film ''White Lightning'', which happened to be Beatty's second film role following his film debut a year earlier in ''Film/{{Deliverance}}''. It can also be considered ironic as throughout the film, Lotso addressed Woody as "Sheriff." Also, interestingly, both said films that featured Ned Beatty as the BigBad are favorites of director Creator/QuentinTarantino (Tarantino selected ''White Lightning'' for the First Quentin Tarantino Film Fest in Austin, Texas, 1996 and incorporated the film's music by Charles "''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984''" Bernstein's in his films ''Film/KillBill'' and ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'', while ''Toy Story 3'' was placed at the top position in Tarantino's list of favorite films of 2010).
** The Sergeant of the Bucket of Soldiers is played by Creator/RLeeErmey.
** In "Toy Story of Terror", Creator/CarlWeathers plays [[Film/{{Predator}} a soldier toy whose friends have been snatched by seemingly invisible monster]].
* CatchPhrase:
** "To infinity... '''''AND BEYOND!'''''"
** Woody gets one in the second film: "Hey howdy hey!"
*** "There's a snake in my boot!"
*** "Reach for the sky!"
*** "Run like the wind, Bullseye!"
** "Yee-haw!" for Jessie.
* CeilingCling: Woody in the first film and Buzz in the second.
* CentralTheme: The series as a whole: A toy's true purpose in life.
** Additionally: Learning to accept that nothing lasts forever. Woody, Stinky Pete, Lotso, and Gabby Gabby are all motivated by a desire to prevent or undo change, and react in different ways when they fail to do so.
* CerebusRetcon: What Molly does to Mr. Potato Head at the very beginning of ''1'' is less funny if you've seen how the toys were abused in ''3''.
* CerebusSyndrome: While each movie has a fair bit of comedy, each also tops the previous installment in intensity of dramatic moments.
* ChekhovsGun:
** In the first film; [[VillainousGlutton Al]]'s Toy Barn is advertised at the end of the commercial for [[CaptainSpaceDefenderofEarth Buzz Lightyear]] figures that makes Buzz realize the truth about himself. Al's Toy Barn goes on to be a major part of the plot in ''2''.
** In the truck chase near the end of ''1'', when Woody is clinging to the moving truck and Scud grabs his leg, [[spoiler:we can audibly hear the stitching of his right arm pop]]. Cut to the beginning of ''2'', where the plot is set in motion when [[spoiler:Woody's right arm rips, as the stitching was already weakened tremendously from the tug-o-war with Scud in ''1'']].
** The Potato Heads' ability to [[spoiler:see though a disconnected eye]] is something introduced in the second scene of the first film and becomes a major plot point a decade later in ''3'', when Mrs. Potato Head uses her missing eye to [[spoiler:discover that Andy is looking for them after his mother donates them to the Daycare Center]].
** In ''2'', Stinky Pete asks Woody if he really thinks Andy will take him to college, which is the plot of ''3''.
** Another dinosaur that might replace Rex as Andy's dinosaur toy, which worries Rex. Rex doesn't get replaced per se, but another dinosaur DOES appear in ''3''... in someone else's house. [[spoiler:Not only is she also a dinosaur, but she's also a geek like Rex, and the credits epilogue reveals that they get along well.]]
** Rex also mentioned wanting to play with a herbivore. [[spoiler:In the end credits, he ends up doing just that in a DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything scene.]]
** In ''3'', [[spoiler:[[TheCameo the garbage man wears a familiar-looking skull shirt]]]]. It's not just who the garbage man was that makes him significant, it's also [[spoiler:what he does later in the film]].
** In ''3'', [[spoiler:the aliens' obsession with The Claw from the first film becomes a hilarious BrickJoke[=/=]ChekhovsGun[=/=]BigDamnHeroes[=/=]DeusExMachina all in one]].
--->"[[spoiler:The Claw chooses who will go and who will stay!]]"
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Makes up most of the plot. No, not the film itself. Every situation that's ever happened in ''Toy Story'', many of the toy characters always assumed the worst, before finding out the real truth. Three hilarious examples include:
## Potato Head accusing Woody of murdering Buzz when he sees the broken arm. Buzz was too depressed to get out of his HeroicBSOD to prove he was still alive.
## Rex thinking Woody was trying to sell himself at the yard sale. He was trying to rescue Wheezy.
## Potato Head thinking that Bullseye and Jessie were torturing Woody. They were really tickling him.
* ContrastingReplacementCharacter: Andy and Bonnie are both the caring and imaginative owners of Woody and the gang. However, Andy himself was an energetic individual all around while Bonnie was very shy while in public.
* CopycatMockery: While Woody is looking for his hat, a toy shark wears it and says, "Look, I'm Woody! Howdy, howdy, howdy!".
* CurbStompBattle: Woody is TheHero, but not the best fighter, so ends up comically getting his ass kicked most times he pisses off another character. Amusingly his beatings in ''2'' even mirror the same manner he is attacked by Buzz in the first film.
* DamselInDistress: Bo Peep in [[ShowWithinAShow Andy's games]].
* DarkerAndEdgier: The third is considered a PrisonEpisode for the series, with [[CuteIsEvil sadistic teddy bears]], [[CreepyChild demonic children]], {{Cymbal Banging Monkey}}s and all ending with a trip to the fiery gates of Hell. Most notably though is how the film puts even more emphasis on the toys' fears of becoming disowned by their owners.
* DeadpanSnarker: Hamm.
%%* {{Deconstruction}}: Of the more FridgeHorror-y aspects of the original. [[spoiler:Heartwarmingly [[{{Reconstruction}} Reconstructed]] in 3.]]
* DeusExMachina: Played for laughs every time the Pizza Planet truck appears in the films. In the first, it appears out of nowhere to take Buzz and Woody to Pizza Planet and is done even more so in ''2''.
** {{Lampshaded}} in the commentary to ''2''.
** [[spoiler:Averted in ''3''. The Pizza Planet truck is involved in the BackStory of the film's antagonist, but only (indirectly) leads him to disappointment]]. It could also be interpreted as a DiabolusExMachina, in that sense [[spoiler:as it's the reason Lotso ended up at Sunnyside]].
** In the third, the LGM's [[spoiler:returning to save the gang with the claw as they're about to be melted down, but the entire scene was done so well, who could gripe? Also, the writers ''did'' keep reminding us of their religious fascination with claws throughout the film. As well as have them taken off-screen early on during the dump sequence]]. Foreshadowing, done right! Straight forward to the fact that it's a machine that is given godlike reverence.
* DisappearedDad: There's no Andy's father in sight. It's never explicitly brought up, but fans like to argue the three possibilities: Andy's mom is a widow, a divorcee, or just happens to be a single mother. In the first two scenarios, many fans in turn assume that Woody is one of the only gifts from his father. The third could be yet another ShoutOut to ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToaster'', since Rob's mom is single too. Food for thought: [[RealitySubtext so is John Lasseter's mom]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbmzuoBC1Rs This video]] helps to shed some light on the subject.
* ADogNamedDog: Most striking in the case of Dolly the doll, but applies to the other characters too. Justified in that most of the toys were named by young children.
* DrivesLikeCrazy: Invoked in ''1'' and ''2'', both with the Pizza Planet truck. The first one has the actual driver doing this. The second has the toys doing this after hijacking the Pizza Planet Truck to pursue Al and rescue Woody. Similarly, they also invoke the trope on other drivers in the first and second installments. The first was when Scud was chasing Buzz and RC (although it probably wasn't intentional on Buzz, RC and Woody's part), and the second had Buzz and the toys disguising themselves as traffic cones in order to safely cross the road to Al's Toy Barn, with the results being obvious for the drivers.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: A staple of the series. ''Toy Story'' nearly ends with Buzz and Woody left alone on the street with Andy's moving van driving away, ''2'' nearly ships Woody and Jessie ([[{{Shipping}} not that kind]], though) to Japan, and ''3'' has them [[spoiler:facing the blazing eternity of HellFire and burning alive]]. Music/RandyNewman was right, the road ''is'' rough ahead.
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: No boy's toy collection would be complete without a TyrannosaurusRex, though Rex is actually a bit of a coward, a goofball and a gamer geek. He's not too bright either. The third film introduces Trixie, whose design seems to imply that they're from the same toyline.
** It appears that all the dinosaur toys in the series are from the same line, and are in turn based on... [[http://www.dinoriders.com/Toys/Toys%28Dinosaurs%29DR.html Dino-Riders!?!]]
* ExposedEyeballsAsEyes: Mr. Potato Head and his wife, being toys with detachable parts, sometimes have to hold their eyes in their hands in order to see better.
* {{Expy}}: Sarge, voiced by Creator/RLeeErmey, is [[Film/FullMetalJacket Gunnery Sergeant Hartman]] in toy form, albiet quite a bit nicer and more kid-friendly.
* FakeActionPrologue: Both the second and the third films.
* FateWorseThanDeath:
** For toys, to be loved by children, then forgotten and abandoned is worse than they could bear.
** As it turns out, [[spoiler:having the kids outgrow you and being tossed in the trash]] is even worse than ''that''.
* GenkiGirl: Jessie, full-throttle. Trixie and Franchise/{{Barbie}} in the third.
* GenreBusting: It's comedy/drama/thriller/horror/action/prison escape/philosophical.
* GrowingUpSucks: Although it appears to be played straight for the toys, in the end it's averted. The message seems to be "Growing up can be sad, but in the end it's not that bad."
* HappilyMarried: [[ButtMonkey Mr.]] and Mrs. Potato Head in ''2'' and ''3''.
* HandSignals: Used in all three films.
* HeliumSpeech: The voice actors (not just Jeff Pidgeon, although it was mostly him) actually inhaled helium to make the voices of the Aliens.
* HelpingHands: Mr. Potato Head's body parts are capable of being pulled off him and rearranged. This is sort of a hassle for him to put himself right after the kids are gone. His parts can work on their own even when they're separated from him. The same for Mrs. Potato Head.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Woody and Buzz.
** The way Andy announces their names makes it sound like both their last names are 'Lightyear'.
** [[http://pixarblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/tim-allen-tom-hanks-on-extra.html Not at all helped by their voice actors]] (0:39).
* IdiotBall: Somehow, a [[CaptainSpaceDefenderofEarth Buzz Lightyear]] toy holds this in every film, for that Buzz Lightyear who holds it believes he's the real Buzz Lightyear, and not a toy. There are a few Toys who also hold part of it.
** ''Toy Story'': Buzz; this is a major part of the film. He loses it when he sees a commercial, and then goes crazy and is reduced to [[FrothyMugsOfWater drinking tea]] and... wearing a pink apron. For a while, anyway. This causes Woody much frustration.
** ''Toy Story 2'': The Buzz Lightyear toy with a belt (whom the Buzz from ''Toy Story'' encounters) believes he is the real Buzz Lightyear.
*** Buzz's archenemy — Zurg — as a toy, holds this, too, and engages combat with the Buzz with the belt. A ShoutOut to ''Star Wars: Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' is involved.
** ''Toy Story 3'': The first Buzz toy seen in the three films holds this ''again''. This time, [[spoiler:he gets [[BrainwashedAndCrazy reset into demo mode]] and then into [[GratuitousSpanish Spanish!]] [[HilarityEnsues ¡Buzz Lightyear al rescate!]]]]
* {{Immortality}}: Toys can be broken and possibly die when broken beyond repair ([[AndIMustScream we hope]]), but when taken care of they can live forever, it seems.
* InkSuitActor: Creator/TomHanks as Woody and Creator/WayneKnight as Al.
* InterimVillain: Subverted with Sid Phillips, even though he is the villain of the first film and is completely absent in the second, in the third he only appears as a cameo where he is now a garbage man.
* InterspeciesFriendship: While Andy doesn't know his toys are alive, they do care a lot about him. Woody in particular goes to great lengths to return to him when separated. Said toys are also TrueCompanions with each other.
* IronicEcho: One within the first film, another from the first to the second, another from the second to the third.
** [[spoiler:Early in the first film, when Buzz tries to prove he can fly, Woody says "that wasn't flying, it was falling with style." When Buzz uses his plastic wings to glide in the climax, Woody says "you're flying" and Buzz says "this isn't flying, it's falling with style."]]
** [[spoiler:The first film has Woody saying to Buzz "you're a child's plaything; you are a '''''toy'''''" when trying to explain to Buzz that he's not a space ranger. The second has Buzz saying this back to Woody when reminding him that he's supposed to be Andy's toy, not a collector's item for a museum.]]
** [[spoiler:The second film has Mr. Potato Head saving the squeeze toy aliens from falling out of the Pizza Planet truck, and they repeatedly say "you have saved our lives, we are eternally grateful" to him afterwards. The third has the squeeze toy aliens operate the claw at the incinerator in a way that rescues all the toys from being burned; afterwards, Mrs. Potato Head says "you have saved our lives" followed by Mr. Potato Head saying "and we are '''''eternally''''' grateful."]]
* {{Jerkass}}: Sid Phillips, Mr. Potato Head and initially Woody with Buzz in the first film, Al and Stinky Pete in the second, and Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear in the third.
* KidsAreCruel: Let's face it, Andy was a ''freak'' the way he nicely treated his toys. Just look at Sid and those daycare monsters and you'll see that the toys never had it better than with him.
** The [[Creator/PixarRegulars creators]] completely acknowledged this. The only one who treated his toys nicely was John Lasseter.
** To be fair, only the toddlers in the Caterpillar Room were monsters because they were, well, babies; the toys they ''should'' be playing with are designed to take that abuse. The older kids in the Butterfly Room knew how to play nice.
* KilledOffForReal: Combat Carl, the action figure Sid blew up during his introductory scene in the first film, is the ''only'' character in the entire series to ever be killed off permanently.
* TheLancer: [[CaptainSpaceDefenderofEarth Buzz]] to [[TheHeart Woody's]] [[TheHero Hero]] in the second and third films.
* LargeHam:
** Jessie. Creator/JoanCusack [[ChewingTheScenery chewed miles of scenery]] in that role.
** Buzz is most hammy when fresh out of the box; and even after [[spoiler:realizing he's a toy]] he remains rather hammy, though to a slightly lesser extent. Spanish Buzz es un Gran Jamón.
** Zurg. As an EvilOverlord, he has to be.
** And a quite obvious one in Hamm. "PIG PILE!"
** If a small, stuffed hedgehog in lederhosen can be technically called a Large ''Ham'', then [[ClassicallyTrainedExtra Mr. Pricklepants]] from ''Toy Story 3'' is that small stuffed hedgehog in lederhosen.
-->'''[[LargeHam Mr. Pricklepants]]:''' Sunnyside is a place of ruin and despair, ruled by an evil bear who smells of ''strawberries''.
* LikeBrotherAndSister: Woody and Jessie.
* LivingToys: The premise.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: Creator/{{Pixar}} is gifted with juggling various side stories that support the main storyline all in one film with a huge cast. But... ''Toy Story'' already introduced a huge cast, and ''two more films followed, expanding the cast by 300%!'' By the third, the supporting characters that were highlighted in the posters and trailers have barely four lines each!
* LoveImbuesLife: Implied. In the accepted-as-canon-by-Pixar ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'' level for ''Toy Story'', Woody mentions that toys that haven't attained sentience yet "haven't learned how to yet". Young Xehanort shortly after adds that the hearts of toys' owners (especially that of children) are connected to their toys and is what makes the world of ''Toy Story'' special.
* MadeOfIron: Sort of. The toys are capable of withstanding immense amounts of pain and abuse when in their inanimate state without so much as flinching, only feeling the effects after becoming animate. In fact, to an extent they seem to not mind the abuse at all (Woody is tossed around like a... well... toy doll in the opening scene by Andy, and Andy is naturally occasionally rough with his toys, but the toys seem to adore him all the same), much like how dogs will not mind some roughhousing as long as they're getting attention. Only the MadScientist machinations of Sid seem to cause the toys any suffering.
* TheMasquerade: It's a lot more subtle than most, but seeing as how the toys are so adamant about hiding the fact they are alive from humans, this definitely seems to be the case. Woody, in the first film, even says [[spoiler: when they're about to rescue Buzz from Sid]], "we're going to have to break a few rules, but if it works, it'll help everybody."
* MassiveMultiplayerCrossover: Andy and Bonnie generate this while playing, since the toys are so varied.
* MeanCharacterNiceActor:
** In-universe. In the playtimes, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, and Dolly tend to play villainous characters. Hamm and Potato Head are both [[DeadpanSnarker Deadpan Snarkers]], but still good guys, and Dolly is considered by fans to be the TeamMom of [[ShrinkingViolet Bonnie]]'s toys.
** Stinky Pete is the villain of the second film, though shown to be a pleasant (if slightly lustful) guy in the outtakes.
* MeaningfulName: Woody is an old cowboy doll (just ''how'' old, we see in the second film) whose rigid parts are made of wood. Buzz is a modern action figure crammed full of electronics.
** Also, Buzz Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon.
** In the third, Bonnie definitely is a good girl.
* MenCantKeepHouse: As shown with Sid's room in ''1'' and Al's apartment in ''2''.
** Andy's room, however, is usually quite remarkably tidy considering he's a small boy in the first two films and a teenager in the third.
* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: Mutant Toys
* MultipleDemographicAppeal
* NamedAfterFirstInstallment: Series and first movie are named for revolving around LivingToys.
* NoFlowInCGI: Played straight in the first film, semi-averted in the second and averted in the third.
* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup is thankfully ''averted''. Creator/{{Pixar}} had the source files all this time so they could re-render the first two movies for the 2009 3D re-release.
** Also, a special feature in the 2010 DVD and Blu-ray release of ''2'' tells of how the film was almost wholly deleted, only to be saved by a staff member's backup.
** But when they began work on ''3'', they couldn't edit the original 3D models and had to rebuild everything from scratch.
* NotSoDifferent: Woody and Buzz: Both are toys of officers of the law, produced for a MerchandiseDriven show, they even both have a voice-clip feature with the technology of their day.
* NotWhatItLooksLike:
** From ''Toy Story 1'':
*** PlayedWith: Mr. Potato Head accuses Woody of deliberately knocking Buzz out of the window so that he can be Andy's favorite toy again. In reality, [[RightForTheWrongReasons while Woody did knock Buzz out the window, and it was due to jealousy]], it was an ''accident'': Woody wanted to knock Buzz ''behind the dresser'', so he can go to Pizza Planet with Andy.
*** A pivotal moment sees Woody try and convince the other toys to help him escape from Sid's room, insisting that Buzz is with him and is still alive. However, because this moment is occurring A) during Buzz' HeroicBSOD and B) after the "I Will Go Sailing No More" scene, all Woody has to work with (because of Buzz' refusal to help Woody) [[HoldingBothSidesOfTheConversation is Buzz's disconnected arm.]]
*** Part of the climax sees Andy's toys outright attack Woody after he shows up in the moving truck and throws RC out the back... except he did so to save Buzz from Scud, which they later realize.
** From ''Toy Story 2'':
*** The toys initially think Woody's rescue mission of Wheezy from the yard sale was him going to get himself sold due to his torn arm. It's only when Woody pulls Wheezy out of one of the boxes that the penny drops.
*** The Roundup Gang assumes Andy was actually ''abusive'' of Woody because of his torn arm, and his failed attempt at explaining how he wound up at the yard sale.
*** While in Al's Toy Barn, it's assumed that Buzz became delusional again after getting ahold of a Buzz Lightyear utility belt... except it's really a ''different'' Buzz Lightyear that inadvertently took Buzz' place.
*** Downplayed: While using Mr. Potato Head's eye to spy on Woody and the Roundup Gang, it's assumed that he was being tortured when in reality Jesse was tickling him (granted, ''[[TickleTorture a]]'' form of torture, but it wasn't in ill-intent).
*** [[spoiler:Jesse wasn't the one who turned on the TV and prevent Woody from escaping the apartment earlier. It was Stinky Pete.]]
** From ''Toy Story 3'':
*** Even ''Woody himself'' thought Andy was throwing out the other toys, but in reality he was going to put them up in the attic (he used a trash-bag instead of a box for ease of convince). [[ForWantOfANail Molly just wound up choosing the worst possible moment to distract him.]]
*** Downplayed: [[spoiler:Lotso is of the opinion that Daisy replaced him after getting left behind at the park, when it was most like Daisy's ''parents'' that replaced him to appease their upset child.]]
*** A smaller moment compared to the others, but [[spoiler:we don't learn that Woody willingly decided to go with the other toys to Bonnie's instead of going with Andy to college until Bonnie and Andy discovered him in the box]].
* ObliviouslyEvil: Any human who mistreats toys, since it's not as if they can ''know'' they're alive. Although Sid takes a certain sadistic pleasure in abusing his toys (and his ''little sister's'') anyway.
* OhCrap:
** Woody when he's about to get crushed by the toolbox in the Pizza Planet truck.
** Woody again upon seeing Sid at Pizza Planet.
** "Wait a minute... I just lit a rocket... ROCKETS EXPLODE!"
** When the toys enter the luggage conveyors in ''Toy Story 2''.
*** On the plane:
-->'''Woody:''' Okay, on three. One, two...\\
(plane door slams shut)\\
'''Woody:''' This is bad...
** "[[LightIsNotGood I don't think that's daylight...]]"
* OlderThanTheyLook: Woody and his roundup gang are merchandice for a television show that aired ''before Sputnik was launched''. After that, the show was cancelled and they probably stopped making the merchandise, which might explain why Al had a hard time gathering Woody for a toy collection in Japan. That means that Woody, Jessie, Bullseye and Stinky Pete could be ''at least forty-nine years old'' as of the third film, which is set in 2006.
* OncePerEpisode: Several for the first three films:
** Every film at one point has toys hiding under something and then walking with it. The first had Woody and Buzz underneath the Pizza Planet cup and burger box walking through Pizza Planet, the second had all the toys who went to rescue Woody underneath traffic cones crossing a street, and later walking a dog's travel container through the airport terminal; the third had the toys about to be thrown away hiding under a plastic recycle bin and walking back to the garage and the fourth has Woody hide under a frisbee to get through a crowded park.
** Every film ends off with a DancePartyEnding. ''2'' and ''3'' had the most obvious examples while the original had a brief karaoke dance moment during the Christmas Party.
** Every film, including the first, features a cover version of the iconic ''Toy Story'' theme "You've Got a Friend in Me" in the credits. The first was [[[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_284Y8Wu7c a duet]] by Music/RandyNewman and [[CountryMusic Lyle Lovett]], the second had [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxQQARDTRUk a show-stopping]] UsefulNotes/NewOrleans Jazz version sung by Wheezy, and the third film had a very [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu8GQQctTi4 flamenco-influenced version]] done by the Gipsy Kings. The only exception is the fourth film, which features a repeat of the original version from the first movie but no cover version.
** Every film also contains an extended period with a Buzz who believes himself to be ''the'' [[CaptainSpaceDefenderOfEarth Buzz Lightyear]]. The first film, obviously, has Andy's Buzz, the second film features the UtilityBelt Buzz from Al's Toy Barn, and the third film features [[spoiler:Andy's Buzz being forcibly reverted to his old personality and used as a minion of Lotso. In addition, [[GratuitousSpanish Spanish Buzz]] also believes himself to be a Space Ranger, though his personality is much friendlier]].
** Rex causes Mr. Potato Head to lose his parts at least once per movie: he knocks them off by roaring at him in the first film, accidentally falls on him in the elevator shaft in the second, causes his hat to come off by causing the box the toys were in to fall over in the third and knocks him over in a panic in the fourth.
* ParentalBonus: Oodles of it.
-->"Why don't I let someone else watch the sheep tonight?"\\
"What's with him?" "Laser envy."
** Without giving away the joke, there's a moment in ''3'' involving [[TrueNeutral Bookworm]], Franchise/{{Barbie}}, and [[TheDandy Ken]], except that Ken isn't present.
*** Practically ''everything'' involving Ken. With expected results.
** It's no accident that Mrs. Potato Head is unusually enthusiastic toward her husband when he becomes [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything Mr. Cucumber Head]].
** Hamm had a few, non-dirty bonuses.
-->''(reading the Pizza Planet truck's owner's manual)'' "Oh, I seriously doubt he's getting this kind of mileage" ''(Who, Buzz or the truck's owner?)''
** "...I don't think those were Lincoln Logs."
** At the tea party:
-->'''Trixie:''' And I'm pretty sure I just came back from the doctor with life-changing news!
** From the first film:
-->'''Woody:''' Tuesday night's plastic corrosion awareness meeting was, I think, a big success. We'd like to thank Mr. Spell for putting that on for us, thank you Mr. Spell.
* LeParkour: Toys in general have to be pretty fast and nimble to avoid detection by humans, but Woody and Buzz in particular could give [[Franchise/AssassinsCreed Altair]] and [[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia the Prince]] [[IncrediblyLamePun a run for their money]].
* ProductPlacement: Inverted. Product placement would be if they got paid to include the toys in their film. No, they had to pay for the rights to show any real-world brand of toys. So really, it's the ''opposite'' of ProductPlacement.
** Though after the success of the first film, most companies approached by Creator/{{Pixar}} would doubtlessly have ''very low'' fees for placement rights.
** Most of the toys in the first film saw ''huge'' jumps in sales. Mr. Potato Head for example was revived nearly from the scrap heap, and the Slinky Dog had been ''out of production'' at the time of the film and entered a new giant sales phase when they started making them again. So it can kind of count either way.
* PunBasedTitle: On the term 'toy store'.
* RiddleForTheAges: Who came up with the rules Woody mentions in the first film and why do toys have to obey them?
* RousseauWasRight: The villains are either not that antagonistic or have a reason for being who they are. Sid is just a kid who is sadistic towards toys and doesn't know they are alive, Stinky Pete is a toy who just has to go to great measures at a certain point, and Lotso had to deal with abandonment and betrayal. Gabby Gabby's backstory is perhaps the saddest of all: she was the defective toy nobody wanted.
* RuleSixtyThree: These [[http://th05.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2010/187/2/f/Toy_Story_Livestream_Sketches5_by_YoukaiYume.jpg livestream]][[http://th06.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2010/202/5/7/Toy_Story_Livestream_Sketches8_by_YoukaiYume.jpg sketches]] by YoukaiYume
* RunningGag:
** Mr. Potato Head falling apart/losing his parts, etc.
** The aliens saying "[[IOweYouMyLife You have saved our lives. We are eternally grateful]]."
* SceneryPorn: Any visually complex scene could be cited here, but teenage Andy's room comes to mind (all those posters in the third film!).
** Pizza Planet in the first film is an especially good example, given both the level of tech and the atmospheric qualities.
* SeriesMascot: Buzz Lightyear, and to a lesser extent, the [=LGMs=] function as this not only for the series, but for Pixar as a whole.
* SeriousBusiness: A truly interesting case; it's serious business to be and care for children's playthings. Having said that, almost non stop.
* ShadesOfConflict: The most prevalent is WhiteAndGreyMorality - Sid and Al are only "villains" from the toys' point of view, and the first film is driven by Woody's jealousy. The third however has straight-on BlackAndWhiteMorality given [[spoiler:Lotso]] is evil despite the FreudianExcuse.
* ShoutOut: Has grown enough to warrant its [[ShoutOut/ToyStory own page]].
* ShowWithinAShow: The main characters each have their own fictional franchise: ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' (an animated television show and video game series) and ''Woody's Roundup'' (an old-timey puppet/marionette serial). And then ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' received {{Defictionalization}}.
%%* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: Incredibly optimistic film series.
* SlidingScaleOfLivingToys: Level 2 (except for that one scene in Sid's yard, which takes it up to Level 3).
* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Bo Peep was the only prominent female character in the first film. Although she had potential, she was underutilized. This was remedied with the exuberant AffirmativeActionGirl Jessie in the second and third film, as well as Mrs. Potato Head and Barbie. Bo reappears in the fourth film in a much more significant role, along with many other female characters.
* StealthPun: In ''2'', Woody has a nightmare about Andy throwing him away. In ''3'', Woody tells the other toys he needs to get to Andy's house, which is on Elm Street. [[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Woody had a nightmare on Elm street]].
** There's another one from ''Toy Story'' that elicits a "For [[IncrediblyLamePun Pete's]] sake, how did I miss that?" Woody is the leader of Andy's room -- in the first film, we see that Slinky is (or used to be) the second-in-command. A cowboy... and a "long little doggy"...
* ThatPoorCat: When Rex points a flashlight in the bushes, he inquires if it's Buzz. Then the response was that cat screeching.
* TimeSkip: The first one skips five months after Woody and Buzz get back to Andy to the last scene on Christmas Day.
** The second takes place about one year after the first.
*** And most noticeable is the skip between ''2'' and ''3'', which is about ten years.
* TimmyInAWell: RC in the first film, [[AffirmativeActionGirl Jessie's]] critters in the second (although that one was more of a parody)
* TookALevelInBadass:
** Woody goes from a somewhat whiny, selfish wimp in the first film to a breakout mastermind by the third.
*** Woody was already a breakout mastermind near the end of the first. His epic planning doesn't really shine in the second movie, but [[UpToEleven every ounce of potential he had]] is reached in the third film.
** Buzz starts out delusional, has a breakdown when he finds out he's a toy, then comes right back to save himself and Woody via "Falling! With style!", before going on to rescue Woody in the second movie, and [[spoiler:trying to save his friends from the Caterpillar Room, and rescuing [[AffirmativeActionGirl Jessie]] while in the garbage truck]].
** The [[ChekhovsGunman aliens]] go from gag characters in the first and second installments to [[spoiler:BigDamnHeroes by rescuing the gang from the incinerator]].
** Mr. Potato Head transforms from a selfish, distrustful coward in the first film to a married man and a daring, surprisingly resourceful action hero in the sequels.
*** Resourceful as in [[spoiler:Tortilla Head and Cucumber Head. And how did he change forms? He SCATTERS his body parts and finds an inanimate object to use as a body, much like those parasites seen in movies. Points for Woody for coming up with that part in the escape plan]].
* TrueCompanions: Oh ''hell'' yes. Especially pronounced in the second and third films.
** The fourth film turns Bo Peep from a [[TheSmurfettePrinciple Smurfette]] SatelliteCharacter to a proactive, take-charge ActionGirl.
* UnusualEuphemism: A handful.
-->'''Woody:''' Save your batteries! (Chill out!)\\
'''Mr. Potato Head:''' Son of a building block, it's Woody! (Presumably... you know.)\\
'''Lotso:''' F.A.O my Schwartz! (Reference to a toy company)\\
'''Woody:''' Pull my string, the party's today?\\
'''Jessie:''' Sweet mother of UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln! (Also a reference to the fact that Tom Hanks is a distant relative of Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks.)
* VillainousBreakdown:
** Stinky Pete, which caught plenty of kids off-guard.
** Sid after Woody [[ScareEmStraight Scares Him Straight]].
** [[spoiler:Happens to Lotso in the third movie]].
** [[spoiler:This is actually much more predictable after it happened in the second; look what happened to Pete when Woody's friends tried to get him to come back with them!]]
* WaterSourceTampering: One of Woody's pull string quotes.
* WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief: [[TheLancer Buzz Lightyear]] flying at the end of the first film, despite being shown numerous times that he can't.
** That wasn't flying: that was falling, with style!
** [[WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}} He can't fly; he can only glide on currents of wind]].
** Averted with the baggage handling system. They aren't exaggerating. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj7OuqGCOw4 This]] is a video of how real airport conveyors work.
----

* ''Toy Story: Mysterious Stranger'' (2009)
* ''ComicBook/ToyStory'' (2009-2010) - Creator/BoomStudios

* ''Toy Story'' (2009-2010) - Creator/BoomStudios

* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: Parodied '''''and''''' averted in the first movie. Parodied, because Buzz (as a toy) think he's on an alien planet (possibly with no atmosphere). Averted, because he's a toy, '''''and''''' he's breathing Earth atmosphere. ''2'' contains a ShoutOut to this with the [[CaptainSpaceDefenderofEarth Utility Belt Buzz]].

* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'': At the 2017 D23 Expo, Toy Story became the first-announced Pixar world in ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. The game's events are set between ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'' and ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3''. Allegedly, [[https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/02/11/kingdom-hearts-3-the-challenges-and-rewards-of-working-with-disney Pixar told the game's director]], Creator/TetsuyaNomura, that the events of ''Kingdom Hearts III'' canonically happened within the timeline of the films.

* RousseauWasRight: The villains are either not that antagonistic or have a reason for being who they are. Sid is just a kid who is sadistic towards toys and doesn't know they are alive, Stinky Pete is a toy who just has to go to great measures at a certain point, and Lotso had to deal with abandonment and betrayal.

** Averted with Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, Franchise/{{Barbie}}, Etch-A-Sketch, Trolls, and a whole bunch of other toys. The copyrights all get mentioned in the end titles.

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory4'' (2019): Woody is struggling to find his place in his newest chapter of his life. A new toy leads him to a reunion with a long-lost loved one and a crisis in which Woody must decide whether or not to make the biggest decision of how he will spend the rest of his life.

** ''Hawaiian Vacation'' (2011): Premiered before ''WesternAnimation/Cars2''. Barbie and Ken are giving a Hawaiian vacation in Bonnie's home by her toys.

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryOfTerror'' (2013): A Halloween special in which Jessie contends with her lingering claustrophobia as the toys find themselves as a spooky motel during a family trip.

* ''WesternAnimation/LampLife'' (2020): Premiered on Creator/DisneyPlus. A short that depicts Bo Peep's years long journey between the prologue of ''Toy Story 4'' and the film proper.

'''Mr. Potato Head:''' Son of a building block, it's Woody! (Presumably...[[GettingCrapPastTheRadar you know]].)\\

* ObliviouslyEvil: Any human who mistreats toys, since it's not as if they can ''know'' they're alive. Although Sid takes a certain sadistic pleasure in abusing his toys anyway.

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'' (1995)
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'' (1999)
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'' (2010)
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory4'' (2019)

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryTreats'' (1996)
* ''Buzz Lightyear: Mission Logs'' (2010)
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryToons'' (2011-2012)
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryOfTerror'' (2013)
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryThatTimeForgot'' (2014)
* ''WesternAnimation/LampLife'' (2020)

* ''WesternAnimation/ForkyAsksAQuestion'' (2019)