Why Did Pixar Make Toy Story 4?

When visiting Pixar Studios earlier this year, we were able to interview Director Josh Cooley and Producer Mark Nielsen. There was one question I wanted the answer to, “Why did Pixar make a Toy Story 4?” I just wanted to know why we needed a Toy Story 4 when I felt like Toy Story 3 wrapped up Andy’s story. Josh Cooley answers my question and more. 

Why is There a Toy Story 4?

During the Toy Story 4 Press Junket at Pixar Studios in Emeryville, CA, we attended different presentations about all the details that went into making Toy Story 4. It’s all in the details and what makes Pixar so special. 

To conclude the event we talked to Josh Cooley and Mark Nielsen. I asked my question, “Why a Toy Story 4?” Please don’t misconstrue my intention. It’s not that I wasn’t excited for a new Toy Story, I just didn’t understand why we needed one. The trailers weren’t telling me much. Then I saw some footage, and I was Team Toy Story 4, but I still wanted to know the answer.

Josh Cooley looked right at me and said, “If there’s a story worth telling, we’re going to tell it.”

“If there’s a story worth telling, we’re going to tell it.”  -Josh Cooley

He later explained that the first 3 are a set. Toy Story 4 is a new chapter in Woody’s life. So will there be other Toy Story movies in the future? They were mum on that. However, in a press conference at Walt Disney World I attended, Tom Hanks implied that there could be more.

Do We Need a Toy Story 4?

After having seen Toy Story 4, I say we absolutely needed this story. You can read my ‘Is Toy Story 4 kid friendly?‘ review. Why do we need it? Because every ending is a new beginning.

Bo Peep is back, there are new characters to love, and sometimes life doesn’t go the way we plan. So we keep telling our stories.

It’s All in The Details

Toy Story 4 has been 5 years in the making. Even with the advancements in animation, the details still take time. Pixar pays attention to everything. In certain scenes there are kinks in the iron, dust bunnies in corners, attention to materials so the movement is correct, micro scratches on Buzz and Woody to show that time has passed. There are cloth flyaways, subtle peeling stickers, and Easter Eggs aplenty.

Easter Eggs in Toy Story 4

Did you know that there are Easter Eggs from every Pixar movie in both the carnival scene and antique shop? So be on the lookout! Some of the Easter Eggs mentioned were Son de la Cruz record with a nod to Coco, the dogs from Up playing poker, the Up House sitting on a shelf in the antique shop, and Bing Bong’s rocket. Have fun finding all those while you watch Toy Story 4!

At Pixar, without story nothing else matters. They use their cinematography as storytelling, too. So why did Pixar make a Toy Story 4? Because there was a story that needed to be told. “It’s so important to us at Pixar to tell the greatest stories we can.” Bravo, Pixar. I’m here for  it.

Toy Story 4 is in theaters June 21st!