For many, Toy Story 3 would be the last part of the saga, as the film ended with Andy, the owner of the toys, saying goodbye in a touching scene and giving them away to their new owner and also sister, Bonnie. In addition, director Lee Unkrich, who was part of the production team on the first three features, stated in 2010 that there were no plans for a fourth installment.
It was in 2014 that Disney announced that another film would be the company's next release. Thus, Jim Morris, general manager of Pixar, defined Toy Story 4 as a romantic comedy, independent, not being a continuation of the original story.
Among the voices who brought the toys to life in the plot are Tom Hanks, who gave the voice of the cowboy Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie, and John Ratzenberger as Hamm the pig. Annie Potts reprises the role of Betty, while Laurie Metcalf will return to voice Andy's mother.
Of course, illustrious toys like Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Hamm, Rex, Slinky, the charismatic Martians and the horse Bala no Alvo are in production, but there are also new members to compose this team. They are the plushies Bunny and Ducky, and Garfinho, a spoon that turns into a fork, fulfilling the wishes of its creator, Bonnie.
Of course, the famous song “Amigo Está Aqui” could not be left out of the work. Written by Randy Newman, the song is back for the fourth feature to continue moving us.
The first two films featured Betty, the porcelain doll that was part of a lamp that belonged to Andy's sister, who was used as a companion to the cowboy. Although she did not appear in the third film, Betty reappears in the fourth part with a new look, which gave her a much more modern air than that of a simple shepherdess.
With the arrival of a new member, Garfinho, Woody is responsible for helping him accept his new role, since Garfinho does not consider himself a toy. Inside, Bonnie, the owner of the toys, will take them all for a ride, during which Woody will be reunited with his old friend Betty. It will be a resumption of the romance between the characters.
In one of his adventures, Buzz Lightyear will stop at an amusement park and, therefore, will be trapped together with other prizes in the booth of one of the games and will have the chance to meet Bunny and Ducky.
John Lasseter, one of the creators of the toy adventure story, claims that no other feature film, either Pixar or Disney, was produced solely for the purpose of "making money". Film sequences arise as filmmakers have other adventures to tell within the same universe.
“We love these characters, they are like family to all of us. We don't want to do anything with them unless it matches or surpasses what's been done before,” said the director.
Just like most movies have a hidden message, Toy Story 4 is no different. By being transformed into a handmade toy, with colorful strips of candy, plastic eyes and straw cleaners instead of arms, Garfinho must learn to live under a new identity.
It is believed that this is a way of showing children that each person should be as they see fit, without worrying too much about other people's opinions.
Tom Hanks commented in an interview that, during his last day of recording, he didn't even want to be seen because he was so emotional. “I have to resist the emotion because I don't want to give anything away, but the story is incredibly big… it's exciting, fun and with a great plot. The third part was amazing, but the new movie has great characters, with moments at the end of the story that are unsurpassed,” he said.