9 Horrifying Questions About Toy Story That Should Really Bother You
Think Woody's world is entirely harmless? Nope.
The Toy Story trilogy is generally considered to be some of the greatest animated movies of all time. Not only did it begin the Pixar Age back in 1995, but it is one of the few film trilogies where each movie is just as good as the last one (and arguably even better). The movies are fun, funny, and heart-warming, and are just as enjoyable for adults as they are for kids.
However, no fictional movie universe is rock-solid, and there are always either major holes in the logic of the world, or many questions that are left unaddressed. The Toy Story universe is no exception to this rule. When you stop to over-analyze the details of the universe, there are more questions than answers, and there are some pretty scary implications for the characters in that world.
Sure, these movies were meant to be an entertaining series with some deeper messages. The movies are about friendship, love, loyalty, growing up, and what it means to be a toy. They deal with the magical bond that exists between a child and his toys, where the child grows to love them and care for them and pretend they are real. And they were definitely not meant to be analyzed as they will be in this article.
But that’s what makes it more fun...
9. What Counts As A Toy?
The basic premise of Toy Story is pretty simple: the toys are secretly alive. But wait, what is a toy? Nobody disputes that action figures and dolls are definitely toys and should therefore become alive, but there are some grayer areas at play.
Can homemade toys be considered toys? How about cell phones?
Maybe toys are defined as whatever children play with, and if that’s the case, then computers, televisions, and video game consoles should certainly be considered toys and should come alive. However, at the beginning of Toy Story 2, we see Rex and Hamm playing video games, using both a controller and a monitor that do not appear to be sentient.
Well, then maybe the definition should be modified to items that have faces and bodies and look like living creatures, such as humans and animals. This makes sense, because the child perceives the toys to be alive, and it would explain why the video game consoles are not sentient, but a piggy bank is. However, we see items such as an etch-a-sketch and a Speak & Spell as sentient toys, so that possibility is shot down, too.
The fact of the matter is that it’s very unclear where the line is drawn between being a toy and not being a toy.