Every Pixar Hero Ranked From Worst To Best

In many respects Woody is Pixar - an emblem of the boundless potential of human imagination, and on his own merits a deceptively deep character whose place in Toy Story's world only grew in poignance throughout the sequels.

Voiced so impeccably by Tom Hanks that it's impossible to imagine anyone else in the role, Woody is a perfect POV character for the audience to view these stories through.

Woody's dangerous over-protectiveness of his spot in Andy's life underlines his prevailing insecurity regarding his own impermanence, as is dealt with so affectingly in each of the sequels - especially Toy Story 3.

Paired so perfectly with his po-faced foil Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Woody develops from a selfish, self-interested toy into a more altruistic and caring character over the series, whose arc so perfectly mirrors that of a grizzled gunslinger seeing out the golden days of the Old West.