1. "So long, partner." - Toy Story 3
You can do an entire list of great moments just from the
Toy Story trilogy. Buzz accepting his place as a toy. Woody scaring Sid. The part when Woody and Buzz land in the car and are reunited with Andy. Jesse's "When Somebody Loved Me" song. Andy's home videos. The soul-crushing incinerator scene. I can go on and on about how wonderful
Toy Story - and Pixar in general - are to the point where I could probably do a 50 item list, but I'm stopping myself here. THE moment of 2010 in film. Before Luke & Han, Frodo & Sam, Batman & Gordon, or Jules & Vincent, the cinematic duo for me was Woody & Buzz.
Toy Story was the first film I saw in the theater as a kid and now, 18 years later (again, I feel old) the series is still among my favorite movies. The point is, it's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and it will always stay with me. These movies were more than just movies to me. They meant a lot. I've been following these characters forever and I've always wanted them to have a happy ending.
Toy Story 3 smartly allows itself to mature with the audience. My generation, who were young kids in 1995, were either in college or getting ready to leave for school when this film hit in 2010. By making Andy college aged, it allowed people like me to immediately relate to the story as the film dealt with themes of growing up and letting go of your childhood. After fighting their way through Sunnyside and surviving the terrors of the incinerator (not to mention all they've been through the previous two movies), the gang of toys ends up in a box to go up to the attic. Woody is set to go with Andy to college, but not before he writes a note to his owner, giving him the address to Bonnie's house. Woody - who was taken home and played with by Bonnie - knows that his friends will be happier there than in the attic. And of course, Woody himself sneaks into the box so the group can stay together. I wasn't sure what to expect when Andy pulled up to Bonnie's house, but I was not prepared for each toy getting their own individual introduction as Andy passed them on. I certainly was not prepared for Andy's emotional farewell to Woody. And I definitely wasn't ready for the montage where the toys get one last play time with Andy before he drives off to college. As I sat there fighting back tears, I knew that the little kids in my theater wouldn't appreciate this moment the way I did. "Now, you gotta promise to take good care of these guys," Andy says to Bonnie. "They... mean a lot to me." Even though Andy had grown up and outgrew playing with toys, he had them all this time because they meant so much to him. Just like they meant so much to the audience. Andy wanted to see the toys have a happy ending too. It was very important for Woody to be included here. I felt his character arc was complete after this scene. Being with his friends was the most important thing to him. They toys, as Buzz says to Lotso, are a family. So much of the
Toy Story trilogy is about the toys getting back to Andy. Ironically, perhaps beautifully, the franchise's greatest moment is when they toys let go of Andy and move on.
What Pixar moments are your favorites? Sound off in the comments below!