Toy Story 4
Woody's a good-souled toy. Bonnie doesn't pick him for playtime. Dolly overtakes his attempts to take charge. When Gabby Gabby steals his voice box, he then offers it back. He lets her keep it, and tries to make her feel better, despite all the havoc she's caused him. He gets frustrated, tired, and upset sometimes, but is always a good soul.
This film is about the value toys have for themselves independently, without attachment to their kid. The previous three Toy Story movies began with kids playing with their toys because those movies were about how toys have value when attached to their kids. The fourth film opens with a real-life sequence where the toys rescue another toy because this movie is about the value toy's hold independently.
The film challenges Woody's worldview on the purpose of being a toy. In the first Toy Story, Woody learns that it doesn't matter if he's his kids' favorite toy, but his purpose as a toy is to be played with and be there for his kids. He also teaches Buzz that he has a purpose as a toy, rather than as a space ranger. In Toy Story 2, Woody realizes that he's disposable and his kid will be done with him if he breaks down. He also realizes that his kid is going to grow up and won't play with him anymore. Buzz reminds Woody of the lesson he taught him in the previous film: that a toy's purpose is to be played with by a toy. He teaches Jessie that being played with is worth it, even though they know their kids will grow up. In Toy Story 3, Woody's kid has grown up, and he no longer has a purpose since he isn't being played with. However, he believes his loyalties are to "his" kid, not "a" kid, and decides to go to college with Andy, believing it's best for the other kids to stay in the attic, as their loyalties lie with Andy. He changes his position, realizing that a toy's purpose is to be played with by "a" kid, not only be loyal to "their" kid, and that Andy doesn't need him anymore, so it's okay for him to move to the next kid to continue his purpose as a toy.
Toy Story 4 explores how Woody changes his view on the purpose of being a toy, without nullifying the themes of the previous films. This film's opening flashback ends with Woody not pursuing a life with Bo, and the two having to separate because of their purpose as toys. Woody must be there for his kid, who, at the time of the flashback, needs him. Bo must move on to the next kid, as her kid doesn't need her anymore. The two put up an attachment because they put their purpose over their independent wants. Now, in the present, Woody isn't being played with by Bonnie, lacking purpose. Bonnie creates Forky – an arts & crafts spork that comes to life as a toy; it immediately becomes her new favorite toy. Forky sees himself as trash, not a toy, and keeps trying to go in the trash can. However, he is always stopped by Woody, who makes sure that Bonnie has Forky. On a road trip, Forky decides to jump out of the RV, and Woody is the only toy to jump out on the road to get him back. On their walk back, Forky asks Woody, "Why do I have to be a toy?", Woody replies by telling him it's because he's a toy and how lucky he is to be one. The conversation progresses to where Woody reminisces to Forky about his past with Andy, and how it was great. Toward the end, Woody starts talking sadly, saying that he had a good time with Andy, but now that Andy's gone, he feels useless and fulfilled in purpose. Forky explains to Woody their both trash. He says he likes trash because it's like a whisper in the ear that everything's gonna be okay. Woody connects this, saying the way Forky feels about trash is the way Bonnie feels about Forky. Forky then realizes that Bonnie needs him.
The Toy Story movies are a brilliant narrative. They utilize the family-friendly concept of talking toys to explore rich themes of life purpose specific to said concept. The way the films explore a toy's purpose isn't a direct correlation to that of children, parents, or other roles. It has many likenesses to both, but is able to be a theme unique to toys. Toy Story 4 continues the narrative's brilliance while also effectively challenging it. The previous films conclude with the point that a toy's purpose is to be played with by a kid. Toy Story 3 relatively challenged the first two by separating loyalty and purpose, while still upholding the point that a toy's purpose is to be played with by a child. Toy Story 4 further challenges the idea that has been the point of the narrative, by showing and concluding with the point that toys can have an independent purpose beyond being played with by kids. Woody helps Forky embrace his purpose as a toy, showing that he has a purpose not only to be played with by kids, but also to help other toys realize their own purpose. He makes Gabby Gabby realize that she should try to find other kids rather than focusing on only one.
This film doesn't nullify the themes of the previous films. In the original Toy Story, Woody tells Buzz that just because he's not a space ranger and is a toy, it doesn't mean he's _ as his kid Andy loves him not because he's a space ranger, but because he's a toy. Woody learns to put aside his jealousy that Buzz isn't Andy's favorite toy, and still be there for Andy. In Toy Story 2, Woody begins to realize that Andy's growing up, and Woody won't be there for him.
