“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”

Mr. Potato Head shouts angrily to the lamb hostages and captured computer boards, “This is a stick-up! Now empty that safe.” Hamm the piggy bank, is shaken and down drops coins onto the floor. “Oh no, somebody do something !” cries Bo Peep. Mr. Potato Head laughs an evil laugh. “Reach for the skyyyyy,” says Sheriff Woody. Woody and Mr. Potato Head battle with their armies and he is defeated, and thrown into the white-bared crib.

Randy Newman’s, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” begins to play during Disney’s Toy Story opening scene. We watch bank robberies occur and heros save the day through the imaginative lens of 6 year old Andy. There’s a lot of magic behind all that make-believe and the Toy Story movie series show us toys being brought to life using a child’s imagination, and from a toy’s perspective, toys need children just as much as children need toys.

In addition to this opening scene, the play continues in Toy Story 2 as Andy adds new toys to his collection, evoking unfamiliar emotions such as abandonment and attachment, and in Toy Story 3, we learn the meaning of giving toys a second chance for other children to enjoy.

Meet the Team

  • Andy

    Andy loves play. Through his imagination, we're brought into a world where toys come to life and share the stories inside him.

  • Woody

    Woody is a loyal toy and Andy's favorite. He is rooted in leadership and his adventurous spirit leaves no toy behind.

    "He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind, and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special, is he'll never give up on you... ever. He'll be there for you, no matter what." -Andy (Toy Story 3)

  • Bonnie

    Bonnie is a cute, kind, and imaginative 4 year old who is the new owner of Andy's toys. Passing this legacy of toys to Bonnie gives them more time to continue being enjoyed.

  • Buzz Lightyear

    This spaceman was brought from the galaxy to defeat Emporer Zurg, but instead, he finds that his only mission is to keep Andy's toy family together.

  • Jessie

    Jessie is a cowgirl doll a part of Woody's Roundup, a vintage collection of toys that have been in storage for a long time. She is good-hearted, but sensitive to being left behind after being abandoned by a previous owner. She is rescued by Andy's toys and welcomed by a new owner.

Toy Story

“It doesn’t matter how much we’re played with. It matters that we’re here for him when he needs it.”

-Woody

Being available for Andy to play with is Woody’s passion and tries to communicate this with Andy’s other toys. He acknowledges Andy’s actions as play, and the responsibility of a toy to help create pretend play experiences. Time lends no value because it does not have a role in being present for Andy when he needs it.

Toy Story 2

“And when Andy plays with you, it’s like even though you’re not moving, you feel like you’re alive, because that’s how he sees you.”

-Jessie

In this Pixar moment, Jessie remembers play as an emotional transaction between child and toy - one that produces joy and connectivity. Although Jessie experienced the trauma of “collectibility” from adults, she recognizes emotions of sadness, fear, love, and empathy a child expresses in play. They act out their feelings, explore new ones and relate to the feelings of others - all of which Jessie embraces as a toy.

Toy Story 3

“These are mine but I’m going away now so I need someone really special to play with them,” says Andy to Bonnie.

Andy loves his toys, but he also recognizes the power of keeping their magic alive. This scene shows a love for toys from and adult and a child’s point of view. Play serves purpose in childhood. Toys, children, and imagination all deserve unlimited amounts of time to explore and be explored.