The Toy Story marathon came to TS4… and this is the bravest movie of the series, but in my opinion, it is a little below the quality of the series except TS1. TS1 laid a simple foundation, TS2 hurt with Jessie, TS3 shattered our hearts with Andy’s farewell; Toy Story 4, on the other hand, asks the question of what to do now, and while doing so, it does not quite reach the emotional peak of the series. Still a good movie.
When I first watched it, I thought “does it end the series or does it open a new door?” I thought, now when I watch it again before TS5 comes out, I understand that Pixar took a brave step here, but could not fully capture that old punch. The movie starts on Bonnie’s first day. Woody is no longer the king of the room, he is a forgotten toy in the closet. When Bonnie goes to school, she takes a handmade garbage toy called Forky with her.
Forky thinks he’s trash, he’s always running away. Woody tries to protect her, and then their paths lead to an antique store, a carnival, Bo Peep, and a group of lost toys. The story seems simple, but the themes are heavy: identity, freedom, the feeling of “I’m not wanted anymore” and a toy making its own decision. Pixar has come out on top with Animation Evolution 2019 technology. The magnificent expressions in TS3 have been transformed into incredible textures here: Forky’s paper and wire details, Bo Peep’s porcelain shards, reflections of carnival lights, raindrops…
Every frame is cinematic. The crappy 3D mud from TS1 literally turned into a work of art when it arrived here. But most importantly, it conveys the emotion. Characters and Relationships The main hero of TS4 is still Woody, but this time he is lonely and tired. After Andy, he dutifully clings to Bonnie, but slowly realizes that perhaps he needs to find his own way. Buzz, on the other hand, is learning to listen to his inner voice; Those famous scenes are both funny and deep.
Bo Peep is the biggest achievement of the movie and, in my opinion, its strongest aspect. In the first three films of the series, she was in the image of a princess waiting to be rescued as the daughter of the lost lamp. In TS4, she returns as a completely different woman: a completely free, feminist and independent character. He no longer needs anyone, he has built his own life, he is adventurous, determined and strong.
He is not waiting to save me; On the contrary, he tells Woody to find his own way. The relationship between the two is no longer a fairy tale; Two equal adult toys finding and respecting each other. Bo Peep’s free stance makes her one of the strongest female characters in the series. Pixar took a bold step here and I think it did it very well. And Forky… The smartest metaphor of the series. It asks questions of identity, value and being loved through a toy that says “I am garbage.” We both laugh and say, “Didn’t we feel like Forky too?” we say.
Music and Atmosphere Randy Newman is on stage again. The atmosphere is like a road movie: the antique shop is dark, carnival-coloured, and the finale is both sad and hopeful. The comedy dosage is high, but the emotional load remains a little lighter. Conclusion Toy Story 4 is the most controversial film in the series. Except for TS1, it remains slightly below the quality of the series; It cannot reach the emotional peak as much as TS3, some scenes are a bit long, the story cannot fully reach the magnificent punch of TS2 and TS3.
But it’s still a good movie. Because Pixar is doing something brave here: after saying it’s over, Pixar says “no, life goes on.” I was surprised while watching Woody’s decision in the final; because at that moment he is not just a cowboy, he is also talking about our fear and courage to one day leave our old role and embark on a new path. Bo Peep’s free and strong stance is the brightest aspect of the film; It clearly shows the change in Pixar’s perspective on female characters.
In my marathon, this is the point of farewell and liberation. I wanted to refresh the series before Toy Story 5 came out (June 19, 2026). While watching TS4, I realized that these movies are not just toy movies; our growth story, our fears of abandonment and our courage to start new. Forky went from trash to toy, and Woody found his own path. Even though the series takes a breather here, it’s still a closing worth watching.
To infinity and beyond…
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