Pixar originally felt unsure about Toy Story 4's ending, until Tim Allen gave the writing team his stamp of approval. Toy Story was Pixar's first foray into the industry, and it made quite the impact. The original movie, released in 1995, introduced the world to Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and an array of toys that lived in Andy's room. Since then, the franchise has seen two other films, with fans ready to accept the third installment as an emotional final farewell to the motley crew. Little did they know a fourth film was already in the works. The latest addition in the Toy Story franchise follows the beloved group of toys as they set out on an adventure to save Bonnie's new favorite toy, a spork named Forky (Tony Hale). And in true Pixar fashion, it comes full-circle with a heartfelt story that has plenty to teach audiences young and old.
Currently sitting at a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has amassed positive reviews. Though many were skeptical about continuing the adventures of Woody, Buzz, and the gang, the film has been praised for focusing its lens on new characters that could potentially carry on the franchise. Not only that, but many have claimed that its ending is a perfect conclusion to the Toy Story saga, and it turns out that fans can partially thank Tim Allen for that.
In a press conference ahead of the film's release, Toy Story 4's producer Jonas Rivera explained that Allen was a major contributor in moving forward with the film's ending. According to Cinema Blend, Rivera spoke to Allen and exclaimed, "you know, Tim, we never told you this, but we actually used your reaction a little bit as inspiration," adding in that his, "reaction was like our first [clue], because we realized we were throwing the ball pretty far with that ending." He went on to discuss the team's initial hesitation with the ending, and that when they explained it to Allen, they, "saw him kind of recoil back like, “OK,” we could tell it hit you." In the end, they knew that if they, "could get Tim Allen [...] to sort of sit back and ponder it, maybe we have something there."
Pixar is no stranger to crafting stories that leave its audience with a message worth ruminating over. The Toy Story franchise has become known as one whose stories manage to keep up with its audience as they mature. Though the ending of the film has post-credit scenes, they don't necessarily set up a sequel. This decision does make sense, as Pixar recently announced that they won't be working on anymore sequels for awhile as they turn their focus inward on creating more original properties.
Bringing a close to a beloved franchise is always an emotional thing, but with a film like Toy Story 4 it makes an even bigger impact. Considering Toy Story was the film that put Pixar on the map, it carries a lot of weight, and has always remained a dependable franchise for the company. Not only that, but its narrative journey alongside its growing audience is one that many fans will remember for years to come.
Source: Cinema Blend