It was the first place viewers around the world were introduced to Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the Toy Story cast. It's a reflection of a young boy's growing imagination and interests as he matured.
It's none other than the room of Andy Davis and while it's only a minor background for the first three entries in the series, there's more going on than meets the eye. The creative team at Pixar love hiding various winks and nods to the audience in their films, and Andy's room is no exception.
Hidden Mickey Watch
Hidden Mickeys are a dime a dozen, but as the first official Pixar film released by the House of Mouse, they had to feature one somewhere. This one might not be the most well-hidden, but it's certainly one many viewers have seen in their time. Just before Buzz jumps off the bed and onto the racing track in his first flight attempt, a Mickey watch clock can be seen mounted on the wall beside the bed.
Pixar Shorts On The Bookshelf
This one might have gone over a few heads at the time, but after the invention of DVD special features, fans started to pick up on this little nod to the studio's early days.
As Woody is holding his staff meeting in the first film, there is a collection of books on the shelf behind him with titles like Knick Knack, Tin Toy, and Red's Dream. True Disney buffs will know these as names of not book titles, but early Pixar short films.
First Film Appearance Of The Luxo Ball
Toy Story also marked the appearance of a simple object that would soon become one of the symbols of the Pixar name. The Luxo Ball was first rendered as a prop for the short film, Luxo Jr., but since then, it's become practically a recurring cast member in almost every Pixar film that followed. And its first appearance was none other than in Andy's room.
Andy's Wallpaper Became Iconic After One Movie
Aside from the toy characters, what's the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of Andy's room? That oh-so-familiar cloud wallpaper.
Nowadays, anytime that print is seen anywhere else, Disney property or otherwise, thoughts instantly turn to Toy Story. However, the sea of clouds has not only been reused after one entry in the series, but it's also gotten cameos in films like Monsters Inc. And that's not the only place to do a little cloud gazing.
It Was Even Mirrored In The Sequels
Although the clouds only truly appeared in the first film, they were referenced and nodded to afterward. In both the second and third movies, the viewers can see that Andy exchanged the clouds for stars, still keeping with the sky theme. They might also notice a familiar cloud shape taking form in the background of Bonnie's room as one of her finger paintings as well.
There’s A Nemo Sticker On The Toybox
As mentioned before, Pixar loves referencing their past work, and now that Andy's a college kid wanting to express himself, his bedroom was now a better place than ever to sneak a few things in.
One such tidbit came in the form of a sticker that found its way onto his childhood toy box that resembles a very familiar clownfish. Could Andy have found Nemo?
And A Monsters Inc. Logo On His Door
That's not the only sticker that was used during Andy's redecoration. Andy might be getting ready to leave for college, but it also looks like there's another university that might have garnered Andy's interest. On his door can be seen a sticker or decal of the Monsters Inc. logo. Perhaps it was a souvenir from a recruiter living in the kid's closet? It's anyone's guess.
There’s A Postcard From Carl & Ellie On Andy’s Board
This one definitely takes an eagle eye or two to find, but it can certainly be found with the right timing. In Toy Story 3, as Woody is looking at some of Andy's drawings on his board, amidst the photos, drawings, and certificates, there's a postcard from Carl and Ellie Fredricksen from Pixar's Up.
The question is, how on earth do they know each other? Perhaps they both made it to Paradise Falls after all?
The Map Has The Hometowns Of The Production Team
That's not the only thing Andy has displayed on his bedroom walls as a college kid, as there's one feature that breaks the fourth wall for those who pay attention. Behind Andy's bed is a large map with several pins across the USA. That's not too strange for kids with a desire to travel, but these pins aren't placed at random. Each pin is the hometown of a member of the production team.
Andy Might Be A Future Pixar Animator
Speaking of the production team, there's evidence scattered throughout Andy's room in Toy Story 3 that he isn't just going to college, but has desires to be a Pixar artist. There are various drawings and prizes for Andy's artwork on the board, stickers of Pixar films adorn his dwelling, and he could possibly be going to college to hone his craft before working at Pixar. A little meta, but it seems logical.