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Bo Peep saves Woody in the first trailer for 'Toy Story 4'

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toy story 4 trailer bo peep woody

  • The first official trailer for Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story 4," which hits theaters on Friday, June 21, was released on Tuesday.
  • The latest installment will include familiar faces, like Hamm, the aliens, Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, and Rex.
  • The movie also introduces a new toy named Forky, who Bonnie created at school using a spork, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners. The problem is that Forky doesn't consider himself a toy, so he escapes and Woody chases after him.
  • During their adventure, Woody also reunites with Bo Peep, who rescues him and Forky from some creepy dolls in a shop using her staff.
  • Watch the full trailer below. 

 

 

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People think Andy looks like he's had plastic surgery in the trailer for 'Toy Story 4'

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Toy Story 4

  • The official trailer for "Toy Story 4" dropped on Tuesday out of nowhere, and people have a lot of feelings about it.
  • Many have noticed that Andy, the toys' original kid, has had quite the transformation over the years.
  • Some joked that he's had facial plastic surgery to look different, while others say Pixar must have forgotten what he looked like.
  • However, in the latest trailer, we could be looking at Andy's son, rather than the original Andy.
  • Or Pixar's technology has just gotten better and the creators thought Andy needed an upgrade.

Disney Pixar dropped the full trailer for "Toy Story 4" on Tuesday, and everyone who grew up in the 90s has a lot of feelings about it.

Nobody thought there could be an ending sadder than that of "Toy Story 3," but it turns out Woody's self doubt and the existentialism of a plastic spork asking why it's alive could result in a movie that has us sobbing even harder.

But there's something else in the trailer that has people scratching their heads — flashbacks of the toys' original kid Andy.

In the original films, Andy looked remarkably different than he does in the trailer.

He still has the same bright blue eyes, but his face shape is much more round.

Andy

Fans on Twitter were quick to point out the changes, suggesting Pixar had forgotten what Andy actually looked like.

"Andy had plastic surgery!?" tweeted one person, while another said: "Andy from Toy Story will go down in history as the youngest child on Earth to go through intense facial reconstruction surgery 4 times."

However, others put forward the theory that it could actually be a fast forward, not a flashback.

The trailer shows the boy playing with Buzz and Jessie in a room with Andy's recognizable posters, wallpaper, and red lamp, but some have suggested this could be because it's Andy's son.

Read more: Every Pixar movie, ranked — here's how 'Finding Dory' stacks up

Of course, it could simply be because Pixar's technology gets better and better, and the creators decided Andy needed an upgrade.

Whatever the reason for Andy's transformation, "Toy Story 4" is set to be an emotional rollercoaster when it's released on June 21 2019, so get the tissues ready.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has never reached a Champions League semi-final the same year a 'Toy Story' film has been released

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Cristiano Ronaldo and toy Story

There's a wild theory going around that suggests Pixar Animated Studios could be to blame for Cristiano Ronaldo's inability to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Pixar is renowned for its popular "Toy Story" franchise. One of its earliest lines from iconic character Buzz Lightyear, "to infinity and beyond," has become ingrained in modern pop culture.

But whenever Pixar releases a "Toy Story" movie, Ronaldo cannot get beyond the quarter-final stage, let alone to infinity.

Pixar released a "Toy Story" movie in 1995, 1999, 2010, and 2019. And, as Duncan Alexander, an Opta data cruncher says on Twitter, Ronaldo has reached the Champions League semi-final in every single year from 2007 onwards "except ones in which a Toy Story film has been released."

Ronaldo, of course, was dumped out of the Champions League in the quarter-final stage this season by a young but talented Ajax team.

Ronaldo scored in each game of the two-legged tie this month, but watched powerless as Juventus surrendered its advantage at home in Turin. Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt, two of Ajax's brightest stars, scored critical goals and engineered an unlikely victory.

Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo's goals don't change the fact that his game remains in long-term decline

The only other year Ronaldo failed to reach the final four was in 2010 when he was playing for Real Madrid. Between February and March of that year, Real played Olympique Lyonnais twice but were knocked out having lost 2-1 on aggregate.

The Toy Story curse is eerily similar to the jinx that haunts the Canadian rapper Drake.

Drake has pledged support to the University of Kentucky and Toronto Rapters basketball teams, but neither side has enjoyed championship success since.

He even held the Irish flag aloft for Conor McGregor at a UFC weigh-in, just before the Irishman ended up losing to his lightweight rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Read more:Italian football club AS Roma has banned its players from taking pictures with Drake because he's so unlucky

An Italian soccer club, AS Roma, jokingly tweeted that it has now banned its players from taking pictures with Drake because he's so unlucky.

It is unlikely Juventus will be able to prevent Pixar from releasing more "Toy Story" movies in the future, but fortunately for them there are no plans, as of yet, for "Toy Story 5."

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Disney has 63 movies in the works for the next decade — here they all are

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  • Walt Disney Studios has released a list of scheduled movies through 2027. 
  • In addition to "Star Wars" movies and Marvel projects, Disney now has films from Fox. 
  • Disney acquired Fox film studios (20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures, and Blue Sky Studios) in 2019. 

Walt Disney Studios plans on keeping viewers in theaters for years to come. 

The company released an updated calendar of their scheduled movies through 2027. 

In addition to its slate of Disney animated movies and live-action movies, the studio also releases Pixar movies, "Star Wars" films, and Marvel movies. With the company's acquisition of Fox studios, which includes 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures, and Blue Sky Studios, in 2019, they gained control of a number of upcoming projects and franchises. 

Fox's "Avatar" movies and "X-Men" films are now Disney's, as well. 

Here are the 63 movies currently scheduled through 2027. 

The biographical film "Tolkien" centers on the early life of author J.R.R. Tolkien.

Release date: May 10, 2019

The movie centers on Tolkien during his school years as he forged friendships and follows him through his time serving in World War I.

Nicholas Hoult stars as Tolkien, and Lily Collins plays his eventual wife, Edith Bratt. 



"Aladdin" is a live-action remake of Disney's original hit movie about Aladdin (played by Mena Massoud), a young man who finds a magic lamp that holds Genie (Will Smith).

Release date: May 24, 2019

New songs will be featured in the movie along with the original musical numbers. The CGI version of Genie is still blue, which caused some controversy when it was first revealed. 

The movie also stars Naomi Scott as Jasmine and Marwan Kenzari as Jafar. 



Jean Grey struggles to control her new abilities and leans into the darkness in "Dark Phoenix."

Release date: June 7, 2019

The "X-Men" film is a sequel to "X-Men: Apocalypse" and takes place around 10 years after the events of that film.

The cast of the prequel films, including James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, and Michael Fassbender, also return. 



Andy's old toys go on a new adventure in "Toy Story 4."

Release date: June 21, 2019

The old toy gang find themselves on a road trip where they're reunited with Bo Peep and also meet a new friend named Forky, who doesn't think of himself as a toy because he's a utensil. 



Fox's "Stuber" is about an Uber driver who picks up a cop on the hunt for a killer.

Release date: July 12, 2019

The violent comedy stars Dave Bautista as the cop and Kumail Nanjiani as the Uber driver, while Iko Uwais, Natalie Morales, Jimmy Tatro, and Karen Gillan also star. 



Disney's "The Lion King" is getting the live-action treatment.

Release date: July 19, 2019

CGI versions of Simba, Nala, Mufasa, Timon, Pumba, and every other character from the classic cartoon movie are hitting the big screen in July with both old and new songs.

The cast includes Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Seth Rogan, Billy Eichner, Chiwetel Ejiofor, James Earl Jones, John Oliver, and Alfre Woodard.  



Fox's "The Art of Racing In the Rain," based on the novel of the same name, now has a release date.

Release date: August 9, 2019

The film is about a dog as he lives his life with his owner, a race car driver. 

Milo Ventimiglia and Amanda Seyfried star in the movie, while Kevin Costner voices the dog. 



"Ready or Not" is an upcoming thriller from Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Release date: August 23, 2019

A bride (Samara Weaving) becomes ensnared in a deadly game as she joins her new husband's (Mark O'Brien) family for an unexpected tradition.

Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, and Andie MacDowell also star. 



Fox's sci-fi film "Ad Astra" has been pushed to September.

Release date: September 20, 2019

Brad Pitt plays the son of a man (played by Tommy Lee Jones) who went missing in space after going on a mission to Neptune to search of other life. 

Ruth Negga and Donald Sutherland also star. 



Fox's "The Woman In the Window" is based on the thriller novel of the same name.

Release date: October 4, 2019

Amy Adams plays a child psychologist with agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder that prevents her from venturing outside. She witnesses a crime while spying on her neighbors and must reckon with what she has seen. 

Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, Bruan Tyree Henry, and Anthony Mackie also star. 



Disney's "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" is a sequel to 2014's "Maleficent."

Release date: October 18, 2019

"Maleficent" was an origin story for the "Sleeping Beauty" villain (played by Angelina Jolie) and the sequel follows her relationship with Aurora (Elle Fanning). 

Michelle Pfeiffer, Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville, Sam Riley, Juno Temple, and Chiwetel Ejiofor also star. 



Fox's "Ford v. Ferrari" centers on the real story behind the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Release date: November 15, 2019

Matt Damon plays Carroll Shelby, a car designer hired by Ford to create a car that could defeat Ferrari in a race. Shelby created the GT40. 

The film also stars Christian Bale, Caitriona Balfe, and Jon Bernthal. 



Queen Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven will adventure outside of Arendelle in "Frozen II."

Release date: November 22, 2019

Voice actors Idina Menzel (Elsa)Kristen Bell (Anna)Jonathan Groff (Kristoff)Josh Gad (Olaf), and Santino Fontana (Hans) are all returning for the "Frozen" sequel and will be joined by Evan Rachel Wood and Sterling K. Brown in unknown roles. 



"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" is the third and final installment in the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy.

Release date: December 20, 2019

The film takes place about a year after the events of "The Last Jedi" as the Resistance continues to fight the First Order. 

The returning cast includes Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, and Kelly Marie Tran. Billy Dee Williams returns from the original series as Lando, while Keri Russell and Richard E. Grant have joined the cast. Carrie Fisher will appear as Leia Organa in previously shot footage



"Spies in Disguise" is an animated film from Fox.

Release date: December 25, 2019

Will Smith voices Lance, a super spy who's transformed into a pigeon as a disguise. 

Tom Holland, Rashida Jones, Karen Gillan, and DJ Khaled also lend their voices to the film. 



Fox's "Underwater" is an action film about a crew of underwater researchers.

Release date: January 10, 2020

The researchers must act when their laboratory is nearly destroyed by an earthquake. 

Kristen Stewart, Jessica Henwick, Mamoudo Athie, and John Gallagher Jr. star in the movie.



Fox will release a third, currently untitled, "Kingsman" movie.

Release date: February 14, 2020

It was earlier reported that Matthew Vaughn's "Kingsman" prequel, "The Great Game," would be moving forward at Disney, with Vaughn also having plans for another movie to follow the second in the main series. The calendar says "untitled" as of now, though. 



Fox's "Call of the Wild" will be a live-action and CGI movie based on Jack London's novel of the same name.

Release date: February 21, 2020

The story is about a dog stolen off his family's property and sold as a sled dog. 

Harrison Ford, Karen Gillan, Dan Stevens, and Bradley Whitford will star in the movie. 



Disney and Pixar's "Onward" is set to be an animated film in which humans aren't real.

Release date: March 6, 2020

The film instead centers on creatures such as elves, unicorns, and trolls. 

Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, and Octavia Spencer will voice characters in the film. 



Disney's live-action "Mulan" is an adaptation of the animated movie of the same name.

Release date: March 27, 2020

The film follows a young woman who disguises herself as a man, takes her father's place in war, and saves China. 

The cast includes Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen, Yoson An, Jet Li, and Jason Scott Lee. 



Fox's "The New Mutants" has been pushed back once again.

Release date: April 3, 2020

The horror superhero movie was set for a 2019 release but has been moved to 2020. The film is another installment in the "X-Men" series and centers on a group of young mutants being held in a secret facility. 

Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton, Henry Zaga, Blu Hunt, and Alice Braga star. 



Following "Avengers: Endgame" and "Spider-Man: Far From Home" in 2019, Disney is releasing another Marvel film in May 2020.

Release date: May 1, 2020

The currently untitled movie could possibly be the Black Widow movie currently in the works with Scarlett Johansson returning as her character. 



Disney's "Artemis Fowl" has been pushed to 2020.

Release date: May 29, 2020

The film is an adaptation of the fantasy novels of the same name that follows a young boy and his bodyguard as they try to rescue his criminal dad. 

The cast includes Ferdia Shaw, Judi Dench, Josh Gad, Nonso Anozie, and Hong Chau. 



Disney/Pixar is releasing an untitled Pixar film in 2020.

Release date: June 19, 2020

Details for the movie are currently unknown. 



Fox's "Free Guy" is about a man who works at a bank and discovers he's actually a character in a video game.

Release date: July 3, 2020

Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, and Utkarsh Ambudkar star. 



Fox's "Bob's Burgers" movie has an official release date.

Release date: July 17, 2020

The voice actors from the TV show are all playing their characters, including H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts, and Kristen Schaal.



Disney's "Jungle Cruise" is based on the ride of the same name from the Disney parks.

Release date: July 24, 2020

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays a 1930s riverboat captain who goes on an exploratory mission into the jungle. 

Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall, Paul Giamatti, Édgar Ramírez, and Jesse Plemons also star. 



Disney's "The One and Only Ivan" is based on the children's story of the same name.

Release date: August 14, 2020

The children's story centers on a gorilla named Ivan who lives in a cage at a mall. 

The cast includes Bryan Cranston, Ariana Greenblatt, Indira Varma, and Ramon Rodriguez, while the voice cast includes Sam Rockwell, Brooklyn Prince, Angelina Jolie, Danny DeVito, and Helen Mirren. 



Fox's "Death on the Nile" is a movie adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel of the same name.

Release date: October 9, 2020

The Hercule Poirot film includes Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Kenneth Branagh, and Tom Bateman. 



Disney will release a second Marvel movie in 2020.

Release date: November 6, 2020

Marvel's "The Eternals" has already cast Angelina Jolie and Kumail Nanjiani, so maybe that could be coming in 2020. 



Fox's "Ron's Gone Wrong" is an animated film about a boy whose robot friend doesn't work right.

Release date: November 6, 2020

The only cast member currently announced is Thomas Barbusca. 



Disney has planned another animation film in 2020.

Release date: November 25, 2020

"Ralph Breaks the Internet" is the most recent Disney animated film that came out. 



Fox's "West Side Story" is a remake of the movie based on the Broadway musical.

Release date: December 18, 2020

The cast includes Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, Corey Stoll, Brian d'Arcy James, and Rita Moreno, who starred in the original movie. 



Disney's "Cruella" will serve as an origin story of Cruella de Vil.

Release date: December 23, 2020

Emma Stone will be the villain from the animated classic "The 101 Dalmations." 



Disney has another untitled Marvel film planned for 2021.

Release date: February 12, 2021

A "Black Panther" sequel is expected in the upcoming years. 



Fox's "Nimona" is based on a web comic from Noelle Stevenson.

Release date: March 5, 2021

The comic was published in a graphic novel in 2015 and centers on Nimona, a shapeshifter who also works as a sidekick to a supervillain. 



Disney will release another live-action movie in 2021.

Release date: March 12, 2021

Director Jon Favreau is working on a sequel to "The Jungle Book," so fans can expect that at some point. 



Disney will continue making Marvel movies and will release another in May 2021.

Release date: May 7, 2021

A sequel to "Doctor Strange" is expected at some point. 



Disney is continuing its production of live-action movies with another currently untitled film in 2021.

Release date: May 28, 2021

"Game of Thrones" writer/producer Bryan Cogman is writing a live-action remake of "The Sword In the Stone," so that's one possibility. 



Disney isn't slowing down its animated slate because they have another untitled Pixar film set for June 2021.

Release date: June 18, 2021

"Cars 3" director Brian Fee is reportedly working on another Pixar film. 



Disney will release a fifth "Indiana Jones" movie in 2021.

Release date: July 9, 2021

Harrison Ford will return as Indiana Jones. 



Disney is adding another live-action movie in July 2021.

Release date: July 30, 2021

Director Stephen Chbosky is reportedly working on a live-action Prince Charming film so that is one option for a 2021 release. 



Disney scheduled another live-action movie just three months later.

Release date: October 8, 2021

"Peter Pan" is reportedly getting the live-action treatment



Disney is adding another Marvel movie in November 2021.

Release date: November 5, 2021

Marvel is planning a "Shang-Chi" movie based on the comics about a hero often called the "Master of Kung Fu." Destin Daniel Cretton is directing the film so that can be expected soon. 



Disney has another animated film set for the end of 2021.

Release date: November 24, 2021

Lin-Manuel Miranda and "Zootopia" co-director Byron Howard are reportedly working on a new Disney animated movie



Fox's "Avatar 2" finally has a release date 12 years after the first movie.

Release date: December 17, 2021

"Avatar 2" is just one of at least four sequels planned for the "Avatar" franchise. 



Disney has scheduled more Marvel movies through 2022.

Release date: February 18, 2022

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" is guaranteed to come out within the next few years. 



Disney and Pixar will release another animated film in March 2022.

Release date: March 18, 2022

Domee Shi, who directed the Pixar short "Bao," is reportedly working on a full-length film for the studio. 



Disney is, of course, continuing with more Marvel movies.

Release date: May 6, 2022

A "Captain Marvel" sequel is expected in the next few years. 



Disney has another live-action movie planned for 2022.

Release date: May 27, 2022

In 2015, it was reported that Reese Witherspoon would star in a live-action movie about Tinker Bell. 



Disney and Pixar have another movie planned for 2022.

Release date: June 17, 2022

"The Incredibles 2" is the most recent Pixar film that has been released. 



Disney has a number of live-action movies planned and another is scheduled for July 2022.

Release date: July 8, 2022

"Paddington" director Paul King is reportedly directing a live-action "Pinocchio" film.



Disney's Marvel releases aren't ending anytime soon.

Release date: July 29, 2022

A sequel to "Ant-Man and the Wasp" could be expected in the next few years. 



Disney will release another live-action movie in October 2022.

Release date: October 7, 2022

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are reportedly working on new music for a live-action "Snow White" movie. 



They'll follow it up with another live-action movie in November.

Release date: November 4, 2022

Disney is reportedly working on a live-action movie centered on the Chernabog from "Fantasia."



That same month, Disney will release an animated film.

Release date: November 23, 2022

"Meet the Robinsons" director Stephen Anderson is reportedly working on an animated film for Disney. 



Disney is jumping back into "Star Wars" movies in 2022.

Release date: December 16, 2022

"The Last Jedi" director Rian Johnson is developing another "Star Wars" trilogy



Disney will release another live-action movie in 2023.

Release date: February 17, 2023

"Lilo and Stitch" is reportedly getting the live-action treatment soon. 



Fox's "Avatar 3" will be released in 2023.

Release date: December 22, 2023

"Avatar 3" started shooting simultaneously with "Avatar 2." 



Disney will continue with "Star Wars" movies through 2024.

Release date: December 20, 2024

It's unclear if these will be part of the new trilogy or stand-alone movies. 



"Avatar 4" is already scheduled.

Release date: December 19, 2025

Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana star in the "Avatar" movies. 



A third "Star Wars" movie is planned for 2026.

Release date: December 18, 2026

The "Star Wars" universe is not over. 



Fox's "Avatar 5" will hit the big screen in 2027.

Release date: December 17, 2027

James Cameron had ideas for "Avatar 2" and "Avatar 3" in 2010. He then announced "Avatar 4" in 2012 and then revealed he had ideas for a fifth in 2015. 



We have our first sign 'Toy Story 4' will be a massive hit, and could beat 'Incredibles 2' at the box office

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  • "Toy Story 4" broke Fandango and Atom Tickets' first-day presales records for an animated movie after tickets went on sale on Tuesday.
  • The movie outsold "Incredibles 2," the previous record holder, which went on to earn $182 million in its opening weekend.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Pixar's "Toy Story 4" is on its way to becoming a massive box-office hit.

The movie, which comes to theaters on June 21, broke ticket service Fandango's first-day presales record for an animated movie, the company announced on Thursday. Tickets went on sale on Tuesday, and it outsold the previous record holder, "Incredibles 2," in its first 24 hours. It also broke the same record for Atom Tickets, which said that "Toy Story 4"sold nearly 50% more tickets than the top three animated movie presellers combined in the first day.

READ MORE: Disney's movie release shake-up shows how it will dominate Hollywood for years to come, from 'Avatar' to 'Star Wars'

"Incredibles 2" scored $182 million domestically on its opening weekend last year, and went on to earn $1.2 billion worldwide. "Toy Story 4"  is also outpacing another Pixar sequel, "Finding Dory," which made $135 million in its debut in the US.

The movie's predecessor, "Toy Story 3," was also a sensation when it was released in 2010. It earned $110 million (before inflation) in its opening weekend and eventually grossed over $1 billion worldwide.

Disney is already on a hot streak this year. "Avengers: Endgame"broke Fandango's first-day and first-week presales records, and sold five times as many presale tickets as last year's "Avengers: Infinity War." The movie is currently the second-biggest movie of all time.

The three biggest box-office openings of the year all belong to Disney: "Endgame,""Captain Marvel," and, most recently, "Aladdin." With movies like "Toy Story 4" and "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" still to come, Disney could reak its personal record and top $7 billion at the worldwide box office again (it's the only studio to ever do so, and did it in 2018 and 2016).

SEE ALSO: Arnold Schwarzenegger on starring in Stan Lee's final project and if he's sore from that dropkick that went viral

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9 'Finding Nemo' plot points that are scientifically accurate

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  • "Finding Nemo" came out in 2003 and was beloved for its storyline and (somewhat) accurate depiction of life in the ocean.
  • Clownfish really do look like that and live in sea anemones. 
  • There is a "whale language" though Dory probably can't speak it.
  • Marlin probably could survive being stung in the forest of jellyfish because of a protective layer of mucus that clownfish have.
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

The 2003 Pixar movie "Finding Nemo" struck a chord with audiences for its heartwarming story and (somewhat) accurate depiction of the underwater kingdom. 

The movie — which spawned its own hilarious sequel, "Finding Dory"— introduced viewers to a diverse cast of sea creatures based on the real animals of the Great Barrier Reef.

Pixar movies are known for their long production timelines, but how accurate was the portrayal of sea life, especially since the movie's characters are species living off the coast of Australia?

INSIDER took a look at some of the real-life facts the movie gets right.

Marlin and Nemo are both clownfish. They each have three white stripes outlined in black and look like carbon copies of each other.



There are 30 recognized species of clownfish. Marlin and Nemo are Ocellaris clownfish, a type of orange clownfish that live in sea anemones, just like in the movie.

This type of clownfish is typically 3 to 4 inches long with bright orange coloring and white stripes outlined in black.

Clownfish are covered in a thin layer of mucus, making them immune to the sting of their anemone homes (a habitat, in the definition of a symbiotic relationship, the clownfish cannot survive without). The tiny fish eat the algae off the anemone and provide nutrients through waste, while the anemone provides natural protection for the clownfish against predators with its stinging tentacles.

Clownfish are also considered native to the Great Barrier Reef.



Coral, Nemo's mother, and Marlin had over 400 baby fish eggs they were protecting in the beginning of the movie.

Marlin and Coral lay their eggs near the sea anemone they call home. Before a barracuda attack kills Coral and all of their eggs except one, Marlin and Coral joke about naming all of their children.



On average, clownfish can lay up to 1,000 eggs.

On average, clownfish can lay between 100 and 1,000 eggs, according to LiveScience, so Marlin and Coral's egg number is on the lower side.

That said, clownfish do lay their eggs near their sea anemone or coral habitats in batches, just like in "Finding Nemo."



Bruce, a great white shark, has several rows of animated teeth in the film.



Most shark species have several rows of teeth.

In the movie, Bruce is a great white shark, which typically has around 300 teeth. Sharks are constantly shedding and growing new teeth.

Bruce's supposedly fish-tolerant shark friends, Chum and Anchor, are a mako shark and a hammerhead shark, respectively. It's worth pointing out that most sharks hunt alone, so Chum, Anchor, and Bruce would probably not be hanging out together.



In "Finding Nemo," Dory becomes fascinated by a glowing light that belongs to an anglerfish.

Dory becomes fascinated by the light (her "squishy") and follows it until she realizes it's on the end of the dorsal fin of a very terrifying anglerfish trying to eat her.



The anglerfish's glowing "lure" has a bewitching effect on fish.

Anglerfish use their signature and natural lure to hook tasty pray into their orbit. The lure is a piece of dorsal spine that hovers above females and appears similar to a fishing hook with a juicy, glowing worm at the end.

The male anglerfish, on the other hand, assumes an appearance quite different than the female. Generally, the male anglerfish is much smaller and goes without the female's captivating appendage.



Marlin and Dory must swim through a trench in the ocean to get to Sydney, Australia.

Dory and Marlin are told by a school of moonfish to go through the trench to reach Sydney, Australia. They say not to go over because of the jellyfish.



Trenches and canyons are common on the ocean floor.

Trenches, which are steep-sided structures formed by the Earth's shifting tectonic plates, are very much what they look like in "Finding Nemo": extremely dark and deep.

These depressions in the oceanic floor can occur as far down as 24,000 feet to 36,000 feet from the water's surface.

The one Marlin and Dory swam through was likely a submarine canyon, and not quite as deep.



Marlin must get through a sea of jellyfish in the film to save Dory.

He makes it through even though he appears to get stung multiple times.



In fact, Marlin was pretty well prepared to take on jellyfish as a clownfish.

The sting of a jellyfish can be deadly — but maybe not for a prepared clownfish.

Jellyfish are in the same phylum as sea anemones, where clownfish make their home. Both jellyfish and sea anemones are cnidarians, classified as an organism with an opening with a ring of tentacles surrounding it.

If you want to get technical, jellyfish are in the medusa phase (a free-swimming structure) while anemones are in the polyp phase (an attaching structure). 

The layer of mucus on a clownfish that protects them from sea anemones could be what protected Marlin in the movie.



Dory and Marlin meet friendly sea turtles and take the East Australian Current as a sort of underwater highway.

Crush the sea turtle tells Marlin and Dory that the EAC will help them reach Sydney faster. In the movie, it looks like a type of warp-speed highway for aquatic life.



The East Australian Current is real and actually traveled by fish in the summer.

The East Australian Current, or EAC, is a very real thing, according to The Conversation. The current on the east side of the Australian coast that flows in a southward direction from the Great Barrier Reef. EAC transports more than 40 million cubic meters of water each second.

As for fish "riding" the EAC the way they do in the movie, some scientists say they have seen tropical fish "hitching a ride" on the current, though it is not quite as fast as it appears in the movie.



Dory speaks whale in "Finding Nemo."

In one of the most famous scenes from the movie, Dory says she is able to speak whale, oscillating her tones to mimic a whale's sonar.



Whales and fish do communicate by speaking their own language, of sorts. (Though Dory's version is definitely played up for laughs.)

A (somewhat) accurate fact, whales communicate by using sonar waves, which is part of their echolocation abilities, or using distinct sounds to discern surroundings. Sperm whales, one study says, could have their own language that varies by each clan.

Fish also communicate through specific sounds, most commonly fish and invertebrates communicate via clicks and rhythmic noises — including grunts, croaks, and snaps.



Scuba divers like Dr. Sherman who capture marine life for sport are doing a disservice to these habitats.

Poaching, which is different than mere recreational diving, can be a scourge to marine life, especially in the endangered Great Barrier Reef.

Like the Aussie dentist, Dr. Sherman, poachers and divers who usurp marine life for their own purposes can severely damage the thriving ecosystem that is the Reef, notably by bringing in foreign influences and disturbing the natural state of the environment.

Just like Dr. Sherman didn't realize he was separating Marlin and Nemo, humans may not realize we're damaging aquatic wildlife.



'Toy Story 4' is an action-packed entry to the beloved franchise and will get the summer box office back on track

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  • "Toy Story 4" is a worthy addition to the beloved Pixar franchise.
  • The feel of the movie is a mix of the heartfelt storytelling from the first three movies mixed with the action-adventure vibe of the franchise TV specials and shorts released after "Toy Story 3."
  • And the new characters like Forky (voiced by "Veep" star Tony Hale), Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves), and Ducky and Bunny (Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, respectively) are scene stealers.
  • The "Toy Story" franchise has been on hiatus in the feature film space for close to a decade, but that shouldn't affect its box office.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

Nine years after the release of "Toy Story 3," the lovable toys that launched Pixar into a giant in the animation space are back and show little wear.

At the start of "Toy Story 4" (opening in theaters June 20), the gang are living comfortably with their new owner, Bonnie (voiced by Madeleine McGraw). Remember, at the end of "Toy Story 3," before Andy left for college, he donated his toys to her. The love for the toys Bonnie has is evident, but Woody (Tom Hanks) certainly isn't the top dog in her room like he was in Andy's. Bonnie even takes the sheriff badge off Woody and pins it on Jessie (Joan Cusack). And if that isn't demoralizing enough for Woody, he's discarded into the closet with the other toys Bonnie doesn't play with much anymore.

And this is when the movie becomes great.

Director Josh Cooley (an "Inside Out" screenwriter) and the Pixar team know Woody would get upset for being neglected and would do things to get back in Bonnie's favor. But how do you show that without rehashing the storyline of the original "Toy Story" movie when Woody is jealous of Andy's new toy Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen)? What if Woody befriends a new toy instead? And what if that new toy doesn't even know it's a toy?

Toy Story 4 Disney2This leads to one of the most touching moments in the movie (and we're only 15 minutes in). Bonnie is upset about going to orientation for kindergarten, and Woody feels having a toy there may comfort her, though the other toys reject the idea. However, Woody sneaks into Bonnie's backpack and goes along with her. But it's less to be seen by Bonnie and more to give a helping hand. For instance, in arts and crafts class, when Bonnie is sitting by herself with no art supplies to make anything, it's Woody who dives into the garbage and throws out some crayons and other materials for Bonnie to come across and create something.

And that something turns out to be Forky, who she instantly loves. Woody has now found his purpose as Bonnie's toy: To make her happy he has to make sure that nothing happens to Forky.

But things become a challenge because Forky (voiced by "Veep" star Tony Hale) does not think he's a toy. He thinks he's trash because that's where Woody originally found him. So Forky's purpose is to get back in a trash can.

Read more: Experts say the "X-Men" franchise will rebound after the "Dark Phoenix" disaster — here are 2 major reasons why

Forky's mission becomes a gag through much of the beginning of the movie as Bonnie and her parents go on vacation in their RV. Woody spends most of the trip trying to keep Forky from ending up in the trash until finally Forky has had enough and jumps out of the window of the moving RV. Woody follows and that's where the movie becomes great again as Bo Peep (Annie Potts), who was thought to be a toy that was broken or donated as she didn't appear in "Toy Story 3," comes back into Woody's life.

Toy Story 4 Disney3In many ways, "Toy Story 4" highlights the two ways the franchise tells its stories. The first half of the movie has a structured feel similar to the previous feature films, while the second half has the sharp action-adventure feel of the 22-minute TV specials and shorts that were produced after the release of "3." Mixed together, the movie feels like more of an action-adventure tale than the previous movies, but with the same emotional tug that will make you go through a box of tissues while watching it.

And along with Forky, there are other new characters that are major scene stealers. Keanu Reeves voices Duke Caboom, the action figure of Canada's greatest stuntman; Christina Hendricks plays Gabby Gabby, a doll in need of a new voice box; while Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele play the plush toys Ducky (Key) and Bunny (Peele), who both share a hilariously dark imagination.

The "Toy Story" franchise has been on hiatus in the feature film space for close to a decade, but that shouldn't affect its box office. "Finding Dory" was released 13 years after "Finding Nemo" and went on to make over $1 billion worldwide. Disney/Pixar should expect the same kind of performance from Woody and the gang.

And it's much needed, as the summer box office is currently slumping with consecutive weekends when movies like "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" and "Dark Phoenix" underperformed at the domestic box office. It looks like that will continue this weekend with the release of "Men In Black: International," which is sporting the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of any "MIB" movie in the franchise with 30%.

SEE ALSO: "Men in Black: International" could be the sleeper hit of the summer

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Tony Hale talks about playing fan-favorite Forky in 'Toy Story 4' and how coping with real-life anxieties led to his upcoming Netflix show

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  • Tony Hale, known for his roles on "Arrested Development" and "Veep," voices Forky in "Toy Story 4."
  • Hale spoke to INSIDER about the creation of the character and the moment when he realized he wasn't going to be cut out of the movie.
  • The Emmy-winning actor also talked candidly about how his real-life anxieties led to him creating the animated children's show for Netflix, "Archibald's Next Big Thing."
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

 

It makes sense that the actor who played memorable anxiety-riddled characters like Buster Bluth on "Arrested Development" and Selina Meyer's loyal assistant Gary Walsh on "Veep" would be Pixar's No. 1 choice to play the lovably out-of-place character, Forky, in "Toy Story 4" (in theaters on Friday).

But Tony Hale admits it took him a day to realize Pixar really wanted him for the part.

"I thought, do they have the right Tony?" Hale recalled to INSIDER. "Do they mean Tony Danza?"

Nope. The makers behind the latest movie in the beloved franchise had the right Tony.

Forky is the first toy in the "Toy Story" movies who doesn't come out of a box (Bonnie creates Forky in kindergarten in the movie), and he is very different than Woody and the gang. In fact, Forky doesn't think he's a toy at all, but trash. (He's got a point, since Forky is made out of a spork and a broken popsicle stick.) So Pixar wanted someone like Hale to capture the voice of a "toy" experiencing everything for the first time — and being uncertain of it all. 

INSIDER chatted with Hale about how he contributed to the creation of Forky, how bumping into Tom Hanks made him realize he wouldn't be cut out of the movie, and how his real-life anxieties led to him creating the upcoming Netflix show, "Archibald's Next Big Thing."

Jason Guerrasio: When they come to you with Forky, is the character fleshed out? What's the starting point for you?

Tony Hale: I went up to Pixar and they had done this really cool thing where I saw an animated version of Forky and they put dialogue in of characters I have done. So they put in lines Buster has said, and lines Gary has said. They wanted that nervous and overwhelmed vibe for Forky. It was fun to see the version that they wanted and then we just kept talking. 

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Guerrasio: Were you pitching voices to them?

Hale: I would try stuff and then they would ask me to do it another way. The cool thing about what Pixar did is typically when I've done animation in the past you are in a separate recording booth and there's a sheet of glass that separates you from the director and writer. But you hear them in your headphones. Though at any moment they can turn that off and everything goes silent and all you see are their mouths taking about you.

Guerrasio:"Oh, no. What have I done?"

Hale: Exactly. But with Pixar everyone was in the same room. It was very communal. It felt very collaborative. They wanted my feedback, they created this warm environment. 

Guerrasio: And did you ever get to record with cast members?

Hale: No. It was just me by myself. And that's typically how I've done it. I remember the third or fourth time Tom Hanks came in right before me. And we talked and that's when it hit me that maybe they aren't going to cut me out of this thing. [Laughs.]

Toy Story 4 Disney2Guerrasio: So you thought everything you were doing could be scrapped tomorrow?

Hale: That's kind of your entire career, you never know if you're going to end up in the movie. You do your best and then you go to a screening and realize you were completely cut out. But with this they definitely painted a broad picture of what was going on and I was handed pages, so I could form the story as I was getting stuff sent to me. It was great for me because Forky was so fresh to the world that I could take my overwhelmed experience of doing this into him. I was just as confused as Forky was. 

Guerrasio: [Laughs.] It worked for the character. 

Hale: It totally worked. He doesn't understand the rules of the universe. People say Bo Peep and he's like, "What's a Bo?" So it was fun. He's like a child asking all these wonderful questions that everyone is thinking and he's just asking them. I just love that because of his newness he doesn't have the filter that society puts on someone. He's incredibly non-judgmental. He comes from the trash and Woody says, "You're more than trash." That he has purpose. It's a beautiful message the movie has. And it's funny for me because in "Veep," Selina Meyer is supposed to be Gary's guide and Woody is the opposite. Woody is the guide that Gary on "Veep" needed. 

Guerrasio: And it's so funny to see how people online have taken Forky's reactions featured in the movie's trailer and used that to creates memes on how they feel about things going on in 2019. 

Hale: I know. [Laughs.] It's like how many times do you want to stand up and go, "What the heck is going on?" 

Guerrasio: Has it hit you yet that you will be known for playing a Disney character? I mean, Forky merchandise is going to follow you around forever.

Hale: It's still hitting me that I get free food at junkets, so that right there is going to hit me in stages. What's so fun is what Forky represents. Seeing himself one way and learning another way, that bump of joy, I love being associated with that.

Tony Hale Toy Story 4 APRead more: "Toy Story 4" is an action-packed entry to the beloved franchise

Guerrasio: Forky will now make three memorable characters you have had in your career, along with Buster on "Arrested Development" and Gary on "Veep" [for which Hale won two Emmys playing the character]. Actors would kill to just have one of those on their resume. You've talked in the past about struggling to live in the moment, that you have had to work hard over the years not to think, "What's next?" So with having said goodbye to those roles, have you had time to sit back and take in all the accomplishments in your career to this point?

Hale: Oh yeah. And it's that constant reminder that we all have to give ourselves to do that. If I'm not careful then I'm constantly looking to the next thing. And, honestly, that's easier for me to do than to challenge myself to be present. It's more of a challenge to look at where I am than to the next thing. My business does not cater to being present, it caters to, "What are you doing next?" 

Guerrasio: That's the way an actor is built. 

Hale: Exactly. So it's more of a challenge for me to be here and that's what I'm definitely trying to do.

Guerrasio: And is that the inspiration for the Netflix animated show coming to the service later this year, "Archibald's Next Big Thing"?

Hale: Yeah. It's based on a children's book I did year's ago. The show is about the same character, a chicken named Archibald, who is full of life and sees the best in people but he makes lots of mistakes. And we learn that there's always a greater purpose to those mistakes. 

Archibald's Next Big Thing Netflix

Guerrasio: Are you going to voice Archibald?

Hale: Yeah. 

Guerrasio: So you've been riding a big wave of success, is there one thing you are still striving to do in this business?

Hale: It was such a big lesson for me, and continues to be, that I wasn't present for most of my life and I think the biggest challenge is for me to be here. So not to sound cheesy, but I don't go there in my head much. And it's not like I'm taking ambition and big dreams off the table, but many times in the past my ambition was, "What's going to be valuable when that moment in my career comes?" And now it's, "No, where I am has as much value as where I should be."

Guerrasio: But is there fear that if you spend too much time being present you miss that big part or big opportunity because you didn't look forward?

Hale: I have thought that way, but I have realized that the equation of that is just a lot more anxiety that I already have. I already struggle with anxiety, so that is only adding more. And it's not giving me any returns. So I might as well choose a path where there is hopefully more peace. 

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Keanu Reeves apparently posed on top of a table in order to secure his role in 'Toy Story 4'

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  • "Toy Story 4" director Josh Cooley and the producers conducted a blind audio test in order to find the person who would voice "Canada's greatest stuntman," Duke Caboom.
  • They were immediately impressed by Keanu Reeves
  • Keanu Reeves met with the filmmakers at Pixar's Emeryville, California, campus where he reportedly jumped on a table and started striking various poses in an effort to channel the character.
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

 

At one point when "Toy Story 4" director Josh Cooley and the producers were in the middle of a blind audio test, going through recordings of Canadian actors reading lines for the next installment of the beloved franchise, they yelled out for the recordings to stop. "Wait, stop! Who is that?" That was their outburst after hearing one particular actor deliver his lines, though they didn't know at first who the voice belonged to.

Turns out, it was Keanu Reeves of all people, and as soon as the filmmakers heard him reading lines they knew they wanted him in the new "Toy Story" film, which arrives in theaters on June 21. Cooley recounted that blind line reading process during the movie's Hollywood premiere in recent days at Los Angeles' El Capitan theater, per a rundown of those comments from The Hollywood Reporter.

Once it became clear the filmmakers wanted him to participate, the THR account continues, Reeves met with the gang at Pixar's Emeryville, California, campus. "He was like, 'What is this guy about?' producer Mark Nielsen remembers Keanu asking. "'What is he afraid of?' He really wanted to dig deep into this character."

Read more: Chris Evans had the most relatable response to behind-the-scenes footage of Keanu Reeves recording lines for 'Toy Story 4'

During a lunch with everyone, that's when Reeves got the idea for his character Duke Caboom's constant flamboyant posing. "He climbed on a table," according to Nielsen, "and was striking poses in the middle of the atrium and we thought, that is Duke Caboom!"

"Toy Story 4" definitely looks to continue Keanu's moment in the limelight lately, thanks in part to his turn in the well-received "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum" as well as his hilarious cameo in the Ali Wong-led Netflix movie "Always Be My Maybe." In the new "Toy Story film," he plays "Canada's greatest stuntman" and practically steals the show, according to many viewers who got an early look at the movie.

If you want to watch him hilariously voice his lines as Duke Caboom, fast forward in the clip below to the 8-minute, 12-second mark:

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The voice of Forky from 'Toy Story 4,' Tony Hale, gives details about the character's show on Disney Plus

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  • Tony Hale, who voices Forky in "Toy Story 4" (in theaters Friday), talks about continuing to play the character for the Disney Plus shorts series, "Forky Asks a Question."
  • "What I'm crazy about with Forky is he doesn't have any shame," Hale told Business Insider. "He just needs to know, 'What does this mean?' There's no embarrassment."
  • There will be 10 "Forky Asks a Question" shorts, and they will all be available the day Disney Plus launches on November 12.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

Fans of Forky will get more of the character after "Toy Story 4" hits theaters this weekend. The lovable spork will have his own series of shorts on the Disney Plus streaming service when it launches on November 12.

Titled "Forky Asks a Question," the series will consist of 10 shorts that all launch the day Disney Plus goes live. Pixar CCO Pete Doctor (the Oscar-winning director of "Up" and "Inside Out") said the series will follow Forky, who is voiced by "Veep" star Tony Hale, as he asks his fellow toys questions like, "What is love?""What is time?" and more pressing, "What is cheese?"

In "Toy Story 4," Bonnie, who is the new owner of Woody and the gang, creates Forky when she's at kindergarten. Woody then takes it upon himself to get Forky acclimated to his surroundings, which is a challenge since Forky didn't originate as a toy, but as materials found in the trash. So Forky thinks he's trash. When Woody finally gets Forky to think of something other than getting back into a trash can, Forky has a lot of questions about, well, everything.

Hale told Business Insider that he's recorded all the episodes and is excited to continue voicing the character.

"What I'm crazy about with Forky is he doesn't have any shame," Hale said. "He just needs to know, 'What does this mean?' There's no embarrassment."

Read more: Tony Hale talks about playing fan-favorite Forky in "Toy Story 4" and how coping with real-life anxieties led to his upcoming Netflix show

Hale said that in each short, a specific topic will be explored and Forky will seek out an answer from a "Toy Story" character who is in Bonnie's room with him.

"It plays into him wanting specific things explained that maybe people are embarrassed to ask but they want to know," Hale said. "Some of the things I didn't know about."

Tony Hale APAfter winning two Emmys playing the loyal assistant Gary to Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) on "Veep," Hale is exploring more child-friendly fare. Later this year, he will be voicing the lead character in the Netflix animated series "Archibald's Next Big Thing," which is based on a children's book he wrote in 2014.

Other content expected on Disney Plus includes multiple series from "Star Wars" ("The Mandalorian," and one focused on "Rogue One" character Cassian Andor) and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (one on Loki, as well as one focused on Bucky and Falcon), a "High School Musical" series, and a live-action "Lady and the Tramp" remake. Then there's all the episodes from 30 seasons of "The Simpsons" and all the "Star Wars" movies.

Wall Street has high hopes for Disney Plus.

Morgan Stanley forecasts that Disney will have more US streaming subscribers than Netflix within five years. The conglomerate is on track to have control of three streaming services by the end of the year: Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus.

SEE ALSO: Inside Kevin Hart's 10-year journey to make his production company into a Hollywood hit maker

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All 21 Pixar movies, ranked from worst to best

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Pixar Animation movies have earned over $13 billion worldwide, but they aren't just enjoyable global moneymakers, they are also stories that affect us on an emotional level we can't wait to experience again and again.

From the mixture of family strife and superhero duties in the "Incredibles" movies to a commentary on how we need to protect our planet in the multilayered "WALL-E," Pixar movies are much more than stories for kids. 

With Pixar's latest, "Toy Story 4," hitting theaters this weekend, we've taken on the gargantuan task of ranking all 21 Pixar releases from worst to best.

SEE ALSO: 17 movie sequels that took over 10 years to be released, including "Incredibles 2"

21. 'Cars 2' (2011)

Taking Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) away from Radiator Springs and going international (plus making Mater a spy) didn't grab critics. This sequel became the first "rotten" Pixar movie on Rotten Tomatoes. Deservedly.

  



20. 'A Bug’s Life' (1998)

In the second movie ever released by Pixar, an ant named Flik (voiced by Dave Foley) sets out to find others to help save his colony against grasshoppers and ends up recruiting a unique group of allies.

Though the movie was successful at the box office, with the release of DreamWorks' "Antz" a month earlier, you're more likely to remember the Lasseter-Katzenberg feud than the films. 

 



19. 'Cars 3' (2017)

Though the "Cars" movies are the least acclaimed of anything Pixar makes, the company continues to churn them out. The latest one touches on some interesting themes like mortality and self-confidence, but it feels like everyone involved in the making of it was on cruise control.



18. 'The Good Dinosaur' (2015)

Perhaps one of the more serious stories in the Pixar inventory, this coming-of-age tale about an Apatosaurus and his human friend Spot trying to return home didn't catch on nearly as much as Pixar's other release in 2015, "Inside Out."

Burnout may have been at play here, but mostly Pixar challenged its core audience with a darker story than they were used to.

 



17. 'Brave' (2012)

With perhaps a little too much old-school Disney gloss, the movie nevertheless featured a princess who's one of the most strong-willed we've seen in an animated feature. But it just didn't work as well as Pixar titles before or since.



16. 'Cars' (2006)

The final Pixar movie that the company produced independently before being bought by Disney, "Cars"— a look at a hotshot racing car that finds humility and true friends in a dusty country town — was one of those for-the-whole-family, feel-good stories that was light on the clichés.



15. 'Monsters University' (2013)

In the prequel to the popular "Monsters, Inc.," Pixar does impressive work to make the backstory of how Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) met as fun and original as the classic first film.

Setting the story in the college life of monsters opens the door to easy traps, but the movie mostly steers clear and has a strong ending.



14. 'Monsters, Inc.' (2001)

The first directing effort by Pete Doctor ("Up,""Inside Out"), "Monsters, Inc.," the story of how monsters use the screams of children to power their world, was a genius idea that was elevated by the performances of Crystal and Goodman as the leads. With laughs and a heartwarming story, the movie showed that Pixar had more up its sleeve than the "Toy Story" movies.



13. 'Coco' (2017)

Marking the first time Pixar based a movie around a holiday, director Lee Unkirch ("Toy Story 3") gives us a powerful story about family and never forgetting your past all set around Dia de los Muertos. Make sure to bring the tissues for this one.



12. "Incredibles 2" (2018)

14 years after the hit original, director Brad Bird finally returns to continue the story of the superhero Parr family. Starting up right where we left off at the end of the first movie, the sequel has all the fun and thrills of the original while still cleverly keeping those family strife undertones that ground the story. (You have to have something for the parents to relate to.)   



11. 'Finding Dory' (2016)

The highest-grossing animated movie of 2016, the sequel to "Finding Nemo" did not disappoint with audiences as we follow Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) on her journey to find her parents. With many characters from the original returning and some great new ones, Pixar proved the 13-year gap from when the original opened didn't affect their storytelling or our love for this world.



10. 'Toy Story 2' (1999)

The second "Toy Story" puts Woody (Tom Hanks) in the clutches of a toy seller who's ready to ship the antique cowboy off for some major coin. Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toys have to figure out how to save him. Like the first time, the movie has some great drama and thrills that proved a lot more could be told about these plastic toys.



9. 'Up' (2009)

"Up" is a perfect example of the adult topics Pixar began to take on once it was on steady ground in Hollywood. Focusing on love and the inability to let go, the story of an elderly man's journey to a far-off land on his floating house after his wife dies is equally heartbreaking and life-affirming — a triumph that led to it getting a best-picture Oscar nomination.



8. 'Toy Story 4' (2019)

Though many thought the third "Toy Story" was a beautiful close to the franchise that launched Pixar into a giant in the animation world, "Toy Story 4" doesn't do a bad job in trying to match up to its predecessor. Though it doesn't pull the emotional strings as dramatically as "3," it is definitely a worthy addition thanks to new characters like Forky and Duke Caboom, as well as a strong storyline for Bo Peep. 



7. 'Toy Story 3' (2010)

Hailed by critics when it came out, and nominated for a best picture Oscar, the third "Toy Story" is the franchise's most emotionally charged to date. Woody, Buzz, and the gang find themselves mistakenly delivered to a day-care center, where they encounter some interesting new toys. 

 



6. 'The Incredibles' (2004)

Playing on the big Hollywood secret agent/superhero movies, Pixar's curveball turned off some who didn't want it meddling in the genre. But the story of a superhero past his prime and realizing he's even more powerful when his family is by his side indicated the emotional depths Pixar wanted to explore.



5. 'Inside Out' (2015)

Pixar's latest Oscar-winner for best animated feature touches on all the things that have made its movies so beloved. The original story of a young girl growing up told through personified emotions, and the journey to finding one's true self, could've been corny. But Pixar's execution was flawless.



4. 'Ratatouille' (2007)

This touching examination of the sanctity of art and how it can be commercialized into watered-down muck — cleverly using the setting of a restaurant kitchen — is one of the most emotionally fulfilling movies ever made, Pixar or otherwise.



3. 'Finding Nemo' (2003)

From the sarcastic comedy of Albert Brooks opposite the sweetly naive tone of Ellen DeGeneres, to the attention to detail in the gorgeous CGI-rendered underwater world, "Finding Nemo" provided a lot for everyone to love. And the giant box-office numbers speak for themselves.



2. 'Toy Story' (1995)

The movie that started it all. Lasseter directed it and pretty much put all the company's chips into one basket. "Toy Story" elevated what kinds of stories animated movies could tell. And its computer-generated animation was the nail in the coffin for Disney's traditional hand-drawn work.



1. 'WALL-E' (2008)

Director Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo,""WALL-E") gives us a remarkable story that celebrates old cinema (the silent movie, the musical) while delivering a message about the need to protect the planet (and our health) as flashy technology takes over.

Pixar is known for making us care about fictional creatures and objects, but with "WALL-E," that connection to the characters — the sense that they're living beings — is so intertwined with our experience of watching that you have to remind yourself it's just a story.

And that's the best kind of storytelling.



8 celebrity cameos to look out for in 'Toy Story 4'

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The release of Disney's much-anticipated "Toy Story 4" is upon us, with theaters across the US beginning screenings on June 20. This time around, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and all of our other favorite toys are setting out to find the newest addition to the gang, Forky, who escaped Bonnie's room, and who they'll be searching for in both a carnival and an antique shop.

Among the much-anticipated new cast members is Keanu Reeves, who'll be voicing the character of Duke Caboom. Stars like Chris Evans have already expressed their excitement about Reeves as Caboom.

However, this iteration of "Toy Story" will include a number of other iconic Hollywood stars worthy of mention.

Here are eight other major Hollywood cameos to look out for.

Betty White will be voicing Bitey White.

At the beginning of "Toy Story 4," Woody gets banished to his owner Bonnie's closet, where he's met with some of her old baby toys, including orange tiger Bitey White.



Mel Brooks will be voicing Melephant Brooks.

Blue elephant Melephant Brooks will also be among the toys Woody encounters in Bonnie's closet.

"The 'Toy Story' movies are not only great fun, but they have a lot of heart,"Brooks told USA Today.



Carol Burnett is voicing Chairol Burnett.

Chairol Burnett plays a green chair. 



Carl Reiner will be voicing Carl Reineroceros.

Reineroceros is, fittingly, a pink rhino. 

"To be represented by a cute little toy character is not the worst thing in the world,"Reiner told USA Today.



Bill Hader will be voicing Axel the Carnie.

Not much has been written about Bill Hader's cameo in "Toy Story 4," but if you listen to minute 1:06 of the trailer, you can hear him yelling at the crowd in the carnival, "Hey kids, step right up! Get yourself a real Buzz Lightyear!"



Timothy Dalton will be voicing Mr. Pricklepants.

Timothy Dalton (of James Bond fame) will be reprising his role of Mr. Pricklepants, Bonnie's theatrical porcupine, who first appeared in "Toy Story 3."  



Patricia Arquette will be voicing Harmony's mom.

Harmony is one of the kids in the film, the toys forever yearning to belong to a child who'll both love and play with them.



Flea will be voicing the Caboom TV announcer.

Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers makes a cameo as the TV announcer for Reeves' much-anticipated character Caboom, "the Canuck with all the luck,"according to his "Toy Story 4 " commercial.



'Toy Story 4’ will be the first Pixar movie in 23 years to not feature a short film in front of it

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toy story 4 confused forky woody

  • "Toy Story 4" won't have a Pixar short in front of it when it comes to theaters Friday.
  • It will be the first Pixar movie to air without a short in front of it in 23 years. 
  • The first "Toy Story" movie, which was released in 1995, didn't feature a short in front of it either. 
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

When Pixar fans line up to check out the lauded animation house's latest offering this week at the multiplex, they'll have to enjoy the experience without a classic dose of pre-show magic. Slate reports that Josh Cooley's "Toy Story 4" will hit theaters without a preceding short film, a break in a tradition that has stretched back 23 years.

Funnily enough, the first "Toy Story"— Pixar's first feature film, released in November of 1995 — did not feature a short film as its opening act, though John Lasseter's "Tin Toy" (first made in 1988) was later attached to the film in home video release. Starting with "A Bug's Life," however, each Pixar feature released in theaters has kicked off with a new Pixar short.

toy story

There have been some major highlights, too, including Oscar winners like "Geri's Game,""Piper,""For the Birds," and "Bao," which picked up the Best Animated Short Film statuette just last year. But for just as many winners (literal and otherwise), Pixar has rolled out some big disappointments, like the critically maligned "Lava" (paired with "Inside Out") and "Olaf's Frozen Adventure," which led off "Coco" with a gobsmacking 21-minute runtime.

Fortunately, Pixar isn't getting out of the shorts business, and is continuing to foster new talent in other ways, including its SparkShorts program, which earlier this year debuted the absolutely wonderful (and hugely tear-jerking) "Kitbull" short.

As charming as the Pixar shorts have (mostly) been — including the still-perfect "Presto," which lost out on Oscar glory "La Maison en Petits Cubes"— they've also been a way for the animation studio to show off new technology and new talents, a mission that does not seem to be abating any time soon.

And, as it applies to the next in-theater experience for Pixar fans, not to worry, as the full feature presentation promises to deliver plenty of Pixar promises on its own.

In his review of the film, IndieWire's David Ehrlich wrote that the film helps end the "Toy Story" franchise in beautiful, if unexpected fashion. He wrote, "The tear-jerking final moments seem to come out of nowhere, but where the ending of 'Toy Story 3' simply deferred to the cycle of life, this finale ties a much stronger bow around the franchise by cutting to its core instead of just circling back to the start."

Disney will release "Toy Story 4" in theaters on Friday, June 21.

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'Toy Story 4' is a hilarious and sweet sequel, but it's not better than the original trilogy

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toy story 4 bo peep woody

  • Warning: There are mild spoilers below for "Toy Story 4."
  • Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Annie Potts reprise their roles as Woody, Buzz, and Bo Peep in the Disney and Pixar sequel out Friday. 
  • It's very funny, especially with the addition of new characters like Forky, Ducky, Bunny, and Keanu Reeves' standout character, Duke Caboom. 
  • Still, it's not better than the original trilogy. Fans may wish less time was spent with some of the new characters to have a larger focus on the original gang. 
  • You may tear up by the end, but you won't be left sobbing like many people were during 2010's "Toy Story 3." 
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

"Toy Story 4" isn't better than the original trilogy, but it is undeniably funny, sweet, and it will probably make you reach for a tissue or two by the film's very end.

The sequel picks up not too long after "Toy Story 3" with Andy's toys in the hands of their new owner, Bonnie. The little girl is off to kindergarten orientation and builds a new friend, Forky, who quickly becomes her favorite toy.

Unfortunately for Bonnie, Forky is having a tough time accepting he's a toy and not trash, to humorous effect. As Woody helps him transition as Bonnie's new favorite toy on a road trip, the cowboy finds himself in his own existential crisis as a toy searching for meaning. After years as Andy's favorite toy, he's now been relegated to a closet, where he's been collecting dust bunnies.

That conflict deepens when he's reunited with his long lost love, Bo Peep, who was given away years ago. Woody finds himself pitted against his loyalties to an owner who doesn't play with him anymore and a love he once let get away. At its core, "Toy Story 4" is about finding yourself and your purpose in the world when you think you don't have one anymore.

What you should know: 'Toy Story 4' has been in the works since 2014. In that time, director John Lasseter left Disney and was replaced by first-time director Josh Cooley in 2017.

disney john lasseter

"Toy Story 4" was first announced in 2014 with an initial 2017 release date. Since then, it was pushed back twice. In 2015, former Disney Animation and Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter said the movie would be an emotional love story about Woody and Bo Peep that was inspired by his wife.

Fans were excited because Lasseter, who directed the first "Toy Story," was set to return to direct, but he stepped down from the role in 2017. At the time, he told i09 he simply had too much on his plate. Lasseter announced at D23 Expo that Josh Cooley, who worked on the Pixar short, "Riley's First Date," was taking over as director. 

Lasseter, meanwhile, left Disney in June 2018. He took a six-month sabbatical after reports alleged Lasseter behaved inappropriately with Disney employees.

Read more: Internal drama at Pixar may explain why 'Toy Story 4' has been delayed twice

Do I need to see the first three before this one? No.

Toy Story 4

"Toy Story 4" does a good job of summing up what you need to know at the film's very start in a flashback scene that may make you a little nostalgic.

It doesn't hurt to rewatch the first movie if you have time. There are some thematic musical nods and dialogue throwbacks to the original 1995 film.

What's hot: The animation, the continuation of Bo Peep's story, Forky, and the addition of new characters from Keanu Reeves, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jordan Peele

toy story 4 bo peep

What happened to Bo Peep? The character was never seen again after "Toy Story 2" and fans finally get a pretty satisfying answer as she's reunited with Woody and the gang. It's really cool for both new and longtime fans to see how she's been surviving on her own as a "lost toy" for years. Don't feel bad. She has adapted pretty well with her sheep, a cape, and by using her shepherd's crook as a staff to easily navigate the world and jump to high places. She kind of reminds us of Rey from "Star Wars" in the way she uses it against enemies as a weapon, but also as a handy tool. Bo will be a favorite among young girls.

Other than Bo, Forky is going to be the clear favorite of this movie. The cute little spork is one of the funniest characters in the film. Refusing to accept the fact that he's a toy, he continuously yells out that he's "trash" and tries jumping back into the garbage where he's more comfortable. The sheriff tirelessly makes it his job to protect Bonnie's new favorite toy and convince Forky that he's more than just something made from scraps. His relationship with Woody is one of the film's most endearing. 

toy story 4 woody forky

The real standout of "Toy Story 4" is the animation. This is a gorgeous movie to look at. From the moment the film begins, Pixar shows off realistic rain, mud, and leaves.

The detail in the toys is impressive as well. There are signs of wear and tear in Buzz and Woody after years of being played with. There are scratches built into Woody's cowboy hat and the Lightyear sticker on Buzz is worn. If you've ever had one of those dolls growing up, you know that's what happens to them.

Even Woody's owner, Andy, has been given the updated Pixar treatment after his first movie appearance in 1995. He looks unrecognizable.

rv toy story 4 nature shot

Between "John Wick: Chapter 3" and a must-watch appearance in the Netflix film "Always Be My Maybe," Keanu Reeves is the man of the summer. Once again, he steals every scene in which he appears in "Toy Story 4" as the pint-sized and very energetic Duke Caboom.

If you haven't watched the video of Reeves voicing the Canadian stuntman, you're missing out. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reeves came up with the character's signature moves by getting up on a table at Pixar and striking some poses. What a guy. 

toy story 4 duke caboom

More than Forky and Duke, Ducky and Bunny (Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, respectively) get the film's biggest laughs. That's mostly because of one running gag throughout the film. They're two prizes who have been at a carnival game for far too long who Buzz helps break free.

If you've watched any of the trailers, you've seen one of their funny moments where Ducky tells Buzz, "To Infinity and my foot!" as he tries to kick him.

toy story 4 ducky bunny

Keep your eyes peeled for a lot of Easter eggs and references to the other "Toy Story" and Pixar movies. There are many to be found here.

What's not: The lack of some of the original cast in a majority of the movie and some creepy ventriloquist dolls which look ripped straight out of R.L. Stine's 'Goosebumps'

toy story 4 toys

Many people have been waiting nine years to see their favorite characters — Slinky Dog, Mr. Potato Head, Rex, RC, Jessie, and more — reunited. We have some bad news for you. 

Other than an extended flashback sequence at the film's start and a few moments in an RV, don't expect to see much of the entire gang of Andy's old toys together. You get to see even less of some of Bonnie's standout toys like Trixie (Kristen Schaal), Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton), and Buttercup (Jeff Garlin).

There are so many new characters introduced in "Toy Story 4" (there are at least eight without counting the return of Bo Peep and her flock) that old favorites take a backseat. One of the newest additions, four creepy ventriloquist dummies, look ripped from the pages of R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" and are awfully reminiscent of his Slappy doll. They're also the scariest addition to the franchise. (Yes, scarier than Sid's Babyface from the first film.) A few kids screamed out at our showing when one of them appeared for the first time.

toy story 4 gabby gabby dummy

While Bunny and Ducky are fine additions, fans of Jessie and especially Bullseye may be disappointed by how little they appear in the movie. "Toy Story 4" went through a lot of writers eight to be exact. It makes you wonder if there was more of the original gang in an earlier version of the movie.

Andy's and Bonnie's toys are all given screen time in an important (and silly) scene later on (think the odd third act of Finding Dory). But the moment feels a bit shoehorned to give fans a scene with more of the characters together. 

Another reason we may see so little of some of the original cast is because Don Rickles, who voiced Mr. Potato Head, died in 2017. According to IMDB, archive sound was used for his voice in the film. Disney and Pixar give him a little tribute at the film's very end. 

don rickles potato head walk of fame

Thankfully, there is plenty of Buzz Lightyear, but his character isn't given much to do. He becomes caught up in finding his inner voice for the entire movie after he misinterprets something from Woody. After three movies, "Toy Story 4" makes Buzz look like a somewhat dim space ranger.

toy story 4 buzz lightyear

But there's no time in this two-hour movie for any other character to do much more than add comic relief. The film is really centered around Woody and his journey. Aside from the cowboy and Forky, no other characters experience real character growth. Everyone else is kind of just there for the big old reunion party of a sequel.

toy story 4 forky woody

Perhaps the strangest story choice is that "Toy Story 4" decides to separate the dynamic team of Woody and Buzz Lightyear for much of the film. In a moment where Woody may need Buzz most, he abandons him (after feeling a bit abandoned himself).

It's a weird choice splitting up the two for a long period of time in the film. It's stranger still when they don't have each other's backs. It seems to go against everything fans know about the characters. The onscreen banter of Tim Allen and Tom Hanks has been one of the best things about this franchise. 

toy story woody buzz

Instead, Buzz is replaced with Forky as Woody's new best bud for most of the film. And when it's not Forky he's worried about, it's Bo Peep. 

Overall: It's an unnecessary sequel that's still funny and filled with a lot of heart that any fan should enjoy

toy story 4 woody bo

No one is going to leave "Toy Story 4" upset. It's is an undeniably good movie, but no one needed it. 

It's filled with some things we've seen before and relies on callbacks for its emotional punches. It also focuses on too many new characters rather than building upon existing relationships that fans grew up watching.

Fans will be happy to finally learn what happened to Bo Peep. But hours after seeing the movie, they may wish they had more time with Rex, Slinky Dog, and the Potato Heads. 

Grade: B 

"Toy Story 4" is in theaters Friday. You can watch a trailer below.

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How Pixar's animation has evolved over 24 Years, from "Toy Story" to "Toy Story 4"

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  • "Toy Story 4" comes out on June 21. It's a technological achievement that shows how much Pixar movies have changed since "Toy Story" came out in 1995.
  • Each Pixar movie builds on the achievements of the last.
  • Sully from "Monsters, Inc." was covered in over 1 million hairs. One single shot from "Coco" alone contained 8 million lights.
  • Visit INSIDER.com for more stories.

The following is a transcript of the video.

Woody: There's no place like home!

Narrator: This is a dog in 1995's "Toy Story." It was a staggering achievement at the time, but the detail in the fur just isn't there. Compare that to this cat in "Toy Story 4." The difference is clear. But getting from that dog to this cat required a lot of innovation in between.

Pixar forever changed animation in 1995 with "Toy Story," the first full-length computer-animated movie. With "Toy Story 4," it's proving that it's far from done changing the game.

Between 1995 and 2019, Pixar has made 21 feature-length films, four of those being "Toy Story" movies. When "Toy Story" was first released in 1995, nobody had ever seen anything like it before. And in order to bring it to life, the animators had to do some unbelievable things.

And one of the most important factors in how Pixar makes its magic happen involves rendering. Rendering saves the computer image to the perfect finished image or video frame, with lighting and motion effects. In order to render "Toy Story," the animators had 117 computers running 24 hours a day. Each individual frame could take from 45 minutes to 30 hours to render, depending on how complex. There were a total of 114,240 frames to render. Throughout the movie, there are over 77 minutes of animation spread across 1,561 shots. They had to invent a new software, called Renderman, to handle all this footage.

Woody: These guys are professionals. They're the best!

Narrator: According to producer Jonas Rivera, if they had to today, they could render "Toy Story" faster than you could watch the entire movie. However, the complexity of "Toy Story 4" means it can take 60 to 160 hours to render one frame.

And there were a lot of limitations. For instance, at this time, Pixar hadn't quite figured out how to fully animate human characters. Animating clothes was time-consuming, so you'll notice a lot of shots of hands and feet in the movie from a toy's perspective. Additionally, they would sometimes choose not to fully light characters, so you wouldn't see any missing details. More on lighting characters and fully clothing them later.

When "Toy Story 2" came around in 1999, they'd had some time to work out some of the kinks, especially with 1998's "A Bug's Life" in between the two movies. In this sequel, you'll be able to see more visible, fully formed human characters. One key thing the animators were starting to figure out here to help them tackle humans: smoothness, which they got practice on in "A Bug's Life." Here, you can see the improvement in just a few years. They wouldn't be ready to have a fully human cast until 2004's "The Incredibles."

But before mastering humans, they stepped into fantasy with 2001's "Monsters, Inc."

Worker: Ooh, they're so awesome!

Narrator: In "Monsters, Inc." they tackled fur head-on. Fur is hard to animate, whether computer-generated or stop-motion. This is because it involves animating thousands, or even millions, of individual parts of a character's body.

In the VFX world, characters are designed then rigged by adding points of movement, which can then be manually manipulated. While limbs are typically manual based on the scene, something like fur needed to be automated, since it would take a lot more time to move each individual strand of hair. "A Bug's Life," which centers on insects, didn't have a need for fur. And there is a dog in "Toy Story," but as you'll notice, it's pretty smooth, as is the dog in "Toy Story 2." Sully, who's tall and covered head to toe in fur, has over 1 million hairs on his body.

But it's not just how it looks; the animators had to get all of those hairs to move. To do this, they created a program called Simulation, in which certain elements that are too difficult to hand-animate are motion-simulated. See, instead of looking at Sully's hair as a whole, they looked at each strand as a distinct particle. They had to look at every kind of force that would act on those particles, and thus how each one would move in reaction to them. So if you want to work at Pixar, you might need to know physics.

They also found real-world fur on different animals, like llamas, for reference. By doing this, they found the best way to make hair look and move realistically is to clump it together. "Monsters, Inc." laid down the technical foundation, which allowed Pixar to have over 250 furry monsters in the sequel, "Monsters University."

The tools at their disposal also helped them create fur on animals seen in "Ratatouille" and "Up," the moss on the submarine from this scene in "Finding Nemo," and the grass on the ground in "Cars."

Pixar's next movie, 2003's "Finding Nemo," also required the animators to create things they'd never put on screen before. This time, they had to figure out how to make a movie set largely underwater. Once again, science and real-world references would help them out. Just as they did with hair, they broke down the water as much as they could to get it right.

According to director of photography Danielle Feinberg, they started with a real-life underwater clip, re-created it in the computer, and broke it down to find the most essential elements. The biggest one? Light, and how it travels through water. The light they created affected both the visibility and the color of the film's elaborate underwater world. And while they need science to animate certain elements of a movie, there are times where they can use artistic license. For instance, they made the water in Sydney Harbour look fairly green to fit the mood of the scene. In reality, it would not be that color.

Once the environment was created, they had to populate the world. Perhaps the most challenging sea creature they had to create was Hank the octopus from the 2016 sequel, "Finding Dory." It was literally impossible for them to put Hank in "Nemo," and you can see why. Creating just one scene with him supposedly took about two years. Character supervisor Jeremy Talbot explained that they had to break down an octopus and piece it back together again, which sounds a lot like how Pixar mastered fur and water.

One thing they discovered was that octopus tentacles don't bend but almost unfurl. An engineer spent six months just getting the curve of one of his tentacles right, and this was even before they mastered his camouflage. And as Pixar got better at developing the natural world, it also improved on the man-made world. By the time 2006's "Cars" came around, Pixar had about 1,000 times the computing power it did on "Toy Story."

"Cars" gave the animators a chance to hone their skills creating metal surfaces. As they did with the water in "Finding Nemo," they took time to make the light reflect off Lightning McQueen. Those metal surfaces would then be rusted up and seen in 2008's "Wall-E," often considered one of Pixar's most visually stunning works.

Then when "Ratatouille" rolled around in 2007, Pixar combined its ability to work with fur from "Monsters, Inc." and with water in "Finding Nemo" to display wet fur.

Lighting is one of the most important factors in making CG animation look real. It takes a lot of rendering time to get it right. And it's not just one or two lights we're talking about. This one shot alone in "Ratatouille" contained 230 lights. But that's nothing.

Jump ahead to 2017's "Coco." When Miguel enters the Land of the Dead, he's laying his eyes on about 8 million lights. And even with a movie as visually ambitious as this one, something as simple as clothes can be the biggest challenge.

A lot of the characters that wore clothes in "Coco" were actually skeletons. The animators found that while simulating clothing, the cloth would often get caught between individual bones, creating a wedgie of sorts. For this, it implemented a technique called continuous collision detection, which allowed the animators to spot the clothes getting caught, even at moments where it was difficult to notice.

A year later, when the long-awaited "Incredibles 2" came out they were back to working with humans: skin, bones, and all. There was a 14-year gap between the two "Incredibles" movies and the benefits of improved technology actually allowed them to make Jack-Jack look even cuter than he did in the first movie.

All of these movies would eventually lead to "Toy Story 4."

Twenty-four years after the original was released, it seems like this sequel is trying to do a lot of things the original just couldn't. The differences couldn't be more stark. While "Toy Story" used a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, "Toy Story 4" expanded to 2.39:1, so what you saw went from this to this.

Now that Pixar had figured out how to put fur on one character and then hundreds more, it could make the animals in this movie eye-popping. Fans pointed out that a cat in a clip for the movie looked 100% real. Compare that with Sid's dog in the original if you really want to know how far Pixar has come. Even just compare how much different it looks from the cat in "Coco."

In the same vein, creating stuffed animals covered in fur was not the challenge it once was, and it allowed Pixar to give Ducky and Bunny starring roles. In addition, rain scenes are not easy to animate. Just like with the water in "Finding Nemo," the animators did a physics-centered, frame-by-frame analysis of raindrops. Luckily, they'd done enough creating rivers in "The Good Dinosaur" that bringing a torrential downpour to life was a little less challenging.

Like with Jack-Jack in "Incredibles 2," the animators use sequels as an excuse to improve upon their classics. They didn't just give Bo Peep a new outfit; they were also able to make her look like a much more convincing doll. Years of perfecting shiny surfaces allowed them to really bring out Bo's porcelain skin.

To effectively light this material, the director of photography referenced lighting of female characters in movies made from the 1930s through the 1960s. The team also realized they couldn't use square lights on Bo. Only circular lights without sharp edges would reflect well on porcelain.

"Toy Story 4" also gave Pixar a chance to do something surprising: go back to basics. Look no further than Forky.

Forky: I don't belong here!

Narrator: There are no tentacles, no fur, no shiny surfaces here, just a plastic fork. But he couldn't be more real. And Pixar isn't slowing down anytime soon. In fact, they're moving "Onward," literally.

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'Toy Story 4' is a hilarious and sweet sequel, but it's not better than the original trilogy

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toy story 4 bo peep woody

  • Warning: There are mild spoilers below for "Toy Story 4."
  • Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Annie Potts reprise their roles as Woody, Buzz, and Bo Peep in the Disney and Pixar sequel out Friday. 
  • It's very funny, especially with the addition of new characters like Forky, Ducky, Bunny, and Keanu Reeves' standout character, Duke Caboom. 
  • Still, it's not better than the original trilogy. Fans may wish less time was spent with some of the new characters to have a larger focus on the original gang. 
  • You may tear up by the end, but you won't be left sobbing like many people were during 2010's "Toy Story 3." 
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

"Toy Story 4" isn't better than the original trilogy, but it is undeniably funny, sweet, and it will probably make you reach for a tissue or two by the film's very end.

The sequel picks up not too long after "Toy Story 3" with Andy's toys in the hands of their new owner, Bonnie. The little girl is off to kindergarten orientation and builds a new friend, Forky, who quickly becomes her favorite toy.

Unfortunately for Bonnie, Forky is having a tough time accepting he's a toy and not trash, to humorous effect. As Woody helps him transition as Bonnie's new favorite toy on a road trip, the cowboy finds himself in his own existential crisis as a toy searching for meaning. After years as Andy's favorite toy, he's now been relegated to a closet, where he's been collecting dust bunnies.

That conflict deepens when he's reunited with his long lost love, Bo Peep, who was given away years ago. Woody finds himself pitted against his loyalties to an owner who doesn't play with him anymore and a love he once let get away. At its core, "Toy Story 4" is about finding yourself and your purpose in the world when you think you don't have one anymore.

What you should know: 'Toy Story 4' has been in the works since 2014. In that time, director John Lasseter left Disney and was replaced by first-time director Josh Cooley in 2017.

disney john lasseter

"Toy Story 4" was first announced in 2014 with an initial 2017 release date. Since then, it was pushed back twice. In 2015, former Disney Animation and Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter said the movie would be an emotional love story about Woody and Bo Peep that was inspired by his wife.

Fans were excited because Lasseter, who directed the first "Toy Story," was set to return to direct, but he stepped down from the role in 2017. At the time, he told i09 he simply had too much on his plate. Lasseter announced at D23 Expo that Josh Cooley, who worked on the Pixar short, "Riley's First Date," was taking over as director. 

Lasseter, meanwhile, left Disney in June 2018. He took a six-month sabbatical after reports alleged Lasseter behaved inappropriately with Disney employees.

Read more: Internal drama at Pixar may explain why 'Toy Story 4' has been delayed twice

Do I need to see the first three before this one? No.

Toy Story 4

"Toy Story 4" does a good job of summing up what you need to know at the film's very start in a flashback scene that may make you a little nostalgic.

It doesn't hurt to rewatch the first movie if you have time. There are some thematic musical nods and dialogue throwbacks to the original 1995 film.

What's hot: The animation, the continuation of Bo Peep's story, Forky, and the addition of new characters from Keanu Reeves, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jordan Peele

toy story 4 bo peep

What happened to Bo Peep? The character was never seen again after "Toy Story 2" and fans finally get a pretty satisfying answer as she's reunited with Woody and the gang. It's really cool for both new and longtime fans to see how she's been surviving on her own as a "lost toy" for years. Don't feel bad. She has adapted pretty well with her sheep, a cape, and by using her shepherd's crook as a staff to easily navigate the world and jump to high places. She kind of reminds us of Rey from "Star Wars" in the way she uses it against enemies as a weapon, but also as a handy tool. Bo will be a favorite among young girls.

Other than Bo, Forky is going to be the clear favorite of this movie. The cute little spork is one of the funniest characters in the film. Refusing to accept the fact that he's a toy, he continuously yells out that he's "trash" and tries jumping back into the garbage where he's more comfortable. The sheriff tirelessly makes it his job to protect Bonnie's new favorite toy and convince Forky that he's more than just something made from scraps. His relationship with Woody is one of the film's most endearing. 

toy story 4 woody forky

The real standout of "Toy Story 4" is the animation. This is a gorgeous movie to look at. From the moment the film begins, Pixar shows off realistic rain, mud, and leaves.

The detail in the toys is impressive as well. There are signs of wear and tear in Buzz and Woody after years of being played with. There are scratches built into Woody's cowboy hat and the Lightyear sticker on Buzz is worn. If you've ever had one of those dolls growing up, you know that's what happens to them.

Even Woody's owner, Andy, has been given the updated Pixar treatment after his first movie appearance in 1995. He looks unrecognizable.

rv toy story 4 nature shot

Between "John Wick: Chapter 3" and a must-watch appearance in the Netflix film "Always Be My Maybe," Keanu Reeves is the man of the summer. Once again, he steals every scene in which he appears in "Toy Story 4" as the pint-sized and very energetic Duke Caboom.

If you haven't watched the video of Reeves voicing the Canadian stuntman, you're missing out. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reeves came up with the character's signature moves by getting up on a table at Pixar and striking some poses. What a guy. 

toy story 4 duke caboom

More than Forky and Duke, Ducky and Bunny (Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, respectively) get the film's biggest laughs. That's mostly because of one running gag throughout the film. They're two prizes who have been at a carnival game for far too long who Buzz helps break free.

If you've watched any of the trailers, you've seen one of their funny moments where Ducky tells Buzz, "To Infinity and my foot!" as he tries to kick him.

toy story 4 ducky bunny

Keep your eyes peeled for a lot of Easter eggs and references to the other "Toy Story" and Pixar movies. There are many to be found here.

What's not: The lack of some of the original cast in a majority of the movie and some creepy ventriloquist dolls which look ripped straight out of R.L. Stine's 'Goosebumps'

toy story 4 toys

Many people have been waiting nine years to see their favorite characters — Slinky Dog, Mr. Potato Head, Rex, RC, Jessie, and more — reunited. We have some bad news for you. 

Other than an extended flashback sequence at the film's start and a few moments in an RV, don't expect to see much of the entire gang of Andy's old toys together. You get to see even less of some of Bonnie's standout toys like Trixie (Kristen Schaal), Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton), and Buttercup (Jeff Garlin).

There are so many new characters introduced in "Toy Story 4" (there are at least eight without counting the return of Bo Peep and her flock) that old favorites take a backseat. One of the newest additions, four creepy ventriloquist dummies, look ripped from the pages of R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" and are awfully reminiscent of his Slappy doll. They're also the scariest addition to the franchise. (Yes, scarier than Sid's Babyface from the first film.) A few kids screamed out at our showing when one of them appeared for the first time.

toy story 4 gabby gabby dummy

While Bunny and Ducky are fine additions, fans of Jessie and especially Bullseye may be disappointed by how little they appear in the movie. "Toy Story 4" went through a lot of writers eight to be exact. It makes you wonder if there was more of the original gang in an earlier version of the movie.

Andy's and Bonnie's toys are all given screen time in an important (and silly) scene later on (think the odd third act of Finding Dory). But the moment feels a bit shoehorned to give fans a scene with more of the characters together. 

Another reason we may see so little of some of the original cast is because Don Rickles, who voiced Mr. Potato Head, died in 2017. According to IMDB, archive sound was used for his voice in the film. Disney and Pixar give him a little tribute at the film's very end. 

don rickles potato head walk of fame

Thankfully, there is plenty of Buzz Lightyear, but his character isn't given much to do. He becomes caught up in finding his inner voice for the entire movie after he misinterprets something from Woody. After three movies, "Toy Story 4" makes Buzz look like a somewhat dim space ranger.

toy story 4 buzz lightyear

But there's no time in this two-hour movie for any other character to do much more than add comic relief. The film is really centered around Woody and his journey. Aside from the cowboy and Forky, no other characters experience real character growth. Everyone else is kind of just there for the big old reunion party of a sequel.

toy story 4 forky woody

Perhaps the strangest story choice is that "Toy Story 4" decides to separate the dynamic team of Woody and Buzz Lightyear for much of the film. In a moment where Woody may need Buzz most, he abandons him (after feeling a bit abandoned himself).

It's a weird choice splitting up the two for a long period of time in the film. It's stranger still when they don't have each other's backs. It seems to go against everything fans know about the characters. The onscreen banter of Tim Allen and Tom Hanks has been one of the best things about this franchise. 

toy story woody buzz

Instead, Buzz is replaced with Forky as Woody's new best bud for most of the film. And when it's not Forky he's worried about, it's Bo Peep. 

Overall: It's an unnecessary sequel that's still funny and filled with a lot of heart that any fan should enjoy

toy story 4 woody bo

No one is going to leave "Toy Story 4" upset. It's is an undeniably good movie, but no one needed it. 

It's filled with some things we've seen before and relies on callbacks for its emotional punches. It also focuses on too many new characters rather than building upon existing relationships that fans grew up watching.

Fans will be happy to finally learn what happened to Bo Peep. But hours after seeing the movie, they may wish they had more time with Rex, Slinky Dog, and the Potato Heads. 

Grade: B 

"Toy Story 4" is in theaters Friday. You can watch a trailer below.

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'Toy Story 4' is headed for a massive opening at the box office, but could fall short of breaking the record held by 'Incredibles 2'

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  • "Toy Story 4" is expected to energize a lackluster summer box office with a massive opening weekend.
  • Experts are projecting the Pixar movie to open between $140 million and $170 million domestically.
  • But that would fall short of breaking the record for the biggest animated opening ever, which belongs to "Incredibles 2."
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It's been a lackluster summer at the box office thanks to a spree of sequel flops, but, once again, Disney is prepared to give the box office a boost with "Toy Story 4."

The movie is projected to have a massive opening when it comes to 4,575 theaters this weekend. That's the second-widest opening ever behind "Avengers: Endgame," according to Box Office Mojo, which is projecting it to open with $165 million.

READ MORE: Even after 'Avengers: Endgame,' this year's box office is down thanks to a bleak summer full of stale sequels

Boxoffice.com is projecting a more conservative $149 million. Chief analyst Shawn Robbins wrote that the movie will "benefit from some of the most potent goodwill any animated franchise (or otherwise, for that matter) has ever built up across a handful of films in a quarter-century's time." 

One disadvantage though, according to Robbins, is that "Toy Story 4" is not opening on Father's Day weekend like past Pixar releases, including "Incredibles 2," so it won't get that holiday boost on Sunday.

Last year's "Incredibles 2" holds the record for the biggest opening weekend ever for an animated movie with $183 million. "Toy Story 4" is expected to fall short of breaking that record, but will likely pass "Finding Dory" as the second-biggest animated opening.

"Toy Story 4" raked in $12 million in Thursday previews, the second-best Thursday night for an animated movie, according to Deadline. "Incredibles 2" earned $18.5 million in preview screenings.

SEE ALSO: 'Toy Story 4' is an action-packed entry to the beloved franchise and will get the summer box office back on track

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There's one thing about 'Toy Story 4' that makes me seriously annoyed

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  • Warning: There are spoilers below for "Toy Story 4." 
  • "Toy Story 4" shows Woody get discarded to Bonnie's closet where he's collecting dust. 
  • It's something that would have made Woody's original owner, Andy, upset.
  • He was planning to hold onto Woody in "Toy Story 3" as he set off to college. In the second movie, Andy's mom said Woody was an old family toy.
  • Andy was hesitant to give Woody to Bonnie at the end of "Toy Story 3" until she said was sure she would be able to take care of his most beloved toy.
  • By the end of "TS4," Woody decides to leave Bonnie. She doesn't seem to realize Woody's even missing by the film's end.
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

"Toy Story 4" is in theaters now and it's a great addition to the series, wrapping a neat little bow on the franchise. However, after walking out of an early screening on Tuesday, there has been one big quibble I have with the film. 

If Andy knew how Bonnie was treating Woody at the film's start, he would have never given his favorite cowboy doll away to her. 

At the end of "Toy Story 3," a college-bound Andy takes a box of his old childhood toys, including Rex, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and Slinky Dog, to the home of Bonnie. Earlier in the film, Woody winds up lost at the little girl's home decides she would make a good future owner for Andy's toys in place of being put in the attic. 

Andy drives over to Bonnie's house and introduces all of his toys to the little girl under one condition.

andy bonnie toy story 3

"I'm going away now. I need someone really special to play with them," Andy told Bonnie of his toy collection. "You've gotta promise to take good care of these guys. They mean a lot to me."

bonnie andys toys toy story 3

After showing all of his toys to Bonnie, the little girl finds Woody at the bottom of the box and yells out, "My cowboy." Andy never planned to give away Woody, his first favorite toy. Instead, Woody jumped into the box with his friends. 

"Woody, what's he doing in there?" Andy asks aloud as he holds the toy.

andy confused woody box toy story 3

As Bonnie goes to reach out for him, Andy recoils. Woody wasn't supposed to be in there, and it seems as if he's considering to tell Bonnie that. 

andy toy story 3 woody

However, when Andy sees the sad look on Bonnie's face, he takes a long moment, sighs, and then changes his mind. 

andy gives bonnie woody toy story 3

"Now, Woody, he's been my pal for as long as I can remember," Andy tells Bonnie. "He's brave, like a cowboy should be, and kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is that he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll be there for you, no matter what."

Andy asks Bonnie if she thinks she'll be able to take care of Woody for him and she nods her head yes. The teenager hands over his beloved doll and then the two spend the afternoon playing one last time together with his old toys. 

toy story 3 bonnie woody

As Andy bids farewell, Bonnie waves Woody's little hand goodbye and it hits Andy right in the feels. Before he drives off, Andy whispers to himself, "Thanks guys."

Toy story 3 andy woody goodbye

So it's incredibly frustrating that at the start of "Toy Story 4," we see that Bonnie's not keeping good on her word to Andy. Sure, she's playing with the other toys. But Woody? During playtime, she has repeatedly chosen not to play with him. At one point, Bonnie takes the sheriff's star off of Woody to put it on Jessie and play with her instead. How rude. 

Instead, Woody's been discarded in the closet, left to collect dust bunnies alongside a few other toys and objects like an elephant and a play chair.

A look over the "Toy Story 4" soundtrack shows the score for when Woody's in the closet is called "Woody's Closet of Neglect." The song contains a piece of "When She Loved Me," the song in "Toy Story 2" from Jessie's flashback where the cowgirl was abandoned.

Bonnie only starts playing with Woody later in the movie when he's inseparable from Forky, an arts and crafts creation Bonnie makes at kindergarten orientation, who doesn't accept the fact that he's a toy. 

woody forky toy story 4

Yes, Bonnie's 4-to-5-year-old little girl. She probably doesn't remember the promise she made to Andy. 

I get it. Kids get over toys. 

But not Andy. This kid held onto his most beloved childhood toys until he was heading off to college before deciding to part with all of them, except for Woody. He didn't want to give Woody away unless he was assured Bonnie was really going to look after him and love him the way he did for about two decades.

Toy Story 4

And she didn't. By the film's end, Woody, a toy who Andy says is so loyal that he'll "never give up on you, ever," decides to part ways with Bonnie. He ditches his owner, who he feels has forgotten him, for a lifetime of being a lost toy with Bo Peep. 

In the end, everyone's happy, though Buzz and the rest of Andy's toys are a bit sad to see him go. But if Andy knew what had become of Woody, he would have been a bit upset.

In "Toy Story 2," Andy's mom says Woody is an "old family toy." Andy would have been better off holding onto his cowboy, bringing him to college, and holding onto him for his future children to be passed down for generations. After all, everyone seems to forget that Woody is a highly sought-after collectible

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Here's what the cast of 'Toy Story 4' looks like in real life

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  • Taking place two years after "Toy Story 3,""Toy Story 4" features new adventures for Wood and the gang. 
  • Some new characters are introduced to the familiar group. 
  • Most of the original voice actors have returned to voice their characters and new actors have joined them.
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

Woody and the gang are back for more adventures in "Toy Story 4."

Two years after Andy gave his toys to Bonnie, the little girl creates a new toy out of a spork named Forky. But Forky suffers from an identity crisis and doesn't believe he should be a toy, so when he throws himself out of the family RV, Woody jumps out after him. As Woody tries to get Forky back, he runs into his old love, Bo Peep, and the crew works to get back to Bonnie.  

Most of the same actors have voiced the familiar characters since "Toy Story" came out in 1995 and many of the characters from "Toy Story 3" are also back, but there are some new additions to the cast. 

Here's what the cast of "Toy Story 4" looks like in real life. 

Tom Hanks returns for the fourth time as Woody in "Toy Story 4."

Woody is Bonnie's toy and works to convince Forky that he's a toy in the newest "Toy Story" movie. 



Tim Allen is back as Buzz Lightyear.

Buzz is also still Bonnie's toy and works to get Woody and Forky back when the two are missing.



Annie Potts returns for the third time to voice Bo Peep.

Bo Peep is missing in "Toy Story 3," but Woody and Bo are reunited in "Toy Story 4." 



Ally Maki joins "Toy Story 4" as Giggle McDimples.

Giggle is a miniature plastic police officer who's introduced as Bo Peep's friend. 



Tony Hale voices the anxious Forky.

Bonnie creates Forky out of a spork but the new toy doesn't feel like he should be one and struggles with his identity. 



Keegan-Michael Key is Ducky and Jordan Peele is Bunny in "Toy Story 4."

Both Ducky and Bunny are toys in a carnival. 



Christina Hendricks voices new toy Gabby Gabby.

Gabby Gabby is a pull-string doll from the 1950s but doesn't look to be good news in "Toy Story 4." 



Keanu Reeves is a new addition to "Toy Story" as Duke Caboom.

Duke is a 1970s stuntman toy who drives a motorcycle. 



Madeleine McGraw voices Bonnie in "Toy Story 4."

Emily Hahn voiced Bonnie in "Toy Story 3." 



Jay Hernandez joins the cast as Bonnie's dad.

He takes the family on a road trip. 



Lori Alan returns as Bonnie's mom.

Bonnie's mom is the receptionist at Sunnyside Daycare where Bonnie attended. 



Hear Joan Cusack as Jessie as she returns to the role.

Jessie is a cowgirl and was introduced in "Toy Story 2." 



Bonnie Hunt returns as Dolly, Bonnie's toy.

Dolly is a rag doll. 



Kristen Schaal voices Trixie, another of Bonnie's toys.

Trixie is a blue Triceratops. 



Wallace Shawn continues voicing Rex in the latest movie.

Rex is a plastic Tyrannosaurus rex.



John Ratzenberger is back as Hamm, Andy's old toy.

Hamm is a piggy bank. 



Don Rickles and Estelle Harris are Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head once again.

Rickles died in 2017 before recording any new dialogue for the movie but at the request of his family, the movie features unused dialogue from every "Toy Story" project Rickles was a part of. 



Jeff Garlin voices Buttercup once again.

Buttercup is a stuffed unicorn. 



Timothy Dalton returns as Mr. Pricklepants.

Mr. Pricklepants is a stuffed hedgehog. 



Blake Clark is back for the second time as Slinky Dog.

Jim Varney voiced the character in the first two movies but died in 2000. 



June Squibb is introduced as Margaret.

Margaret is the owner of the antique store where Woody finds Bo. 



Carl Weathers is back as the Combat Carls, a large and mini version in "Toy Story 4."

The Combat Carls in their current form were introduced in "Toy Story of Terror!."



Pixar has a secret formula for making perfect films. Here are 5 rules that make its movies so special.

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Following is a transcript of the video.

Narrator: There isn't a question quite as universal in the history of cinema as "What makes Pixar so great?" In just 24 years, the studio has not only introduced an entirely new medium for storytelling but has managed to elevate that form to a staple of our pop culture, consistently creating generation-defining works that have come to define what good animation looks and feels like. All of its films are pure technological marvels, but I think it's far from what makes the films so special.

John Lasseter: These are just great, new, expensive pencils, you know. That's what this is. It's artists using these computers as though, you know, an artist at Disney uses a piece of paper and a pencil. 'Cause the focus of what we do is still where it's most important, and that's with the story and the characters.

Narrator: Pixar's obsession with stories is actually quite well-known. None of its films is ever made just once, each painstakingly rewritten and reedited until it's right. It's how the version of "Toy Story 2" we all know was finished in just nine months, when Pixar, unimpressed with its first cut, decided to start from the very beginning: the story. So how does Pixar get its story right? To understand it, we can take a look at its 22 rules of storytelling. Each gives a unique insight into how its writers work. But five of them are essential in understanding what makes its films so special.

The first rule is in understanding the structure of a story. All Pixar movies are generally formatted the same way. We're first introduced to the characters and watch them in their routine life, until the safety of that routine is shattered by an unexpected change. The rest of the film follows the characters' struggle against this change until, from the experience, they reach a lesson. In this way, the stories of Pixar are always about changes. In "Toy Story," it was the arrival of a new toy, and in "Inside Out," a move to a new city, and in "Up," the death of a loved one. The film tells the story of characters who are struggling to accept or adapt to the changes around them. But in a world created by Pixar, changes are also opportunities to grow and learn from. They're just not aware of it yet. And this conflict is so clear to us as viewers because Pixar takes its time in helping us understand who they are. Which brings us to our next rule.

A majority of Pixar's magic lies in its characters. And they always feel real and complex because the writers give each of them an opinion. Now, these opinions don't necessarily have to be agreeable, or at times even likable, as long as they're understandable. And giving characters real opinions matters because they, in time, incite real emotions. And it's these emotions that Pixar uses to breathe life into its characters. Joy in "Inside Out" is oblivious to the importance of negative emotions. Woody in "Toy Story" grows jealous of the attention a new toy receives, just wants things to go back to how they were. These are ideas and emotions that are universal, that anyone can relate to, kids or adults. They aren't good emotions, but they are honest, and this honesty helps us to relate to them. And although Pixar has its fair share of diabolical villains, I think Pixar movies shine the most when they lack one, when these honest yet ugly emotions surface to become the villain of the plot. "Toy Story's" villain isn't Sid, but Woody, whose jealousy sets off the main conflict. And in "Inside Out," none of Riley's emotional breakdowns would have even happened if Joy had simply accepted that other emotions could matter as much as herself. And when these characters resist change, Pixar throws them a challenge in the form of coincidences.

Pixar has no problem using coincidences. A lot. Sometimes it's indirectly set off by the characters. But it's how they use them that's different. Whereas bad writing uses coincidences to get characters out of a tough situation, Pixar uses coincidences to get them into one. These coincidences put characters in situations where they're forced to confront and adapt to the changes. But none serves as an easy way out. It's the characters who have to get themselves out. This makes the stakes higher and every problem a bit more personal. Even an occasion where it might seem like a deus ex machina, it's a payoff and also a chance for a great character moment. Once the characters find themselves in trouble, Pixar shifts its focus to who they're sharing the experience with.

Villains often make a great tool for understanding a protagonist, because quite often they embody their polar opposites. Pixar uses villains for the same reason. But more often than not, these opposites are introduced as supporting characters. It's no secret that Pixar movies are heavily inspired by the buddy-film genre, a genre almost as long as the history of film itself. But it's a rather perfect genre for inspiration, given what Pixar tries to achieve through its films: to teach a lesson. Most of us learn through others and opinions that differ from our own. The same rule applies in the world of Pixar. Joy learns the importance of other negative emotions and of their symbiotic harmony thanks to her journey with Sadness. And Carl in "Up" is able to move on from the death of his wife because of the journey with a boy who resembles his younger self but is the opposite of the man he's grown to be. As a film puts two opposing forces through a series of challenges, the two characters have no choice but to grow and learn from each other. Which leads us to our final point: the lesson.

I like to call it a "Pixar moment." In every film, there's a point where everything just clicks, when we, along with the characters, learn what the entire experience has been all about. It's what a lot of bad stories get wrong. They're busy force-feeding us themes and motifs that desperately scream for attention. But in the works of Pixar, everything is far more subtle. In a lot of ways, Pixar tells a story just like how we learn our lessons. They're never expected. They never come easy. And we fail constantly in the process. But at the end of it all, it becomes clear why the journey was worth taking. It all feels real and organic because we learn with these characters rather than from them. It's all really just beautiful storytelling. There's no doubt that Pixar has a perfect handle on how to tell a story. But beyond that, Pixar's greatest strength might lie in knowing what its story is about. It might look like an abandoned robot, a family of superheroes, toys, or emotions. But in the end, it's really a story about us.

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