Back in October last year, ABC aired the first ever television special from Pixar, Toy Story OF TERROR!, which allowed us the most time with the great toy characters than we’ve been afforded since the release of Toy Story 3. The animation studio had delivered several humorous Toy Story shorts, but after spending just a few minutes with Woody, Buzz, Rex, and the rest of the gang, you were left wanting more. The special provided that without infringing on the toes of the feature film trilogy. ABC has now announced that a Toy Story Christmas special is coming later this year. Find more details after the break!
As part of the lengthy Television Critics Association Winter Press tour where networks preview and discuss their upcoming shows, ABC today announced Toy Story That Time Forgot, a special set to air around the holidays late this year. The short plot synopsis that the network gave in a press release is below:
During a post-Christmas play date, the “Toy Story” gang find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turn out to be dangerously delusional. It’s all up to Trixie, the triceratops, if the gang hopes to return to Bonnie’s room in this “Toy Story That Time Forgot.”
If you can recall, Toy Story OF TERROR! gave Jessie time in the spotlight, as she had to save her friends from a mysterious foe. This new special looks to give Trixie the dinosaur (voiced by the great Kristen Schaal), another female character, the lead. After being accused of focusing too much on male characters, Pixar has done an admirable job giving audiences female leads. Add Brave, these Toy Story TV specials, and its next feature film, Inside Out, which takes place inside the mind of a young girl, and gives the biggest role to Amy Poehler’s character of Joy, and you have quite a number of stories centered around women.
‘Toy Story of Terror’
After the success of the Halloween special, where over 10 million viewers tuned in, a large audience for a family friendly TV special, it was only a matter of time before the next Toy Story special was announced. Pixar has conquered cinema screens, and is now flexing its muscles on the small screen as well. It only means more opportunities to watch quality storytelling, utilizing characters that viewers already have a strong connection with, so I hope the TV special is a new venue for the studio, that it uses long into the future. New holiday specials were once aplenty, and in recent years have picked up, with several animation studios producing them. Disney’s Prep & Landing specials kickstarted ABC’s interest in developing them, and after their success, coupled with Toy Story‘s, it does look like we will have a steady stream of them in the coming years. Now, maybe Pixar can produce an Incredibles television special, and people can stop asking for a sequel!
Steve Purcell
Toy Story That Time Forgot , which is directed by Steve Purcell, co-director of Brave, and produced by Galyn Susman, is scheduled to debut on ABC during the holidays!
Read the full press release for the special below:
“Toy Story That Time Forgot,” Disney•Pixar’s new Christmas special featuring your favorite characters from the “Toy Story” films, will air during the holidays this year on ABC. The special comes on the heels of the success of “Toy Story OF TERROR!,” which premiered to stellar ratings this past October.
During a post-Christmas play date, the “Toy Story” gang find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turn out to be dangerously delusional. It’s all up to Trixie, the triceratops, if the gang hopes to return to Bonnie’s room in this “Toy Story That Time Forgot.”
ABC’s October 2013 premiere of “Toy Story OF TERROR!” ranked No. 1 in its time period among Total Viewers (10.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.1/10), giving the Net its best performance in the half-hour in nearly 2 years – since 11/09/11. In addition, it was the night’s dominant No. 1 show with Kids 2-11 posting the Net’s highest rating in the half-hour in almost 6 years – 11/28/07.
The cast of “Toy Story That Time Forgot” includes Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, Kristen Schaal as Trixie, Kevin McKidd (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as Reptillus Maximus, Wallace Shawn as Rex, Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Joan Cusack as Jessi.
“Toy Story That Time Forgot” is produced by Galyn Susman and directed by Steve Purcell. The special is from Disney•Pixar.
