The Toy Story trilogy was Andy’s story. He had a way of playing with his toys that instantly connected with people of all ages and reminded them of their relationships with their own toys. The third film concluded with Andy’s story coming to an end. The baton has been passed to Bonnie, who is now the main human character that plays with the toys. There is one moment in the newest TV spot that appears to signify how the toys are truly in a new era.
The moment in ‘Toy Story 3’ that shattered hearts around the world
As we first saw in Toy Story 3 and then saw several times in the Toy Story shorts, Bonnie brought the enthusiasm that Andy’s toys had been woefully missing in recent years. In Toy Story 4, that childhood excitement about toys has led Bonnie to create her own toy – Forky. This character is fashioned out of simple items like a spork, pipe wire, and googly eyes. It is the stick broken in half that make up his feet that really caught my eye, though.
A screencrap from the latest ‘Toy Story 4’ TV commercial
When Forky falls over in the recent commercial, in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, we get a peek at how Bonnie signifies ownership over her new toy. It is the same way that Andy chose to do so, by writing his name under the toys’ feet. Bonnie’s name has a few more letters in it, though, leading her to write half her name under one foot and the other half under the other – “Bon” and “nie.”
Andy’s name as seen under Woody’s foot in ‘Toy Story 2’
We knew going into these films that the era of Andy is over and Bonnie’s has just begun. Still, it is a moment that gives me pause, reminding me of how much I loved Andy’s time spent with these toys that we also grew up with and adored. It also gives me hope for the wonder that the toys and we will get to experience as Bonnie shares her seemingly unlimited amount of love with Forky and all the rest of her toys.
