# The Toy Story movies are odd and depressing. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721 "2012-08-26T15:47:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/1 "2012-08-26T15:47:46Z")
I feel like the anthropomorphization of objects offers some kind of insight into how hoarders think. It is just an ODD way of thinking, like anthropomorphizing food items and imagining them screaming as you eat that bagel or something. It is like if there isn’t enough abandonment and sadness in life, now you can think inanimate objects suffer horribly TOO! Isn’t that wonderful children? The thing that bugs me too is that instead of fun freeform PLAY, the last two movies are focused on negative feelings, WHY? Seriously Adventure Time does a better job of grabbing that free form fun of childhood feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/2 "2012-08-26T15:51:16Z")
When I was a kid, I already imagined my toys being alive. That’s just part of being a kid and the movies play off that – both to children who still feel that way and to adults who remember feeling that way. Anyway, the themes of the cost of leaving your childhood or sentient childhood friends aren’t anything odd or new. See _The Velveteen Rabbit_ or “Puff the Magic Dragon”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/3 "2012-08-26T15:51:41Z")
> [@grude](#): > > It is just an ODD way of thinking, like anthropomorphizing food items and imagining them screaming as you eat that bagel or something. Funny you should mention that. Yesterday, for some reason, Happy Meals were mentioned. I told the SO I’d like to see a commercial where a Happy Meal is being happy, and then someone starts to eat it. ♫ I’m a Happy Meal! ♫ I’m a Happy Meal! AAAAAAAGGGGGH!!! HE’S EATING ME! HE’S EATING ME ALIVE!!! ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/4 "2012-08-26T15:57:34Z")
I really liked the opening of the third one, where we see what Andy is thinking as he plays with the toys. But that was over with soon and once again we rehash the abandonment theme of the second movie. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/5 "2012-08-26T16:06:31Z")
The third movie isn’t about abandonment - it’s about moving on. It’s about accepting that things change. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/6 "2012-08-26T16:22:53Z")
I’ve always found the anthropomorphization of food to be odd. I remember a fast food chicken place touting its food as healthy having a giant mural. It depicted a chicken city, with a sporty chicken walking down the street from a fitness center after a workout to the fast food chicken place. That’s got to be the sickest society imaginable! ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/7 "2012-08-26T16:32:52Z")
What was with the subtle gender role jokes in the third one? This is ultra nitpicky but it just seemed out of place, or maybe it was the characters reaction that seemed too strong. Bookworm notices “Ken” is wearing high heels and rolls his eyes. Someone complements Barbie’s cutesy handwriting, someone points out Ken wrote it and they all look horrified. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/8 "2012-08-26T17:28:12Z")
I found that the movies are about parenthood. Eventually, your children outgrow you and move on. This is especially the theme in the third one. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/9 "2012-08-26T17:31:46Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > “Puff the Magic Dragon”. Puff the Magic Dragon never worked for me. If I had a real fucking dragon, that would never cease to be completely awesome no matter what my age. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/10 "2012-08-26T17:33:45Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > I’ve always found the anthropomorphization of food to be odd. I remember a fast food chicken place touting its food as healthy having a giant mural. It depicted a chicken city, with a sporty chicken walking down the street from a fitness center after a workout to the fast food chicken place. That’s got to be the sickest society imaginable! Well, when they turn one, it’s time for Carousel! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/11 "2012-08-26T17:36:00Z")
> [@Shawn1767](#): > > I found that the movies are about parenthood. Eventually, your children outgrow you and move on. This is especially the theme in the third one. Exactly. The toys are metaphors for parents. That’s what the movies are really about: parents watching their children turn into adults. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/12 "2012-08-26T18:12:49Z")
Except the parents’ solution is to just find replacement kids. If anything, it’s a metaphor for serial child molesters… Just kidding. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/13 "2012-08-26T18:29:18Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, when they turn one, it’s time for Carousel! Wasn’t that movie called Chicken’s Run? ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/14 "2012-08-26T19:13:33Z")
In the third one, they have the option of going to a nursing home or being an integral part of a new generation…like grandparents. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/15 "2012-08-26T22:04:17Z")
Let’s see Andy had the toys in his room until he left for college which means they witnessed countless hours of masturbation. Bet that was addressed onscreen. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/16 "2012-08-26T22:45:38Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Let’s see Andy had the toys in his room until he left for college which means they witnessed countless hours of masturbation. Bet that was addressed onscreen. There are some unseen toys that Andy _did_ take to college with him. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/17 "2012-08-27T02:08:42Z")
Alphaboi… it could be worse… > **[Soup.io](https://www.soup.io/)** > > Get the latest news about Technology, Sports, Health, TV shows, Movies, Games and Science at Soup.io ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/18 "2012-08-27T02:12:22Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > There are some unseen toys that Andy _did_ take to college with him. How can the porn industry not have already made _Sex Toy Story_ about talking dildos and blow up dolls, etc? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/19 "2012-08-27T02:18:48Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Puff the Magic Dragon never worked for me. If I had a real fucking dragon, that would never cease to be completely awesome no matter what my age. Of course it didn’t work for you-it was actually about merryjuana. [runs away fast] ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721/20 "2012-08-27T02:36:39Z")
> [@grude](#): > > What was with the subtle gender role jokes in the third one? This is ultra nitpicky but it just seemed out of place, or maybe it was the characters reaction that seemed too strong. > > Bookworm notices “Ken” is wearing high heels and rolls his eyes. > > Someone complements Barbie’s cutesy handwriting, someone points out Ken wrote it and they all look horrified. > > :dubious: I think you might be too sensitive here. I think what has made pixar’s stories successful is that the script is on two levels. The kids see what they want, and they throw in enough of the jokes like with the Ken doll to make the adults laugh. I honestly can’t see a gay person being upset with that, but since I’m not gay I can’t speak in a definite voice. But Ken being into clothes, having the dream house, etc is very funny… He clearly has some feminine traits. But he also wants to share his life with a Barbie. Would it have made you feel better if Ken was given another Ken doll to live with? Because I still would have laughed. It might not have gone over well with generic parent USA, but I would have laughed. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Exactly. The toys are metaphors for parents. That’s what the movies are really about: parents watching their children turn into adults. Maybe, but when I left home I didn’t get to put my parents in the attic, yet alone throw them out by the curb for trash pickup. Personally, I think some people make too much out of what the movie is supposed to mean. As a kid, I NEVER thought a toy was alive. Why would I? And the toys that I played with on my 6 th birthday or however old Andy was in the first movie were long gone when I turned 17 or so and went to college. He’ll, I thought it was a little weird that Andy basically had the same toys from the second movie, and most survived from the first. Are we supposed to thin Andys mom disallowed toys in the house after the kid turned 10, or did everyone buy him clothes? Nah, to me it’s just a way to keep folks interested in the toy story movie franchise. I have a few toys and games that made it through childhood. Not a mass collection of the same 12 toys since I was 10, though. I think the movie is just about growing up and moving on. Nothing deeper than that. And the truth is, if Andys mom wasn’t such a damn Nazi, the toys couldnhave been put in the attic, or left int he toy box forever. What was she doing, kicking him out forever? He’d be home in three months for thanksgiving! Mom was a clean freak and a psycho bitch. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toy-story-movies-are-odd-and-depressing/632721.md?page=2)