To infinity, and beyond, Toy Story 4 soars into movie theaters this summer! Featured today on Theresa’s Reviews, you can read 10 fun facts about the movie. From the new characters and voice cast to the location and technology, learn all the neat things that make this a much anticipated movie to watch! You can also download 11 free printable recipes, games, and coloring sheets to bring fun, playful, themed activities into your home!
10 Fun Facts about Toy Story 4
New to the “Toy Story” voice cast are Tony Hale as Forky, Christina Hendricks as Gabby Gabby, Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom, Ally Maki as Giggle McDimples, and Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as Ducky and Bunny.
For a toy who’s been with one kid year after year, change can be complicated. “Woody is in Bonnie’s room now,” says director Josh Cooley. “It’s a whole new dynamic, which was really interesting to me. Bonnie plays differently with her toys than Andy did, and she has other toys who know her better. So, I knew that Woody wasn’t going to be her favorite.”
WOODY is the same pull-string cowboy sheriff that Andy fell in love with years ago. But despite the fact that he’s found a new home with Bonnie and her toys, Woody is quietly struggling. “He’s basically going through the toy equivalent of empty-nest syndrome,” says screenwriter Andrew Stanton. “It’s not that he doesn’t have a kid, but his role has completely changed. I think parents of older children will recognize that right away. Woody’s trying to use his old ways of solving new problems.”
Tom Hanks returns as the voice of Woody. “He knows the character so well,” says Cooley. “I don’t think Woody would work without Tom Hanks. He’s such a fearful character, yet Tom conveys his fears in such a lovable way.”
Annie Potts returns as the voice of Bo. “Annie not only brings emotion to Bo, she completely fleshes out that character,” says Cooley. “She’s heartwarming and funny, and Annie has a natural sarcasm that’s just perfect.
Says screenwriter Stephany Folsom, “Gabby Gabby and Woody have the exact same philosophy, which is to be there for your kid no matter what. But unlike Woody, Gabby’s never actually had that experience, so she clings to the fantasy of what it would be like to be with a kid.”
While the look of the films is stylized, advancements in technology led to new opportunities. “With each film, our technology gets better and better, and we’re able to make things look more believable, more realistic,” says Cooley. “In this movie, there are shots that are staggeringly realistic. At times we have to pull it back—it’s too real. One thing we learned from the first three films was to keep the lighting to more stage-like so that it feels presentational.”
One of the key locations in “Toy Story 4” is an antique store, Second Chance Antiques. Bo spent years gathering dust at this store until she decided to move on. Later, Woody spots her lamp and goes inside to look for her. It’s also home to a host of toys, including Gabby Gabby, her henchmen dummies, Duke Caboom and more.”
According to screenwriter Andrew Stanton, the idea of a carnival conjured many ideas when it came to new characters. “If you think about it, a carnival has the cheapest, saddest, most disposable toys known to man,” says Stanton.
Pauley and other artists went to several carnivals to gather reference. “We wanted to capture the charm of carnivals—the bright candy colors, the lights, the obligatory Ferris wheel, all the rides and game booths,” he says. “We learned how they function, how they are designed and work. Few will notice all the details, but together, they help build a world that just feels right.”
Free Printable Toy Story 4 Activities!
Click below to download entertaining games, delicious themed recipe ideas, and coloring sheets.
Billy, Goat & Gruff Grub Road Trip Snack Mix
Cran-Pop Caboom! Road Trip Snack Mix
Ducky & Bunny Connect the Dots
Check out the official trailer for Toy Story 4 below!
Directed by Josh Cooley (“Riley’s First Date?”), and produced by Jonas Rivera (“Inside Out,” “Up”) and Mark Nielsen (associate producer “Inside Out”), Disney·Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” ventures to U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019.
Your turn! Share your favorite Toy Story character in the comments.
Leave a Reply