Granted, I watched Toy Story 3 in Japaneses and was not able to enjoy the full experience of clever catch phrases, Tom Hank's and Tim Allen's amazing voice acting or Mr. Potato Head's silly complaints but emotions and feelings can always transcend language. I mean hey-that's why I pick them up so easily, no?
The ending to the trilogy was as amazing and stupendous as the first one, from start to end. But I think the timing of this third movie was the epitome of it all; it was the clear sign to my generation of kids who had grown up with such wonderful toys in our lives, that now we had to move onto greater things as adults. Out of all viewers, no one else could understand the heartache that Andy experiences in parting with his beloved childhood more than we having shared those toys with him through the years. What's worse than watching Andy simply leaving behind those faithful memories of youthful splendor is the fact that this time, it was his toys who left him.
In the first two movies and for a majority of the last, the protagonist of faithful Woody was always concerned with being the "forgotten toy". As evidence has proven throughout all three movies, children are cruel and can be negligent quite easily to their playthings. It's part of their lack of responsibility and inability to proper care for others, despite their existence being real or fantasy. Even Andy showcased certain realistic flaws, such as picking the more extravagant Buzz Light Year over Woody in the first movie and then accidentally ripping Woody's arm in the second. But the heart of the story lies in the simple fact that children need to play and there is no one they can depend more on than their toys. No one showcases that message better than Woody the Cowboy. No matter what shenanigans Woody and gang fall into, or how mistreated he is by Andy- Woody's unconditional love for him is as clearly written out as Andy's name on his boot. Even his own theme song sings it out in plain words: "You've got a friend in me..when the road is rough ahead and you're miles and miles from your safe warm bed, you just remember what your old pal said: yeah you got a friend in me."
No one could resist tears at the ending when Woody, even though self picked through Andy to come along with him for college, willing throws himself into Bonnie's donated toy box. The lone cow ranger who had been faithful all these years, ended up being the one to say good bye first. Perhaps even greater than a parent's love in letting their children leave the nest, is a beloved toy telling his owner it's time to grow up and leave him for the next generation to love.
It is such a wonder that inanimate objects can stir alive the imagination with a simple facial expression, small movement, or recorded voice feature. Pixar and Disney (I listed it that way on purpose) simply gave a bit of animation to our playthings and as a result, reminded us of that old fashion magic from childhood. It's not found in these new electronic hand games, or in magazines or 2d collection cards. It's the spark we all felt when holding our favorite stuff animal, dressing up and battling with our action figures and barbie's, pushing buttons and making our toys converse with one another in our terrible voice acting. It's quite literally, a physical touch of childhood; the most real and tangible grasp of magic that we could ever hold or will ever hold again for a long time. That is why as an adult, I hold no shame in showing my love for this trilogy for its animators. No one can doubt the truth it presents about the greatest of youth and the inevitability of adulthood.
This is the sad good bye that we all face and the only thing we can do is say: "Thank you Woody, Buzz, and everyone for adventures. It was fun while it lasted."
