Heartwarming / Toy Story

Moment pages are Spoilers Off. You Have Been Warned.

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Film

"And as the years go by, our friendship will never die."

• What better way to begin the groundbreaking Pixar legacy of Heartwarming Moments than with "You've Got a Friend in Me"? It's essentially The Power of Friendship turned into a song.
  • Perfect for bringing viewers back into the mood when they used it in the teaser for and beginning of Toy Story 3.
• The 3D double feature in theaters. Most of the 3D was pretty subtle, but at the end of the first film, there's a bunch of little kids reaching up to catch the 3D "snow" that was falling into the audience. Awwww.
• Sarge refusing to abandon any of his soldiers after Andy's mother accidentally steps on one.
  Wounded Soldier: Go on without me. Just go!
  Sarge: A good soldier never leaves a man behind.
  • When the soldiers make it to their hiding place, Sarge's first concern is getting the "okay" on the wounded soldier from the medic.
• When Woody is knocked off the bed to land Buzz there, and everyone panics that Woody is being replaced, Woody initially gives Andy the benefit of the doubt that he was just overexcited from the party. He also encourages the others to welcome this new toy with open arms.
• The scene when Woody is trying to snap Buzz out of his funk and tells him, "Over in that house is a kid who thinks you are the greatest, and it's not because you're a space ranger, pal. It's because you're a toy. You are his toy!" Especially good when you read it in the "toys-as-parents" interpretation.
  • When Buzz still doesn't get it, why Andy would be interested in "just a toy", Woody goes on to talk about Buzz's cool features. This is a big step for Woody, who finally admits that, yes, a Buzz Lightyear action figure is cooler than a Sheriff Woody doll. Recognizing that his own jealousy provoked the events that led to their situation, Woody sullenly asks Buzz to save himself, as he feels he should be strapped to Sid's rocket. At this point, Buzz looks at Andy's name written on his foot, and regains his drive — not to escape on his own, but to help Woody get out as well — and a sense of purpose as a toy.
    Woody: Listen Buzz, forget about me. You should get out of here while you can. (Silence. Woody turns around. Buzz is gone. Woody bows his head in shame, suddenly, the entire milkcrate begins to shake. Woody looks up to see Buzz is on top of the milkcrate, trying to push the tool box off.)
    Woody: Buzz!! What are you doing? I thought you were —
    Buzz: Come on, Sheriff. There's a kid over in that house who needs us. Now let's get you out of this thing.
  • Buzz retaining his character's signature sense of justice and adventure throughout all four films, even after realizing he's not actually a space ranger.
• When it seems like Woody is about to be at the mercy of an aggressive dog and fall off the moving van, his would-be last words to Buzz is "TAKE CARE OF ANDY FOR MEEEEEE!" It shows the growth of respect Woody has for his former rival. And immediately afterwards, Buzz draws the dog's attention by jumping on it whilst yelling "Nooooooooooooooooo!" and making it let go of Woody. In return, Woody uses the RC car to help Buzz make a quick getaway from Scud. Now that's teamwork.
• "Buzz, we missed the truck!" "We're not aiming for the truck!"
  • This implies that, after all he's been through, he truly does care for both Andy and Woody.
  • Andy ecstatically picking up both Woody and Buzz when he finds them, showing that he missed both of them and is overjoyed that he can play with them again.
  • Buzz and Woody winking at each other after Andy picks them up.
• "Buzz, you're flying!" "This isn't flying! This is falling with style!" It may not make sense, but anyone who didn't feel a little glow in their heart at that moment is a liar.
• At the end of the "Strange Things" sequence, even though it transitions into a Tearjerker once we see Woody's state, it's still pretty sweet to see Andy sleeping peacefully with Buzz, and the other toys also sleeping blissfully on the toy shelf.
• Continuing for the "Strange Things" sequence, just how well Buzz gets along with everyone (sans Woody). He doesn't think of himself higher than them, he is friendly and respectful, even helping out everyone with some problems (like helping Rex's roaring) and joining them or lets them join in in his activities too. At first everyone simply found him cool because of his features, during and after the sequence, everyone just finds Buzz cool in general.
  • Despite how Buzz believes he's actually The Buzz Lightyear, everyone is still respectful towards him, not once denouncing him as a lunatic like Woody, which is mainly due to how he just got along with everyone swimmingly.
• Subtle one: In the moving van scene, when Slinky is holding Woody and is getting stretched, Slinky says he 'can't hold on much longer'. He meant it. He really can't. One look behind him as he says it, the slink is completely straight, much more exposure would result in him snapping in two, and by extension, dying. Slinky sure was keen to prove his loyalty, just short of willing to die for it. Maybe even willing, though in this case, Heroic Sacrifice would not have been very effective.
  • Right before the rest of the toys discover Woody and Buzz riding RC (thus validating Woody's innocence), Bo and Slinky are the only two who don't celebrate Woody being thrown overboard. Bo even pats Slink on the head in comfort.
• When the other toys accuse Woody of trying to murder Buzz, when Woody protests his innocence, Slinky instantly believes him. He and Bo are also seen angrily trying to stop the other toys attacking Woody afterwards.
• The scene where Sid's toys fix the Pteranodon toy and the Janie doll by switching their heads back, showing despite all Sid has done to them, they're still good, they care for each other, and they try to fix whatever damage Sid inflicts on them if they can.
  • When Woody notices that Sid left the door open he starts to run towards it only for Sid's toys to stand in his way. Initially it seems like they're trying to keep him prisoner, but after the reveal that they're actually friendly you realise they were probably trying to stop him from running into Scud who was sleeping nearby.
• While also counting as a Funny moment, after Sid had tortured Woody by using a magnifying glass to burn his forehead and Woody cools his head in a bowl of cereal, Buzz (covered in plungers) walks up to Woody, pats him on the back, and wholeheartedly commended Woody's "willingness" to remain silent.
  Buzz: You all right? (slaps Woody on the back) I'm proud of you Sheriff; a lesser man would've talked under such torture.
• Despite their adversity, Buzz is still completely willing to work together with Woody to escape from Sid. Even in his delusion he recognizes the severity of the threat Sid poses to their lives and is also unwilling to leave Woody behind, and looks out for him (like when he gags Woody to get him back from Scud). He also tried to stop Woody from leaving Sid’s room out of the valid concern that they don’t know what’s outside waiting for them.
• The mutant toys coming together and answering Woody's plea to rescue Buzz from being blown up. After they pull it off, Buzz offers a handshake to Woody who graciously accepts. As they hurry out of Sid's yard, Woody thanks the mutant toys for their help.
  • When Woody is explaining his plan to the mutant toys, he graciously thanks them for their help and reassures them they stand to benefit from the plan. It's clear why he was the de facto leader of Andy's toys.
  Woody: Thank you. Okay, I think I know what to do. We're gonna have to break a few rules. But if it works, it'll help everybody.
• Andy's toys having fun during Christmas.
  • Look closely. While Andy's bed still has the Buzz Lightyear cover, the sheets and pillow case are from the original western set, meaning he still cares about Woody!
  • Furthermore, look at the walls. You can see that Andy has both the cowboy poster and the space ranger poster up together, showing that he has a place in his heart for both Woody and Buzz.
  • Buzz was standing watch by the radio while Woody participated in the dance party, showing he now serves as co-leader of Andy’s toys.
  • The toys also no longer react to Sarge’s incoming report with fear, suggesting that Woody’s adventure taught them a lesson about their place with Andy. Now, they excitedly look forward to Sarge’s report because Andy getting new toys means they can make new friends. Or in Potato Head’s case, a love interest! Potato Head’s stunned silence says it all, and the others congratulate him.
  • Buzz takes a moment to raise an eyebrow mischievously when Woody returns from his make out session with Bo, showing they’re best friends who can jest about such things openly.
• Finally, the movie ends with Andy being excited that he’s received a puppy for Christmas!

Production & Deleted Scenes

• In a deleted scene, Woody tries to distract Buzz from Andy with a claim of evil invaders out to find him from another part of the house. It fails because Buzz then insists on sticking close by Andy. It's nice to see that, even in his early delusional state, Buzz had a sense of loyalty towards Andy.
  Buzz: [patrolling Andy's bed] Don't worry, Andy. No one gets past Buzz Lightyear.
• Even the infamous Black Friday reel has one. As Woody browbeats Slinky for not guarding him from the angry mob of toys, Potato Head, Hamm and even the usually timid Rex pull a Go Through Me. While this early rendition seems to have Slinky exist as muscle for its more villainous Woody, even the other toys think Woody's taken his treatment of him too far.

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