Toy Story (franchise)/Heartwarming

They belong together. Period.

Being a pioneer in the animation genre doesn't mean you can't tug at people's heartstrings positively.

Toy Story

• What better way to begin the groundbreaking Pixar legacy of Heartwarming Moments than with "You've got a friend in me..."?
  • Perfect for bringing viewers back into the mood when they used it in the teaser for and beginning of Toy Story 3.
• The whole movie was one big Heartwarming Moments with pieces of awesome here and there, and there, and there.
• This troper just saw the 3D double feature in theaters. Most of the 3D was pretty subtle, but my personal favorite part was at the end of the first film, when a bunch of little kids reached up to catch the 3D "snow" that was falling into the audience. Awwww.
• The scene that always makes me choke up is 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.
• Buzz accepting that he's a toy, and coming to the disheartened Woody's rescue.
• "Buzz, we missed the truck!" "We're not aiming for the truck!"
• "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.
• Woody is about to be, for better or worst, killed by Scud. What does he say to Buzz? "Take care of Andy for me!"
  • Followed by Buzz jumping on the Scud whilst yelling "Nooooooooooooooooo!", saving Woody.
• 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, die. 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 effictive.

Toy Story 2

• After Woody was kidnapped by Al, Buzz without hesitation is ready to pull together a rescue mission for him.

"Woody once risked his life to save mine, and I couldn't call myself his friend if I wasn't willing to do the same. Now who's with me?"

• • Buzz himself is a tiny plastic Heartwarming Moments, through all three films.
• And also this scene, when the rescue team is exhausted:

Buzz: Come on, fellas. Did Woody give up when Sid had me strapped to a rocket?
Rex, Hamm, Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog: No.
Buzz: No. And did he give up when you threw him out of the back of that moving van?
Mr. Potato Head: Oh, you had to bring that up!
Buzz: No, he didn't! We have a friend in need, and we're not going to rest until he's safe in Andy's room! Now, let's move out!

• Woody and Buzz talk to each other about the fear of eventually being forgotten by Andy someday.

Buzz: You still worried?
Woody: About Andy? Nah, it will be fun while it lasts.
Buzz: I'm proud of you, cowboy.
Woody: Besides, when it all ends, I'll have ol' Buzz Lightyear to keep me company. For infinity and beyond.

• Say what you will about "You've Got a Friend in Me", but "When She Loved Me" holds the record as the only Disney song that can make this troper cry just listening to it, let alone actually watching the scene.
  • It helps that the montage that went with it was almost identical in style to the "Strange Things" montage from the first one -- watching Jessie's toys and merchandise fading into other things.
• Some may call this a slightly skewed version, but this troper always loves the scene with Zurg and the other Buzz playing catch as father and son.
• The scene where Woody rescues Jessie from the flight; she's by this point the only one of the four toys remaining in the box to still be trapped in there, and by the time he comes across her she's curled up in the fetal position in the middle of a panic attack:

Woody: Excuse me, ma'am, I do believe you're on the wrong flight.
Jessie: Woody! [she hugs him]
Woody: Come on, Jessie. It's time to get you home.
Jessie: But... what if Andy doesn't like me?
Woody: Nonsense, Andy'll love you! Besides -- he's got a little sister...
Jessie: He does?! Why didn't you say so? Let's go!

Toy Story 3

• When Andy ultimately decides to give his toys to Bonnie. That right there was enough to make this troper start tearing up, especially considering how the last scene of the Toy Story series so brilliantly mirrors the beginning of the first.
  • The very heartwarming thing this troper found about that scene is how Andy describes to Bonnie how he remembers each toy, showing it isn't that he really forgot about them, he simply outgrew them and now we see he still remembers how special they all are to him.
  • Even more importantly, the toys are hearing about how special they all are to him, after he called them "junk" near the beginning of the film.
  • Andy gets all choked up as he's getting into his car right after.
• This Troper grew up with the Toy Story trilogy - the first movie was made a year before she was born - and the entirety of the movie after the magnet scene sent her into loud, VERY loud, desperately stifled tears. She later complained to herself that she cried too easily...
• For this troper, it was seeing Andy playing with the toys with Bonnie. It's what they've wanted the whole movie. Andy is leaving, but he played with them one last time.
• And on top of it all, Woody gives up his place in the college box, to make sure that his friends got a loving home.
• When Andy's toys are facing the incinerator and they calmly accept their fate and comfort each other by joining hands, every one of them. If you didn't get just a little teary at that, you are made of STONE.
  • The real kicker comes just after Woody shuts his eyes - suddenly, a bright blue light appears from above, and THE FREAKING CLAW comes hurtling down and grabs the toys right out of mortal danger. And then we see the three green aliens controlling it intone, "The Claaaaw." Never have those two words sounded so beautiful. This troper went from crying with fear and sorrow to sobbing with joy and relief.
  • This is a subtle moment during the incinerator scene; Mr. Potato Head holds Rex's hand after spending the entire trilogy bad-mouthing him.
• The beginning, which is probably just as melancholy as the ending. It may not be as heartbreaking as the beginning scene from Up, but good god is it tearful. Not only are we shown the Andy we know playing with his toys through an old betamax tape which constantly reminds us this is all in the past, not only do we see him aging over time, or that we see that his entire toy family is decreasing, BUT this is all accompanied with the original "You've Got A Friend In Me". It turns right into Tear Jerker territory when it ends on the line Our friendship will never die..
  • Arguably made even more heartbreaking in some of the translations. For instance, the Latin Spanish translation replaces that line with "El tiempo no volará" (literally Time will not fly)...
• Mr. Potato Head finally warming up to the Green Aliens calling them "his boys" with both him and Mrs. Potato Head saying "You have saved our lives. And we are eternally grateful."
• Bonnie practically defines this trope. Not only is she painstakingly adorable and hilarious in every single scene, her playtime so brilliantly mirrors that of Andy's that it's impossible not to gush at her.
  • This scene, during Bonnie's first playtime introduction after she drinks too much pretend coffee. Caution: EXTREME Moe Ahead, will lead to Cuteness Overload in all individuals
• The entire Where Are They Now end credits, where Bonnie's toys have gladly welcomed Andy's into the family and Sunnyside is made "cool and groovy!" thanks to Barbie and Ken (who knew they could be so awesome?). Even the toy soldiers get a happy ending, landing at Sunnyside. The fact it ends with everyone dancing to a Spanish version of "You've Got a Friend In Me" just makes it the perfect conclusion to one of the best trilogies of all time.
  • What got me about it, kind of mixed with a Funny Moments was how Potato Head looks with disgust at Woody's dancing. Kind of brings a "Back to normal" vibe to it.
  • Chuckles the Clown smiling at the end. Not So Stoic for kids, and just as powerful.
• At the end, Andy gives Woody once last piggyback ride, just like he used to when he was a kid and as seen from the video tape. Meaningful Echo that one.
• Say what you want Woody/Jessie shippers, but the end credit scene with Buzz and Jessie doing a paso doble to the Gypsy King's "Hay Un Amigo En Mi" pretty much solidifies their romance together at the end of the film.
• A bit Meta, but this animation fanatic troper, found the inclusion of a Totoro doll in some scenes, truly heartwarming, because it shows the high amount of respect that Pixar has for their predecessors.
  • A that grin at the end. EEEEEEEEEEEEE!
• When Bonnie first met Jessie, the score could have easily been "When She Loved Me". It probably wasn't so that Toy Story fans could see the rest of the movie, instead of solid tears.
  • You mean get up to the part where Andy says "Now, Woody..." and its clear he's giving Woody to her. After that, all bets are off and everyone is crying.
    • This Troper didn't even make it to that. He saw the original film at six years old. Soon after, his father gave him a Buzz Lightyear for HIS birthday. He even gave him a sharpie to write his name on the bottom of Buzz's boot. Buzz didn't last beyond a couple of years. Neither did this Troper's father. So the fond memories, heartbreak, grief, nostalgia and gratitude all hit him like a Mike Tyson hook to the gut when Andy gave Buzz to Bonnie. Still does, every time.
• In what's almost a Fridge moment, the condition that Andy's toys are in is a heartwarming moment. Andy has had all of these toys for at least a decade. All of the toys he still has are still in very good condition. Buzz's electronic parts all work great (and his batteries have the juice to power them), the Potato Heads still have every last one of their parts, Slinky's body isn't tangled...it's clear that Andy cared about his toys, even as he got older, and was apparently made sure to either repair them or to not damage them in the first place. Sure, a lot of his old toys are gone, but look back at the toys you played with as a kid. How many of them would still be in the sort of shape that Andy's toys are in? This boy cared about his toys.
• I have no Idea how nobody has mentioned when Andy's dog come onto the screen, all old and sleepy whereas in previous films he ran about like a madman. Growing up with these movies (I'm around Andy's age IRL) as well as having a dog who is fourteen just makes this troper well up to see him and furthermore just makes me sad at no longer being a child. Oh Pixar you broke the hearts of college kid's the world over.

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Andy: Thanks, guys...

Woody: So long, partner.