Without a doubt, the ‘Toy Story’ franchise is one of the most emotionally-charged film series of all time. And though the films are filled with wonderful voice acting, great writing, and fun stories, a large reason why ‘Toy Story’ resonates with so many viewers is the relatability. We all grew up with toys and used to create these elaborate storylines for our individual figures and stuffed animals. Thus, when you watch ‘Toy Story’ (particularly either the third or fourth ones), you’re likely going to walk away in a puddle of tears, reminiscing about your own childhood and the toys that you cherished.
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And though we’d love to think that the personalities and identities that we created for our toys lived on forever, long after our parents threw them out, they became lost, or were just broken, that’s not the case, according to one expert. In a recent Twitter post from ‘Toy Story 3’ director (who has worked on all four films in various capacities), Lee Unkrich, toys are not immortal. In fact, there is a way to kill them…forever.
He tweeted, “They live as long as they exist. But if they were to be utterly destroyed? Say, in an incinerator? Game over.”
So, if you’re worried about that GI Joe, Transformer, or Barbie from your childhood, wondering if it has survived and carried on through various other kids’ hands, that may have happened. But also, maybe not. While the incinerator seems like a very rough end for a toy and something not all that common, odds are your toys are broken to pieces (utterly destroyed) and thus dead. Or maybe, they exist at the bottom of a landfill, unable to escape, hoping for the day that mini-you from decades ago will come and rescue it. Hey, it’s depressing, but you heard the man, if they’re not utterly destroyed, they’re still alive. You’re the one who abandoned it!
But hey, if you’re a hoarder and/or obsessed collector, then you’re in luck, as you probably still have all your toys and they haven’t been sentenced to death or purgatory in a trash heap. Congrats!