Should A Toy Be A Child's Plaything or Something Else?

Now many people may wonder how another review of Toy Story 2 could possibly be different after all of the hundreds of ones that are previously posted. However, I’ve felt led to express my own thoughts on this movie in a different manner and I would like to share them with you at this time.

Basic Story

Toy Story 2 is the sequel to the original Toy Story computer animated graphics cartoon movie produced several years ago by Pixar. In the original movie, a group of toys owned by a young boy named Andy come to life during the times that Andy or other humans are not in their presence. This is similar to the story line in the Jim Henson production of The Christmas Toy if you saw it several years ago.

The main two toy characters in the Toy Story series are Woody, an older cowboy doll with a pull string that has been in the family for generations, and Buss Lightyear, a space ranger toy with more modern gadgetry that was purchased for Andy’s birthday. Woody had been Andy’s favorite toy for years and the intrusion of Buzz in his life caused jealousy and chaos. However, the two eventually become great friends at the end of the first story giving them both equal standing as Andy’s favorite toys.

In Toy Story 2, Woody looks forward to going with Andy to a cowboy camp as they have done now for many years. However, before they leave, Woody’s arm is torn and he is put on the shelf with other broken and discarded toys. While on the shelf, Woody finds an older squeak toy, Wheezy, who has been there for quite some time. After Andy’s mother puts Wheezy in a garage sale, Woody develops a plan to save him. However, during the rescue, Woody is found by a toy storeowner who has plans to sell Woody as an antique with other toys to a Japanese museum.

Even though Andy’s mother said “no” to the storeowner, he manages to steal Woody anyway, leaving his fellow friends (of course all toys), to find some way to rescue him from this villain’s evil clutches.

Something happens to Woody though after he is whisked away from Andy’s home. He discovers that he is quite famous as being the character in a television program that produced a wide variety of merchandise. As he becomes friends with his fellow toys who were characters on the original show, Woody has second thoughts as to whether or not he should return to Andy’s home or not.

After all, if he returns to be with Andy, eventually Andy will tire of him or perhaps even break again. But if he goes to the museum, he’ll have the chance to live forever? Suddenly Buzz and his friends are there to rescue him. What will Woody do now?

Why Toy Story Makes Me Think About Captain Kangaroo and the Buckskin Bill Show

Now most of you probably have heard of Captain Kangaroo if you’re at least forty years old, but unless you lived in the Baton Rouge Metro area, you probably never heard of Buckskin Bill. Both of these shows are shows from my childhood that I watched faithfully from really the time I knew what television was until both of these shows went off of the air.

Captain Kangaroo, being a nationally aired program, featured at that time in the 60s, an amazing group of characters such as Mr. Moose, Bunny Rabbit, Grandfather Clock, and Mr. Green Jeans. If my children would watch Captain Kangaroo though they probably would think that it was very boring, but to me it was something that I loved and cherished as a part of my daily life as a child.

Even through we knew that Mr. Moose and Bunny Rabbit were only puppets that didn’t matter because the humor and relationship between the two were there. Having hand puppets of both of these characters was a dream of mine and even though I never did have them, I still wish I did to this day.

Although I never did own one of the puppets from Captain Kangaroo, I did manager to acquire a priceless treasure from the other favorite television shows of my childhood – Storyland and The Buckskin Bill Show. On that shows, a character named Buckskin Bill lived in a cabin on the set of the television station where he had several characters come to meet him and speak with him in humorous situations. My favorite character was Seignior Puppet, a Mexican type puppet with strings that would pop in and out of the set getting into mischief most of the time. Last year, I found one of these puppets at Goodwill and snatched it up immediately having a special place in my home.

Should Toys Be Toys or Collector’s Items?

However, the entire issue as to whether a toy should be something that is played with or something that is collected is an issue that is dear to me and also dear to the main story portrayed in Toy Story 2. With Woody’s situation, his owner did not have to make the decision to collect or not. It was presumed that Andy would play with Woody until such time as he would break or pass down to another child in the family in the future. (as indicated in the comments that Andy’s mother made to the toy storeowner during the garage sale)

As a person who now collects special toys of my childhood and has saved special toys of my children (my oldest son’s first Grover doll, my youngest son’s first toy television, my kids’ huge bracchiosaurus, my ALF collection, and now Seignior Puppet), am I now guilty as Al in Toy Story 2 by keeping toys to possibly sell in the future for profit instead of allowing children to play with them until they ultimately break?

As a child who long believed in the story of The Velveteen Rabbit where I truly believed that if you loved a toy enough that they would become real, I often wonder these things. However, as an adult I see the tremendous profit of toy collecting evidenced by observing auction sites of memorabilia of famous children’s television shows, or especially through the collection of Beanie Babies.

Therefore, Toy Story 2, in addition, to being an absolute masterpiece of entertainment for children is also a movie that can inspire deep thought for any adult who collects toys and related memorabilia as to whether or not it is “right”.

Special Notes

In making additional observations about Toy Story 2 I can affirmatively say that the plot and production of this children’s movie is perfect in every means. Even though there is a great deal of action, the violence is really non-existent. Each one of the toys is skillfully designed with its characteristics and personality to make it believable that the toy is actually alive. The personalities of the voices of these characters add special appeal to adults as they watch the movie making it more entertaining than just a regular “G” rated production.

The musical score and especially the song You’ve Got A Friend in Me perfectly matches the movie in every way, and in my personal opinion, Toy Story 2 is one of the best children’s animated movies of all time.

Overall Recommendation

Therefore, it is quite obvious that I highly recommend Toy Story 2 for purchase. In my opinion, this movie is absolutely ideal for children of all ages and will continue to be a favorite for years to come.

Note: Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen)