Toy Story 4: Pixar's Self-Aware Sequel Questions Franchise Fatigue

Pixar Animation Studios, acquired by Walt Disney in 2006, is set to release Toy Story 4 in American cinemas on June 21, 2019, and in Italian theaters six days later. The film marks the return of cowboy Woody and space ranger Buzz Lightyear, nine years after Toy Story 3 – The Great Escape. The original Toy Story, released in 1995, was the first feature-length computer-animated film, revolutionizing storytelling and animation. Since then, CGI has become ubiquitous, and companies like Dreamworks and Blue Sky Studios (creator of Ice Age in 2002) have expanded. The article questions whether a fourth installment is necessary, noting that the trilogy had already fully explored its themes. Pixar itself released a self-deprecating teaser on November 12, 2018, featuring characters Ducky and Bunny (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele) mocking the film's protagonists. The piece criticizes the trend of sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, citing Disney's past missteps with classics like Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion King, as well as the endless Star Wars saga, Blade Runner 2049, and Neon Genesis Evangelion (which concluded in 1996 but continues with revisions and a final film Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 expected in 2020). The author, Valerio Veneruso, questions whether it's time to stop pushing stories 'to infinity and beyond.'