Ready or not, Disney and Pixar are preparing to close the book on Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Rex, and the entire gang from Bonnie’s (ahem, Andy’s) room. After three feature length Toy Story films spanning over two decades, it feels a little surreal. Undoubtedly, the most exciting component of the final (alleged) outing is that it’s filled with an abundance of brand-new characters. Luckily, you don’t have to wait for the upcoming film to take a peek at what’s to come. Read along below to discover the (mostly) new faces of Toy Story 4.
Bo Peep
Okay, she’s not a new character, but she certainly feels like one. The last time we saw Bo Peep (Annie Potts) was nine years ago in Toy Story 2. Woody briefly mentions her in Toy Story 3 when giving a speech about the toys the group had lost over the years (for reasons unknown). The porcelain shepherdess has seemingly ditched her persona of the past. She’s still grounded and spunky but far more assured in herself, and her larger place in the toy world. Bo’s swapped out the pink, frilly dress for practical light blue undergarments. This updated costume way more suitable for action, which is speculated that we’re going to see a lot of.
Toy Story 4 is likely to serve as the conclusion to Bo Peep’s arc. We’ll learn what happened to her since Andy’s room and why she seems perfectly content with being a “lost toy”. This character’s surprise return is likely to pose a lot of complex questions for Woody in terms of self-fulfillment and the meaning of true love.
Billy, Goat, & Gruff
It’s only fitting that Bo’s beloved sheep are back, too. Not only did they get a total redesign (more The Good Dinosaur, less sad and elongated), each sheep finally got a name ‘Billy’, ‘Goat’ and ‘Gruff’. For the first time these guys will be seen as actual characters, opposed to accessories.
Officer Giggle McDimples
Coming in as the tiniest Toy Story character ever, Officer Giggle McDimples (Ally Maki) is the new resident BFF of Bo Peep. If she’s not sitting on Bo’s shoulder whispering unapologetic advice, she’s watching over a toy haven Miniopolis, as their head of Pet Patrol. This Jiminy Cricket-esque plaything is rumored to pack a punch as a total boss lady, regardless of her remarkably small stature.
Forky
There’s nothing like a toy in the midst of an existential crisis. Forky (Tony Hale) might directly take on the most important question ever in the Toy Story franchise, what makes a toy? It’s not the first time that fans have contemplated this question after arguing that Bo Peep is part of a lamp and Angel Kitty (Toy Story That Time Forgot) is a Christmas ornament. After Bonnie creates Forky in school out of assorted craft supplies, she quickly stuffs him away with Woody in her backpack. It’s there that he suddenly gains sentience, gasping for air as he comes to life.
In promo material we’ve seen Forky insist he’s “not a toy” claiming that he was specifically made for soup, chili, and eventually the trash. Can this craft project adapt to his new role and accept the responsibility that there is a child out there that needs him?
Ducky & Bunny
The worlds of Toy Story and MAD TV collide. Ducky (Keegan-Michael Key) and Bunny (Jordan Peele) are two wise-cracking friends living out their days as top level prizes at the carnival game “Star Adventurers”. Aside from making countless jokes, their only longterm goal is to be eventually won by a child. It’s not long before their comfortable routine goes completely awry when Woody and friends come to town…
Combat Carl Jr.
Devoted Toy Story fans will know the lineage of Combat Carl runs deep. The first we see of this character is in the original Toy Story, when Sid proceeds to blow one to smithereens an M-80. When Woody infiltrates Sid’s room, there are Carl heads in the lava lamp. Most notably, many of the “mutant-toys” such a Jingle Joe, incorporate miscellaneous parts from this solider toy.
We don’t see Combat Carl again (aside from abc shorts) until the Halloween special, Toy Story of Terror. Woody, Buzz, and the gang formally meet a 12 inch Combat Carl as well as his counterpart, the 4 inch Combat Carl Jr. Both versions are brave, vigilant, and laser-focused on completing the mission at hand. It appears that in Toy Story 4 we’ll meet three different Combat Carl Jr. action figures, each mold suited for different adventure.
Gabby Gabby & Benson
A mob boss has never been this adorable. Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) is a doll from the 1950’s who reigns total control over Second Chance, the antique shop that runs alongside the carnival. Scorned by a life of watching kids playing outside from behind the glass, she devises a plan to finally gain the love of a child—she must replace her defect, raspy voice box with a brand-new one. And she has her sights set on Woody’s…
Benson is a group of vintage, ventriloquist dummies that share the same namesake. Since puppets require a human voice to to speak, once these toys come alive, they’re entirely mute (creepy). Instead of thinking for themselves, Benson assumes the role of Gabby Gabby’s subservient henchmen, aiming to carry out her every command.
Duke Caboom
Based off of the greatest Canadian stuntman of the 1970’s, Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) is a flashy, daredevil action figure. Although quick to show fake confidence in the form of cheeky action poses, this toy knows the truth—he can’t perform any of the high-flying stunts his real-life equivalent can. Devastated by his shortcomings, he spends his days on a shelf in the antique store.
Tinny
Tinny is one of the most exciting additions to the Toy Story saga, mainly because his introduction has been a long time coming. This character is the star of Tin Toy, a 1988 Pixar short about a toy who was afraid of interacting with a human baby. He was then set to star in A Tin Toy Christmas, a sequel to the original short, which was cancelled. Tinny was later considered to be Woody’s co-star in the first Toy Story film, in place of Buzz Lightyear. That idea was also creatively scrapped (but it was for the best). The inclusion of Tinny in Toy Story 4 came as both a surprise and delight to longtime Pixar fans. He will at last, finally receive long-awaited public recognition. In the film, Tinny appears to own a pinball machine that doubles as a hotspot for the antique store’s unique collection of toys.
Which Toy Story 4 character are you the most excited to see on the big screen? Let us know in a comment below.
Toy Story 4 hits theaters June 21, 2019