Director Andrew Stanton has a close relationship with Buzz Lightyear and Woody in the “Toy Story” films, to say the least.
“To me, they are people. They are characters that are constantly evolving,” he says when TT speaks with him and producer Lindsey Collins.
In the new film, toys are being outcompeted by iPads and other digital screens. What to do? The story directs some criticism at tech companies.
“I know, we’re a tech company. We see the irony in that, it hasn’t escaped us,” Lindsey Collins says with a laugh.
Most successful
The “Toy Story” films are among the most successful films Pixar has produced. Does that mean there is extra pressure for each new film in the series?
It’s always the same pressure, it was before the second, before the third, before the fourth. But it’s part of the job, Andrew Stanton replies.
He says that when work on a “Toy Story” film is completed, there is rarely any specific idea for a sequel.
We sit there and think that maybe there will be no continuation. And then someone comes up with an idea and we start thinking about it. A lot has changed at the company in the past 30 years and the people who work here have changed. The important thing is that we always keep in mind that if we do something, it has to be worth the work.
“Leaving the door open”
Even though it is never stated that a new film will be followed by another, the Pixar team is not closing the door on a sequel.
We do the ending like they do with TV series – a good ending, but we still leave the door a little open. If it’s the end, then it’s the end, but it shouldn’t feel like a possible continuation comes abruptly.
Stanton is one of the veterans at Pixar. “Toy Story 5” is the first of the five films that have been fully rated for children in Sweden, the other four have had a 7-year age limit. Faced with the claim that “Toy Story 5” is the kindest of the films because there is no violence or threat in it, he responds:
Interesting. I hadn’t thought about that. But I’m 60 years old now. I’m not the sarcastic, bitter 30-year-old I was when we made the first movie. The world needs more kindness. Here, the toys are concerned for their owner Bonnie. The existential threat from technology threatens them, but they still focus on her well-being and finding a friend.
Age: 60 years.
Family: Wife, two children.
Lives: In San Francisco.
Profession: Screenwriter, animator and director.
Previous films and series: “A Bug’s Life”, “Finding Nemo”, “Wall-E”, “Finding Dory”, “Stranger Things”, “3 Body Problem”.
Current: With “Toy Story 5” which has its Swedish cinema premiere on June 17.
