In 2010, we got the third chapter in what would become an awesome trilogy along the lines of the original Star Wars, Back to the Future, The Lord of the Rings, etc. Toy Story 3 was a massive success both critically and commercially. It was the first animated movie to gross over $1 billion in the worldwide box office.
It was a film that nigh everybody connected to emotionally. I personally didn’t cry, but I went as far as I’d ever gotten up to that point to crying while watching a movie…and that’s saying something.
Toy Story 3 opens up to when Andy is getting ready to go off to college. While cleaning his room, a mix-up causes all his favorite toys including Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Mr. Potato Head, Rex, etc. to be accidentally donated to a nearby daycare facility.
Once they discover where they are, Woody is ready to start finding his way back home. But, the other toys feel that since Andy is going away to college, he’s not going to be playing with them anymore. They figure it’s probably best for them to stay at the daycare facility. That way, they will always be played with by new toddlers every year. This causes tension between Woody and the other toys. Soon, they discover a conspiracy at the daycare that seems to revolve around a purple teddy bear named Lotso (voiced by Ned Beatty).
The film gets quite dramatic, suspenseful, somewhat dark, and incredibly emotional as the film goes forward. Who would have thought that a film based on children’s toys would have us clinging to the edge of our seats and clutching our hearts?! Maybe it’s the amazing story that has us enthralled! But more than likely, it’s the memorable characters! I’ve had trouble with the past two Toy Story films in terms of choosing a forgotten/minor character. But, this one was much easier. I chose the janitor.
The janitor is an elder guy who works in the daycare doing the usual janitorial/cleaning duties that he’s supposed to do. He even works after hours when the daycare is closed. And like all humans, he has no idea of the true nature of toys being alive.
Or does he?
You see, the janitor is one of the few human beings in the world who is around toys at night. Toys generally snap out of their liveliness during the day when humans are around and usually go to sleep at night when their owners go to sleep. But, in this daycare, we see that the toys can be quite active at night when the daycare closes. But, the janitor is still around. I’m pretty sure that he’s worked there for a long time and if so, I feel he must know a thing or two about what really goes on after hours at the daycare.
But, the case can also be made (and it’s probably the stronger case) that the janitor is just as clueless as every human being in the world.
So, here’s to the janitor in what can be called my favorite of the Toy Story films!
The Animation Commendation 
Fun choice! I love this movie and did cry. It had a little bit of everything and is so beautifully animated. The only thing is my nieces hate it. The incinerator scene was too much for them.
Did they cry at the incinerator scene? That was when I almost cried.
Yes they hated it and found it very upsetting. It’s too tense a movie for them. I mean all their favorite characters are going to die. Pretty upsetting for little kids.
Ah, I see.
I cried when I saw this movie.
The janitor was a good choice. I forgot all about him.
I think most people cried when they saw this movie.
After watching this film a couple of times, I will admit that this is a worthy entry in the Pixar canon, but I feel that it really should have ended the TOY STORY series; the upcoming TOY STORY 4 seems rather unnecessary to me…
Yeah, I too feel TS4 is unnecessary, but I’m not fervently against its existence either.