Andrew Stanton Denies ‘Toy Story’ Backstory Of Andy’s Dad

Toy Story

Recently, toy designer and reviewer Mike Mozart appeared on a video from SuperCarlinBrothers on YouTube. Mozart, who claims that he was a toy consultant for Pixar’s Toy Story shared the backstory regarding the fate of Andy’s father.

In the Toy Story trilogy, Andy lives with his mother and his younger sister Bonnie – with his father notably absent. All that is publicly acknowledged about Andy’s father was from John Lasseter. In a 2009 video promoting the limited edition Toy Story Collection, Lasseter revealed that Woody was imagined as a hand-me-down to Andy from his father.

Mozart’s alleged backstory for Andy’s father is unbelievably upsetting. Here’s the story as recapped by io9:

Andy’s father calls Andy over to his bedside, giving him a key from his wallet and telling him to go bring down a chest in the attic. Andy heads up there and grabs the chest, but by the time he returns downstairs… his father is dead. Andy forgets about the chest and the key, only to open it after the funeral. Woody, Slinky, and Mr. Potato Head wake up from their slumber, see Andy Jr., and believe he’s the kid they grew up with all those years ago. They don’t know their original owner is dead; Andy lives on in his son.

However, Pixar brain trust member Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL-E and Finding Dory) quickly debunked this backstory, calling it fake news. “Complete and utter fake news,” he tweeted. “Everyone go back to your homes. Nothing to see here, folks. #Iwasthere”

Stanton has both story and screenwriting credit on the original Toy Story and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay alongside his co-screenwriters Joss Whedon, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow for the film.

Honestly, thank goodness for Stanton’s comments. This backstory for Andy’s father reached a level of darkness that crosses the line for Disney and Pixar standards. Even though the Toy Story films have had their share of serious moments, this backstory would have taken it too far. Besides, some stories are best left untold so audiences of all ages can use their imaginations to fill in the blanks.

Are you happy that this Toy Story backstory has been debunked? Also, what is your favorite Toy Story character? Sound off in the comments below, and be sure to continue following Heroic Hollywood for all your latest news regarding Disney and Pixar.

Toy Story 4 will hit theaters on June 21, 2019.

Source: Andrew Stanton via Twitter 

Noah Villaverde

Noah Villaverde

Cinema lover. Saxophone player. Coffee consumer. Chronic complainer. Oh, I also write. #TeamHeroic