Lots-o’ at first seems like a helpful mentor. One of the central characters in Toy Story 3 is (work with me here) a fuzzy pink teddy bear named Lots-o’-Huggin. But it also demonstrates that there are limits to forgiveness, and that justice too has its place in the world. Toy Story 3 teaches us that people are deserving of second chances, and that mercy and forgiveness are honorable. Toy Story 3 explores themes we don’t normally associate with children’s films, like growing up and moving on, and the importance of duty and responsibility. We might pick up these stories because we love swords and monsters and wizards, but they continue to be read by subsequent generations when other stories fall by the wayside because they apply to our own lives and resonate with our spirit. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is a story about the corruptive influence of power and the equivocal nature of change. Clothed in the trappings of epic fantasy, J.R.R. barbarism in his tales of swords and sorcery. Likewise, the best heroic fantasy tales contain transcendant elements that elevate it into good literature. But it’s also got despair, and darkness, and pain, and well, stuff that also makes it very much for adults. There’s a joke nearly every minute of screen time. Yes, it has eye-catching visuals and several edge-of-your seat chase sequences to keep even the most antsy kids glued to their seats. Toy Story 3 (and the best of the Pixar films) isn’t afraid to bend the definitions of what defines a children’s film. If you disregard your audience you’re destined to fail.īut I would also submit that the best genre fiction stretches the boundaries and defies rigid conventions.
TV TROPES TOY STORY 3 MOVIE
Just like you can’t get too bogged down in dialogue or non-linear narrative techniques in a movie for kids, that story you submit to Heroic Fantasy Quarterly better contain some elements of sword play and sweeping action if you want to stand a chance of getting it published.
TV TROPES TOY STORY 3 HOW TO
So why sing its praises on Black Gate? Toy Story 3 serves as an instructive example of how to tell a great story within the confines of a given genre.
(If these qualities sound like less than appealing, well, genre films can’t be all things to all people). Like all children’s films, it possesses straightforward story lines, engaging visuals, and brisk action in order to keep young attention spans focused. Toy Story 3 is a near-perfect children’s film. Critical consensus is not necessarily a hallmark of a good film (see Blade Runner, panned on its initial release by most critics, recognized as genius years later), but I think it’s telling that Toy Story 3 currently has a 99% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And Toy Story 3 might be the best one I’ve seen.
Howard, Bernard Cornwell, and the Viking novels of Poul Anderson as much as the next battle-mad fantasy fan, but I’m man enough to admit liking (most) Pixar films as well. But I’m not lamenting this fact, especially when the movies are of the quality of Toy Story 3. I don’t get to the theatre too often these days, and with two young daughters in tow more often than not it’s to see a children’s film. If fairy-story as a kind is worth reading at all it is worthy to be written for and read by adults. Warning: This essay contains some spoilers.