Two Weeks Later, “Toy Story 4” Teaser Leaves Me Feeling Annoyed

Way back in 1995, I couldn’t have been more happy about the movie “Toy Story.”

I ended up seeing that movie 7 or 8 times in the theater. 

I liked “Toy Story 2” almost as much as the first (when it was released a few years later). 

“Toy Story 3” was pretty much a “manipulative dumpster fire” when it was released in 2010, but made oodles of money, so there’s that.... 

A couple weeks ago, Disney released a teaser trailer for “Toy Story 4.” Well, two teasers if you want to get technical about it... 

The main teaser starts out with our favorite toys happily floating in the clouds, holding hands with each other while Joni Mitchell’s song “Both Sides Now” plays.  

Then a spork — with a homemade face, arms, and feet — appears, and everything falls apart. 

Was the trailer supposed to be clever? Was it supposed to be odd? 

It felt manipulative (I used that word again). 

Pretty much anything these days using a Joni Mitchell song is manipulative.

Pixar also released a “trailer reaction video” — all computer animated — with a stuffed bunny and chick (voiced by Key & Peele) talking about the teaser trailer. 

But it wasn’t fun — or funny. 

The whole promotional package felt forced and cringeworthy — as if a “trying-too-hard-to-be-clever” marketing team was desperate to dream up something built for the viral age. 

I’m sitting here writing about it, so I “guess” they accomplished what they wanted to accomplish. I just have no idea what exactly it was they were going for. 

If Disney’s goal was to make me feel “un-excited” about “Toy Story 4,” then “mission accomplished.” 

I miss the Pixar of old — before they were sold to Disney. 

I liked Pixar better when Steve Jobs ran it. 

It’s not the only thing I liked better when Steve Jobs ran it. 

Pixar movies were more enjoyable when they didn’t try “overly hard” to tug on your heartstrings. 

The early years of Pixar weren’t manipulative (wow, the fourth time I’ve used that word in this post). The company focused on smart stories, and the marketing campaigns were straightforward and to the point. 

I’ll be honest, without Marvel movies continuing to prop up the box office, I worry about the creative direction some of these studios are moving. 

For example, does Disney need to re-make EVERY beloved animated movie in its vault into some CG money grab?? (I’m looking at you, Simba, Dumbo...)

Where is the new generation of animated franchises? Where is the creativity? Where is the next “Toy Story”-like franchise that feels new and fresh?

I'm sure "Toy Story 4" will be a fine movie when all is said and done, but the marketing behind it leaves me scratching my head. 

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