Two excellent animated features to watch all life long.
Toy Story 4 (2019; Disney+ or your library)
Woody struggles to adjust to his new role in Bonnie’s room while keeping her new favorite toy—a spork—from throwing himself away. I had my doubts. Toy Story 3 was a perfect ending to the series. But this one is surprisingly worthwhile. Woody’s story is not over, and his new stage of life feels like entering retirement or a grandparent phase. “Forky” is hilarious, as are several other new characters. And the new villain is one of the most compelling villains I’ve ever seen. Don’t give up after the first ten minutes. It starts slow, but it’s worth it.
The dialogue is great. Really great.
I said Toy Story 3 was a perfect ending, but there was always one thing that bugged me. Bonnie stands on her porch at the end surrounded by all our toys and all her old toys. Does she really need that many toys? Can she even play with that many toys at once?
Toy Story 4 turns this problem into a meaningful story about embracing change, a message relevant for viewers of all ages. But most of all, it makes me think of a book I just finished reading: From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Purpose in the Second Half of Life (Arthur C. Brooks, 2022). (Whether you have time to read this excellent book or not, check out this podcast video with the author.) We can’t always be cowboys. Eventually we all must slow down, stop trying to be innovative, and start helping others succeed.
For sensitive viewers: Some of the villain’s minions look creepy, but they’re not so bad. An elderly woman holds a glass of wine for about five seconds. This is the cleanest of the Toy Story franchise.
Bambi (1942; Disney+ or your library)
When a deer is born in the forest, he learns the ways of his fellow animals, his mother, his father… and man. This is perhaps the greatest masterpiece of Disney animation. The deer move like deer. The music is unparalleled. It’s like watching an opera. The pacing and the mood are… moody, in the full range of moods. It’s fun for a long while—Bambi playing with the bunny rabbit and all. The thunderstorm is loud but the raindrops fall melodiously into incredibly realistic pools. But then there’s winter, and darkness, and danger.
I’m impressed with how the film shows the daily lives of the animals and their reactions to the changes around them. It’s not just about Bambi. All sorts of animals get important cameos that make us laugh or put us on the edge of our seats. Birth, romance, death, hunger, play—this is the circle of life before Simba made it cool.
One scene that sticks with me is autumn. It’s just thirty seconds—Bambi walking along with his mother as colorful leaves fall into a lake. But the animators “film” (painstakingly draw) the reflection in the lake, not just Bambi. Then the leaves fall into it. At this point they’re just showing off! But they’ve been doing that all movie, from the first long moving take through the forest.
A silly story: I must have been eight years old when we got the 2004 DVD release. On the DVD there was a trailer for a much inferior animated film, “Chicken Little.” The trailer freaked me out. The terribly odd animation plus the trailer’s apocalyptic humor really pressed my fear buttons. In 2024, I faced it again on New Year’s Eve and overcame my fear! You can watch the trailer here for a laugh. But really, watch Bambi instead.
For sensitive viewers: In case you didn’t know, there is some grief in this movie. Some mortal danger of animals being hunted with guns and dogs. All of this is in the second half, so feel free to watch up until wintertime with your small children.
Nathan’s Writing Update
It came! It finally came! No, not Sid’s rocket: my 20-minute video about the four Toy Story movies! I show how each movie references TV and film from a different set of decades in the 1900s and how this enriches each movie’s themes. Watch it on YouTube at this link! https://youtu.be/wHujXrHU05g