The return of Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story franchise is one of the biggest licensing events of the year. Following a series of teasers released over the past few months, the first official trailer for Toy Story 4 arrived today.
The new film embraces real toy history, with characters designed as an homage to the pull-string dolls of the 1950s (Gabby Gabby), the Little People of the 1980s (Giggle McDimples), and the ventriloquist dummies (Benson) of the vaudeville era. There’s even Duke Caboom — a 1970s stuntman inspired by Ideal Toys’ famed Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle. The catch is that Duke can’t achieve all of the fantastic stunts shown in his own toy commercial.
In Toy Story 4, the concept of “what makes a toy?” is explored as Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) takes Bonnie’s new craft-project-turned-toy, Forky (voice of Tony Hale), under his wing after he declares himself as “trash” and not a toy.
Mattel is the master licensee for the toy line, with products set to debut ahead of the film’s release this June.
