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Every Toy Story character has a similar warm effect on children and adults; kids are reminded of their own toys and families, while adults are reminded of their childhoods. The fond feeling people have for Woody, Buzz Lightyear and all the other characters across the Toy Story films isn’t lost on Tom Hanks, who voices Woody. His own adult daughter started crying when seeing the character in the Disneyland parade. “She pointed out to me that Woody will be part of that for the rest of time, the same way Mickey is,” Hanks said in 2019. “And in no small way, I am Woody.”
The very first Toy Story film, which hit theaters on November 22, 1995, was the first Disney/Pixar collaboration and the first full film done entirely in CGI. The movie did extraordinarily well; it’s made over $390 million dollars over the years. There have been three sequels, several shorts, specials and more content from the Toy Story universe.
This Friday, June 17, another Toy Story film is being released—kind of. Lightyear, starring Chris Evans as the voice of Buzz Lightyear, takes a look at the Buzz character that spawned the in-universe Buzz Lightyear toys. It will also star Mr. Barbra Streisand and James Brolin as Emperor Zurg and Taika Waititi as Mo Morrison. (Plus, it looks like an actual Toy Story 5 is already in the works for 2023.)
Before seeing Lightyear, keep reading to re-acquaint yourself with the major characters in the franchise, and then all the characters introduced in each of the four Toy Story films. (Minor spoilers follow.)
Voiced by Oscar-winner Tom Hanks, Woody is the leader of Andy’s toys. He’s a toy from the in-film show Woody’s Roundup show. He’s a cowboy, he’s a sheriff, and Mr. Potato Head notes that Woody has been Andy’s favorite toy since kindergarten. Viewers meet Woody in the first Toy Story film as he directs the toys in a mission to find out what new toys Andy gets for his birthday—he’s not happy about the results. He finds himself competing with Buzz Lightyear for Andy’s attention, but the two become friends and Woody explores what it means to be a toy throughout all the Toy Story movies.
Related: These Tom Hanks Toy Story Quotes Will Make You Laugh and Cry
Buzz Lightyear doesn’t even know he’s a toy when he first appears in the first Toy Story. He believes himself to be a real Space Ranger who can fly. Over the course of the first film, he discovers he’s a toy and makes new friends. He’s voiced in the films by comedian Tim Allen.
Jessie is one of the toys made for the Woody’s Roundup show; she and others have been waiting for a Woody doll to complete their set for a collector. She is afraid of the dark and tight spaces because she was kept in a box in storage before her previous owner gave her away. Woody helps her escape and she becomes one of Andy’s toys and maybe Buzz Lightyear’s love interest, depending on who you ask. Jessie is voiced by actress Joan Cusack.
Bullseye, Sheriff Woody’s horse on Woody’s Roundup, is a toy that viewers meet with Jessie. He is thrilled to see a Woody toy in real life and becomes his faithful steed. He is introduced in Toy Story 2.
Based on the nursery rhyme “Little Bo Peep,” Bo is a porcelain figurine that sits on a lamp that belongs to Andy’s younger sister, Molly–it’s assumed Andy took her to play with his toys, which is why she’s with all of Andy’s toys in the first Toy Story. She is given Billy, Goat and Gruff are the three sheep that accompany her. Sometime between the events of Toy Story 2 and 3, she’s given away, but returns in Toy Story 4 to help Woody find out what it truly means to be a toy. She’s voiced by actress Annie Potts.
He’s a toy Tyrannosaurus Rex, who at first glance seems dangerous; however, he’s a sweetheart of a dino who is actually afraid of a lot of things and is slightly insecure about it. Rex is voiced by Wallace Shawn.
Slinky is a hybrid Slinky toy and plastic dachshund and Woody’s sidekick. In the first two films he was voiced by Jim Varney; his “Golly bob howdy!” was a take on Varney’s character Ernest. However, after Varney passed away in 1999, Slinky was voiced by Blake Clark. Slinky Dog is one of Woody’s closest friends.
He’s a toy piggybank that’s got a gruff voice and a sarcastic manner much of the time. He’s voiced by Cheers sitcom regular (and Pixar voiceover favorite) John Ratzenberger.
Mr. Potato Head bears a striking resemblance to the real-life toy of the same name. In all four Toy Story films, he is able to move all his body parts—even when they’re not attached. Mr. Potato Head is voiced by Don Rickles; after Rickles’ death in 2017, his family asked if he could remain involved. Pixar was able to salvage enough audio from Rickles’ past work to allow his voice to be in Toy Story 4.
Forky appears in Toy Story 4; he’s an existential spork who is Bonnie’s favorite toy. He’s got pipe cleaner arms and googly eyes. Still, Forky (voiced by Tony Hale) insists he’s trash and not a toy at all. In fact, he tries to return to the trashcan.
None of this would be possible without Andy; he’s the little boy owns the toys in the first three Toy Story films and ages throughout the film series. He’s got a single mom and a younger sister named Molly. He goes to college in Toy Story 3 and gives his toys to Bonnie, the little girl who becomes the main child in the last film.
Bonnie is first seen in Toy Story 3. She is seen as kind and nice to her toys, and she seems to be a fitting heir to Andy’s toys; Andy gives them to her with a good feeling about how his toys will be cared for.
So what other characters are introduced in each film?
Related: Tim Allen on the Last Man Standing Finale and if We’ll Ever See a Toy Story 5
In this film, Andy Davis receives a Buzz Lightyear doll for his birthday, which makes his favorite toy, cowboy sheriff Woody, jealous. Woody accidentally knocks Buzz out the window but sets out to find him. The two characters have to work together to escape the clutches of Sid Phillips, Andy’s destructive neighbor.
Voiced by Roseanne‘s Laurie Metcalf, Andy’s mom (Mrs. Davis) is often responsible for the things that happen to the toys. In Toy Story, she was the one who introduced Buzz Lightyear to Andy’s life. In Toy Story 2, she put Weezy in the garage sale, prompting Woody to try to save him. In Toy Story 3, she put Andy’s toys in black plastic bags that accidentally ended up at Sunnyside Daycare.
Andy’s sister Molly is the reason some “girl” toys make their way to Andy’s room. Bo Peep and Barbie came from Molly’s room.
A battery-operated car that speaks in revving sounds that the other toys can understand.
The aliens live inside Pizza Planet’s toy claw machine. They seemingly worship the claw itself and say, “It chooses who will go and who will stay.”
He’s the primary antagonist of Toy Story. He mutilates toys and makes mutant toys with unrelated parts. He likes playing with fireworks and blew up a Combat Carl doll for fun. He wins Buzz and Woody from the claw machine and has plans for them.
He’s the doll who has a very unfortunate run-in with Sid.
Hannah is Sid’s younger sister. Hannah is the reason that Sid has some “girl” toy parts for his toys.
This dog is Sid’s dog and tries to chew on Woody and Buzz, chasing them throughout the house.
Related: From Toy Story to Finding Dory, We Ranked Every Pixar Movie Ever Released
An Etch-a-Sketch, he illustrates certain thoughts and feelings that the toys share as a group.
The Speak-n-Spell toy speaks words the other characters type into him. Others talk about his seminars about things including “what to do if you or part of you is swallowed.”
Mr. Mike is a recorder with a microphone who allows Woody to make his voice heard.
He’s a wrestler toy with no lines.
This ball talks in cryptic messages the way other Magic 8-Balls do.
Buzz uses him as a treadmill.
A pair of binoculars, he is used by others to see what’s happening.
The red monkeys all live in a barrel together and their arms are curved so that they link to each other easily. In the first film, their skills are used in an attempt to rescue Buzz; they’re seen in two of the other films too.
Mr. Shark is a squeak toy that imitates Woody in the first film. In Toy Story 2, Mr. Shark helps Wheezy find a new squeaker.
The five nesting dolls show up in the first two Toy Story films but have no lines.
The troll doll with pink hair is in Toy Story and Toy Story 2 but never says anything.
A snake toy that hisses.
Babyface is one of Sid’s mutant toys; he has a baby doll head and sits on top of an erector set body that’s been made to look like a spider. He also has hands that resemble crab pinchers.
Legs is another mutant toy consisting of doll legs with a fishing rod torso/top.
This frog has mismatched wheels for back legs; he belongs to Sid.
Like Froggy, this car has legs that aren’t natural; the toy has baby doll arms where the wheels should be.
Rock Mobile’s torso is a human with a steering wheel, but he’s got an insect head— so needless to say, he belongs to Sid.
This toy, belonging to Sid, is a mix of a chime and a Combat Carl figure.
Another one of Sid’s toys is made up of three items: a Pez duck’s head, a plunger bottom and the torso of a baby doll.
Sid seemingly attached a jet fighter toy to a skateboard to get this mutant toy.
The thing that pops out of this mutant jack-in-the-box is a green arm.
Woody is stolen by a toy store owner who wants to sell him, and he meets new friends as the rest of Andy’s toys try to track him down.
Buster is Andy’s dog (a mini dachshund) that he got for Christmas at the end of the first Toy Story. Unlike Spike, all the toys adore Buster and he isn’t a threat to any of the toys.
Al is the owner of Al’s Toy Barn and a secondary antagonist in Toy Story 2. He spots Woody at Andy’s mom’s garage sale and becomes excited, stealing Woody when Andy’s mom says that the cowboy sheriff isn’t for sale. His aim is to sell an entire Woody’s Roundup toy set to a collector in Japan.
Al contacts the toy cleaner to get Woody to look his best so he can be sold; he insists “art can’t be rushed.” (Fun fact: the cleaner is in fact Geri from the Pixar short Geri’s Game.)
This toy is one of those from Woody’s Roundup; because he is in mint condition, he’s never been outside his box. The other toys view him as wise until he’s revealed to be the villain of the film. Stinky is voiced by Frasier star Kelsey Grammer.
At the end of the first film, viewers discover Andy got a Mrs. Potato Head doll for Christmas. In the second film, she’s married to Mr. Potato Head and they’re in a loving relationship. She is much more patient than he is. She was voiced by Estelle Harris.
Based loosely on Darth Vader, this toy even claims he’s Buzz’s “father.” He fights with one of the store’s Buzz dolls (utility belt Buzz).
He’s not Andy’s Buzz Lightyear, but one of several being sold at Al’s Toy Barn. He briefly puts Andy’s Buzz in a box.
Mattel gave the franchise the rights to their major doll, who is as bubbly as kind as always when she is a tour guide for Andy’s toys at Al’s Toy Barn. However, at the end of the film, several more Barbies are seen; the implication is that they belong to Molly, and one of them appears in Toy Story 2 and 3. Barbie is voiced by Jodi Benson, who also voiced Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
Two robots fight over giving directions to Andy’s toys about where Woody might be.
A girl who shows up in a flashback of Jessie’s; she was loved by Emily until Emily left her in a box.
Related: Familiar Toys Come to Fork in the Road in Fabulous, Fanciful Toy Story 4
In Toy Story 3, Andy’s toys are accidentally taken to Sunnyside Daycare, which seems fine at the start, but soon Woody and the other toys realize that something sinister is taking place with the toys there.
At first, he seems like an adorable bear; he turns out to be the evil mob boss of Sunnyside Daycare’s toys. He’s voiced by actor Ned Beatty.
Lots O’s muscle, this toy is a baby doll who rules over Sunnyside until he realizes that Lots O’ wasn’t who Baby thought he was.
Mattel handed over the rights to Barbie’s eternal boyfriend as well; he meets Barbie and it’s love at first sight, even if he’s somewhat of a villain at first. He’s also voiced by actor Michael Keaton.
A monkey toy with cymbals, he watches the security cameras at Sunnyside, giving out a howl and starts playing cymbals over the loudspeaker if toys try to escape.
A purple octopus toy voiced by Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg, Stretch is part of Lots O’s gang of enforcers.
A rock monster toy, Chunk isn’t very bright.
A praying mantis toy who works for Lots O’.
A robot toy whose solitary line is about Chunk’s brain power—and it isn’t very nice.
A stuffed clown toy that doesn’t chuckle too much; he tells Andy’s toys what happened to Lots O’ Huggins. Chuckles is voiced by another Pixar favorite, the late Bud Luckey.
Voiced by Tony Award nominee Richard Kind, Bookworm is a worm toy that gives Lots O’ the know-how to reprogram Buzz Lightyear.
Based on a real-life toy, Chatter advises Andy’s toys how to cope with the youngest childrens’ classroom at Sunnyside.
Director Lee Unkrich stepped in to provide the voice of this toy, who says “New toys!” to announce the arrival of Andy’s toys at Sunnyside.
The little girl who owned Lots O’ Huggin Bear, Chuckles and Big Baby—and lost them. She’s only seen in flashbacks.
Related: See the Original Toy Story Cast Then and Now
Bonnie’s mom works at Sunnyside Daycare and also knows Andy’s mom.
One of Bonnie’s toys, Trixie is a blue triceratops who ultimately befriends Rex. She loves the internet and returns in Toy Story 4. Kristen Schaal provides her unmistakable voice for Trixie.
The purple-haired doll is another one of Bonnie’s toys. She returns in Toy Story 4, voiced by Bonnie Hunt.
Bonnie’s hedgehog toy is intensely interested in theater; he’s one of the reasons that Bonnie’s toys do a lot of improv. He wears a lederhosen and is voiced by Timothy Dalton. Mr. Pricklepants returns in Toy Story 4.
Buttercup is a stuffed unicorn toy, another one of Bonnie’s, who despite his cute appearance is sarcastic and a little rough around the edges. Buttercup, voiced by Jeff Garlin, returns in Toy Story 4.
Peanelope, Peatrice and Peaty are three soft pea-like balls that hang together in a zipped bag.
Bonnie’s gotten all of Andy’s toys; on a trip, Woody and Forky get left behind at a carnival and unexpectedly meet Bo Peep. She now has different ideas about being a toy.
Bonnie’s dad showed up for a moment in the third film but wasn’t really seen and didn’t speak until this film.
Similar to a real-life Polly Pocket, she lives in a small compact. She’s also a friend of Bo’s at the carnival.
Keanu Reeves stepped in to play this Canadian carnival doll who feels like a failure because he can’t do all the cool stuff his child owner Rejean believed he could.
The child who threw Duke Caboom away.
Voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, one half of the comedy duo Key & Peele, this yellow stuffed duck toy is one of the toys to be won at the carnival.
Bunny is voiced by Jordan Peele, the other half of comedy duo Key & Peele. A blue bunny, he provides comic relief with his fellow carnival friend Ducky.
She is the owner of the shop Second Chance Antiques.
Margaret’s cat Dragon is a menace to toys everywhere.
Inspired by the villainous doll in the Twilight Zone‘s “Living Doll” episode, this doll has a broken voicebox and was never purchased for a child. Her home is the Second Chance Antique Store and a group of ventriloquist dolls do her bidding. She longs to belong to the antique store’s granddaughter, Harmony, who wants nothing to do with her. Gabby becomes jealous of Woody and hopes to get his voicebox, so she kidnaps Forky. She is voiced by Mad Men‘s Christina Hendricks.
Margaret’s granddaughter who doesn’t want Gabby Gabby.
The ventriloquist dolls who act as Gabby’s henchman. Benson, one of the dolls, is Gabby’s assistant.
A plastic knife toy that Bonnie makes; Forky falls in love with Karen Beverly (voiced by Saturday Night Live star Melissa Villaseñor).
Next, find out all about the new voice of Buzz Lightyear.
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