In a surprising revelation, Toy Story 3 (99%) screenwriter Michael Arndt has shared that the film originally had a completely different ending than the one we know. The film, released in 2010, is known for its exciting climax, where Andy’s toys narrowly escape being incinerated in the landfill before being donated to Bonnie, a child at the child care center. However, according to Arndt, the original outcome was much less dramatic.
In an interview for the Script Apart podcast (via Digital Spy ), Arndt explained that the opening third act in the first draft involved the toys escaping from Sunnyside Daycare and then realizing that Andy was leaving for college in just a moment. 10 minutes. Knowing that they did not have time to reach Andy’s house, located near Al’s Toy Barn, the toys decided to take a remote-controlled car, a motorcycle, and a plane to begin the trip back home, facing numerous setbacks in the way.
“It’s like an intense race to the finish, with the clock ticking and Andy about to leave for college… and then the motorcycle runs out of battery, everyone has to get in the car, and then the car runs out of battery.” and everyone has to get on the plane,” Arndt continued. The original climax involved the toys getting on the plane, sliding through the window to crash into Andy’s bedroom just as he was climbing the stairs, discovering his toys, and packing them up to take with him.
Arndt revealed that the evolution toward the final story came from a conversation with director Lee Unkrich about depicting the life cycle of toys. “Lee Unkrich said, ‘If this is the last Toy Story movie, then we have to get to the end of a toy’s life cycle. We have to see what the end looks like for toys,'” Arndt shared. The decision to almost incinerate the toys came from the idea of making things as “bad as possible” for the characters. “You always want to make things worse for your characters,” he said. “You always want to make things as bad as possible.”
This revelation raises fascinating questions about the creative process behind one of Pixar’s most beloved films. How would audiences have reacted to a more humorous, less emotionally charged ending? The choice to shift the toys’ fate toward a potentially darker outcome adds an intriguing layer to Toy Story 3’s narrative and raises the question of what other creative surprises could have been explored during the film’s development.
Arndt’s reflection on bringing toys to the “end of their life cycle” offers a unique insight into the decision-making process in the creation of Toy Story 3. This perspective suggests that the creators were willing to explore darker narrative territories already. challenge audience expectations in its quest to tell an authentic and meaningful story.
Although the original ending could have provided additional comedic moments and a different feel to the trilogy’s close, bringing the toys to the brink of incineration ultimately prevailed. The emotional scene in which the toys accept their fate and hold hands as they face imminent cremation has left an indelible mark on viewers’ memories.
Toy Story 3 remains a testament to the art of storytelling, where creative decisions can lead to unexpected paths, but ultimately shape a unique cinematic experience. The reveal of the original ending only adds more depth to the rich story behind a film that has touched the hearts of generations and remains a timeless classic in animated cinema.
