Toy Story 2 Is An Essential Evolution Of Animated Storytelling
This 1999 animation is a great sequel, a rarity in cinematic history. It brings forth an engrossing level of depth to its characters and emotionally involving circumstances. A must watch for comedy connoisseurs looking for a great balance of slapstick and genuine psychological dread.
Expanding The Toy Box With Purpose
The addition of Jessie and the Prospector moves the story past simply showing rivalry, creating a more complex situation surrounding abandonment and identity. By showing Woody how he is becoming obsolete, the movie moves past the typical structure of family-based rescue missions.
Some people think the new movie has less humor, but they are likely seeing the trade for more plot overall. The entire world of the first movie has been compressed from Andy’s room to Al’s apartment, creating a much tighter, more stressful world in which the movie takes place. This setting and the new plot is what drives the story through the second act.
Technical Craft And Narrative Depth
The ability to render textures and complex backgrounds is evident. The airport sequence at the end exemplifies what animation can do. One reason it looks real is the use of deep focus, like in most movies. Sharon Calahan knows how to frame a shot to make a set feel even more expansive.
There have been comments on how “smart” the movie is. This means it doesn’t talk down to its audience like a lot of family movies and shows. The script has just the right amount of heart and emotional impact to say something about important aspects of friendship, but it’s not overwhelming.
Who Should Engage With This Journey
This movie is a good choice for people who enjoy narratives that mature with their audiences. Younger audience members can appreciate visual spectacle, while older audience members can enjoy the elements of the narrative that combine melancholy and philosophical complexity.
Complaints from the original movie’s more context focused fans may be due in part to the expansion of the narrative this movie presents. If you aren’t someone who becomes drawn into the existential crises of the mode figurines, the “When She Loved Me” sequence may seem heavy and drawn out.
