Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2010

Would that all film studios were like Pixar. They’ve never made a bad movie, and even their sequels stand on their own, probably because they don’t start production until they have a strong and original story. This time they throw in a little bittersweet reality and go deeper emotionally. And the emotions are earned; no manipulative button-pushing here. Fifteen years after the first Toy Story film, Andy, the owner of Woody, Buzz, Jessie, the Potato Heads, Rex, Slinky Dog and Hamm, is going away to university, and has to choose which of his once-loved toys to toss and which to store. All but Woody are mistakenly donated to the Day Care Center from Hell, run by a megalomaniacal pink teddy bear, and must suffer being played with by feral kids too young (and abusive) for them while Woody plans a jailbreak. Ken and Barbie have significant roles (and a lot of the jokes), and Buzz is reprogrammed to speak Spanish. Funny! The action is nonstop, right down to the deftly affecting ending. It’s hilarious and heartwarming, clever and quick and joyous. Most of the original voice talent is back. The 2D is fine.