The 20 Most Popular Toy Story Characters of All Time Ranking - Looper (2023)

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VonBarry Levitt/Feb. Nov. 2022 at 6:30 p.m. EST

The unstoppable„Toy Story“-Franchisehelped create a revolution in animation and usher in a seismic shifttraditional hand drawn animationinto the world of computer-generated images. The films were also very successful at the box office, with"Toy Story 3"and"Toy Story 4"everyone deservesover a billion dollarsworldwide, while both won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. There are also a number of short specials, Toy Story rides at Disney theme parks and an endless supply of great merchandise.

The real reason Toy Story has endured endlessly since its debut in 1995 lies in its phenomenal cast of characters. Some only appear for a few moments, while others are the focus of all four films. While dozens of characters have made an impression, we're here to decide which Toy Story characters are the very best and narrowed it down to just twenty. Without further ado, the 20 most popular "Toy Story" characters of all time are ranked here.

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The most heartbreaking toy in Andy's (John Morris) room, all Wheezy (Joe Ranft) wants is to be played with. Unfortunately, his squeaker broke and he was placed high up on Andy's dusty shelves. Maybe he was forgotten and doomed to spend the rest of his time up there if he wasn't found by Woody (Tom Hanks) after his arm was damaged. It turns out that Andy's mother never fixed it as promised and instead lets it gather dust. He's been trying forever to get his friends to find him, but since his squeaker doesn't work, no one has ever found him.

"What's the point," Wheezy asks, "of prolonging the inevitable? Wheezy is then placed in a vending box for a mere 25 cents, and while Woody's valiant attempt to save his friend works, it also ends in Woody being kidnapped. At the end of Toy Story 2, Wheezy's voice is gloriously restored and the dust-free toy penguin sings the fantastic "You've Got a Friend in Me" to his fellow toys.

Wheezy's joy doesn't last in Toy Story 3 sincehe is nowhere to be foundin the movie. Wheezy is one of the many toys that have been lost over the years, a damning reminder that life is all too finite, even for a toy.

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"Yes, I Canada!"

He's handsome, confident and extremely Canadian - he's Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves). His gorgeous facial hair and daredevil red and white outfit are just as gorgeous as the sleek maple leaf clad motorbike he rides. However, like almost every new character introduced in Toy Story 4, he has a rather tragic backstory. He harbors some serious self-doubts as his child lost interest in him when he discovered he couldn't jump like the Duke Caboom in the commercial. This problem has led him to a lifetime of brooding, and all Caboom thinks of succeeding is crashing - no wonder he ends up in the antique shop.

The hilarious and heartbreaking daredevil fights mightily but eventually accepts his mistakes thanks to a great pep talk from Bo Peep (Annie Potts), who reassures him that crashes are what makes him special. As he regains his confidence, he falls in an absolutely spectacular fashion, plummeting forty feet across the amusement park to reach his goal. The character is brilliantly designed, voiced to perfection by Reeves, and also offers a fantastic message for children - your flaws don't define you, they just make you stronger.

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In many ways, Toy Story 3 is about making room for the next generation, and it requires a new kid to effectively mark the transition. That child was Bonnie, played by Emily Hahn in Toy Story 3 and Madeleine McGraw in Toy Story 4, the shy young woman who comes to life playing with her toys. In Toy Story 3, playing with Woody again is just a joy, and Bonnie's happiness represents the magic of the entire Toy Story franchise - that indescribable thrill of playing with your toys as a kid.

After Andy gave Bonnie all his toys, Toy Story 4 is the first film in the franchise to be about Bonnie instead of Andy. She's a few years older in the film, but she loves her toys no less, though surprisingly she's lost interest in Woody. Her new favorite toy is one she makes herself, which she names Forky (Tony Hale), which is a fork. Bonnie is a lovely addition to the world of Toy Story and it's great to see a child love toys again. While she is primarily a character defined by her relationships with toys, the future could hold many great adventures for Bonnie.

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The menacing Emperor Zurg (Andrew Stanton) may not have much screen time in Toy Story 2, but he's certainly making his impact known. At the beginning of the film, he has an epic duel with Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and successfully defeats him by vaporizing Buzz's entire top half. Luckily for fans, a "GAME OVER" message flashes on screen and it turns out it's just Rex (Wallace Shawn) playing a video game.

Later in the film, a real Zurg emerges from Al's Toy Barn and sets out to defeat Buzz. We get another fantastic action set piece between the two, this time in an elevator shaft as the pair duel again. Zurg has the upper hand and repeatedly smashes Buzz into a wall before knocking him to the ground. Zurg feels heavily inspired by the iconic Star Wars villainDarth Vader, which is far from confirmed when Buzz says, "I'll never back down. You killed my father!” Zurg reveals:

"No, Buzz. I'm your father."

It's all an unmistakably glorious parody of the key scene in The Empire Strikes Back, right down to the "No!" cry. and an epic fall down the elevator shaft. Thankfully, Zurg doesn't meet a grisly ending and instead is soon seen playing tag with another Buzz Lightyear toy, making it a happy ending for this epic villain.

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Toy Story 2's surprise villain, Stinky Pete (Kelsey Grammer), is the initially adorable toy that's still in his box and who meets Woody when he's introduced to the other toys from Woody's Roundup. Pete was never played with, however, and spent his life sitting on a store shelf waiting to be loved. While Pete initially appears protective of Bullseye and Jessie (Joan Cusack) and cares deeply for them, it turns out that he is anything but. When the group tries to flee to avoid being sold to a Tokyo museum, Pete steps in, replacing his fatherly looks with his dark, bitter reality.

Stinky Pete gets a pretty tragic ending. A toy obsessed with staying perfect, he's doomed to spend his life with a kid who colors and paints their barbies. Sure, Pete is selfish and trying to ruin Woody's life, but Pete's backstory makes him one of the more interesting characters in the franchise. He's given plenty of nuance, and it's quite heartbreaking to see him cursed with a life he's desperately trying to avoid.

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When we first meet Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) in Toy Story 4, she seems downright villainous as she is carried through the spooky antique shop by her assistant, Benson (Steve Purcell). It seems that she has some sinister plans for Woody and it turns out that those suspicions are correct as Gabby Gabby is after Woody's working tuner since hers is broken. It doesn't take long to get to the point of why she wants or needs Woody's voice box: she's never known a child's love and believes her flawed voice is the reason no child has ever taken her home .

The character has the reverse trajectory of Stinky Pete, from antagonist to helpful supporting character, and plays a pivotal role in some emotional scenes. Woody willingly gives Gabby his voice mail, a move that signals a major development for the cowboy and allows Gabby's decades of loneliness to finally come to an end. Except for the fact that it's not that easy for this character, who we've sympathized with deeply throughout the film, and she's coldly rejected by her dream child, Harmony (Lila Sage Bromley).

Gabby deserves her place here because she delivers some seriously heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, and finally she finally gets the love she's been waiting for her whole life.

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Sid (Erik von Detten) is nothing short of a menace. He lives next door to Andy and provides a sharp contrast to Andy and children playing with their toys. While Andy loves to take his toys on big adventures, Sid has a distinct penchant for subjecting his toys to cruel and unusual punishment, which extends to his little sisters' precious toys as well. Sid is an awesome and terrifying villain in the original Toy Story, although he may have a comeuppance that takes things too far.

Although Sid was objectively cruel to his toys, tearing them apart to create horrific new combinations, he didn't deserve what happened to him and it's fair to say no kid would. Breaking the toy's great rule of never revealing their sensitivity to children, Woody spoke directly to Sid when his toys turned on him, saying: "From now on you have to take good care of your toys because if you don't we will Find out... We toys can see everything! So play nice!" Sure, it's a message Sid (and any kids watching) could probably hear, but it's fair to say that a moment like this could shatter a child's life forever.

Thankfully, it hasn't completely gutted Sid's future as he has a small cameo in Toy Story 3 where he is revealedwork as a garbage manand still wears his signature skull and crossbones T-shirt.

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Bullseye is a character who doesn't need to say a single word to be loved. She is introduced in Toy Story 2 as part of Woody's Roundup. Bullseye is a horse and Woody's trusty steed and has a strong bond with Jessie, having spent years together at Al's apartment. Because Bullseye never speaks, his feelings are all conveyed physically, and thanks to an ingenious character design, you never have to question what Bullseye is going through.

It seems like Bullseye has the biggest eyes of them all, allowing his emotions to boldly come through. This is shown very clearly as his eyes flash with unmistakable disappointment after Woody tells the gang he will flee the apartment once his arm is fixed. He is steadfast in his determination to help those who need him and his selflessness often comes in handy, and without Bullseye, Woody would never have been saved in Toy Story 2. You can always count on Bullseye to be there for you and he'll get you where you need to go with a smile on his face, which more than earns his place on our list.

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Many fans were concerned when Toy Story 4 was announced as it looked like the third film would be the perfect conclusion to the glorious world of toys coming to life. Did Another Toy Story Movie Make Sense? While the answer was an emphatic yes, doubts didn't go away when it was revealed that the big new addition to the lineup was a fork.

Well, in fairness, Forky was made with love by Bonnie, but it's actually a plastic utensil, but it's closer to a spork (a fork and spoon combo) than a traditional fork. It stands out from all other toys because it was built by a child, but this leads to Forky becoming Bonnie's most prized possession. Luckily, when fans saw the film, they realized something they weren't expecting, because Forky is fucking brilliant.

Thanks to a great performance by Tony Hale, Forky is unique in the way he recognizes himself as trash and is always trying to throw himself away. This strange behavior leads to a fantastic montage with Woody constantly trying to save him. Hysterical, Forky is a clever reflection on how toys, and therefore commodities, are treated in society.Gabelhas proved so successful that he even has his own show - Forky Asks a Question - on Disney+.

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Like all good dogs, Slinky Dog (Jim Varney) is incredibly loyal. He is deeply devoted to Woody and is always the first to defend him. Even when it appears that Woody threw Buzz out the window in Toy Story, Slinky remains steadfast in his determination that Woody is innocent, even as everyone else jumps out to attack Woody. When Slinky discovers that Woody is guilty, he is the last to walk away and bestows him with eternal dog eyes while closing the blinds.

When the toys finally realize that Woody didn't kill Buzz (in Slinky's defense, the evidence was pretty overwhelming), Slinky is thrilled to see that his beloved friend is innocent after all. Varney's soulful performance makes Slinky's gritty southern train stand out from the rest of the crowd. That voice stayed just as charming whenVarney was replaced after his deathby Blake Clark in 2010, albeit in a reduced role.

Slinky's impact extends beyond the films themselves. He has an attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, the Slinky Dog Dash, where park-goers can hop on Slinky's back for a fun rollercoaster ride.

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Despite its menacing appearance, the green Tyrannosaurus Rex, simply called Rex, perfectly portrayed by Wallace Shawn, is a beloved appearance in every Toy Story movie. He introduces himself with a great roar that doesn't bother Woody, and as Rex puts it, "I'm getting scary here, but I just don't feel it!" scared of almost everything in the original Toy Story - but maybe nothing more than a kid bringing another dinosaur toy to Andy's birthday party.

While often causing mayhem, Rex'spanic is always a comforting plaything throughout the films and has a pleasant development across the four films. In Toy Story 2, he becomes an avid gamer, and upon meeting Bonnie's toys, rather than being afraid of another dinosaur toy, he forms a wonderful friendship with Triceratops Trixie (Kristen Schaal) over their shared love of games and technology. It's a joy to see Rex grow into a more confident character, and while he never fully shakes his fear, he always remains a welcome presence and one of the very best characters in Toy Story.

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The clever piggy bank, Hamm (Johann Ratzenberger) is one of the funniest characters in the world of Toy Story. He enjoys annoying his friends. In the first film, when Hamm sees that Buzz has a laser, he demonstratively says, "Why don't you have a laser, Woody?" In Toy Story 2, he's quite the lover, and while everyone else is stunned by the barbies at Al's Toy Barn, Hamm confidently asks them for directions and pushes Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) aside and says, "Make way for the individual guys."

At the opening of Toy Story 3, where he introduced Dr. Evil Porkchop plays in the film's exquisite opening sequence, Hamm really breaks a sweat (pardon the pun). He indulges in his temporary villainy by wearing a mischievous black eyepatch, manipulating it like he's on a catwalk, and arriving in a giant ship shaped like him. Without hesitation he drops a giant barrel full of monkeys and prepares to fire a giant laser to destroy our beloved Woody, Jessie and Buzz. It's good that the scene is taking place in Andy's imagination, because if Hamm ever becomes a real villain, the toys could be in serious trouble.

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The writers of the Toy Story franchise draw a lot of emotion from the relationship children have with toys and the effect the two have on each other - albeit leading to some tragic backstories. One such character with an emotional past is Lotso Huggin Bear (Ned Beatty), who is replaced by his child after she accidentally abandons him on a trip.

When we first meet Lotso, he is the head toy manager at Sunnyside Daycare, where all of Andy's toys were accidentally donated. His fluffy pink body and laid-back voice make him someone the toys trust - and he even smells like strawberries! When the toys are about to flee Sunnyside, Lotso reveals his true intentions that the toys are going nowhere as the children finally have new toys to torment them and he is unwilling to have that changed.

As the best villain in the franchise, Lotso is unrelentingly cruel, but he's also extremely intelligent, and reprogramming Buzz to stop the gang is a mastermind-level move. Lotso even doubles his spite as he has every chance to stop the toys from getting to the incinerator at the end of Toy Story 3, but he refuses to help them, resulting in one of the worstemotional scenes in the history of Pixar. Though the toys end up surviving, Lotso is undoubtedly the most sinister character to appear in the world of toys.

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From the cruelest to the funniest character, Mr. Potato Head is the comedic icon of the franchise. Voiced by legendary insult comedian Don Rickles, whoDie New York TimesDubbed "the equal opportunity killer of comedy," Potato Head quickly rushed at everyone. However, he's so hysterical when he attacks that he never feels like a villain, instead making himself an important part of the story's fabric. Just enjoy some of his best lines:

"You uncultured swine! What are you looking at,and Hockeypuck?"

"We're not preschool toys, Slink, we can read!"

"Well, that bug sits in your place, Woody."

Even as Potato Head shreds his friends with his cutting observations, you can't help but love him. It somehow manages to get even funnier when Mrs. Potato Head (Estelle Harris) is introduced, leading to one of the most heartbreaking moments in franchise history. In Toy Story 2, Mr. Potato Head looks down while seated next to tour guide Barbie and repeats, "I'm a married Spud."

Rickles was so masterful of the character that it was impossible to replace him after his death. Amazingly, since there was so much footage of Rickle's character,Weekly entertainmentreports that Pixar was able to use pre-recorded lines to honor the comedian's legacy and keep him in Toy Story 4 without replacing the actor.

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"How about I find someone to watch the sheep tonight?" Bo Peep once asked Woody, humorously referencing the couple's romantic relationship. In the first two "Toy Story" films, the soft-spoken character wears a shepherd's outfit with a huge pink dress. However, in Toy Story 4, Woody makes a startling discovery when he learns that Bo Peep now lives happily as a lost toy alongside her sheep, Billy, Goat and Gruff, experiencing amazing freedom unhindered by children. Being a lost toy has worked wonders for her, allowing her to slip into her own skin, making her one of the most versatile characters on the show.

Bo Peep deserves such a high ranking for her remarkable development in the Toy Story films, transforming her from a quiet woman largely defined by her relationship with Woody to a full and independent woman. Toy Story 4 cleverly contextualizes Bo Peep's experiences so that they feel real and not random, and from the moment she appears in the fourth film it's clear that she will play an important role in the story. Bo Peep and Woody's relationship is more important than ever in the fourth film, and it all leads to a deeply emotional and well-deserved finale.

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Without Andy, Toy Story as we know it could not exist. The first three films in the series are all about the relationship between Andy, the toys and the incredible happiness they experience when they all play together. For a character so important to how Toy Story works, he isn't seen often because the toys aren't sentient when Andy is around. In the early films, he is a small child who wants nothing more than to play with his beloved toys and nothing more than his best friend, Woody.

Toy Story 3 is the movie that makes Andy such an amazing character. The film takes place many years after the second, and Andy is preparing to go to college. He's unsure what to do with the toys that were so important to his childhood, but ultimately makes the difficult decision to give them all to Bonnie. In a heartbreaking and sublime sequence, Andy introduces each toy to Bonnie, and you can feel the love and passion he has for each and every one of them. Playing with Bonnie and the toys one last time, it's a beautiful moment that speaks to Pixar's sensational ability to pull at your heart like no other studio.

As Andy drives away for the last time, holding back tears, Woody, sitting on Bonnie's porch with his friends, says "So long, partner," marking Andy's goodbye to the toys and our lives.

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Who could have seen it coming - the little green men make their first appearance in Toy StoryPizza-PlanetArcade have become symbols of everything that makes the franchise so wonderful. They live in the claw game at the arcade where they all worship the powerful claw that chooses their fate. The jolly little fellows want nothing more than to be plucked by the claw - their reading of The Claw alone is unforgettable and leads to both Woody and Buzz being claimed by Sid.

Despite not having names or even remotely distinguishable from one another, the little green men manage to be indispensable to the film's universe. They're also the reason the toys in Toy Story 3 weren't burned in the horrifying incinerator, in revenge for a great deed when Mr. Potato Head stopped a trio of aliens from jumping out a window. As the toys hold hands and accept their tragic fate, the little green men rush in with a giant claw and save them from a fiery fate. It allows Potato Head to return their endlessly quotable line: "You saved our lives, we are eternally grateful to you."

The design of the little green men is one of the most iconic of all Pixar characters. With their short stature, blue outfits, three eyes and green heads, they are absolutely indelible.

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With the most memorable line in "Toy Story" - which is, of course, "To infinity, and beyond" - Buzz Lightyear is next on our list.Buzz has so many iconic moments, which pulls audiences in right from its fantastic introduction with nods to 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Buzz has an unshakable confidence that rocks Woody and amazes everyone else, though Buzz suffers a rare and emotional setback when he realizes that Woody was right and that he really is a toy. Buzz isn't often considered one of the funnier Toy Story characters, but his deadpan performance is often hilarious, and his role as Spanish Buzz in Toy Story 3 was a feast for the eyes. While he may not be a true Space Ranger, he manages to find love with Jessie, which is one of the series' more delightful developments.

Buzz is a pretty awesome character and such a big deal that he's starring in his own Pixar film."light year,"This is a spin-off that explores the origins of the character. He also has his own animated series from the early 2000s"Buzz Lightyear von Star Command"and an endless selection of merchandise that more than proves the character's endless appeal. He may not be able to fly, but he sure can fall in style.

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An emphatic and passionate "Yeehaw" introduces us to cowgirl Jessie, who's so close to the top of the list she can taste it. Jessie's delightful and upbeat facade hides a deeply traumatized character, and of all the tragic backstories in the Toy Story universe, hers is perhaps the most heartbreaking.

Despite all of her trauma, Jessie is able to move on and be an integral part of the gang, even coming to Woody's heroic rescue with the help of Bullseye at the end of Toy Story 2. Jessie is such a great character that she might even have gotten first place. However, this prevents her from appearing at all in the first "Toy Story". Through her relationships with Woody, Buzz, and the other toys, she is able to regain her ability to trust others, which is so special when she blossoms.

Buzz may have the spinoffs and his own TV show, but Jessie narrowly overtakes him on the list for having the most emotional single scene from the franchise, all set to Sarah McLachlan's devastating song "When She Loved Me." Jessie had a taste of the spotlight when she starred in Toy Story of Terror! but we think it's high time the awesome cowboygets her very own feature film. Also, Cusack is perfect at bringing Jessie to life and deserves a great lead role.

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It all boils down to Woody, the main character of every single Toy Story movie. It could have been none other than Woody as each film takes Woody on a unique emotional journey and remarkable physical adventure. Through aTons of incredible moments, Woody sees more development than any other character, which is why Woody is revered around the world.

When Buzz Lightyear first enters Andy's room, Woody is horrified and uses his fear as a weapon to try to bring Buzz down so he can remain Andy's undisputed favorite. Over time, his cruelty fades as Woody realizes it's not the right thing to do, and throughout the four films, Woody is undoubtedly the gang's moral compass. They look to him for advice in almost every situation, making him their steadfast leader.

His incredible journey comes to an emotional but satisfying conclusion in Toy Story 4 as Woody makes the incredibly difficult decision to leave his friends behind to start a new life with Bo Peep and the lost toys. In the first three films, Woody was terrified of being left alone with no one around to play with. His two beloved owners, Andy and Bonnie, have left him, but Woody manages the greatest challenge of all - finding value in yourself and not just in how you treat others.

Woody's decision perfectly crystallizes his character development and cements his place as the biggest character in Toy Story. After all, he's the wildest cowboy in the wild, wild west.