The Truth About Andy’s Dad In ‘Toy Story’ Will Make You Depressed

Andy dad toy story

Fine, here’s what happened to Andy’s dad.

A few months ago, I argued the theory that Andy’s mother is actually Emily, the girl who originally owned Jesse in Toy Story 2. The post quickly went viral, as many people began debating whether or not this is true, intentional, etc.

Since then, literally hundreds (if not thousands) of people have been asking me about Andy’s dad, and I’ve never wanted to address the issue for a few key reasons:

  1. It’s depressing.
  2. It’s depressing.
  3. It’s depressing.

You see, I love talking about theories like Andy’s mom and how all of the Pixar movies are connected because that’s tons of fun to think about. Andy’s dad? That’s just…well, you get it.

andy's dad toy story

But I can see that a lot of you want to know anyway, and it’s really not that complicated. In fact, this is one of the few theories about Toy Story that I can confidently say is totally intentional.

The original theory was first posited by Jess Nevins, an incredibly talented writer who published his take on “Mr. Davis” back in 2010. I’ll elaborate on his theory and build upon it with my own insights.

Nevins claimed that Andy’s parents are going through a divorce during the events of the first Toy Story. Now, many of you probably saw that coming (it’s pretty obvious, after all), but it’s important to point out that this is not an amicable divorce. Andy’s dad left the family, and there’s plenty of evidence to confirm this.

Keep in mind that Andy’s dad is never mentioned or seen throughout the Toy Story movies. If it wasn’t for the rudiments of biology and procreation, then we could just assume that the guy doesn’t even exist. But he does, and all signs point to him walking out on his wife and kids.

The Obvious Clues

He may have left right before the first Toy Story started or months before, but one thing is certain: Andy’s dad did not die. If he had died, then why are there no pictures of him on the wall in the Davis house?

toy story andy's dad

As you can see from this shot of Toy Story, Andy’s dad is not depicted in these family photos. If he had died, you’d think they would at least keep a picture of him up for the sake of honoring his memory.

Of course, you can argue that he died a long time ago, and the family has forgotten about him already. But if that’s the case, then how do you explain the fact that Molly (Andy’s younger sister) is a baby? He would’ve had to have died recently in order for her existence to be possible.

It makes more sense to assume that his pictures were taken down, and it would take something despicable on his part for that to happen.

To strengthen that point, Andy’s mom is spotted without a wedding ring at Andy’s birthday party in the first film. If Mr. Davis had died recently, then she would probably still be wearing it.

toy story andy's dad

Now, I’ll admit that if you really want to, you can come up with a lot of diverting theories to explain all of this by saying Molly was conceived by some other man and that could be why the parents divorced. You could argue that the kids are adopted, or Andy’s mom just “gets around.”

But don’t you think the creators of Toy Story intended for this to be clear? In this case, the simple explanation is the more likely.

After all, the family is moving from a bigger house to a noticeably smaller one in Toy Story, which signals that Andy’s mom is having financial trouble. If she and Mr. Davis were getting a divorce, then he would at least be paying child support, but the family still has to make some sacrifices.

Oh, and the family gets a puppy. That’s pretty much the king of single mother clichés.

Childish Competition

The “deadbeat dad” theory also explains why Andy is so deeply connected with his toys, especially the masculine figureheads depicted by Woody and Buzz (who are both authoritative models as a “sheriff” and a “space ranger”).

What seems like a petty rivalry between two toys vying for Andy’s affection is really an allegory that Andy is playing out in his mind. In the end, their reconciliation and eventual friendship is symbolic of Andy coming to terms with only having his mother around.

toy story andy's dad

Woody is the “old” father figure that represents where Andy really comes from, while Buzz is the “new” future he has to get used to. It’s no wonder Andy is going through emotional whiplash as he has to face the absence of his father and having to move to a totally new house within such a limited amount of time.

Now, if you’re a fan of my theory of Pixar movies and the Pixar Detective novel, then a fun way to interpret this is by noting how Woody and Buzz are essentially “programmed” to make Andy happy.

They may notice that he is torn by his old life and the new one that is being forced upon him, prompting Woody to obsess over making sure Andy still has a connection to his old life, while Buzz is the “oblivious” future that just happens upon Andy without him knowing it.

A Common Theme

Ultimately, this explains why Andy is so deeply immersed with his toys, and it’s a theme that Disney is no stranger to. In many Disney and Pixar films, the main characters are brought up without one or both parents.

toy story andy's dad

Movies like this include Up (Russell’s father left him), Tangled (Rapunzel is raised by an evil fake-mother and Flynn is an orphan), Frozen (both parents pass away), A Bug’s Life (Dot and Atta only have their mother), The Princess and the Frog (her father dies early on), Aladdin (Jasmine’s mother is never mentioned and Aladdin’s father is estranged until the third film) and I could go on and on.

The simple explanation for this is that many people suffer from broken homes during their formative years, and it’s been reflected in both literature and moviemaking for as long as they’ve been around. It should be no surprise that a fun film like Toy Story has an undercurrent of sadness and (dare I say it) reality lingering in the background.

Also, it’s been a tradition for movies and even TV to stray from having both parents onscreen in order to prevent alienating single parents who take their kids to go see movies. Ouch, right in the heart.

What the Creators Have to Say About It

Now, if you ask the director of Toy Story, Lee Unkrich, directly, then he’ll give you a mysteriously vague answer. In her article, Toy Story 3 and the Triumph of a Single Mother,” writer Mary Pols spoke with Unkrich himself and gained his thoughts on the matter:

“It’s an oft asked question, but there is no concrete answer, We don’t mean to be mysterious about it; it’s just never been relevant to the story.”

It’s just always been that way. The decision was made really early on in ‘Toy Story’ to have Andy’s dad not be around. We’ve never addressed it directly, nor have we given any explanation for where he is or why he’s absent.”

As for Unkrich himself (pictured below), his parents divorced when he was 10 years old, and he reportedly grew up with just his mother for some time.

toy story andy's dad

On Quora, Craig Good (one of Toy Story‘s animators) claims that the decision to exclude Andy’s dad was made because rendering humans was very difficult and expensive at the time, and he wouldn’t be relevant to the story anyway.

But that definitely doesn’t mean they didn’t pepper in a few clues that hint at Andy’s father being a deadbeat. That most easily explains why he truly isn’t necessary for the Toy Story movies, especially to the characters who moved on without him.

Except for Buzz Lightyear, of course. Even he got a dad in Toy Story 2…

toy story andy's dad

Summary:

So here it is in a nutshell. Andy’s father most likely walked out on the family, which led to Andy’s mother deciding to relocate to a smaller house to save money and (hopefully) move on from the painful memory. She has removed any pictures she has of him, along with her wedding ring, and the father is never mentioned or seen, even in Andy’s graduation photos.

It’s sad and kind of depressing, but inevitably pointless to the story, which is really about a boy and his toys that somehow come to life and compete for his love and imagination.


Thanks for reading this. To get updates on my theories, books, and giveaways, join my Mailing List.

Or just say hey on Twitter: @JonNegroni

481 thoughts on “The Truth About Andy’s Dad In ‘Toy Story’ Will Make You Depressed

  1. Prestige Park Grove district should set up across massive areas of spot that is known for land offering 1 BHK, 2 BHK, and 3 BHK lofts inside its premises. Prestige Park Grove, Whitefield is in the pre-transport off stage, and proprietorship will be given following its finish

  2. Provident Ecopolitan KIADB Aerospace Park Baglur is an upcoming futuristic pre-launch apartment project located in Bangalore. The project comprises an 80 % open area with abundant greenery and scenic landscapes. It has lounged across a large land parcel offering luxury 1 BHK, 2 BHK, and 3 BHK abodes.

  3. Provident Ecopoliten is an upcoming futuristic pre-launch apartment project located in Bangalore. The project comprises an 80% open area with abundant greenery and scenic landscapes. It has lounged across a large land parcel offering luxury 1 BHK, 2 BHK, and 3 BHK abodes. Provident Ecopolitan Location is well connected as it is centrally located & can be easily reached from every part of the city area.

  4. Provident Ecopolitan is an upcoming futuristic pre-launch apartment project located in Bangalore. It has lounged across a large land parcel offering luxury 1 BHK, 2 BHK, and 3 BHK abodes. Provident Ecopolitan Price is comparatively very much competitive & affordable for every Home buyer looking to own a home inside this extra ordinary community.
    https://www.providentecopolitan.co/price/

  5. Provident Ecopolitan is an ultra-luxury apartment coming up at a prime location in Bagalur Aerospace Park Bangalore. It comprises 2 BHK and 3 BHK apartments with a unique range of international standards amenities and a fully equipped clubhouse with all indoor games.

    Visit us – Provident Ecopolitan

  6. Rohan Antara is a furistic lifestyle residential apartment consisting of 2BHK, 3BHK, and 4BHK, this community will have all top end lifestyle amenities & landscaped gardens covered with lush greenary .Rohan Antara Floor Plans are well planned & designed layouts to get more spacious accomodation with well ventilated and lit inside the apartment
    https://www.rohanantara.org.in/floor-plan/

  7. Provident Deansgateis a new ultra-luxury villaments development in IVC Road, Bangalore ,it comprises of 3 BHK & 4 BHK villaments .This project will have a very vast collection of international standards amenities.
    https://www.providentdeansgate.co/location/

  8. Godrej Park Retreat apartments in Sarjapur, Bangalore, offer an attractive investment opportunity with their prime location, luxurious amenities, and renowned developer.

  9. Invest in a lifetime of leisure and luxury at Godrej Park Retreat. Located in Sarjapur, Bangalore, these premium apartments offer you the perfect mix of lavish living, beautiful green spaces, and great investment returns. https://www.godrejsparkretreat.in/

  10. Prestige Park grove a lavish lifestyle in a famouse area of bangalore . A big project by prestige group in whitefiled .

  11. If you are viewing a home in Gurugram that provides a perfect balance between nearness to nature and stylish facilities, Godrej Tropical Isle 146 Noida might interest you. Already housing more than amenities, this property comes with a vibrant lifestyle and community. You can pick from 2 BHK, 3 BHK, and 4 BHK ultra-luxury Apartments. There are several reasons why you might want to consider purchasing an apartment here.
    Godrej Tropical Isle 146, Noida

  12. Sobha Neopolis in Panathur Road holds the potential to be a sought-after residential destination in East Bangalore, offering convenience, connectivity, and a promising investment opportunity for homebuyers.

  13. Provident Botanico is a ultra-luxury apartment coming in a prime location of Bangalore. It comprises of 2 BHK & 3 BHK apartsments having a unique range of International standards amenities with fully equipped clubhouse loaded with all indoor games. Provident Botanico Price will be decided keeping the market trends in mind, it will be very much affordable & competitive for home buyers to buy a home in alifestyle project like this.

    https://www.providentbotanico.co/

  14. Provident Botanico is a ultra-luxury apartment coming in a prime location of Bangalore. It comprises of 2 BHK & 3 BHK apartsments having a unique range of International standards amenities with fully equipped clubhouse loaded with all indoor games. Provident Botanico Price will be decided keeping the market trends in mind, it will be very much affordable & competitive for home buyers to buy a home in alifestyle project like this.

  15. M3M Sector 109 Gurugram is a future premium residential project launched by the well-known builder M3M Group. This Project is a premium development spread over wide acres of land. The project offers ultra-luxurious 2 BHK & 3 BHK wonderful homes with all the modern comforts.
    M3M Sector 109, Gurugram

  16. Elan the Mark Sector 106 Gurugram for businesses and investors, is a fantastic investment opportunity. As soon as the project is finished, early investors will have the possibility to profit from capital growth. The project offers retail, office, and studio spaces.
    Elan The Mark Sector 106, Gurgaon

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: