Toy Story 4, Coco, and The Pixar Theory

Tamara Fuentes, writing for Seventeen, mentioned the Pixar Theory in a recent article. She broke down the theory from its 2013 roots and finished with this interesting bit:

Negroni still hasn’t explained how newer movies like Coco and Toy Story 4 fit in, but we’re sure they fit in here somewhere. Until then, guess we’ll just have to rewatch all of our favorite Disney Pixar movies to see this theory unfold for ourselves.

I’ve been hard at work on the upcoming book based on the theory, which is being republished. And yes, Toy Story 4 and Coco, along with all the other newest Pixar movies that have come out since the original theory will be explored in my little conspiracy theory corner of nonsense. It’s a fun book, and I’m excited for you all to read it.

More than just a collection of theories, it’s a book about what it means to be a fan of Pixar movies, and movies in general. I know a lot of you have been asking about getting your hands on a copy, especially since the first book went out of print and is currently unavailable in all forms. In fact, not even I have a copy of the book (I gave them all away, mostly to readers requesting them).

In the meantime, I want to open up the comments section for something special. I want to know: what does Pixar mean to you? Answer the question in the comments below, along with the name you want credited, and it might show up somewhere in the book. It would thrill me to pieces to have even more fans of the movies involved with this project in some way.

Thanks, as always, for reading.


19 thoughts on “Toy Story 4, Coco, and The Pixar Theory

  1. After watching Toy Story 4, I’m left with this sense of reminiscence. You would think that there would be a limit to how many stories can be told regarding such a thing as toys, but every movie comes with an original plot, which keeps you on the edge and at the same time plucks at those strings within you which make you relive your childhood in a more fulfilling manner. I feel like pixar is always able to deliver a great story that always provokes deeply set emotions in a very unique way, which I think has a pattern. What makes pixar movies unique is that the protagonist is portrayed in their entirety, and mostly the protagonist’s flaws are their good traits in excess. For example, Merida’s boldness and fearlessness, Joy’s need for happiness, Andy’s helpfulness towards his kid, etc. This is something that usually what causes a trouble in most of Pixar’s movies. That’s what makes it so unique and relatable, I think.

  2. What does Pixar mean to me?

    The first Pixar movie I saw in theaters was back in 2011 with the release of Cars 2. I watched the movie with my mother, and you know what? I loved it. I loved Cars 2, laughed at the jokes, and was promptly shocked to see the horrid reviews that the movie received. Today, I find the movie less enjoyable than I did eight years ago, but the lesson remains the same. Pixar films were a tremendous part of my growing up, and these films meant so much more to me than just a movie studio trying to make money. Pixar films were relatable and emotional; they had so much depth beyond their often simple stories. One of the most important things about these films was how they meant different things to different people. As a kid, watching Wall-E, for example, I saw a poor robot who went on an adventure, but as I got older, I realized how central the love story was, with Eve. The 2012 film Brave was the same. When I was younger, I could relate to the problems of a child and the struggles she faced with her mother. Now, I also see the film as a message for feminists and self-empowerment. Pixar is a movie studio that makes films that seek, not only to engage their audience, but to teach their audience and make them think something. Although most of their films involve some level fantasy: toys or cars or bugs being sentient beings is a stretch, their innate values of friendship, love, family, and more help mold a generation of children, including me, into better people. I thank Pixar for what they’ve done to make me who I am, and so Pixar to me is like a wise old grandma: entertaining me, teaching me, and nurturing me, and so I love Pixar.

  3. What does Pixar mean to me?

    I think that when i was born, i never watched Pixar before. But when i did, it’s an inspiration to when i wanna be when i grow up. their stories always level up the tech they made and its fascinating to how Pixar was the first to make cgi animated films happened. Without them, we would have been stuck to 2d films like Dumbo. Point is, Pixar is a good company that’s always up for something. It almost made me like the characters they made like Violet Parr, Riley Anderson, Ducky and Bunny, some of the characters that can be female or male. Pixar would mean to me a lot compared to the other companies that wants to beat them. But even though Lasseter isn’t in Pixar anymore, this won’t stop them from going Infinity and Beyond.

  4. I’ve been watching Pixar movies ever since, gosh, ever since I was young? I admire its story-telling, its ability to reach audiences regardless of age, it basically appeals to everybody just like LEGO. Its hard thinking about what Pixar really meant to me, because there is a huge number of layers that they cemented in my childhood. When young me watched The Incredibles, I hadn’t really grasped the idea of suicide during that scene when that dude jumped from the building. It exposed me to a whole array of ideas and feelings without making it seem complicated. That’s what Pixar is to me,I guess, because I was able to learn a lot from their movies from my youth.

  5. PIXAR means ‘Not every movie needs a villain.’

  6. Pixar has become a big influence on my life and definately my creativity. My skills as a storyteller and animator have greatly improved because of my passion for Pixar. I’m studying animation in college because of Pixar. The Pixar Theory has inspired me to look more carefully at all hidden details in their movies. I hope I can one day be an animator and maybe work at Pixar.

      • Dude you are not nice. Why don’t you try spreading some love into this already unkind world instead of being fueled by hatred? Seriously? If you love something, great share and spread that love. It’s hard for me to imagine that a true Pixar fanatic would have a problem with someone diving into Pixar so deeply they opened up a theory for them to be on the same timeline. He’s not hurting anyone by making this theory. The people in Pixar probably love Jon because if anything this man makes people want to watch Pixar films more to find hidden meanings and connections that they put into their own movies. So the next time you post, I strongly recommend that you think before so. Are you adding positivity and love to this environment or hate and destruction? Have a lovely day dude! I truly hope you find closure in whatever your purpose for these posts are.

        • I agree with Skye Walker one hundred percent. Do you even deserve the title of TheTruePixarFanatic? Would YOU like someone criticizing YOUR opinions on the films you love? Do you seriously only visit this website so you can criticize the opinions of fellow Pixar lovers? Each person has the right to believe what they want. I kindly ask you to back off for the sake of all fans. Because you’re a fan, aren’t you?

  7. Pixar let’s me know that there’s a whole world of storytelling I can create if and when I choose to tell stories. Pixar let’s us all know that stories contain worlds, and our one world contains so many stories. Many little stories can make one GIANT story, and that should be a metaphor for storytelling in general. All our individual stories stand on there own as beautiful and meaningful, but when we keep telling them, they collect together, and we then have one magnificent storyline of our history, our hopes, our dreams, our experiences, our lives. Pixar is really a championing of the story of us.

  8. Pixar is incredible. Heck, they got a movie with that as their title. Its very difficult to weave a story that is entertaining for both kids and adults. Yeah, there are other movies that have accomplished it, but Pixar is the master of it. Instead of just putting in some stuff to keep the adults in there the whole time but mainly focusing on the kids, it works so that you really are enjoying the films. It appeals to both kids and adults alike. I loved lots of these movies when I was little, and then I came back a lot older and decided to watch them again, and loved them even more! I love Pixar!

  9. To me, Pixar is the lessons we need to learn through different experiences. These movies don’t only teach kids important lessons that we need to strongly take accountability for on Earth but adults too. I find myself looking at your theory questioning how this world works. I watch Pixar movies and question myself. What am I doing to make a difference in bettering myself, my community, this planet? For instance, looking at Wall-e, I’ve written countless papers on our ocean and the pollution it faces due to humans and our pollution, specifically plastic. We as humans are so worried about our technology, ourselves, the latest trends, INDUSTRY, that only a mere percentage of us actually care for our own destruction of our planet. Another example could be Monsters University, Sully and Mike get kicked out of college and work their way up to become the best at their jobs! Personally my whole life I have been told that I have to go to college to make something out of myself, I currently am in college and don’t know if one day my degree will land me with a dream job or not. However, the resilience shown in Monsters University teaches us that when we work hard to accomplish what truly means the world to us, we can get there! The steps might be a little harder but you can accomplish your dreams! These two movies and so many other Pixar movies leave me questioning life. I’m not sure what is truly intended for with Pixar movies but I will always be in love with them and with the deep thoughts they give me.

  10. Pixar is a part of the foundation of two generations, and creates all sorts of great things. I mean, look at us! We LOVE PIXAR and the proof is that we’re here on behalf of this love. Big fan, Jon! BIG FAN, PIXAR!!! ❤️ WE LOVE PIXAR, and that will never change!

    • I read the other comments, and mine is stupid.

  11. I’ve actually been thinking about making a story linked with the Pixar movies and even the Disney ones, you know the non-Disney-Pixar movies, anyways if you think about it its really a big Universe both Pixar’s and Disney”s, well you know Pixar being more interesting, but yeah, its really interesting, how you can make make sense like I’m done with the Disney Princesses, and right now its time for the Pixar Universe, of course I already knew a lot of things about Pixar, like Easter Eggs and that kind of stuff and those theories that have been around since like 2015, so yeah, but I wanted to get more informed about Pixar and its theories and universe, and I’m actually learning some pretty interesting and cool things about it, its pretty cool, but now answering the question, What Pixar means to me is, or what I think of Pixar is, that its an open world, where almost can, and has happened, the Toys have come to life, machines and robots have ruled the world, the world’s population have traveled from Earth to a giant spaceship living as giant babies, Monsters have traveled through time, also dogs fly planes, even Rats cook, Is a world full of impossible things and Imagination, Its really something awesome, I would even put Pixar as the 2nd best Cinematic Universe, right behind the MCU, but anyways, the story I’m creating its just for my friends and stuff, but its actually looking pretty cool, and like I said its increadible how many “coincidences” I’ve made with my characters and the characters in the movies, and like those events that may look like happened by themselves, my characters did it, they’re like little immortal animals and they’re 4 so yeah, its a Squirrel, a Frog, some mice, a Bunny and a Ferret, so yeah and some little additional animals that I’ve added, but the amount of main characters/main animals has to be short cuz some of them fly, like they are very smart and can create stuff really quickly so they created this “transport vehicle” so they can travel from a country to another and so yeah, I’m working in that, and its really fun.

  12. Watching Toy Story 4 and Coco on beetv was a delightful experience! Pixar’s storytelling brilliance truly shines in these films. I couldn’t help but ponder the Pixar Theory while enjoying them. Thanks for this insightful blog post

  13. “Toy Story 4” and “Coco” are two exceptional Pixar films that showcase the studio’s ability to tell heartwarming and emotionally resonant stories. “Toy Story 4” continues the beloved saga of Woody, Buzz, and the gang, exploring themes of identity and belonging in a way that’s both nostalgic and fresh. On the other hand, “Coco” takes us on a vibrant journey into Mexican culture, celebrating family and heritage with stunning visuals and a touching narrative.

    Now, when we dive into “The Pixar Theory,” it’s like peering behind the scenes of a grand cinematic universe. This intriguing fan theory connects all Pixar films, suggesting they exist in the same timeline. It’s a testament to the depth and creativity of Pixar’s storytelling that fans are inspired to construct such elaborate theories, adding an extra layer of fascination to these already remarkable movies. Pixar’s ability to craft both individual masterpieces and a cohesive narrative across their films is truly something to admire.
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