Disney Talk – As The Years Go By

Image © Disney/Pixar.

Disney and Pixar have together revolutionized the film industry – did either of them expect their friendship?



By Blake



Originally posted October 10, 2009.




Toy Story and Toy Story 2 – my personal two favorite Pixar films – were released as a 3-D double feature last weekend, and ended up ranking #3 at the box office, which isn’t bad considering it was only released in select theaters.


The double feature includes both Toy Story films, an intermission (featuring some TS surprises), and a very special sneak peek at Toy Story 3.


But now, I’d like to turn your attention to something that’s not part of the Toy Story double feature. If you have the DVD for Toy Story 2’s Special “Woody’s Roundup” Edition that was released in 2005, pop it in your player and skip to the end credits. Yes, there’s actually something very noteworthy in the credits, even though there no extra “hidden scene” at the end.


The song playing for the majority of the credits is “You’ve Got a Friend in Me (Wheezy’s Version),” and in the middle of the song, the tune switches to instrumental. It continues this way until the very, very end of the credits.


As a logo is shown first for Walt Disney Pictures and then for Pixar Animation Studios, lyrics return to the song that include:


“And as the years go by, our friendship will never die. You’re gonna see it’s our destiny – You’ve got a friend in me."


Even though at first glance it may just be a nice way to conclude the movie, I can’t help but thinking there’s some subtle symbolism in those exact words and the logos that are shown onscreen.


Yes, it’s the end of the credits. Yes, those words are also at the end of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” However, is the way the two elements are put together really that much of a coincidence? This edition of Toy Story 2 came out in December 2005, a mere few weeks before Disney bought Pixar. Did someone see this coming and left a hint to viewers?


My theory – which, even if it isn’t true, would be extremely cool – is that a clever employee at Pixar who was in charge of the end credits noticed the strong relationship Pixar had with Disney, and the impact that the two were making through the animated films they created. This employee might have been able to picture further endeavors the two studios would undertake together in the future, and might have realized that Pixar and Disney really could count on each other in a friendship that “will never die.”

Image © Disney/Pixar.

When audiences see a Pixar movie, they know to expect a creative adventure with endearing characters and a sensational message that relates personally to the viewers. Whether or not my theory is correct, its main idea remains very true to this day, and has strengthened tremendously since Disney purchased Pixar. The way Disney and Pixar have tremendously changed the entertainment business and made an imprint on millions of families’ lives proves that Wheezy’s lyrics, when applied to Disney and Pixar, couldn’t be truer.




By Blake; posted October 10, 2009. All images © Disney/Pixar. “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” music and lyrics by Randy Newman, © 1995 Walt Disney Music Company (ASCAP).