Meet The New Characters In Toy Story 4

Check out Toy Story 4 in theaters June 21st! Learn about the new characters in Toy Story 4. 

Meet The New Characters In Toy Story 4

The wait is over! This Friday, June 21st, Toy Story 4 arrives in theaters everywhere. With so much buzz going around, it’s only building up the anticipation and love for this movie. After screening Toy Story 4 during the press junket at Pixar, I fell in love with some of the new characters: Forky, Ducky, Bunny, Duke Caboom, Giggle McDimples, Gabby Gabby, and Benson. 

Meet the new characters in Toy Story 4

FORKY is not a toy! At least that’s what he thinks. An actual spork-turned-craft-project, Forky is pretty sure that he doesn’t belong in Bonnie’s room. Unfortunately, every time he tries to get away, someone yanks him back into an adventure he’d rather skip. “The world of Toy Story is built upon the idea that everything in the world has a purpose,” says Cooley. “A toy’s purpose is to be there for its child. But what about toys that are made out of other objects? Forky is a toy that Bonnie made out of a disposable spork, so he’s facing a crisis. He wants to fulfill his purpose as a spork, but now has a new toy purpose thrust upon him.” Learn more of my thoughts on Forky and how to make your own Forky! 

Concept Art/ Credit: Pixar

Concept Art/ Credit: Pixar

DUCKY and BUNNY are carnival prizes who are eager to be won. But when their plans are rudely interrupted, they find themselves on an unexpected adventure with a group of toys who have no idea what it feels like to be tacked to a prize wall. “Ducky and Bunny bring a new level of fun to the ‘Toy Story’ universe,” says producer Mark Nielsen. “Their view of the world has been very singular as they go from town to town in the same booth staring out at the world. They have no moral compass because they’ve watched kid after kid spends money on a game that’s unwinnable by design. Not only are they learning bad things about human nature, but they’re also trapped because of it.

Concept Art/ Credit: Pixar

GIGGLE MCDIMPLES is a miniature plastic doll from the 1980s Giggle McDimples toy line. Giggle is Bo Peep’s best friend. Small enough to perch on Bo’s shoulder, Giggle is Bo’s confidant, supporter, and advisor. “Giggle is Bo’s Jiminy Cricket—we’re able to get insight on Bo through their relationship together,” says Cooley. “Giggle is definitely the smallest toy in the Toy Story universe. She’s been stepped on, vacuumed up, and probably put up a kid’s nose in her time.”

Related: The Return of Bo Peep in Toy Story 4

Concept Art/ Credit: Pixar

DUKE CABOOM is a 1970s toy based on Canada’s greatest stuntman. Riding his powerful Caboom stunt-cycle, Duke is always prepared to show off his stunt poses with confidence and swagger. However, Woody learns quickly that Duke has an Achilles heel: He has never been able to do the awesome stunts advertised in his own toy commercial. For years, Duke has been sitting in an antique store, constantly reliving the failures of his tragic past.

Concept Art/ Credit: Pixar

GABBY GABBY is an adorable, talking pull-string doll from the 1950s. But unfortunately for her, a manufacturing defect in her pull-string voice box has left her sounding anything but adorable. She has spent more than 60 years forgotten in the depths of a jam-packed antique store—her only companions are a band of voiceless ventriloquist dummies. Gabby Gabby knows someone will want her if only she can find a working voice box to repair hers.

BENSON is a classic, antique ventriloquist dummy, and Gabby Gabby’s right hand. He leads a small group of ventriloquist dummies that serve as Gabby’s henchmen. With no person to give them a voice, these silent toys patrol the antique store with a looming quietness that is inherently unsettling.

GABBY GABBY – In Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” Woody finds himself in Second Chance Antiques, home to an adorable, talking pull-string doll from the 1950s and her crew of voiceless ventriloquist dummies. Unfortunately for Gabby Gabby, a manufacturing defect in her pull-string voice box has left her sounding anything but adorable. Christina Hendricks lends her voice to Gabby Gabby. “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019…©2019 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

My take on Gabby Gabby and Benson

I’ll have to say, when Gabby Gabby and Benson are first introduced on screen, I immediately don’t like them. However, as the movie continues, you start to feel sorry for Gabby Gabby. She’s never had a kid of her own – just sitting on a shelf collecting dust. There’s a girl that is the granddaughter of the owner of Second Chance Antiques. Gabby Gabby is hopeful that if she gets a working voice box, this little girl will pick her up and take her home. This part of the story pulls on the heartstrings, and your heart softens towards Gabby Gabby, especially at the end. However, I got nothing for Benson. Those ventriloquist dummies are a little on the creepy side. If you’re one of those people that are afraid of clowns, like one of my best friend’s, you may want to close your eyes. (Haha!) Even the producers at Pixar agrees with this- “The dummies are, by far, some of the creepiest characters we’ve ever created,” says producer Mark Nielsen. “Our animators really leaned into the truth in materials for how our ventriloquist dummies move. Dummies’ bodies are soft with no structure, so our dummies’ arms just dangle, and their legs bend backward.”

HANGIN’ AROUND – In Disney·Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” Buzz Lightyear finds himself among a host of carnival prizes—including Ducky and Bunny, who’ve been waiting a long time to be won. They aren’t exactly welcoming to the Space Ranger—the odds are already stacked against them, and who needs that kind of competition? Featuring Tim Allen as the voice of Buzz, Keegan-Michael Key as the voice of Ducky and Jordan Peele as the voice of Bunny, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Ducky and Bunny brings the comedy

Ducky and Bunny are probably my favorite new characters. Yes, Forky is cool, and Giggles is a doll, but Bunny and Ducky BRINGS the comedy. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele voice these characters, and they bring along the laughter and fun. A smart move by Pixar to bring these comedians onboard. “Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, who voice Ducky and Bunny, are two of the most brilliant minds I’ve ever seen,” says director Josh Cooley. “Of course, they are effortlessly funny, which would be enough. But they are incredible actors that understand story. Their improvs weren’t just for comedy sake; they were story motivated, which elevated Ducky and Bunny and the film to a level I never could have expected.”

These new characters revive Toy Story 4. If I’m being candid, I wasn’t a huge fan of Toy Story 3 with the bear and the big baby doll. But yet, in Toy Story 4, Pixar tries again with a doll, and this time you grow to love this character, along with the others.

Catch all these characters in theaters this Friday! We can’t wait to see Toy Story 4 again (spoiler-free movie review)! Be sure to read all about my insider tips directly from Pixar about Toy Story 4.