You can skip 7 of the 15 titles in the Toy Story franchise and still follow the main story: Hawaiian Vacation, Small Fry, Partysaurus Rex, Forky Asks a Question, Lamp Life, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. The essentials (8 titles) take about 10 hours instead of 35 hours.
- Skippable
- 7
- Essentials
- 8
- Time saved
- 25 hours
Safe to skip
- Hawaiian Vacation2011 · Film · 7m · optionalA short: Ken and Barbie miss their Hawaii trip, so the toys stage one in Bonnie's house.
- Small Fry2011 · Film · 7m · optionalA short: a kids' meal Buzz takes Buzz's place, and Buzz lands in a support group for discarded toys.
- Partysaurus Rex2012 · Film · 7m · optionalA short: Rex throws a bathtub rave for Bonnie's bath toys to prove he is not a party pooper.
- Forky Asks a Question2019 · Series · 1h 20m · optionalTen short Disney+ episodes where Forky asks the other toys to explain everyday ideas.
- Lamp Life2020 · Film · 7m · optionalA short: Bo Peep tells Woody what happened to her between Andy's house and the antique shop.
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins2000 · Film · 1h 10m · optionalThe cartoon Buzz Lightyear is based on, in a direct-to-video film that launches the series.
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command2000 · Series · 21h 42m · optionalOne season of 62 episodes following Buzz and his rookie crew against Emperor Zurg.
Why each one is optional
What each skippable title is, what it adds if you do watch it, and who is in it.
No. 01 · 2000 · Film · 1h 10m · optional
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins
Buzz Lightyear must battle Emperor Zurg with the help of three hopefuls who insist on being his partners.
Why it matters: The cartoon Buzz Lightyear is based on, in a direct-to-video film that launches the series.
- Starring
- Tim Allen, Nicole Sullivan, and Stephen Furst
- Director
- Tad Stones
- Scores
- IMDb 6.2
No. 02 · 2000 · Series · 21h 42m · optional
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Buzz Lightyear’s adventures as he patrols the galaxy with his team of Space Rangers, battling evildoers “to infinity and beyond.”
Why it matters: One season of 62 episodes following Buzz and his rookie crew against Emperor Zurg.
- Starring
- Patrick Warburton, Nicole Sullivan, and Stephen Furst
- Scores
- IMDb 6.7
- Episodes
- 62
No. 03 · 2011 · Film · 7m · optional
Hawaiian Vacation
The toys throw Ken and Barbie a Hawaiian vacation in Bonnie's room.
Why it matters: A short: Ken and Barbie miss their Hawaii trip, so the toys stage one in Bonnie's house.
- Starring
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack
- Director
- Gary Rydstrom
- Scores
- IMDb 7.2
No. 04 · 2011 · Film · 7m · optional
Small Fry
A fast food restaurant mini variant of Buzz forcibly switches places with the real Buzz and his friends have to deal with the obnoxious impostor.
Why it matters: A short: a kids' meal Buzz takes Buzz's place, and Buzz lands in a support group for discarded toys.
- Starring
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack
- Director
- Angus MacLane
- Scores
- IMDb 7
No. 05 · 2012 · Film · 7m · optional
Partysaurus Rex
When Rex finds himself left behind in the bathroom, he puts his limbs to use by getting a bath going for a bunch of new toy friends.
Why it matters: A short: Rex throws a bathtub rave for Bonnie's bath toys to prove he is not a party pooper.
- Starring
- Wallace Shawn, Tom Hanks, and Tim Allen
- Director
- Mark A. Walsh
- Scores
- IMDb 7.4
No. 06 · 2019 · Series · 1h 20m · optional
Forky Asks a Question
Forky, a craft project created from trash, has important questions about how the world works, such as: What is love? What is time? And of course, the deepest question of all, What is cheese? Follow him as he explores all of these questions and more.
Why it matters: Ten short Disney+ episodes where Forky asks the other toys to explain everyday ideas.
- Starring
- Tony Hale, Bob Peterson, and John Ratzenberger
- Creator
- Bob Peterson
- Scores
- IMDb 6.6
- Episodes
- 10
No. 07 · 2020 · Film · 7m · optional
Lamp Life
Bo Peep explains what happened to herself and her sheep between the events of Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 4.
Why it matters: A short: Bo Peep tells Woody what happened to her between Andy's house and the antique shop.
- Starring
- Annie Potts, Ally Maki, and Jim Hanks
- Director
- Valerie LaPointe
- Scores
- IMDb 6.7
The essentials, in release order
- Toy Story1995 · Film · 1h 21mThe first fully computer-animated feature, 1995.
- Toy Story 21999 · Film · 1h 32mWoody is stolen by a collector.
- Toy Story 32010 · Film · 1h 43mAndy leaves for college.
- Toy Story of Terror!2013 · Film · 22mA Halloween TV special: Bonnie's toys vanish one by one at a roadside motel.
- Toy Story That Time Forgot2014 · Film · 22mA Christmas TV special: Bonnie's toys meet dinosaur warrior figures who do not know they are toys.
- Toy Story 42019 · Film · 1h 40mWoody and Forky on a road trip.
- Lightyear2022 · Film · 1h 45mThe in-universe film Andy watched in 1995; optional.
- Toy Story 52026 · Film · 1h 42mThe toys meet technology.
Common questions
Do I need to watch every Toy Story title?
No. You can skip 7 of the 15 titles in the Toy Story franchise and still follow the main story: Hawaiian Vacation, Small Fry, Partysaurus Rex, Forky Asks a Question, Lamp Life, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. The essentials (8 titles) take about 10 hours instead of 35 hours.
How long are the Toy Story essentials?
About 10 hours for 8 titles, in release order starting with Toy Story.
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