OVERLAY REPORT

In *Toy Story 4* (2019), audience perception is more fluid than in previous installments because the film lacks a traditional "evil" villain. Instead, the audience's rooting interests shift based on themes of purpose, abandonment, and self-worth. ### **Characters the Audience Roots For** #### **1. Woody** * **Why:** Woody remains the moral compass of the series. The audience roots for him because of his **unwavering selflessness**. Even when he is relegated to the "closet" by Bonnie, he doesn't become bitter; instead, he dedicates himself to protecting Bonnie's new favorite, Forky. * **Specific Actions:** * **Protecting Forky:** Woody repeatedly jumps out of a moving RV and treks through dangerous territory to ensure Forky returns to Bonnie, effectively sacrificing his own safety for her happiness. * **The Ultimate Sacrifice:** In a pivotal scene, Woody voluntarily gives his voice box to Gabby Gabby. This act of "organ donation" is the ultimate sign of his growth, showing he no longer needs a "voice" to be a hero. #### **2. Forky** * **Why:** Forky is the "underdog" who represents the audience’s own feelings of inadequacy. His existential crisis—insisting "I am trash"—makes him both a comedic highlight and a character viewers desperately want to see succeed in finding self-worth. * **Specific Actions:** His constant, hilarious attempts to throw himself into trash cans cause the audience to root for his "awakening" as a toy who realizes he is valuable because a child loves him. #### **3. Bo Peep** * **Why:** Reintroduced as a "Lost Toy," Bo Peep represents independence and competence. Audiences root for her because she has thrived without a child, challenging the "ownership" dynamic of the previous films. * **Specific Actions:** Her tactical leadership during the rescue missions and her survival skills (using a "skunk-mobile" and repairing her own arm with tape) make her a modern, capable hero that audiences admire. --- ### **Characters the Audience Roots Against** #### **1. The Bensons (Ventriloquist Dummies)** * **Why:** While Gabby Gabby is the leader, her silent, staring ventriloquist lackeys serve as the film's "horror" element. They are the primary characters audiences root against because they are **viscerally creepy** and lack a sympathetic voice. * **Specific Actions:** Their mechanical, jerky movements and their role in "patrolling" the antique shop like prison guards make them the primary physical antagonists who chase and intimidate the heroes. #### **2. Dragon (The Cat)** * **Why:** Dragon acts as the "mindless beast" of the film. Like Scud the dog in the first *Toy Story*, Dragon represents the threat of physical destruction. * **Specific Actions:** Dragon is shown having ripped a stuffed animal (a zebra) in half, and her pursuit of the toys in the antique store creates high-stakes tension where the audience roots for her to be evaded or outsmarted. #### **3. Bonnie (Nuanced)** * **Why:** Interestingly, a segment of the audience (particularly long-time fans) began to root against Bonnie. This is due to her **apparent negligence** of Woody, whom Andy specifically asked her to take care of at the end of *Toy Story 3*. * **Specific Actions:** She consistently leaves Woody in the closet, forgets his name, and at one point, even steps on him without noticing. To fans who grew up with Woody, Bonnie’s "fickle" nature makes her an unintentional antagonist to the protagonist's happiness. --- ### **The Complex Case: Gabby Gabby** Gabby Gabby is the most significant character who **flips** from being rooted against to being rooted for. * **Rooting Against:** Initially, she is the "villain" because she kidnaps Forky and manipulates Woody to steal his voice box. Her "stepford-wife" politeness masks a calculated, predatory intent. * **Rooting For:** Perception shifts when her backstory is revealed. After she finally gets Woody's voice box, the child she dreamed of (Harmony) **rejects her anyway**, throwing her into a box. This moment of extreme vulnerability and "toy heartbreak" causes the audience to pivot and root for her. * **The Resolution:** The audience's rooting is satisfied when Woody helps her find a lost child at the carnival, giving her the "happy ending" usually reserved for protagonists. (Note: This summary was generated by Gemini 3.0 Flash + Search)