When Andy heads off to cowboy camp, a greedy toy collector named Al McWhiggin steals Woody, revealing the cowboy doll's secret past as the star of a 1950s TV show called "Woody's Roundup." While being held captive in Al's apartment, Woody meets the rest of his original gang—Jessie the yodeling cowgirl, Bullseye the horse, and Stinky Pete the Prospector—who are destined to be sold to a museum in Japan. Faced with the choice between immortality behind glass or a fleeting life with Andy, Woody struggles with his purpose, while Buzz Lightyear leads a daring rescue mission across the city to save his best friend before it's too late.
Information |
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Language |
English |
Country |
United States |
Premiere date |
November 24, 1999 |
Running time |
92 minutes |
Genre |
Animation Adventure Comedy Family Fantasy |
Budget |
$90,000,000 |
Box Office |
$497,366,869 |
Crew |
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Directed by |
John Lasseter |
Produced by |
Helene Plotkin Karen Robert Jackson |
Written by |
Andrew Stanton Rita Hsiao Doug Chamberlin Chris Webb |
Music by |
Randy Newman |
Cinematography |
Sharon Calahan |
Edited by |
Edie Bleiman David Ian Salter Lee Unkrich |
Production Co. |
Walt Disney Pictures Pixar Animation Studios |
Distributed by |
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution |
Top Cast |
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Official Trailer |
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Movie Collection |
Movie Order: #02 in Toy Story Collection
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The Plot
A High-Stakes Simulation and a Heartbreaking Accident
The adventure begins in the far reaches of a hostile alien planet—or so it seems. Buzz Lightyear maneuvers through a perilous landscape, dodging traps and leaping over lava pits, only to be pulverized by the ruthless Evil Emperor Zurg. In reality, this is a video game being played by Rex the dinosaur, who is devastated by his "game over" screen. The story is set some time after the toys’ first adventure; the room is buzzing with excitement as Andy prepares to head to Cowboy Camp with his favorite toy, Woody. However, during a final high-energy play session, disaster strikes. As Andy links the arms of Woody and Buzz, Woody’s shoulder seam gives way, leaving his arm dangling by a few threads. Because he is "broken," Andy’s mother decides he must stay behind, placing the dejected cowboy on the high, dusty shelf.
Woody’s isolation leads to a haunting nightmare. He imagines Andy returning early from camp, only to see Woody’s useless arm and coldly discard him. In the dream, Andy drops Woody through a deck of playing cards into a dark garbage can, where the severed limbs of forgotten toys drag him into the depths. Woody wakes up in a cold sweat, finding himself covered in dust on the real shelf. It is here he discovers Wheezy, a penguin toy with a broken squeaker who has been forgotten for months. When Andy’s mom begins a yard sale outside, she snatches Wheezy to be sold for a mere twenty-five cents. Woody, refusing to let a friend be lost, whistles for Buster the dog and mounts a daring rescue mission. He successfully saves Wheezy, but in the chaos, Woody is accidentally left behind on the grass, where he is spotted by a greedy collector.
The Kidnapping and the "LZTYBRN" Mystery
The collector, Al McWhiggin, owner of Al’s Toy Barn, recognizes Woody as a rare find. When Andy’s mother refuses to sell the family heirloom, Al creates a distraction and steals Woody, stuffing him into his trunk. Buzz Lightyear witnesses the crime and attempts a heroic pursuit, but he is unable to stop the car as it speeds away. Back in the room, the toys are in a state of panic. Buzz uses a few clues—a handful of feathers and a license plate reading "LZTYBRN"—to launch an investigation. After a frustrating session with Mr. Spell, Buzz deciphers the code: "Al’s Toy Barn."
Identifying Al as the man in the obnoxious chicken suit from local television commercials, the toys use a map to locate the store. Buzz rallies a rescue party consisting of Rex, Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, and Hamm. Reminiscing on how Woody once risked everything to save him from Sid, Buzz leads the group into the dangerous "outside world," determined to bring their friend home before Andy returns from camp.
The Roundup Gang and a Forgotten Legacy
Woody finds himself in Al’s penthouse apartment, where he is greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm by a yodeling cowgirl named Jessie, a spirited horse named Bullseye, and Stinky Pete the Prospector, who remains pristine in his original, unopened box. They reveal to a bewildered Woody that he is not just a toy, but the star of *Woody’s Roundup*, a world-famous 1950s puppet show. With Woody’s arrival, Al finally has a complete collection of "Roundup" memorabilia, which he intends to sell to a prestigious toy museum in Tokyo, Japan. The Prospector explains that the museum will only accept the collection if it is complete, meaning they all depend on Woody.
While Woody is fascinated by his history, his loyalty to Andy remains unshaken. He flatly refuses to go to Japan, much to the distress of Jessie and the Prospector. That night, Woody attempts to retrieve his severed arm while Al sleeps, but his escape is sabotaged when a television set mysteriously turns on, waking Al and causing the arm to be lost in the clutter. Woody angrily accuses Jessie of turning on the TV out of resentment, as she had earlier expressed bitterness toward his desire to return to a child.
Traffic Cones and the Masterful Restoration
While Woody deals with his new reality, the rescue party reaches the urban jungle surrounding Al’s Toy Barn. To cross a busy multi-lane highway, the toys hide under heavy orange traffic cones, moving in sync only when the cars stop. Their unorthodox method causes a series of massive, chaotic traffic accidents—including a semi-truck losing its drainage pipe—but the toys manage to reach the store safely. Inside, Buzz wanders into an aisle filled with hundreds of "New Buzz Lightyear" figures. He encounters one equipped with a fancy new utility belt; this Buzz is still under the delusion that he is a real Space Ranger. The new Buzz mistakes Andy’s Buzz for a rogue agent, overpowers him, and traps him in a display box before joining the other toys, who fail to notice the switch.
Back at the penthouse, Al brings in an elderly "Cleaner" to restore Woody. In a meticulous scene, the Cleaner sews Woody’s arm back on, applies fresh paint to his scuffs, and—most significantly—paints over the name "Andy" on the bottom of Woody’s boot. Woody is now a "mint condition" masterpiece. The Prospector uses this moment to poison Woody’s mind, warning him that Andy will eventually grow up and discard him, whereas in a museum, he will be immortal and admired forever.
"When She Loved Me" and a Change of Heart
Woody’s resolve begins to crumble when Jessie shares her heartbreaking past. Through a poignant song, she describes her life with her former owner, Emily. They were inseparable until Emily grew older, eventually forgetting Jessie under a bed and finally leaving her in a donation box by the side of the road. "You never forget kids like Emily," Jessie sobs, "but they forget you." Realizing that the same fate likely awaits him with Andy, Woody experiences a change of heart. Fearing the trash can and the loneliness of being outgrown, he agrees to go to Japan with the Roundup Gang, finally feeling like he belongs with his "own kind."
The Two Space Rangers and the Elevator Ascent
The rescue team, led by the Utility Belt Buzz, sneaks into Al’s apartment building through the ventilation system. Andy’s real Buzz, having escaped his packaging, pursues them. They eventually reach the 23rd floor after a perilous ride on top of the elevator. When they burst into the apartment to "rescue" Woody, they are shocked when he refuses to leave. The real Buzz finally catches up, exposing the Utility Belt Buzz and reminding Woody of the lesson Woody himself once taught him: "Life’s only worth living if you're being loved by a kid."
Despite Buzz’s stirring words, Woody remains firm in his decision—until he sees a clip of his old show on the TV. In the footage, a child is seen hugging a Woody puppet, and the cowboy is reminded of his true purpose. "I can't stop Andy from growing up," he tells the Prospector, "but I wouldn't miss it for the world." Woody invites Jessie and Bullseye to join him and become Andy’s toys. However, the Prospector’s kindly persona vanishes. He bolts the vent shut, trapping them all. He reveals that he was the one who sabotaged Woody’s earlier escape, and he refuses to let Woody "ruin" his only chance at the museum after spending decades unsold on a shelf.
Showdown at the Airport
Al packs the collection and heads for the airport. The toys give chase, but they are interrupted by the arrival of the Evil Emperor Zurg toy, who had followed Buzz from the store. Utility Belt Buzz battles Zurg in a dramatic confrontation on top of the elevator. In a shocking parody, Zurg reveals, "I am your father!" Before Zurg can finish Buzz, Rex accidentally knocks the villain down the elevator shaft. Utility Belt Buzz decides to stay behind to bond with his "father," while Andy’s toys commandeer a Pizza Planet truck to reach the airport. Along the way, Mr. Potato Head saves three squeeze-toy Aliens from flying out the window, earning their eternal gratitude.
At the airport, the toys infiltrate the baggage handling system, a labyrinth of fast-moving conveyor belts. Buzz eventually locates the green suitcase, but he is punched away by Stinky Pete. The Prospector, now desperate and enraged, uses his pickaxe to re-tear Woody’s shoulder, threatening to shred him to pieces. Luckily, the other toys arrive and use the flashes of discarded cameras to daze the Prospector. Woody decides to teach the bitter toy the "true meaning of playtime," stuffing him into the backpack of a girl named Amy, who is notorious for drawing on her dolls. Stinky Pete is horrified to find himself seated next to a Barbie whose face has been covered in "tattoos."
The Final Rescue and the Return of the King
The danger isn't over. Jessie is still trapped in the case as it is loaded into the cargo hold of a plane bound for Tokyo. Woody, riding Bullseye, pursues the plane down the runway and climbs inside. He finds Jessie, but the hatch closes, and the plane begins to taxi. Woody finds an escape route through the landing gear. Using his pull-string as a makeshift lasso, he hooks onto a bolt on the wheel assembly. He and Jessie swing down from the plane just as it lifts off the ground, landing safely on Bullseye’s back. "That was 'Woody’s Finest Hour'!" Jessie cheers, referencing the show’s cancelled finale.
The toys return home in a stolen baggage carrier just before Andy gets back from camp. When Andy enters his room, he finds his old friends waiting for him, along with Jessie, Bullseye, and the three Aliens. He is ecstatic, assuming his mother bought them for him. He even takes the time to "fix" Woody himself with a clumsy but heartfelt stitch on the shoulder. The film ends on a triumphant note: Wheezy, his squeaker finally fixed, performs a jazzy rendition of "You've Got a Friend in Me." Woody looks out at the horizon with Buzz, no longer afraid of the future. "Besides," Woody says, "I'll have old Buzz Lightyear to keep me company. For infinity and beyond." In a final mid-credits sting, we see a commercial for Al's Toy Barn featuring a weeping Al McWhiggin; his greed has cost him his collection, his reputation, and his sanity, proving that crime truly doesn't pay.
