What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedToy Story 4
Josh Cooley · Film · 2019
If you loved Toy Story 4, start with Dream Productions (Mike Jones, 2024) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Toy Story 4 across media.
If you loved Toy Story 4, you were likely moved by how small-scale adventures force characters to confront their evolving sense of self.
Books on the same thread
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
Jeff Kinney · Book · 2014
Explores: Family Road Trip, Dysfunctional Family, Summer Vacation.
Just like Woody’s experience in Toy Story 4, this road trip narrative captures the chaotic, unpredictable nature of traveling with family and the lessons learned through unexpected mishaps.
Noddy
Enid Blyton · Book · 1949
Explores: Toy Stories, Adventure, Friendship.
Fans of the sentient toy dynamics in Toy Story 4 will appreciate this classic tale of a woodman finding his place and purpose within the magical world of Toyland.
Spy X Family, Vol. 4
Tatsuya Endo · Book
Explores: found family, covert operations, pet companionship.
Much like the found family bond at the heart of Toy Story 4, this story explores how unconventional groups of individuals come together to protect those they hold dear.
The Deep End (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 15)
Jeff Kinney · Book · 2020
Explores: Family Dynamics, Summer Vacation, Friendship.
The cross-country journey in this book mirrors the road trip adventure of Toy Story 4, focusing on how a family unit navigates the challenges of a difficult excursion.
Series on the same thread
Adventure Time: Distant Lands
Pendleton Ward · Series · 2020
Explores: Friendship, Self-Discovery, Nostalgia.
These specials echo the existential exploration found in Toy Story 4, using a journey through uncharted territories to help characters reflect on their personal history and future growth.
Dream Productions
Mike Jones · Series · 2024
Explores: Inner Child, Memory Processing, Emotional Growth.
This story delves into the internal world of memory and emotion, reflecting the same focus on psychological development and personal discovery that defined Woody’s arc in Toy Story 4.
Bluey
Joe Brumm · Series · 2018
Explores: Family Relationships, Imaginative Play, Childhood Development.
The emphasis on imaginative play and childhood development in this series provides a grounded, heartfelt companion to the themes of purpose and belonging explored in Toy Story 4.
Rick and Morty
Dan Harmon · Series · 2013
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Existentialism, Dark Humor.
While darker in tone, this show mirrors the existential questioning seen in Toy Story 4, as characters traverse the universe while grappling with their own identities and family roles.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
This podcast explores the complexities of building genuine human connections, echoing the search for meaningful relationships and belonging that drove Woody to evolve throughout Toy Story 4.
Story Pirates
Story Pirates · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Toy Story 4: Childhood imagination.
By celebrating the power of childhood imagination, this show honors the creative spirit that defines the world of Toy Story 4, turning simple ideas into grand, humorous adventures.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the main conflict for Woody in Toy Story 4?
In Toy Story 4, Woody struggles with his evolving role as a toy. While he has always prioritized taking care of his kid, a road trip adventure with new and old friends reveals to him that the world is much larger than he previously understood.
Who is the new character introduced in Toy Story 4?
Toy Story 4 introduces a character named Forky. Bonnie adds this reluctant new toy to her room, which serves as the catalyst for the road trip adventure that forces Woody to reconsider his place in the world and his priorities as a toy.
Is Toy Story 4 directed by Josh Cooley?
Yes, Toy Story 4 is a 2019 film directed by Josh Cooley. The story centers on Woody as he navigates a road trip adventure after Bonnie brings a new toy named Forky into her room, ultimately leading him to discover how big the world can be.
Does Woody still care for Andy in Toy Story 4?
Toy Story 4 establishes that Woody has always been confident about his place in the world and his priority of taking care of his kid. The film explores this commitment as he transitions from caring for Andy to caring for Bonnie and her new toy, Forky.