To kick off my “Miss all the Pitches you Don’t Swing for” series, I wanted to share a story that’s been living in my head for a while.
Remember the Lightyear trailer? You have to admit, it was a hell of a trailer. Those echoes of “Starman” by Ziggy Stardust? Genius. But while Lightyear was all high-octane sci-fi, I found myself wondering about the human heart that usually beats at the center of Pixar’s best work.
If you’ve never watched Andrew Stanton’s pitch for Finding Nemo, it’s a masterclass. A man on a stage, nothing but a few sketches, pitching the soul of a movie. That inspired me to look at the other side of the toy box. I wanted to tell the story of the man who made Woody.
So, indulge me for a “Stanton moment” as I pitch you my idea for a Toy Story prequel: Woody’s Roundup.
The Visionary
Meet Arthur, a kid in 1940s Brooklyn. He’s a Mr. Rogers type—gentle, sincere, and obsessed with the Old West. He spends his days drawing stories about Woody, a sheriff with a heart of gold who wins with kindness rather than a six-shooter.
Arthur isn’t alone. He has Jessica (a.k.a. Jesse), his childhood friend and eventual partner. She’s a bold, rebellious tomboy who provides the fire whenever Arthur’s spark starts to fade. Together, they believe in a world where “good always wins.”
The Real Roundup
As Arthur grows, we see how he populates his world with the people around him:
- Pete: The school janitor who claims to have seen the tail end of the Old West. He’s the one who tells Arthur about finding a rattlesnake in his boot—a line Arthur frantically scribbles into his notebook.
- Bullseye: The loyal neighborhood stray dog who follows Arthur and Jesse everywhere, providing the silent emotional support they need.
- The Voice: Arthur’s Father (voiced by Tom Hanks) is rarely seen, but he is Arthur’s hero. When Arthur imagines Woody’s adventures, he hears his father’s warm, steady voice.
The Pitch
Arthur eventually takes his stories to the studios. The contrast is sharp: Arthur is vibrant and enthusiastic, while the studios are cold, grey, and filled with bored executives checking their watches. In these pitches, we see Arthur’s imagination come to life—animated sequences where Woody (also voiced by Hanks) plays out the hero Arthur knows him to be.
The Conflict
Enter Mr. Sterling, a slick, high-powered executive (think the spiritual ancestor to Al from Toy Story 2). He doesn’t care about morals; he sees Woody as a “unit” to sell cereal and cigarettes.
Sterling is a crook. He steals Arthur’s ideas, stripping them of their heart to create a cynical, commercialized version of the show. Suddenly, Arthur is locked in a “David vs. Goliath” legal battle. As he’s being crushed under the weight of the fight, Jesse remains his rock, reminding him that integrity is the one thing you can’t put a price on.
The Little Man Wins
In the climax, Arthur stands in a courthouse holding a Woody doll handmade by Jesse. He delivers an impassioned speech about keeping something pure in a cynical world.
He wins. But he chooses the hard road, taking his show to public access instead of a major network. It’s low-budget, hand-painted, and perfect. He retires decades later, not as a millionaire, but as a man who stayed true to his vision.
Full Circle
It’s the mid-90s. An elderly Arthur sits on a park bench, feeding ducks. In the distance, a high-tech Buzz Lightyear billboard looms.
As the ripples clear on the pond, Arthur sees a reflection. Across the water he sees a small boy in a cowboy hat, playing with a Woody doll.
The boy’s mother calls out: “Andy, come on! We need to get ready for your birthday party tomorrow!”
Andy stops and catches Arthur’s eye. They share a silent, mutual tip of the hat. Arthur watches him run off with a content smile. He realizes that while he’s grown old, the soul he gave that toy will be a “best friend” for a whole new generation.
Close up on Arthur’s face. Still smiling. Fade to black.
That’s the pitch. A story about sticking to your guns and believing that the things we make with love actually stay in the world.
Happy trails, neighbors.