Pixar recently announced that they are releasing a new Toy Story film in 2017 and my initial reaction (like most of the Internet) was of shock, horror and anger on what I thought was a potentially disastrous endeavor that not only could ruin one of the most beloved trilogies of all time but also forever tarnish Pixar’s reputation as a leading animation studio. But now that some time has passed, I’m able to see this with a cooler head and put things in perspective. Let’s take a look of what Toy Story 4 means for Pixar, shall we?

1.) Insanely High Expectations

The Toy Story films are some of the most admired cherished films of all time. Toy Story 3 finished Andy’s storyline in a beautiful and heartfelt way and there was a sense of fulfillment and completion in it. Now that Toy Story 4 has been announced, everyone will expect a film in the same calibre of the previous three. This is a film that cannot be “just good” or “average” because people will be disappointed. Toy Story 4 cannot be anything else than perfect and I hope Pixar knows that. The again, they already have done three masterful films and the same team that did the previous films are in charge of this one so they might churn out another masterpiece. They need to.

2. 2010 Pixar is not the same as 2014 Pixar

It’s amazing how 4 years have made a difference but it’s undeniable that Pixar is not longer viewed as the infallible studio it was once up to the release of Toy Story 3. Since 2011, people have criticized Pixar for becoming more sequel-centric and to deliver films that do not match the quality of the previous 11 ones. Cars 2, Brave and Monsters University have received a more mixed reception than their predecessors and are not as esteemed as they are. Pixar is no longer seen as the leading animation studio and rival studios have upped their game releasing films with fantastic quality. Troubled productions like The Good Dinosaur have also contributed to change public appreciation for Pixar. Still, while these years have been harsh for the studio (critically not financially), 2015 may see a return to form for the famous studio.

3. Almighty John Lasseter?

John Lasseter is undeniably, one of the most talented individuals working in the industry right now. He founded and built Pixar from scratch making it a powerhouse studio. He resurrected Walt Disney Animation Studios and now the studio is going through a second renaissance. Without a doubt, Lasseter is the modern Walt Disney and he has three animation studios under his wing, which makes the news that he is directing this new installment somewhat puzzling. Lasseter is a talented guy but will he be able to direct a big budget film while also managing three big studios and thousands of people at the same time? I really doubt and unless he is delegating some of his duties, I’m afraid one of these elements is going to suffer in the long run.

Toy Story 4 is a reality and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it. The best course of action is to trust Pixar and the talented team behind the team. There’s a big possibility that this film will end been as good as its predecessors and maybe in 2017, we’ll be cheering for Woody and Buzz’s latest adventure. However, I hope Pixar knows that doing a fourth Toy Story film means that they are facing a huge challenge and I hope they rise to it. We’ll wait and see.

What do you think of Pixar doing Toy Story 4? Leave your comments below!