Wallace Shawn talks ‘Toy Story That Time Forgot,’ his famous voice, no ‘Toy Story 4’ comments

“I’m flattered and happy to play a part that is, you know, quite sweet and gentle and not repulsive. I’m often cast as… I guess people find me repulsive and I’m often cast as that, you know. So this is a very flattering role really compared to a lot of what I’ve been offered.”

 

Shawn returns with the all-star cast (Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack et al.) to bring to life a new short special just ahead of Christmas time. This time, the vicious toys are sending an interesting message/commentary to fans.

 

“…the whole idea of playing which is so emphasized in all of the films is kind of about finding satisfaction in your own imagination, which is helped along by these material objects, toys. But the basic idea is that you can have quite a lot of fun based on your own fantasies and, in fact, in this particular short film that is contrasted with the world of the violent toys, who get fun only out of crushing each other and conquering each other. The little Pixar gang is much more gentle and innocent and they get pleasure from fantasy,” he explained to Hit Fix.

 

Even if you don’t know his name, you will likely recognize the voice, and you are not alone he says.

 

“…people do recognize my voice and, you know, some of them put it together with my whole resume. I mean it’s hard to say because I’ve done quite a few things. I don’t know if anybody has ever really just heard the voice on the street, in the shop or something of that nature and said ‘I don’t know who you are but you must do Rex.’ I don’t know because I don’t look like a dinosaur. I mean there are people who recognize – and a lot of people say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know who you were but when I heard your voice I knew you.'”