The Storytelling Spell (Part 4) 

How To Craft A Big Emotional Moment 
 
Pattern Design helps you craft big emotional moments, particularly those at the climax of your Story.   
 

Exercise:  

 
Goal:  
To understand how Pattern Design earns Woody’s big emotional moment at the end of Act 2. 
 
Assignment: 
From Woody’s perspective, analyze the “Insignificant Toy” scene at the end of Act 2. 

What To Do:  
1. (Re)watch the movie.  
2. Study the list of Patterns included in this pdf.  
3. Try to identify every Pattern and Pattern Interrupt that dramatize how Woody changes. 

 
 
 
 

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Pattern Design Of Toy Story 
 

 
● Plot Patterns  
 
Plot Pattern 1: Toys Are Toys  
Yes, toys come to life when humans leave the room, but they are still toys.  
They’re not enchanted. It’s not a dream world. These are actual toys that kids play with.  
 
● Andy does all the voices, improvises a plot and moves the toys around a 
hand-made playset.  
● Depending on who is playing with the toys, the personalities and plots change. In 
Andy’s hands, Woody is a Sheriff who stops a bank robbery. To Sid’s little sister, 
Buzz Lightyear: Space Ranger is her tea-party guest Mrs. Nesbitt. 
● We see TV Commercials for toys, related merchandise like bedsheets and lunch 
boxes, and we see toys on display as merchandise at Al’s Toy Barn and Pizza 
Planet. 
 
Plot Pattern 2: Toys Come Alive When Humans Leave The Room 
The movie’s “One Big Lie” is that toys come alive when humans leave the room. 
 
If toys come to life…  
● … then a toy is an individual, with a unique personality. ...and sometimes the  
toy’s personality is incongruent with the toy’s original design. 
● … then toys can feel love. … or even sexual attraction. 
● … then toys can be afraid of being lost, forgotten and replaced - a spiritual death  
of sorts.  
● … then toys can feel pain and fear death.  
● … then toys have strong opinions about their owners.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Plot Pattern 3: Toys Know That They Are Toys 
It’s not enough to establish that toys come alive when humans leave the room.  
The audience has to understand that all of the toys KNOW they are toys… EXCEPT for  
Buzz. 
 
● When humans are present, the toys go limp and remain inert until the humans 
leave. They force themselves to endure all sorts of torture in these dormant states 
- from baby drool to burns. 
● They disguise themselves or hide when there is a risk of being found out of place. 
 
 
Plot Pattern 4: Toys Understand The Human World 
Toys understand the larger, human world around them - mostly. 
 
● Andy’s toys understand that a birthday party means presents and that presents 
most likely mean new toys.  
● Andy’s toys are resourceful and inventive.  
● They understand the mechanics and the implications of moving houses.   
 
 
● Character Patterns 
 
Character Pattern 1: Andy’s Favorite Toy 
When you’re Andy’s favorite toy, you have special, shared experiences and a deep,  
emotional bond. 
 
● Even though Woody remains inert, we can see a slight smile on his face.  
● By showing this happy playtime with Andy, the Storytellers maximize the contrast, 
and thus the dramatic impact when Woody goes to “Toy Hell” at Sid’s house. 
 
Character Pattern 2: Sid Tortures Toys 
Andy’s next door neighbor, Sid tortures toys … for FUN! 
 
● He blows them up with fireworks.  
● He feeds them to his demon dog.  
● He takes them apart and builds frankenstein-like creatures.  
● Sid’s house is toy hell. 
 

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Character Pattern 3: Woody Is Too Big For His Boots 
Woody lives a cozy, privileged life.  
 
● When put away, he rests in a place of honor atop Andy’s bed while the other toys 
go into the toy box.  
● With his amount of privilege and his natural Sheriff tendencies, Woody often takes 
his role as Sheriff or president of Andy’s room too far. 
● He makes all the decisions. He even commands the toy army.  
● He is unable to fully empathize with the worries and plight of the other toys.  
 
Character Pattern 4: Buzz Lightyear Is On Another Planet 
Buzz Lightyear is the only toy that doesn’t know he’s a toy: 
 
● He believes he’s the One-and-Only Buzz Lightyear: Space Ranger. 
● While the other toys know they were manufactured in Singapore or Hong Kong, by 
brands like Mattel, Buzz thinks he crash-landed on a foreign planet. 
● Because Buzz is oblivious to the fact that he’s a toy, he often puts himself in 
danger. 
● Buzz helps the other toy when Woody just bosses them around.  
 
 
● Visual Pattern 
 
The Visual Pattern: Andy’s New Favorite Toy 
Shorty after his arrival, Buzz replaces Woody as Andy’s favorite toy.  
 
● Buzz Lightyear fan art and merchandise replace the Cowboy bedsheet, Cowboy 
posters and drawings.  
● Buzz also literally replaces Woody on the bed and Woody gets demoted to the toy 
box.  
● Woody bursts with anger and envy when Andy writes his name on Buzz’ sole, a 
privilege previously only known to Woody.  
 
 
 
 

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