Toy Story 5’s Heart-Wrenching Scene Draws Inspiration from Iconic Futurama Moment

The latest installment in the beloved “Toy Story” series, “Toy Story 5,” may stumble a bit compared to its predecessors, yet it still possesses that magical ability to tug at adult heartstrings. Tom Hanks had been setting the stage for a particularly poignant scene, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, where Bonnie, voiced by Scarlett Spears, faces ridicule from her peers in a chat room. While undeniably intense, this moment’s didactic nature prevents it from eclipsing the emotional depth of the unforgettable “When She Loved Me” segment from “Toy Story 2,” a classic in the realm of animated tearjerkers.

However, “Toy Story 5” shines brightly in a scene that extends the narrative of “When She Loved Me,” delivering not just heartache but a heartwarming resolution. Jessie, brought to life by Joan Cusack, still carries the scars of being left behind by her first owner, Emily. In an emotional encounter at Emily’s former home, Jessie finds herself standing before the tree where Emily once played. There, she discovers a heartfelt carving—”Jessie was here.” Uncovering a buried box, Jessie learns that Emily named her daughter Jessie as well, a touching revelation that speaks volumes about the lasting influence she had on Emily’s life.

This poignant moment is sure to have audiences reaching for tissues, drawing parallels to another animated classic that evoked similar emotions: the “Futurama” episode “The Luck of the Fryrish.”

In this “Futurama” episode, Philip J. Fry, voiced by Billy West, grapples with the belief that his brother Yancy, portrayed by Tom Kenny, has usurped his identity and his cherished seven-leaf clover. Driven by a desire for closure, Fry sets out to exhume the grave of the supposed imposter “Philip J. Fry,” celebrated as the first man to reach Mars. However, the gravestone’s inscription reveals an unexpected truth—one that transforms his perception of his brother’s legacy.

While Jessie fears having been forgotten by Emily before learning what she named her daughter, Philip J. Fry (Billy West) in “The Luck of the Fryrish” is convinced that his brother Yancy (Tom Kenny) stole his identity and his lucky seven-leaf clover. He plans to dig up the grave of the seeming impostor “Philip J. Fry” — the first man to go to Mars — to take back the clover, but uncovering the inscription of the gravestone reveals the truth. 

While Yancy did take the clover, the “original Martian,” Philip J. Fry, is in fact Yancy’s son, named in honor of his dearly missed uncle “to carry on his spirit.” “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” from “The Breakfast Club” soundtrack plays as Fry makes peace with his legacy.

In both “The Luck of the Fryish” and “Toy Story 5,” characters who have, for one reason or another, been separated from or even outlived family members have their hard feelings softened by the discovery that said family members named their children after them. These names offer a sign that these characters remain loved and remembered long after their tragic separation. It’s hard not to get emotional at such stories — though thankfully they’re more uplifting than the sheer terror of the incinerator sequence in “Toy Story 3” or the depressing fate of Seymour in the saddest “Futurama” episode, “Jurassic Bark.”

“Toy Story 5” is now in theaters.