Toy Box is a world in Kingdom Hearts III based on the Disney/Pixar film series, Toy Story. It is an average town inhabited by living toys, who love the children who play with them.
Development
The proposal folder shown to Buena Vista included plans for a world based on Toy Story in the original Kingdom Hearts before being scrapped as Pixar was not owned by Disney at the time.
During production of Kingdom Hearts II, Nomura revealed that trial models for the Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. characters were originally set to appear in the game with negotiations to have them appear before they were cut.[1]
Settings and Areas
Kingdom Hearts III
The Toy Box consists of two main areas: Andy's House and Galaxy Toys. Andy's House (アンディの家 Andi no Ie ) is a small, self-contained area where Sora's party arrives in the world, consisting solely of Andy's bedroom where Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and all the other toys normally reside, and the street directly in front of the house. The party can go out one of two windows from the bedroom: one next to the bed which leads to the garage roof, and the other over the desk which leads to the front yard. Once outside, the party can use a trampoline situated in front of the garage to return to the bedroom. Going down either side of the street leads to the next area.
Galaxy Toys (ギャラクシートイズ Gyarakushī Toizu ), a game-original area, is a three-story shopping mall where the majority of the world is set. This area is unique in that the party will be attacked by toys possessed by the Heartless, primarily the Gigas mech toys, which can be hijacked by Sora once defeated. Inactive Gigas are also found on display podiums throughout the building to be used at any time.
Directly inside the front doors is the Main Floor: 1F (ホール:1F Hōru: 1F , lit. "Hall: 1F"), where access to the upper levels is available via the rails on the giant toy vending machine in the center of the room. The red rail leads to the Main Floor: 2F (ホール:2F Hōru: 2F , lit. "Hall: 2F"), which has two open sections: one is called Action Figures (キャラクターグッズコーナー Kyarakutā Guzzu Kōnā , lit. "Character Goods Corner"), where they must rescue Rex from possessed Supreme Smashers; and the other is the Rest Area (ドリンクコーナー Dorinku Kōnā , lit. "Drink Corner"), where they will find the Strawberry Flan. The blue rail leads to the Main Floor: 3F (ホール:3F Hōru: 3F , lit. "Hall: 3F"), as does the green railing, which leads to a small alcove in the ceiling. The third floor has three available sections: Babies & Toddlers: Dolls (ベビートイ:ドールズ Bebī Toi: Dōruzu , lit. "Baby Toy: Dolls"), a doll section where the party finds the Green Army Men and Hamm before fighting Angelic Amber; a play place called Babies & Toddlers: Outdoors (ベビートイ:アウトドア Bebī Toi: Autodoa , lit. "Baby Toy: Outdoor"); and Video Games (テレビゲームコーナー Terebi Gēmu Kōnā , lit. "Video Game Corner"), where Sora may play the Verum Rex: Beat of Lead minigame. From the play place, the party can enter an indoor playground called Kid Korral (キッズスペース Kizzu Supēsu , lit. "Kids' Space"), where Sora must reach a Corridor of Darkness left by Young Xehanort by building a giant Cactuar from magnetic blocks, leading to a battle against the King of Toys Heartless.
Alternatively, the second and third floors are connected via the ventilation system, which is made up of the Lower Vents (空調ダクト:下部 Kūchō Dakuto: Kabu , lit. "Air Conditioning Duct: Lower Part") reached through Action Figures, and the Upper Vents (空調ダクト:上部 Kūchō Dakuto: Jōbu , lit. "Air Conditioning Duct: Top Part") reached through Babies & Toddlers: Dolls.
Story
Kingdom Hearts III
Rex and Hamm watch a commercial of Verum Rex when Woody turns it off afterward, Heartless suddenly appear in Andy's room and the toys prepare to attack. At the same time, Sora, Donald, and Goofy arrive in their new forms and they take care of the Heartless. The toys then meet the trio and Rex confuses Sora for Yozora from Verum Rex and talks about playing his game. After everyone introduces themselves, Woody explains that it wasn't always so lonely there. The house used to be inhabited by more toys, and their owners Andy, Molly, and their Mom, but they haven't come home in ages. They all disappeared around the time the Heartless came and Buzz's laser "started actually laser-ing". Sora, Donald, and Goofy decide to investigate the case and Buzz tells them that a man in a black coat also came with the Heartless. The trio decides to team up with Buzz and Woody to locate the missing toys and a pointer from Sarge leads the gang to Galaxy Toys. Before setting off, Buzz grows skeptical and suggests waiting for Andy, but Woody assures him that they tried waiting and that Sora, Donald, and Goofy might be of help.
Upon the arrival to Galaxy Toys, the gang is enthralled by the vast array of toys inside the mall. While questioning how come the displayed Gigas doesn't move like Woody and Buzz, Sora and the gang are then confronted by Young Xehanort. Young Xehanort then summons a few Toy Troopers to take control of the Gigas, indicating that it is possible to "take control of an empty shell by casting one's shadow". Sora questions Young Xehanort on why he is doing this, and the sinister youth in response claims this as a confirmation on "splitting the heart and body". Young Xehanort then leaves the possessed Gigas to Sora and the gang, saying that the world of Toy Box was split into two, leaving Woody and Buzz puzzled. After quickly retreating from the possessed Gigas's attack, Donald and Goofy informs Sora a possibility of controlling a nearby Gigas to combat the and possessed Gigas and the Heartless.
After battling the possessed Gigas, Woody questions about the world "being split into two" as Buzz begins to suspect Sora, Donald, and Goofy. While having an argument within the team, one of the Green Army Men informs that Rex, Hamm, and Little Green Men have gone missing. Sora and the gang begin their exploration in Galaxy Toys in search of the missing toys.
Throughout their journey in Galaxy Toys, Sora and the gang saves Rex from the Supreme Smashers, frees a Green Army Man stuck in a Musical Toad, and rescues Hamm from the Angelic Amber. Upon looking at the lifeless doll of the Angelic Amber, Buzz becomes worrisome and begins to question whether he or any other toy can become possessed and violent. However Sora and Woody reassure him that as long as he doesn't lose his heart, he won't succumb to darkness. Suddenly, a UFO flies across the third floor and abducts the Little Green Men, but Sora is able to destroy it and save the aliens.
With the group rescued, Buzz decides to go back to Andy's Room but then notices that Rex is still missing from the group. Sora and the gang find Rex in the game store looking at Verum Rex to prove Sora is a hero. As they are about to leave, Young Xehanort appears and has a Heartless possess Buzz to experiment with the toys hearts. Young Xehanort then transports Sora into Verum Rex, but he's able to escape and return to Galaxy Toys. The gang learns that Buzz was taken to a dark corridor in the Kid Korral and so the gang head to the dark corridor to rescue Buzz. Young Xehanort reveals that the darkness from Buzz was born when he was separated from Andy, which causes Woody to worry. However, Sora reminds them that their hearts will always be connected to Andy, despite the distance. Sora and Woody, now reinvigorated, dispel the darkness of isolation surrounding Buzz through the light of their friendship, with Woody freeing Buzz. After seeing that empty vessels can truly grow hearts, he takes his leave but not before leaving behind the King of Toys Heartless as a "parting gift."
After the King of Toys is defeated, Sora and the gang prepare to leave to Andy's Room. Sora however, feels remorseful over not having been able to return them home. While they understand the situation, they still remain hopeful of seeing Andy again and do not regret the chance to meet Sora and his friends, with Buzz now opening up to them. As Sora, Donald, and Goofy take their leave, Woody says that they have become a part of their hearts and asks to be apart of theirs. Buzz wishes them safe journey, ushering his famous catchphrase "To Infinity and Beyond."
Sometime after Xehanort's defeat, Woody, Buzz, and the other toys notice the door in Andy's Room beginning to open. This causes the toys to set in place as Woody winks at Buzz, presumably to be rejoined with Andy.
Characters
- Andy, Molly, Mom, and Slinky Dog are mentioned.
- A statue of Reptillus Maximus and The Cleric toys from the TV special Toy Story That Time Forgot can be seen inside Galaxy Toys.
- In the Bugs and Beasts section, an advertisement display for Dissidia Final Fantasy NT can be found, along with scale models of Bahamut, Ifrit, and Odin. Boxes for models of Ramuh, Leviathan, and Alexander can also be found near the display.
- Assembling all blocks in the Kid Korral creates a Cactuar.
- Yozora is featured in an advertisement for Verum Rex.
Character Design
Sora, Donald and Goofy turn into Verum Rex action figures when they visit the Toy Box. Sora resembles a Yozora action figure, while Donald and Goofy resemble Yozora's allies.
Enemies
Heartless
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Other
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Trivia
- The world contains two visual easter eggs that are well known for showing up in Pixar's various films and shorts:
- A Pizza Planet truck is parked outside the Galaxy Toys entrance. Pizza Planet is a restaurant in the Toy Story universe that served as a key location in the first film. The truck has made various cameos both inside and outside the Toy Story universe since.
- A113 appears on the license plate of a car opposite Andy's house, and on a signpost outside the Kid Corral.
- Another Pixar-related easter egg in this world is that two of the books on Andy's bookshelf bear the titles of two Pixar short films, Tin Toy and Red's Dream. These same books also appeared in the original movie.
- In addition to these two books, two more books are named from other Pixar short films, The Adventures of André & Wally B. and Knick Knack.
- As in the Toy Story films, Andy's room features a Mickey Mouse clock on the wall, based on the famous design by the Ingersoll Watch Company.
- On the corkboard in Andy's room is a ticket to a Buzz Lightyear movie. While there was already one available to own on home video at the time of the game's release, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, it has been confirmed by the staff at Pixar that the show is a spinoff of a trilogy of movies, starting with the then-still in development Lightyear.
- After assembling the Cactuar from blocks, the "Victory Fanfare" plays.
Notes and references
- ^ Kingdom Hearts III Ultimania, Interviewer: "After KH2 was released, Pixar was purchased by Disney. Did this expand the range of worlds available for you to include in this title?" / Tetsuya Nomura: "Actually, we did make a few trial models of characters from Monsters Inc and Toy Story during the production of KH2, and we did begin negotiations to have them appear in the game. We did have to shelve them in the end, but I felt I couldn't make KH3 without including Pixar works, so I started up negotiations again—and this time, the situation between Disney and Pixar had changed, and we were able to make it happen. After we had finished deciding all the worlds for this game, Disney and Pixar kept releasing fascinating titles. I found myself wishing over and over again that we could have included this and that." Translation via Goldpanner.
Kingdom Hearts III |
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Characters |
Party members |
Sora - Donald Duck - Goofy - Riku - Aqua Hercules - Woody - Buzz Lightyear - Rapunzel - Eugene Fitzherbert - James P. Sullivan - Mike Wazowski - Marshmallow - Jack Sparrow - Baymax Mickey Mouse - Kairi - Ventus - Lea - Roxas - Xion |
Link system |
Meow Wow - Wreck-It Ralph - Simba - Ariel - Stitch |
Antagonists |
Real Organization XIII (Seekers of Darkness) Master Xehanort - Young Xehanort - Terra-Xehanort - Ansem, Seeker of Darkness - Xemnas - Vanitas - Xigbar - Saïx - Luxord - Marluxia - Larxene - Dark Riku - Xion Vexen - Demyx - Replica Xehanort Villains Maleficent - Pete - Hades - Rock Titan - Ice Titan - Lava Titan - Tornado Titan Mother Gothel - Randall Boggs - Hans - Davy Jones - Kraken - Cutler Beckett - Dark Baymax Other Anti-Aqua |
Non-playable characters |
Seven Guardians of Light - New Seven Hearts Aced - Aeleus - Air Droids - Angelic Amber - Anna - Ansem the Wise - Apollo - Athena - Beasts & Bugs - Boo - Bouncy Pets - CDA Agent - Chip and Dale - Chirithy - Daisy Duck - Dark Figure - Dilan - Elizabeth Swann - Elsa - Ephemer - Eraqus - Even - Fred - Gigas - Go Go Tomago - Gopher - Green Army Men - Gula - Hamm - Hayner - Hector Barbossa - Hermes - Hiro Hamada - Honey Lemon - Huey, Dewey, and Louie - Ienzo - Invi - Ira - Isa - Jiminy Cricket - Joshamee Gibbs - Kristoff - Lingering Will - Little Green Men - Lumpy - Luxu - The Master of Masters - Maximus - Megara - Merlin - Minnie Mouse - Moogle - Nameless Star - Naminé - Olaf - Olette - Pascal - Patchwork Animals - Pegasus - Pence - Piglet - Philoctetes - Pluto - Rabbit - Remy - Rex - Riku Replica - Roo - Sarge - Scrooge McDuck - Supreme Smasher - Sven - Terra - Tia Dalma - Tigger - Wasabi - William Turner - Winnie the Pooh - Yen Sid - Yozora - Zeus |
Locations |
Worlds |
Olympus - Dark World - Mysterious Tower - Disney Castle - Radiant Garden - Twilight Town - Toy Box - Kingdom of Corona - Monstropolis - Arendelle - The Caribbean - San Fransokyo - 100 Acre Wood - Destiny Islands - Castle Oblivion / Land of Departure - Keyblade Graveyard - The Final World - Scala ad Caelum - Quadratum |
Terms |
Alba & Ater - Ansem's Code - Black Box - Datascape - Dream Eater - Heartless - Keyblade - Keyblade Master - Keyblade War - Kingdom Hearts - New Seven Hearts - Nobody - Port Royal - Secret Reports - Subject X - Unversed - Verum Rex - Yozora |
Gameplay terms |
Armor Mode - Attractions - Battlegate - Black Pearl - Classic Kingdom - Flowmotion - Formchange - Gigas - Glossary - Gummiphone - Gummi Ship - Keyblade Forge - Leviathan - Lucky Emblems - Make Your Mark - Memory Archive - Moogle Shop - Link - Shotlock - Situation Command - Tech Points - χ3 |
Music |
Don't Think Twice - Face My Fears - Kingdom Hearts - III, II.8, Unchained χ & Union χ [Cross] - Original Soundtrack - Unnamed tracks |
Archives |
Accessories - Armor - Artwork - DLC - Enemies - Items - Keyblades - Weapons - Removed content |