Where in the United States is Toy Story actually based?

[OneEyedBart95]

I guess that is the beauty of it though. I think writers purposely spurt out little clues here and there just to get the audience thinking..

Either that or John just stumbled across this and is going "What? Hey, Lee! Check this out, they think "Tri-County" is a state."
It may be because they really didn't need a specific state, it's not really relevant to the story. Like the animators were saying in an interview... The world is just filled with symbols of real world objects. There's only really the details you need to make the story believable. Also, someone mentioned it, but most of the location references are Easter eggs, like Al's map of Emeryville, and the Ohio licence plate frame. A lot of the stuff like [spoil]Tri-County Dump[/spoil] could just be a reference to Hamm's lines in the first Toy Story.

[Bucking_Bullseye]

Living about a hour outside of Detroit for a few years I lived in the Tri-County area, When in the Buzz Lightyear commercial in toy story 1 it said available in the Tri-County area I was told it was where we lived "At its core, Metro Detroit comprises the counties of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties are sometimes referred to informally as the Detroit Tri-County Area". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Detroit) Don't know if this was what Pixar intended but its what I always assumed.

[Kyle]

A lot of the stuff like [spoil]Tri-County Dump[/spoil] could just be a reference to Hamm's lines in the first Toy Story.

Which lines would that be?


But yeah, I don't think they ever intended for the movies to take place anywhere specific. they aimed to make it as generic as possible, so that if you lived in the US, there was a good chance you could relate. obviously this excludes anyone living in a city or something, but anyone in a suburban town should feel like it takes place where they live.

Kinda reminds me of the Wonder Years finale. "I remember a place, a town, a house. Like a lot of houses. a yard like a lot of other yards, on a street like a lot of other streets. "

[OneEyedBart95]

Which lines would that be?

I was referring to the "Availiable in all Al's Toy Barn Outlets in the Tri-County Area" and "There's over 2,200 registered plates in the Tri-County Area alone". I thought Hamm said something similar in the first one, but apparently my mind's been melded.

[xPixiexDustx]

No doubt, somewhere in the Midwest.

[Tyler1995]

"There's over 2,200 registered plates in the Tri-County Area alone".

Actually it's about 3.5 million.

[OneEyedBart95]

Actually it's about 3.5 million.

That's right... Thanks for the correction, and Like I said. My mind's been melded.

[Program-R]

Actually, there is a "Tri-Counties" in California, too - it comprises San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

There are probably other cases as well. I think they chose that name because it could apply to a number of different locations.

This is my first post to Pixar Planet, I haven't officially introduced myself yet. Hello to everybody!

Anne, a.k.a Program-R

[opallena]

Another thing that can cue us in, like the seasons, might be the type of trees and shrubbery that are seen? I'll have to pay attention next time I watch, but I think they're pretty much prototypical deciduous trees. I've always assumed the Midwest region for Toy Story (looks like home to me), but I think the possible area could stretch between Midwest and East/Northeast.

I'm also new here. Greetings, all!

[B2R4D]

Ok, so lets look back on what we have so far based on actual location..

Michigan: Although unconfirmed and unsourced, Wikipedia categorised each of the Toy Story films under "Films set in Michigan". This was funnily enough (after we discussed it) removed recently for all film articles in the series between 9-10th of July. User Bucking_Bullseye yet provided more evidence that the film was based in Michigan. He posted a quote.. "At its core, Metro Detroit comprises the counties of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties are sometimes referred to informally as the Detroit Tri-County Area."

Snow fall: User Chopperface made note that it snows during Christmas in one of the films. I personally can't remember which one, because I haven't watched #1 and #2 for quiet some time. Anyway, we pretty much eliminate the warmer, southern states of the United States because
of this.

Ohio: User Within A Nutshell said that it couldn't be Ohio, because the weather was not sporadic enough in the films. This is however conflicted, as User OneEyedBart95 said that an Ohio license plate frame was used in one of the films. User Ding said in addition that "Toy Story 3 contains some references to Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where Lee Unkrich was born and raised. For example, Andy's Mom's license plate frame reads "Tiger Pride", referencing the mascot of Chagrin Falls, the Tiger."

Rhode Island: User twitchA113 observed that "The small shops (like in the area where Scud chases Buzz), large houses and snow and rain levels lead me to think they live there."
[Rhode Island]

California: User Kyle suggested it may take place in California, based on evidence that Al's Toy Barn is shown on Etch on a sketch, to be where Pixar's studio is located in Emeryville, CA. In addition to User Kyle's statement, User KarmaWolf said "Etch drew a map in the second movie to help find Woody and the map had some routes and stuff that is only in California." User Program-R provided further evidence stating there is a Tri-County in California too, which is comprised of "San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties."

[Ding]

Gee, thanks for mentioning me, B2R4D!

Haha, I'm just joking, I basically said the same thing that OneEyeBart95 said, about the Cleveland license plate.

[B2R4D]

Gee, thanks for mentioning me, B2R4D!

Haha, I'm just joking, I basically said the same thing that OneEyeBart95 said, about the Cleveland license plate.

Woops! Sorry Ding. I must of missed you along the way. There was a lot of data to absorb. Haha! Anyway, I think it would be fair for me to include your observation.

[OneEyedBart95]

Woops! Sorry Ding. I must of missed you along the way. There was a lot of data to absorb. Haha! Anyway, I think it would be fair for me to include your observation.

Nice little compilation of the Data so far, B2R4D! That makes it a lot simpler then going back and forth between pages.

[Tyler1995]

I agree with Chopperface, I think it takes place in Anytown, USA.

[OneEyedBart95]

I noticed another reference. In 2, after the Cone scene as Potato Head says "Well, That went well." Behind the Toys are stands to buy copies of the "Tri-County Herald".