Jessie (Toy Story)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008)

Jessie in Toy Story 2

Jessie is a fictional character in the film Toy Story 2. In the movie, she is a toy modeled after a character on the fictional television show Woody's Roundup, where the characters consisted of Sheriff Woody, Jessie, Stinky Pete the Prospector and Bullseye, Woody's horse.

Jessie the doll has a character very similar to the one portrayed on the television show. She is excitable, brave and very athletic. The doll, however, carries a great deal of sadness, as she was abandoned by her original owner. Years of being in storage have made her somewhat withdrawn, distrustful and a little claustrophobic, but she longs to again be a source of joy to a child. ^[1]

She was voiced by Joan Cusack in the film.

In October, 2000, Jessie received the Patsy Montana Entertainer Award from the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.^[2]

[edit] Toy Story 2

When we first meet Jessie, she tackles Woody with excitement at the prospect of finally meeting a Woody doll. She is happy that she and the other toys are finally going to come out of storage and go to the toy museum in Japan that they are destined for.

It is Jessie who introduced Woody to the facts about the character on which he is based. She shows him a large array of merchandise based on "Woody's Roundup" and Stinky Pete explains how the show was canceled after the launch of Sputnik and the resulting interest in the Space Race, diminishing the popularity of westerns.

When Woody indicates that he has no intention of going to Japan, she becomes bitter and Woody comes to suspect her of attempting to sabotage his escape, including waking Al to prevent Woody from recovering his damaged arm.

Ultimately, it is Stinky Pete that is revealed as the culprit and Woody ultimately offers to take Jessie and Bullseye with him back to Andy's room. Andy is pleased to have the new toys and Jessie seems to find a kindred spirit in Buzz Lightyear.

[edit] Merchandising

Disney heavily promoted Jessie following the release of Toy Story 2, as she gave them a character that they could market to girls, something the original film did not provide. Among the items released were: