Oh, no! Somebody’s carjacked the water hole!
What happens when you send Sheriff Woody, the mild-mannered, Tom Hanks–voiced toy sheriff from the beloved Disney franchise Toy Story, into the notoriously bloody game series Grand Theft Auto? Will the kind Sheriff restore order and peace to the streets of fake New York, elevating the goals and aims of the game with his family-friendly personality and warm social consciousness?
Or will he succumb to the madness, becoming a larger-than-life specter of chaos and destruction, grinning madly as he shoots people in cold blood and engages in a mindless killing spree whose senseless violence creates a chilling picture of lost innocence in a new lawless world order?
I think we all know the answer to this question.
Since landing on YouTube two days ago, user ElBrochacho’s hilarious and disturbing video of GTA IV—Toy Story edition—has received more than 20,000 views, largely thanks to being featured on Reddit. Featuring Toy Story‘s twee theme song, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” ElBrochacho’s game version of Woody stalks the streets armed only with his pistol, a rifle, a semi-automatic, and whatever vehicle he can find to use as a weapon—tanks included.
What do you think? Is taking an iconic story of childhood innocence and remixing it around a game so violent that it drove away one of its own producers a clever gambit? Interesting social commentary? Just an excuse to drive you crazy with that annoying Randy Newman song?
Either way, we’re rethinking our definition of friendship.
Screengrab via YouTube