It was screenwriter Joss Whedon's idea to incorporate Barbie as a character who could rescue Woody and Buzz in Toy Storys final act. The idea was dropped after Mattel objected and refused to license the toy. Producer Ralph Guggenheim claimed that Mattel did not allow the use of the toy as "They [Mattel] philosophically felt girls who play with Barbie dolls are projecting their personalities onto the doll. If you give the doll a voice and animate it, you're creating a persona for it that might not be every little girl's dream and desire." Hasbro likewise refused to license G.I. Joe (mainly because Sid was going to blow one up, prompting the filmmakers to instead use a fictional toy, Combat Carl), but they did license Mr. Potato Head. The only real-life toy in the film that was not in production was Slinky Dog, which had been discontinued since the 1970s. When designs for Slinky were sent to Betty James (Slinky inventor Richard James's wife) she said that Pixar had improved the toy and that it was "cuter" than the original.
it was screenwriter joss whedon's idea to incorporate barbie as a character who could rescue woody and buzz in toy storys final act the idea was dropped after mattel objected and refused to license the toy producer ralph guggenheim claimed that mattel did not allow the use of the toy as "they [mattel] philosophically felt girls who play with barbie dolls are projecting their personalities onto the doll if you give the doll a voice and animate it you're creating a persona for it that might not be every little girl's dream and desire" hasbro likewise refused to license gi joe (mainly because sid was going to blow one up prompting the filmmakers to instead use a fictional toy combat carl) but they did license mr potato head the only real-life toy in the film that was not in production was slinky dog which had been discontinued since the 1970s when designs for slinky were sent to betty james (slinky inventor richard james's wife) she said that pixar had improved the toy and that it was "cuter" than the original