Forky Asks a Question

Forky Asks a Question is a series of short films created by Bob Peterson. The series aired on Disney+ from November 12, 2019 to January 10, 2020.
==Plot==
Set sometime after the events of Toy Story 4, handmade toy Forky asks his friends (the characters of the Toy Story franchise) different questions about life.
==Cast and Characters==
*Tony Hale as Forky
*John Ratzenberger as Hamm
*Wallace Shawn as Rex
*Kristen Schaal as Trixie
*Bonnie Hunt as Dolly
*Jeff Garlin as Buttercup
*Robin Atkin Downes as Mr. Pricklepants
*Carol Burnett as Chairol Burnett
*Mel Brooks as Melephant Brooks
*Carl Reiner as Carl Reineroceros
*Betty White as Bitey White
*Alan Oppenheimer as Old Timer
*Aloma Wright as Rib Tickles
*Addison Andrews, Mika Crespo and Imani Prior as Peas-in-a-Pod
*Jeff Pidgeon as Mr. Spell
*Clancy Brown as Big Bad Wolf
==Episodes==
No. 	Title 	Original Air Date
1 	"What Is Money?" 	November 12, 2019
Hamm explains to Forky what money is. 	Hamm explains to Forky what money is. 	Hamm explains to Forky what money is.
2 	"What Is a Friend?" 	November 15, 2019
Forky "befriends" a mug, which he thinks is named "What? No!". Forky accidentally knocks What? No! off a dresser and breaks What? No!. Forky cries over he has done.	Forky "befriends" a mug, which he thinks is named "What? No!". Forky accidentally knocks What? No! off a dresser and breaks What? No!. Forky cries over he has done.	Forky "befriends" a mug, which he thinks is named "What? No!". Forky accidentally knocks What? No! off a dresser and breaks What? No!. Forky cries over he has done.
3 	"What Is Art?" 	November 22, 2019
Mr. Pricklepants teaches Forky how to act. 	Mr. Pricklepants teaches Forky how to act. 	Mr. Pricklepants teaches Forky how to act.
4 	"What Is Time?" 	November 29, 2019
Rex explains the concept of time to Forky, using the age of dinosaurs, as an example. 	Rex explains the concept of time to Forky, using the age of dinosaurs, as an example. 	Rex explains the concept of time to Forky, using the age of dinosaurs, as an example.
5 	"What Is Love?" 	December 6, 2019
Bonnie's old toys explain to Forky the meaning of love. 	Bonnie's old toys explain to Forky the meaning of love. 	Bonnie's old toys explain to Forky the meaning of love.
6 	"What Is a Computer?" 	December 13, 2019
Trixie explains to Forky what a computer does, as they experience the common stresses of technology. 	Trixie explains to Forky what a computer does, as they experience the common stresses of technology. 	Trixie explains to Forky what a computer does, as they experience the common stresses of technology.
7 	"What Is a Leader?" 	December 20, 2019
Dolly teaches Forky about the qualities of a good leader, and he puts those qualities to the test. 	Dolly teaches Forky about the qualities of a good leader, and he puts those qualities to the test. 	Dolly teaches Forky about the qualities of a good leader, and he puts those qualities to the test.
8 	"What Is a Pet?" 	December 27, 2019
Forky meets Rib Tickles, and is schooled on the dangers of law enforcement. 	Forky meets Rib Tickles, and is schooled on the dangers of law enforcement. 	Forky meets Rib Tickles, and is schooled on the dangers of law enforcement.
9 	"What Is Cheese?" 	January 3, 2020
Buttercup, annoyed with all of Forky’s questions, speed teaches everything there is. 	Buttercup, annoyed with all of Forky’s questions, speed teaches everything there is. 	Buttercup, annoyed with all of Forky’s questions, speed teaches everything there is.
10 	"What Is Reading?" 	January 10, 2020
The energetic Peas-in-a-Pod siblings teach Forky about reading, with a little help from Mr. Spell. 	The energetic Peas-in-a-Pod siblings teach Forky about reading, with a little help from Mr. Spell. 	The energetic Peas-in-a-Pod siblings teach Forky about reading, with a little help from Mr. Spell.
==Music==
Jake Monaco composed the series' score. Monaco said that "Forky's character is so animated... There are so many movements and facial expressions and the voice acting that Tony Hale does is just incredible. He is enough to carry any scene by himself". He also said that director Bob Peterson "wanted the music to simply disappear into the background", to which he gave the score "a little bit of a jazz vibe".
A soundtrack for the series' first season, featuring Monaco's score, and two tracks written by Monaco and Toby Sherriff, was released on February 28, 2020.
==Production==
===Development===
On Disney+ Investor Day 2019, Pixar's chief creative officer, Pete Docter, revealed that a new series of shorts, based on Toy Story 4's Forky, titled Forky Asks a Question, was in development for Disney+, with Tony Hale set to reprise his role from Toy Story 4. Hale said that the series is about "these questions that maybe people are embarrassed maybe to ask, but they really don't know". Bob Peterson wrote and directed the series, and was produced by producer of Toy Story 4, Mark Nielsen.
The series is produced at Pixar Animation Studios.
===Casting===
On June 12, 2019, when the series was announced, it was confirmed that Tony Hale would reprise his role from Toy Story 4 in the series. On June 18, Hale revealed during an interview that he already recorded his lines as Forky for the series. A week later, Nielsen revealed that Carol Burnett, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Betty White would reprise their roles from Toy Story 4, as Chairol Burnett, Melephant Brooks, Carl Reineroceros, and Bitey White, respectively, during the series. Nielsen said the characters have "considerable screen time" compared to their appearances in the film.
During the D23, of August 2019, it was revealed that John Ratzenberger would reprise his role as Hamm in the series. On October 30, 2019, Wallace Shawn and Kristen Schaal were revealed to be reprising their roles as Rex and Trixie, respectively.
==Release==
Forky Asks a Question was released on November 12, 2019, on Disney+. The series consists of ten episodes released weekly, with each episode being 3 to 4 minutes long. A clip from the series was shown at the D23 August 2019. The series' first trailer was released on October 30, 2019.
==Reception==
===Critical Response===
On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 83%, based on twelve reviews, with an average rating of 7.95 out of 10. Its critical consensus reads, “Short and sweet, Forky Asks a Question is fun and funny enough to work for fans.” On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on five critics, indicating “generally favourable reviews.”
Joel Keller of Decider praised the humor of the series, acclaimed the quality of the animation, and found that the script manages to be entertaining for both adults and kids. David Griffin of IGN rated the first episode of the series 9 out of 10, found the show to be very amusing and educational, stated that the animation reaches the level of Pixar's theatrical movies, and praised the performance of Tony Hale as Forky. Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media rated the show 4 out of 5 stars, stating: "Forky Asks a Question centres on the breakout star character of Toy Story 4 as he ponders the big questions about the world and how it works. Each of the 10 short episodes sees one of his toy friends helping Forky learn things like what it means to be a friend, what defines art, and what time is. Forky absorbs information at a pre-schooler's pace, which means his focus changes a lot and he gets distracted at times, but he always manages to sum up the main point succinctly and thoughtfully. This hilarious extension of a beloved character is a must-see for Forky fans of all ages".
==Awards and Nominations==
Year	Award 	Association 	Nominated 	Result
2020	Outstanding Short Form Animated Program	Primetime Emmy Awards	Bob Peterson and Mark Nielsen	Won
Category:Toy Story
Category:Short Series
Category:Animated Television Series
Category:Disney+
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