Jessie

* Current
* Debut

## Traits

### Likes

Yodeling, being loved by a child, tickling toys, having fun with Woody and the rest of Andy's toys, Woody's Roundup, her friends, hanging out with Buzz Lightyear, animals

### Dislikes

Being in storage or any confined space (which makes her claustrophobic), not having someone to love her, being forgotten, not going to Japan (formerly), Andy (formerly), Stinky Pete's betrayal, being framed, toddler playtime, Sunnyside Daycare (formerly)

## Personal Status

### Relatives

* Andy Davis
* Bonnie Anderson

### Friends

* Woody
* Buzz

### Enemies

* Al McWhiggin
* Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear

## Media

### Voice Actor

* Joan Cusack (films, television, commercials, some video games)
* Mary Kay Bergman (yodeling voice in Toy Story 2)
* Sarah McLachlan (singing voice)
* Kat Cressida (Disney Infinity series, video games, attractions, merchandise)
* Jessica DiCicco (Disney In The House content)

**Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl** is one of the main characters of the Disney•Pixar *Toy Story* franchise, first appearing in *Toy Story 2*. She is a vintage pull string cowgirl toy from the 1950s, the best buddy of Bullseye, and a former member of Woody's Roundup Gang who originally belonged to Emily. At first, Jessie only intends to be a collectible and dislikes the fact that Woody has an owner, Andy, and a space toy friend, Buzz, but when the cowboy and space ranger rescue Jessie from the plane bound for Japan, she accepts her true purpose: to be played with.

Over the years, Jessie continues to recognize her true purpose, but when she comes to the realization that Andy has grown up, Jessie assumes that she might be abandoned once again and doesn’t hesitate to convince the others to donate themselves to Sunnyside Daycare, which she later regrets. Eventually, she and her friends would be donated to Bonnie Anderson, and would become her new favorite toy.

When Woody reunites and departs with Bo Peep, Jessie becomes one of the two leaders of Bonnie's toys (the other being Dolly) and is given his sheriffs badge as a symbol of her leadership, while also honoring Woody's former position and memory.

## Background

### Personality

Jessie is a friendly, sarcastic, and excitable cowgirl doll. She likes being loved by any child and has the power to yodel. She hates being in storage ― as it makes her claustrophobic ― and not having someone to love her.

A girl named Emily had once loved her until she gave her up and put her in a charity box, which emotionally scarred her forever. Because of this, she was eventually found by Al, and believed her true purpose was to become a permanent item at a museum in Tokyo, Japan. However, after Stinky Pete’s betrayal and being saved by Woody, she accepted her true purpose, and that was to be played with and to be there for her child.

Because of her abandonment issues and being in storage for many years, Jessie is severely claustrophobic and hates the idea of being in a box. However, she eventually confronts her fear after rescuing Woody from being shipped after she is sealed in a box. After conquering her fear, Jessie becomes more open-minded and is less scared of the idea of being in storage.

After Woody finds Bo Peep and is reunited, he gives Jessie his sheriffs badge as a symbol of her future leadership. Because she is Bonnie’s favorite toy, Jessie presumes leadership of her toys and takes Woody’s place as the new leader, while also wearing his badge in his memory.

### Official description

> “*Jessie is a rough-and-tumble cowgirl doll with a passion for yodeling. Since abandoned by her original owner, she's sensitive to being left behind; however, she's also an incredibly optimistic member of Andy's toy gang.*”
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### Development

Jessie wasn't planned to appear in the film *Toy Story 2*, as she was originally a cactus named Señorita Cactus, who was supposed to be one of the main antagonists of the film. However, John Lasseter's wife Nancy suggested that in *Toy Story 2* that there should be a strong female character, which soon led to the creation of Jessie. The cactus was soon deleted and removed from the film and was replaced by a cowgirl doll.

Because of her popularity and strong lead in *Toy Story 2*, Jessie would later be honored with the Patsy Montana Entertainer Award from the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Jessie would also go on to be the main protagonist of the short film *Toy Story of Terror!*.

In *Toy Story 4*, Josh Cooley explains Bonnie’s favorite toy is Jessie, and she soon rejects Woody. She even goes on to give Jessie Woody’s badge and claim her to be the sheriff. This idea was inspired by his own daughter, who preferred her Jessie doll more than Woody. This was also shown in *Toy Story of Terror!* and also foreshadowed some of the events in *Toy Story 4*, although it wouldn’t be released for another six years.

### Physical appearance

Like Woody, Jessie is a lanky cowgirl rag doll. She has red hair braided with a yellow bow, green eyes, and a matching felt hat with white lace. Her outfits consist of a white long-sleeved western-style shirt with both yellow blouse and cuffs that have red doodles, blue jeans, a belt made from brown plastic with a buckle made from gold plastic, white chaps that have cow spots all over, cowgirl boots made from brown plastic, and a pull string on her back with a white loop attached to it. As of *Toy Story 4*, she now owns Woody’s sheriff badge while also wearing a red wide-brimmed western hat with a white stripe around it (which she had worn in the previous films).

### Abilities

* **Yodeling:** During the TV segments of *Woody’s Roundup*, Jessie is shown to have the power of yodeling, which she uses to summon critters and small animals her way. This action is also used when Andy plays with her during playtime, which she uses to summon a giant Rex. Jessie also uses this ability in the real world, especially when she and her friends tried escaping Sunnyside Daycare. This is also one of Jessie's signature moves in *Disney Heroes: Battle Mode*.
* **Leadership:** Jessie is shown to be a strong and compassionate leader who seems to take inspiration from Woody. During her time with Andy, Jessie didn’t lead as much as Buzz and Woody, but did convince the toys to donate themselves to Sunnyside (although it being a bad idea). Later, after being held by Ron at a hotel, Jessie takes leadership “advise” from Combat Carl, which she later uses to save Woody and get Bonnie’s attention. Some time later, Jessie becomes more self-aware and becomes Bonnie’s new favorite toy. Because of this, Woody gives Jessie his badge before his departure to symbolize her new leadership (considering she’s Bonnie’s favorite), and learns to follow in his footsteps.

**Strategist:** Jessie appears to have excellent plans and ideas, especially when it comes to distractions. During Bonnie and her family’s road trip, Jessie realizes they are about to leave without Forky, Woody, and Buzz and gives them enough time by popping a tire with a needle point. Later, still not having enough time, Jessie would also come up with another plan involving Trixie portraying the voice of a GPS, causing the family to turn back around.

* **Dancing:** Jessie appears to be a joyful dancer, as she is seen dancing with Woody before the flight to Japan, and dancing with Buzz during the end credits sequence in *Toy Story 3*. Also, she dances with Ben Fowler to Chubby Checker’s hit song, *The Twist*.
* **Pull-string action:** Although her voice box is never heard throughout the franchise, Jessie, like Woody and Stinky Pete, has a pull-sting action that allows her to say up to ten different phrases.

## Appearances

### *Toy Story 2*

Jessie first appears when Woody fell upside down. She said “Yee-haw!”to Woody. Then Bullseye pulled out a box out of another box. The Roundup Gang were so happy to see Woody. Meanwhile Buzz and the rest of the toys were out looking for Woody.

1. ↑ Jessie in Toy Story of Terror!
2. ↑ https://toystory.disney.com/jessie-the-yodeling-cowgirl