One of the true highlights of “Toy Story 2” was the introduction of Barbie, perhaps the most famous and popular doll of all time. In Disney/Pixar’s new sequel “Toy Story 3,” Barbie takes on an even greater role and meets the man of her dreams when she encounters Ken. Like all great screen romances, this relationship has its share of challenges, but this one takes on some particularly fascinating twists and turns.
According to director Lee Unkrich, “The idea of putting Ken in the film just felt rife with comic potential. Ken is a guy who is ostensibly a girl’s toy, and he’s also really nothing more than an accessory for Barbie. He is no more important than a pair of shoes or a purse. We figured he had to be pretty insecure about those things, and tried to tap into that as much as possible. He’s really into clothes, being the ultimate fashion maven. He wears a different outfit in every scene in the movie. We thought it would be a nice touch to dress Ken only in real outfits that actually existed, so we consulted with a guy who is the world’s preeminent Ken expert.” Read more…
