‘Forky Asks a Question’ is good family fun for the holidays

The launch of Disney+ in November has already delivered a slew of beloved shows. “Forky Asks a Question” is among them. Forky, the animated character voiced by Tony Hale, made his debut in Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” appearing as the spork that Woody (Tom Hanks) kept fishing out of the trash for Bonnie (the little girl who inherited Andy’s toys). As Forky still has a lot to learn about being alive, it’s only right that the inquisitive utensil now gets his own show. During a recent roundtable interview, Tony Hale talked about what it’s been like bringing Forky to life.

Having a character stand up and ask questions about what’s happening is a rather brilliant way to reach kids. In his new spot on Disney+, Forky asks very simple questions, bringing it back to basics. “I think it resonates with a lot of people,” says Hale. “Pixar, in general, is just such a creative playground,” Hale explained

The show speaks to how much kids, in particular, responded to Forky in “Toy Story 4”. The series of animated shorts now gives the character a spotlight, where every episode, Forky asks a different question (hence the title). What is money? What is a friend? What is love? These are just a few of the topics that have been pondered so far. In each episode, Forky (Hale), is joined by other characters, such as Hamm the Piggy Bank (voiced by John Ratzenberger). In the latest episode, when Forky asks about love, he turns to Melephant Brooks (Mel Brooks), Carl Reineroceros (Carl Reiner), Chairol Burnett (Carol Burnett), and Bitey White (Betty White), to help him find an answer.

Forky is an endearing character. You have the plastic of the spork, you have the pipe cleaners, the googly eyes, and the wooden popsicle sticks. “It was a tremendous amount of work to really make this character,” the “Veep” actor said. “I’m crazy about him.” Hale says that he was thrilled when he was approached last fall about expanding Forky’s role into a series of shorts.

The show is written and directed by Bob Peterson, who also lends his voice as the announcer. Peterson delivers in a beautiful and funny way, reaching all ages, on some level. The explanation might not be as simple as the question, but that’s also what makes it such an intriguing show. In the episode “What Is Money?” by the end, it transpires into more of a lesson about connection and friendship than anything else. As Hale put it, “Pixar is like art unfolding in front of you.”

For Hale, it’s Forky’s relationships with the other characters that surprised him the most with this. While they’re trying to be rational about things, Forky asks the why. The surprise comes in when you think it’s going in one direction, and then you discover that Forky is somewhat of a philosopher. The show is quirky, funny, and profound.

“To me, he’s kind of a breath of fresh air,” Hale tells Hollywood First Look Features. “It’s nice to have his continued presence. Not just because I enjoy doing him, but it’s just like, again, going back to that simplicity. I know I crave that as an adult. And I think we’re missing that in our world today.”

The “Toy Story” franchise commenced in 1995 and continues to flourish all these years later. Hale feels that because the characters have always stuck together, that’s what’s given it its longevity. “To me, it’s that real power of community,” Hale says. “Like, we’re not supposed to do this life alone. We’re supposed to do it with each other.  It’s a great picture of that. They’ve all been through these, kind of ups and downs, but they’ve always had each other’s backs. We need to do that.” That’s a journey we all want to see. And, as Hale pointed out, there are no limits to animation. It’s fantastic to imagine where this story might go.

“Forky Asks a Question” is a perfect show to explore over the holidays. It’s sentimental, informative, and fun for the whole family.