Mr. Spell is a toy in the Toy Story franchise. He did not play a particularly large role in the first film, but appeared in many background scenes.
Background Information
Mr. Spell is a yellow, hand-held, computer keyboard-like educational toy based on the popular 1970s Speak and Spell toy by Texas Instruments. Mr. Spell is able to talk by spelling the words he is saying and revealing them on the screen. Much like See 'n Say and Etch A Sketch, Mr. Spell gets around by waddling. He also frequently holds or has held seminars on a variety of topics such as plastic corrosion awareness and what to do if you or part of you is swallowed.
Toy Story
- "Woody: "Tuesday night's plastic corrosion awareness meeting was, I think, a big success. And we wanna thank Mr. Spell for putting that on for us. Thank you, Mr. Spell."
Mr. Spell: "You're welcome."" - —Woody thanks Mr. Spell for holding the aforementioned successful meeting
In Toy Story, when Woody assembles the toys for their first staff meeting in Andy's room, he thanks Mr. Spell for holding a successful "plastic corrosion awareness meeting."
Upon Buzz's arrival, Mr. Spell, along with all the other toys, takes an immediate liking towards him. One night, when Woody accidentally knocks Buzz out the window, many of the toys accuse him of doing it on purpose to get rid of him. Mr. Spell was one of the few toys that did not accuse him of doing it intentionally.
At the end, Mr. Spell spells out the lyrics for "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," while Mr. Potato Head uses Mr. Mike as a karaoke machine.
Toy Story 2
- "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, Buzz, OK. Here's your list of things to do while I'm gone. Batteries need to be changed. Toys at the bottom of the chest need to be rotated. Oh, and make sure everyone attends Mr. Spell's seminar on what to do if you or a part of you is swallowed. OK? OK. Good, OK."
- —Woody tells Buzz the duties he must do while Woody is away with Andy at Cowboy Camp
In Toy Story 2, Woody tells Buzz Lightyear to make sure all the toys attend the seminar held by Mr. Spell on what the toys should do if they (partially or wholly) get swallowed. After Andy Davis's dog Buster bursts into Andy's room and finds Woody, Mr. Spell displays 13.5, the amount of time in seconds elapsed for Buster to find Woody since entering the room, setting a new record for the dog.
Later, after Woody is stolen, Buzz uses Mr. Spell to decipher the hidden message (LZTYBRN) encoded on the license plate on the vehicle of the man who stole Woody, which to the other toys' surprise turns out to be "Al's Toy Barn" and that Al McWhiggin, the chicken mascot of his toy store, is the culprit.
Mr. Spell appears one more time at the end when Wheezy is singing "You've Got a Friend in Me."
Forky Asks a Question
In What is Reading?, Mr. Spell offers to help Forky learn how to read, but Forky declines Mr. Spell's offer, and Mr. Spell goes away.
At the end, he dances with Forky and the peas.
Trivia
- In Toy Story, the bottom of his label has one narrow button with his name on it. In Toy Story 2, it is replaced with two buttons saying "SPACE" and "SPEAK".
- In the first movie, his voice is sorta deep, but in the second movie, his voice is high pitched, and louder.