- See also: Geri
The Cleaner is a character in Toy Story 2.
Toy Story 2
During the events of the film, Al McWhiggin (the owner of Al's Toy Barn and Woody's kidnapper) takes Woody out of the glass case to take a snapshot of the Roundup Gang, but Woody's arm falls off. In a panic, Al decides to call the cleaner over the phone. Although the cleaner states that he's busy, he agrees to come over the first thing next day.
The next morning, the cleaner rings the doorbell to Al's Penthouse and begins the process of restoring Woody to prime condition for Al before he is about to be shipped to a museum in Japan. In this attempt, he is able to sew back Woody's severed arm; this may clearly be the hardest part of the restoration, reflecting his great skill. His last act of work was painting over Andy's name under Woody's boot.
Once Woody was finished, he gives Al strict instructions that Woody is for display only, and that he won't last if played with. The restoration of Woody was done at no fee – he felt it was reward enough to work on such a rare toy.
Woody was proud to have his arm back and his condition restored. However, when he realizes the intent of his restoration is to spend eternity in the Konishi Toy Museum, he is not as pleased to be cleaned. He later rubs off the paint underneath his boot to expose Andy's name, reflecting that a toy should bring joy to a child, although he proudly keeps the rest of his restored features.
Trivia
- The cleaner's character model also appears as Geri in the short film Geri's Game. There are some differences between the two appearances. In Geri's Game, Geri's eyes are brown; in Toy Story 2, the cleaner's eyes are blue. The shape and size of their glasses are different as well. In addition, Jonathan Harris voices the cleaner while Bob Peterson voices Geri (albeit without actual dialogue).
- When he is preparing to fix Woody in Toy Story 2, one of the drawers in his case contains chess pieces, a reference to the short that is released 2 years earlier.
- He is the second and final Disney character (also the one who originated from a Pixar production) to be voiced by the late Jonathan Harris, the first being Manny.
- On Pixar's website when making a film, it says that the cleaner's line, "You can't rush art," is also true at Pixar.
- In a scene in the antique shop in Toy Story 4, a picture with someone much like the cleaner is behind Margaret's desk, suggesting that they are married or ar related.
Quotes
- Al: "Oh, thank goodness, you're here."
The Cleaner: "Is the specimen ready for cleaning?" - —The Cleaner arrives at Al's Penthouse
- Al: "So, uh, how long is this gonna take?"
The Cleaner: "You can't rush art." - —Al asks the Cleaner how long it will take to fix Woody.
- The Cleaner: "There you go. Heh heh heh heh heh heh. He's for display only. You handle him too much, he's not gonna last."
Al: "It's amazing! You're a genius! He's just like new!" - —The Cleaner and Al, after the cleaner restores Woody to its original, pristine condition
