It could be that they didn't have a suitable story idea for a short that fit well before Toy Story 4. Sometimes coming up with a good concept can be challenging.
Perhaps the marketing strategy didn't call for an animated short before this particular installment. They might have thought it wasn't necessary to enhance the movie's appeal in that way.
Maybe it was a strategic decision by Pixar to focus directly on the full-length Toy Story without a preceding short.
Maybe they were focused on perfecting the main movie and didn't have the resources or time for a short at that point.
Maybe they were focused on perfecting the main movie and didn't have the resources or time for a short. Could be a strategic decision too.
It could be that the focus was entirely on making Toy Story 4 a full-length feature without the distraction of a preceding short. Maybe the budget or production schedule didn't allow for it either.
There was indeed a short before Toy Story 4. These shorts often serve as a prelude or teaser to get the audience in the right mood for the main feature.
Yes, there was a short before Toy Story 4. It added to the excitement and anticipation for the main feature.
I don't know for sure. But usually, it could be a previously released Pixar short that ties in thematically or has characters related to the Toy Story universe.
The Pixar short before Toy Story was 'Luxo Jr.' It's a charming and classic Pixar creation.
It's possible that the team at Pixar felt that the full-length Toy Story 4 told the story completely and didn't require a short to enhance it. Or perhaps they wanted to save their creative energy for future installments or different projects altogether.
Could be that a short version didn't fit the story or marketing strategy. Making a short often requires a different approach and maybe this didn't work for Toy Story 4. Also, production costs and time could be factors.