Andy might be doing just fine without him, but that hasn't stopped Toy Story fans from speculating over his dad's whereabouts. Perhaps he's busy with work or perhaps he's an absent father – if he's even alive at all, that is.

Fortunately for those who let Andy's family set-up keep them awake at night, Toy Story 4's director and producer Josh Cooley and Mark Nielsen have now solved that mystery. Kinda.

Speaking to Vanity Fair about the numerous Toy Story fan theories, Josh and Mark admitted that although the suggestion that Woody and Buzz acted as father figures for Andy was correct, the reason had nothing to do with his dad being dead.

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Andy's mum Toy Story 3
Pixar//Disney

"We treated Woody as a father figure to Andy throughout all the films," they said. "In terms of his dad, though – being dead? That's taking it pretty far.

"I'd like to think that maybe [Andy's parents] split up, maybe he's still alive and living somewhere in another town."

Excitingly, Josh Cooley even floated the idea of "witness protection", suggesting Andy's dad actually "left under suspicious circumstances." Nielsen added: "Maybe he's part of the CIA and he's deep undercover."

Maybe.

toy story 4
Pixar//Disney
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For those hoping for a definitive answer, you're out of luck, as the exact circumstances of Andy's dad's exit are going to remain open to interpretation.

"Any of those are possible," Nielsen said. "We don't need to know because it's all about serving the story of Woody playing the father figure role in Andy's life."

Toy Story 4 is out now.

Toy Story 4 Sheriff Woody Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story 4 Sheriff Woody Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop
Toy Story 4 Buzz Lightyear Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story 4 Buzz Lightyear Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop
The Complete Toy Story Collection: Toy Story / Toy Story 2 / Toy Story 3 [Blu-ray]
Disney The Complete Toy Story Collection: Toy Story / Toy Story 2 / Toy Story 3 [Blu-ray]
Credit: Disney/Pixar
Toy Story 4 Jessie Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story 4 Jessie Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop
Toy Story 4 Forky Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story 4 Forky Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop
Toy Story 4 Bo Peep & Officer McDimples Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story 4 Bo Peep & Officer McDimples Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop
Toy Story Mrs Nesbit Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story Mrs Nesbit Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop
Toy Story Bullseye Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story Bullseye Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop
Toy Story Slinky Dog Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story Slinky Dog Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop
Toy Story Wheezy Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story Wheezy Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop
Toy Story 4 Alien Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story 4 Alien Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop
Toy Story 4 Bunny Pop! Vinyl Figure
Toy Story 4 Bunny Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko! Pop

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