Toy Story

Released: November 22, 1995

Studio: Disney

Genre: animation/comedy/family

Box Office (numbers in millions):

Domestic: 191.80 Worldwide: 373.60

Adjusted for Inflation:

Domestic: 449.58 Worldwide: 744.30

Directing: John Lasseter

Screenwriting: Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow

Starring: voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Annie Potts, Wallace Shawn, Jim Varney, John Ratzenberger

Review:

Pixar Studios were pioneers in CGI animation, creating the Oscar-nominated short Luxo Jr. in 1986 and the Oscar-winning short Tin Story in 1988. In 1995, they took another great leap forward with Toy Story, the first feature-length film completely animated by computers.

The groundbreaking special effects “were surpassed only by the intelligent, thoughtful script that had adult themes that both parents and their kids could relate to.” ^FS “It’s a perfectly formed story, about friendship, love, fear of abandonment, workplace politics and self-identity. While its ability to make you laugh is undiminished.” ^EM’18

The story focuses on a boy named Andy and his toys, who come to life when no humans are around. Cowboy Woody (Hanks) is the favorite. There’s also “Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Wallace Shawn as Rex, a meek dinosaur, Jim Varney as Slinky Dog, John Ratzenburger as Hamm the Pig, and Annie Potts as Woody’s sweetheart, Bo Peep).” ^FS A rivalry ensues when Woody’s status as top toy is challenged by the “new hi-tech space and action-toy Buzz Lightyear (voice by Tim Allen)” ^FS which Andy gets for his birthday.

The “doltish” ^AFI07 and “deluded Buzz believes he’s on a mission to save the planet” ^FS instead of a child’s toy. Woody and Buzz have to learn to work together, though, when they get “trapped in the house of Sid, a sadistic bully in the neighborhood.” ^FS “Groundbreaking computer animation creates the world of Woody, a toy cowboy who suddenly finds himself as the second-favorite toy. Replaced by the newer and very high tech, but doltish, Buzz Lightyear, Woody gets accused of killing Buzz by tossing him out the window. It’s a race to get him back. ‘To infinity and beyond!’” AFI07