There is greatness in film that can be discussed, dissected, and talked about late into the night. Then there is genius that is right in front of our faces--we smile at the spell it puts us into and are refreshed, and nary a word needs to be spoken. This kind of entertainment is what they used to call "movie magic," and there is loads of it in this irresistible computer animation feature. Just a picture of these bright toys reawaken the kid in us. Filmmaker John Lasseter thinks of himself as a storyteller first and an animator second, much like another film innovator, Walt Disney.
Lasseter''s story is universal and magical: what do toys do when they''re not played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy''s favorite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys (some original, some classic) during a wrenching time of year--the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though--he believes he''s the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar for "the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." In other words, the movie is great. --Doug Thomas
Release Note
In this 3D computer animated feature, a pull-string cowboy doll is the leader of the toys until the latest, greatest action figure enters the picture. When the toy rivals are separated from thei rowner, they ultimately learn to put aside their differences and work as a team to get back home to the boy they love.
Bonus Features include: Toy Story 3 Sneak Peek: The Story, Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs Blast off, Paths to Pixar Artists, Studio Stories: John''s Car, Baby AJ, Scooter Races, Buzz Takes Manhattan, Black Friday The Toy Story You Never Saw
May 28, 2012
Toy Story is a great animated feature that was created out of the
desire to preserve my toys. I was afraid of losing them so I wrote a story
about each one. By designing and animating each character, they are preserved
for other children to play with and see on the big screen. The movie theatre
becomes a big room for children to play with their favorite toys and the toys
are Buzz Lightyear, Cowboy Woody and Potato Head. Later I added other toys for
the kids to watch and play with. The animated characters all have matching toys
at the local toystores. Each character began as a drawing on my drafting table.
Im so happy that the world likes them so much.
P.
Morley/Animator-Designer-Writer
PIXAR