Toy Story (1995)

My Review

“Toy Story” is the first fully computer animated motion picture telling the story of a group of sentient toys. owned by young Andy Davis, who pretend to be lifeless when humans are around. Some drama develops when they are set to move to a new house, and Andy gets a new toy on his sixth birthday called Buzz Lightyear who seems to be a rival to his previous favorite Sheriff Woody. Director John Lasseter put together a very entertaining feature film with good production values, innovative animation, and an engrossing plot. The script was written by Josh Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow, with the story developed by Lasseter, Stanton, Pete Docter, and Joe Ranft.

The star-studded voice cast includes Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, John Ratzenberger as Hamm, Annie Potts as Bo Peep, Jim Varney as Slinky Dog, Wallace Shawn as Rex, John Morris as Andy, Laurie Metcalf as Mrs. Davis, Erik von Detten as the neighbor, R. Lee Ermey as leader of the green soldiers, and Penn Jillette as commercial announcer. The very watchable “Toy Story” was the second highest grossing film of 1995 for Pixar Animation Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and The Walt Disney Company.

It was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning one Special Achievement Award (Lasseter). The non-winners were Best Original Screenplay, Best Musical Score (Randy Newman), and Best Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” written and performed by Newman). It was produced at Pixar Animation Studios in Point Richmond, California, in 1994 and 1995, before their move to Emeryville, California, in 2000.