Epic Win: Toy Story
Submitted by Amy D
Toy Story is pushing the boundary of what we consider nostalgia, however, it was very highly rated on the voting pages so we decided to include it. It is an epic film that was an astonishing leap in animation technology that basically made Pixar a household name and paved the way for more computer-generated animation.
For young kids, Toy Story was just another cartoon with an awesome story and cool visual effects. For the older kids and adults who had grown up on Jem and the Holograms, GI Joe, Scooby Doo, Mighty Mouse, or Hannah Barbera cartoons, Toy Story was a blast from the future. It showed us very quickly the impact that computers were having on our lives in a time when you were lucky to have a 486 computer in your home, let alone the (almost) brand-spanking-new Pentium computers.
Then if you could look beyond all of that, there was Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Jim Varney and a slew of other great actors who lent their comedy and their voices to this Epic Win. And who could forget Sid, the sadistic neighbor boy’s toy collection, like the spider thing with the burnt doll head or the fishing pole on legs…
When you think of it, Toy Story deals with many of the same issues as Velveteen Rabbit.
Pixar is an epic win in and of itself. Those guys don’t even *know* how to make a bad movie.
The fact that “Toy Story” showed the public what a feature length computer animated film could be secures it place in history, but it would not be so well loved if it was just a bunch of nice visuals. What we’re capable of doing with computers changes all the time, which can cause computer animation to look really dated really fast. While Pizar did make some smart choices with design to play to the strengths of their medium, the most important thing they did was to get the most basic step right: tell a great story with great characters. Neither the sotry nor the look of this film would have been possible without a bunch of talented and hardworking people; not just Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, but a whole slew of amazing artists who did everything from modeling the characters to refining the story again and again to putting all the nicks and scratches onto Sid’s door.
“And I’m from Mattel. Well, actually I’m from a smaller company that was purchased by Mattel in a leveraged buyout.” Truly epic win.
Oh wow.. almost 15 years ago this came out- where does the time go?! This was my brother’s favorite movie growing up, so I was very used to watching it on a daily basis- sometimes 3 or 4 times a day, haha. We never grew tired of it as it was a great, classic story. It still is, and it’s not all “preachy”, either which I feel too many movies today are.
In short, great movie and definitely epic win!
I loved this movie when it came out and now my kids are obsessed with it. We have to watch “Buzz” at least once a day. Thankfully they made Toy Story 2 so we can switch it up a little.
It definitely didn’t hurt to have music by Randy Newman and a script by Joss Whedon. The songs Randy Newman wrote for the film stand up very well independently, and when played in context are sublime. “I Will Go Sailing No More” is as much about growing up and realizing that you’re not going to achieve everything you dreamed of as it is about Buzz’s sudden realization of his true nature. (Maybe I’m overintellectualizing, but hey, it’s a good film.) My son was Buzz for Halloween last year. He sleeps with Buzz and Woody dolls that he inherited from his older sister. We all love this film. ‘Nuff said.
To clarify a little, Joss Whedon took a pass at the script. He was not the only writer and I don’t know how much of what he wrote is in the final film.
One scene he wrote that was cut, but is mentioned on the commentary for “Toy Story 2″ (I think, though it might have been the first one) had Mr. Potato Head removing one of his eyes and kicking it under Bo-Peep’s skirt, after which she slaps him. The joke was a little too risque, but the idea that Potato Head’s eyes function like remote cameras was resurrected for the sequel.
I hadn’t heard that, but if I remember the commentary track from Toy Story 2 properly, a bunch of the Zerg/Buzz stuff was from Joss’s pass at the Toy Story 1 script.
Sadly, this would totally get included if the film were made today :/
Kids’ movies are getting trashier and trashier.
Oh come on, this is NOT old enough to be nostalgia…
And they’re making a sequel, Toy Story 3-D. Same voice actors, minus Jim Varney of course, R.I.P.
I Shouted with joy whne I saw this. BEST MOVIE EVER!
The only reason I ever stopped watching this movie was because my VHS player broke two years ago. I need to get the DVD!
RAB: You said it! From everything I hear, Up makes Pixar 10 for 10!
As for Toy Story itself… there are days when I want to scream at some co-worker who takes himself far too seriously, “YOU! Are a child’s! PLAYTHING!” The only reason I don’t is that I know there’s no chance of getting the reply, “You are a sad, strange little woman.”
As true as that is.
Oh my god- I so want to do that to TWO of my co-workers. But, like you, there is no chance of the much needed proper reply. Instead I’d likely get written up.
love it so much!!!! pixar is so amazing, i cant wait to see Up!
also, they are rereleasing Toy Story 1 & 2 in 3-D in the fall and then coming out with the third one in 2010. which will be great because it introduces an entire new generation to the awesomeness that is toy story. ^^
“To infinity and beyond!” = personal life motto
Something kind of interesting about Toy Story is they actually had to re-write the script at damn near the last minute. Woody was coming across as being too abrasive and really very off-putting, so they had to change a lot of his lines to tone him down a bit.
Thank god they did, too. He’s at just the right level of sarcastic as he is now; any more and you’d hate him.
invented and designed by germans!
we rule!!
xD
Oh, this definitely is worth to be here. Toy Story has been around for more then 50 percent of my life. I’m REALLY anticipating the Bluray release (Which I suspect would be around Thanksgiving next year, seeing that it then is 15 years ago)
BTW: Jim Varney, is he already added to Onceuponawin ?
I have seen this movie about 16 times or so. I am 17. Havent watched it in 3 years. So ya.
This movie was EPIC win! Took our daughter to see it 7 times paying full price at the theaters back then. The ONLY bad thing about it was the deletion of the scene where Sid was talking to Scud about the blown up Combat Carl doll. There was a close-up of Sid and his braces saying “Did you see that, Scud? That was freaking Sweet”. By the seventh showing and on the DVD, they had deleted that scene. I was really upset about that, but the rest of the movie was So Wonderful that I didn’t care. Laurie Metcalf was perfect as the mom. And all the in-jokes for all the voice actors. Just hysterical. Not to mention the totally cool animated shorts before every Pixar movie. Happy, happy, joy, joy!
Ahh. 14 years old and still love this.
back then movies were made to strike a cord in you that would vibrate forever.
now they just feel like a single drumbeat.
one of the best movies ever.
My littlest sis was a Buzz fan….she insisted until age 6 she wanted to grow up to be Buzz!
I loved this movie when I was a kid. When it comes to movies like this, Pixar is still the best in my opinion. I’m glad that Toy Story 3 will finally see the light of day next summer.
Oh, my gosh. I have always loved Toy Story. I had every toy and doll made for the first movie, and when the second one came out, every scrap of Jessie merchandise I could lay my greedy little hands on.
Funny story about that, too. I saw the second one with my girl scout troop, and the second Jessie comes on screen, you could hear the SNAP of seven little girls’ necks all looking my direction. We look the same, act the same, and our names are even spelled the same way! I dressed up as her for the following halloween, and everyone yelled “Hi, Jessie!” and “Where’s Buzz and Woody?” at me.
I was five when Toy Story came out, so this really brings back memories. I still love it. Great movie.