Toy Story

Toy Story, released by Walt Disney Pictures on November 22, 1995, was the first feature film made entirely with computer animation. Produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by John Lasseter, it began Pixar’s run of theatrical features after the company had previously created short films and computer graphics work. The screenplay credits list Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow, with a story by Lasseter, Stanton, Pete Docter, and Joe Ranft. Randy Newman composed the score and wrote songs including “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” which became associated with the film. The story is set in the bedroom of Andy Davis, a boy whose toys come alive whenever people are absent. Tom Hanks voices Woody, an old-fashioned pull-string cowboy doll who serves as Andy’s favorite toy and informal leader. Woody’s status changes when Andy receives Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger action figure voiced by Tim Allen, for his birthday. Buzz believes he is an actual Space Ranger rather than merchandise. Woody’s jealousy leads him to push Buzz from a window, an act that sends both toys away from Andy’s home and begins their return journey together. Outside the house, Woody and Buzz encounter Andy’s neighboring child, Sid Phillips, who destroys and recombines toys in his backyard workshop. They also meet Sid’s dog, Scud, and several of Sid’s altered toys, including a baby-doll head attached to mechanical legs. Buzz eventually sees a television commercial revealing that he is a toy, then falls into despair. After Woody helps him recover, the pair eventually escape Sid’s room, use Sid’s toys to frighten Sid, and race to catch Andy’s departing family as it moves to a new house on Christmas Day. Buzz’s wings provide an airborne rescue above the road. The voice cast also includes Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Jim Varney as Slinky Dog, Wallace Shawn as Rex, John Ratzenberger as Hamm, Annie Potts as Bo Peep, and R. Lee Ermey as the green plastic Army Men’s Sergeant. Toy Story was made with Pixar’s RenderMan software and distributed by Disney. It earned more than $373 million worldwide during its theatrical run, against a reported $30 million budget. The film received a Special Achievement Academy Award for Lasseter, alongside Oscar nominations for Original Screenplay, Original Song, and Original Musical or Comedy Score. Its success led directly to the sequels Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, and Toy Story 4.