Directed by John Lasseter
Starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger and Annie Potts
Released 1995

For being twelve years old and the first of its kind, Toy Story certainly set the bar high for future computer animated movies. With its stellar voice cast headed by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, the behind the scenes story of toys without their humans around is one for the ages. Not only is this a classic movie for kiddos, but there’s enough innuendo and age old jokes to let the adults enjoy the story as well.

Who would have ever thought a toy felt threatened of being replaced with a cooler toy? Or even that they would walk, talk and live without us there to make them do so? Poor Woody is in his glory as Andy’s favorite toy and this new mechanized action figure from the uncharted regions of outer space usurps his position. I would have been ticked too, but at the same time I feel bad for Buzz because Woody has such an attitude complex about him. I’m certain it didn’t help make things better for Woody when all the other toys latched onto Buzz as quickly as they did, but he was being considerably friendlier than Woody too.

What makes Toy Story fun is that I still notice new things. For instance, try watching the eyes of the toys next time you sit down and enjoy the movie, they don’t blink at the same time, but one eye blinks before the other. You can see this clearly with the little aliens in the claw machine at Pizza Planet.

On top of the inter-rivalry between Woody and Buzz you have moving day coming up, which is dangerous enough, but you also have the little sociopath in the making next door. Sid is not just a danger to toys, but to himself as well and that just makes the lesson lead by Woody have a deeper impact on the kid. Who knows what he would have become had this not been a Disney project.

I remember the rush on toy stores for Mr. Potato Head and the little green army men when this came out. What made it more entertaining was that people weren’t buying them for their kids, but to embrace the nostalgia brought on by the movie.

Rumor has it that there might be a third Toy Story. While I’m looking forward to it, I’m a little leery, after all Jim Varney isn’t around anymore to continue his roll as Slinky Dog. Do they find a replacement or retire the character? Given he’s my favorite character I almost want to see him retired instead of bringing someone new to give him a voice. Whatever they do here’s hoping it’s as good as the first two.

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