Toy Story (1995)

So Toy Story. You know what it is and needs no introduction.

Toy Story is a franchise that is made by the beloved Pixar and span 4 movies (5th coming up but lets ignore that for now on).

As a kid, I used to collect most of the toys from the movies, love them all and re-create the entire first movie. There was something so special about as I can't point out, something so... fresh and new and interesting.

So before I go back to school, I'll take one more time before on the road again. So without a further-a-do lets get into it:

A behind the scenes background: Ever since Star Wars with its ground-breaking effects by George Lucas who is made by a studio called "Industrial Lights and Magic" to create the effects. After the test of X-Fighter Jet Lucas thought it wasn't advance enough so he used practical effects (later on used CGI in the prequel trilogy).

A group of scientists utilize this technology and create the Walt Disney movie Tron which opened up a worker named John Lasseter to offer the future technology. He would go on to animated the feature length film Brave Little Toaster but used backgrounds that are completely computer animated and choose to do a short film (Wild Things Are) to convince Disney to movie forward to he's plan.

However he unknowingly circumvented one of his direct superiors to get the short test film made which causes to angering them but quickly land on he's feat on Lucas film's team to create a short film which happened to be a short cartoon called "The Adventures of Andre and Wally B." It was original going to be 3D animated with the background while the characters are drawn 2D but Ed Catmull (the leader of the group and the co. fonder of Pixar) challenge Lasseter to create it completely 3D. The results in 1984 is ground-breaking showing that it be capable of creating an entire film. They also made a photo-realistic animated knight in the film Young Sherlock Homes in 1985.

However after Return Of The Jedi and the divorce, this worried the team would sell it off for a division for money. So the team is split off with their own company is called Pixar. Lucas wants some investors and this is when Steve Jobs comes in. He left Apple and begin to love Pixar of combing art and technology. He wasn't interested instead he wants to buy it, so Lucas sell off die to he's divorce.

It wasn't movies at first it was to sell Pixar's image computer and software. So more shorts where produce like Luxo Jr based on Lasseter's lamp he had on he's desk which eventually become the logo of Pixar. So in 1988 the short Tin Toy is success and wins an Oscar for best short film. The new CEO of Disney Michael Eisner after watching the short wants Lasseter to come back at Disney but he is now loyal to Jobs and believed him when nobody else did and refused. He will go on to make a future length film.

It was original going to be about Tinny and this old toy but it tear down because Jeffrey Kenburg thought the two main characters are too similar with the same motivate of being played by a kid. Then Tinny was replace by a dummy and Lasseter's inspiration of he's Caster the ghost toy with a pull string and a G.I action figure for a space theme toy called "Lunar Lar" or get this "Tempus from Morph" and setting as Buzz Lighter after naming the second man on the moon.

Tim Allen voiced Buzz but was originally voiced by Billy Crystal and why he left is because he would be he's biggest mistake but would later voice the iconic Mike Wasowski.

Woody was originally going to be a dummy but change to a cowboy because Lasseter loves the contrast of old and new. It was originally going to be a musical but Lasseter would think its a terrible idea of less sing and more about character themselves.

So yeah you can tell that Strange Things (pun intended) and ideas are going on to the project. In 1992 the scene Black Friday is Woody on purpose grabbing Buzz's hand and throwing him off and it didn't set well for the audience.

Out come: So after many shenanigans and mishaps Toy Story was finally released on November 19, 1995 it was a smash hit of a 30 million budget now grossing over 394 million and loved by critics and audiences alike.

Its pretty wild to say the least but I clearly know that there is love effort and clearly care and thought put behind it. It seems like they want to reach for the audiences and making sure its good. Okay without actually more information dump lets actually take about the movie:

The animation: This is the very first animated feature length film and... I think it aged well. I'm not saying it holds up super well because at the time the human models are hard to capture and well they look kind of freaky at points I will but I will say it still holds up for modern standards! If you look back on their classic library they have this clean sense of animation unlike compare to others like Shrek or Shark Tale at the time looked very scratchy and wonky. I really apricate their older work because again they innovate animation of one of their every film have one good quality to another.

Two flawed characters: This is the part where I'm going to talk about the most because this is the main plot line of the entire film.

I love both Woody and Buzz. There is this kind of story where one character is the right one and do good things but the other one does bad things and the bad one would learn their lesson. Now its no a bad idea but I think its pretty juvenile and the message "don't do bad stuff" is pretty flat at worst and quite service level at best.

But here something is different. For first to talk about the opening right at the start Woody is clearly Andy's favourite toy , even before Potato Head points he plays with him the most. He gone an intense character arc through out the movies. At the start its shown in display that Woody is actually quite stubborn and selfish and because of he is Andy's favourite toy he now has power, like a leader. As Potato Head pointed out he is he's favourite since kindergartner.

Woody now believes that he's a cowboy and he thinks that he is more important then every one else . But he's not a bad guy, for the most part the other toys respect him like Slinky and the reason he never lash out the others because none are a threat to him. As he's ego inflated it would eventually pop after Buzz Light-way -

Hanks : Lightyear!

Well, thanks for correcting me. Lightyear when he shown up he is only introducing himself but Woody as he's ego blow up of being replace which ironically he has himself said it. He only saw the other toys as replaceable! I love the subtle touch that he knows he is getting replace and want to show he is better then him.

Buzz Lightyear is also a flawed character, he can't see he's a toy and he thinks he's a space ranger. He also doing it in he's own way all the time and never let anyone to think about it, he's also stubborn! Like when he try to teach Sid a lesson and doing risky moves.

The dynamic works so well because none of the two main characters are portrayed as in the right or wrong. They are just as wrong as each other. I love when stories do that because he gives layers and give character their own believes. THIS is how you do dynamics, its the execution guys.

The window scene is actually a great way to write conflicts: The thing I love about it because it was on purpose and an accident. Woody knows he's guilty but at the same time it was an accident. I love that the other toys reaction that they aren't true friends yet, of they are they would believe it was an accident. This shows that he didn't build up any relationship to consider them true friends because he sees them as least. Woody got what he want but he's not really happy because he knock Buzz off the window and now the toys are angry, this cause Woody to have an need, a new goal is to get back home with Buzz because without him the toys would kick him out. Its genius writing!

After Woody is left out alone he only ever cares about himself thoughts, he sees Buzz like an obstacle and Buzz still delusional only cares about saving the world if there is no one to save. When they get to Pizza Planet both of them have their own goals but neither of them would work together to get what they want. It cause more problems then helping. Now being caught by Sid, Woody and Buzz are stuck on this nightmarish place that I think the filmmakers did a great job of making it feel scary, like your not safe at all with the Sid and the dog. Not to mention a little about Sid is that I find it funny that the villain is the kid and he's the exact opposite to Andy which he is nice but not here, he's really mean and ruthless and the excellent payoff that he toucher toys after the funniest scene he now doesn't want to toucher toys.

They still continue to be stubborn and at their lowest points. Buzz now the true is said about a TV commercial of him and Woody has been arguing him the entire time is right and now he loss reality and sense of purpose. Woody still wants to go back but fails to do so. Now the toys know that he isn't he's true friend after all because the concept of what made someone a friend was based on the idea whether they like him or not, not mutually beneficial relationship of both parties. Unfortunately he's misconceptions makes him lonelier then ever.

Now other then my favourite scene other then the chase scene is when they realised the values of their friendship and what it truly meanings (you seen the title). When Woody finally reveals the truth that he can never be as good as Buzz, Buzz now realised that all of he's actions is not because he disliked him, its because he sees fear that he would be replace and Andy forgetting him. Its now clear that being a toy is a good thing and if Buzz never got the hardships he would never realised that and Woody finally learns that there is no proof that he is better then Buzz, its pointless at the end. I love Woody and Buzz become friends ties back to how Andy treated both of them, Andy may have an favourite but at the same time he values every one of them.

Andy loves Woody loves him at the start, Woody loves him back and the only person in the house is Andy himself! Even he loss Buzz he still deeply cares about Woody and both them love each other. Unlike Buzz where Woody he immediately tries to put him down because Andy loves him not. When the two got back to Andy he is equally thrilled to have them back because he doesn't value one, he values both! Even the other two movies, it still clearly shown that Andy still loves he's toys even though he doesn't shown much of it.

It comes back to when someone was treated the same as him he was always above everyone else and as soon as someone else to challenge that position, it causes him to act illogically. It is Woody's irrational fear of losing someone that he already has into the situation in the first place but it is a rational fear of true danger that finally causes him and Buzz to come together in the end. Woody was so focused what he had to lose that he never considering what he had to gain instead. However at the end all of the factors combine together, along they had to go through so many trail and relations together which they would never over come if never one ever used their qualities and situations that the other one couldn't do.

The best stories of friendship is putting them all in the fire equally and so many hardships and bumps in the road.

This is the true meaning of friendship. This movie is beautifully structure and tightly written. The payoff of when Andy finally get back Woody and Buzz feels so rightfully earned. Well that's the magic of Classic Pixar, setup and payoff.

The secret genius of this movie: I should mention the songs, they are actually smarter then you think!

"You've got a friend in me" other then its a solid song, its also got to do with the theme of this movie. One of the most cleaver things about this song is how it plays at the beginning that the must be referring to Andy and Woody but its the journey that Woody and Buzz go though on this adventure and both of this points are actually deliberate because it shows us that Woody needs to make a friendship to Buzz the strength of the one he has with Andy with Buzz or he'll never make it through to the end but on top of that the way its worded is also really cleaver .

If you are paying attention its not "you" are my friend, its "You've" got a friend in me and the key difference is that you have to be a friend so someone else before they'll be a friend back to you, its a matter of trust. It has to go on both ways or it doesn't work. If someone says your their friend but it doesn't mean anything if you don't eye to eye. One-sided relationships you rely on people to get the job done and doing the things for you is not a true friend at all. It would have make this song more empathy if its "You" got a friend in me and not "You've" got a friend in me because its calling someone else calling out a friend without them returning the favour back

Also "You've got in troubles and I've got them too but we stick together we see it through and there isn't anything I wouldn't do it for you". Its completely selfless song which perfectly encapsulates everything it means to be a true friend. That is also classic Pixar, they are so well detailed and when you notice it, its unnoticeable!

Final Thoughts: So that was Toy Story, it is one of the most strongest, boldest and most mature tale of friendship. Also mention other things like the comedy because the jokes the this movie makes are kinda edgy at points, like when Buzz gets drunk and depressed its played in a comedic way. Its astounding that Pixar can pull off a existential crisis and both making it comedic.

Like they can tackle serious topics while also being deeply complex. Also a hook with lady legs.... that one is for the kids....

Real shame Pixar just doesn't do it like this anymore.

The pacing also great, not too slow and not too fast. Perfectly paced! Its also why I love Classic Pixar so much because its less about the adventure aspect and more about the growth aspect as Disney is keep on pushing with their films. I think it makes them more believable, more profound, more human.

Jeez, imagine if none of the people didn't make these changes and keep the original idea. Image if its bad! Then 2D animation would still be alive! Wait, that's a good and bad thing.

But to rap things up, overall I think Toy Story is a great movie! Also if this is an inspiration for you, I'm happy to here if I make your life or it changes you. If its a filmmaker , a critic or other things, I hope you learn something about. This movie holds a special place in my heart. But its not done yet and not the last great movie.

That's everything I got to say!