Trilogy Thursday: Toy Story

Posted January 26, 2012 by Max in Featured

Hi, all. This is the start of a new series of posts. With the help of Claire Packer of CinematicDelights, we will discuss and review popular trilogies, so you don’t have to. What better way to start than with one of the best reviewed trilogies of all time, Toy Story.

Toy Story

Max: This is the one that started it all. Not just the Toy Story series of course, but Pixar as a studio powerhouse. This was one of the bigger gambles in cinematic history. Without the help of the late Steve Jobs, this movie might’ve never gotten made. The story features a collection of children’s toys and their adventures. While that sounds simple enough, Toy Story deals with a lot of serious undertones. The biggest of which is the feeling of being forgotten. The cowboy toy, Woody, has always been the top toy, but when a new spaceman toy (Buzz Lightyear) comes into the picture he feels inadequate. Toy Story also explores the building friendship between the toys and makes us care for CGI characters like never before. While the animation seems sparse compared to other CGI features of this day, Toy Story remains a classic due to its story and characters, the CGI just ended up being icing on the cake.

Claire: Well, they always say that the best things come in threes. In the case of Pixar’s Toy Story series, I think that old adage is definitely true.
Toy Story was released in 1995, and was followed up four years later with Toy Story 2. The third installment, Toy Story 3, would be released just over 10 years later, in 2010. The key elements stayed the same throughout the trilogy: a group of toys, who come to life whenever a human isn’t in sight, get into trouble and need to work together to get home. Leading the toys is a chirpy cowboy, Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), and a space ranger, Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen). In Toy Story our heroes experience the terror of the nasty child next door, and how they act and react is pretty much what I would have expected. Though, sadly, toys don’t come to life after we leave the room, the plot in this film seems very natural, and authentic. Toy Story answers that question we’ve all daydreamed about since we were children: what would happen if our toys came to life?

Toy Story, you’re my No 1 in the trilogy, for the simple reason that I was completely sucked into this fantastic world, hook, line and sinker.

Toy Story 2

Max: Toy Story 2 continues with the same cast, but adds what you’d expect from a sequel. More toys are introduced into the picture and Woody is again trying to find his way back to his owner. This particular entry in the franchise has the toys question their longevity. Is it better to be remembered for all time, while giving up the time you still have? Of course in true Pixar fashion this question is presented with humor and charm. Woody and Buzz are joined by a new set of toys based on their universes, whether it be the pretty cowgirl Jessie or the evil Emperor Zerg. Toy Story 2 is the only one that doesn’t quite capture the same wonder that the other movies have in spades.

Claire: Bearing in mind that the Toy Story films are a PG and two Us, I think they all appeal to adults as much as they do to children. This is certainly the case of Toy Story, and its successor. In this film we see Woody try and make his way back home after being stolen by a toy collector. We’re introduced to more characters, including Jessie, Bullseye and Stinky Pete. Toy Story 2 is very different to Toy Story in that the gang is separated, with Woody left on his own with new toys, and in a new surrounding. This does work, though, as the plot does seem very authentic. Toy collectors certainly exist and while the lengths Buzz and the gang have to go to find Woody are a little OTT, they’re great fun and reveal the power of friendship.