Timeless Animation

Rating: 10/10 (9 March 2013)

Toy Story came out right in the middle of a golden period for Disney. It was released on the back of the critically acclaimed (and box office hits): Beauty and The Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. Because of this (and Toy Story being Disney's first collaboration with Pixar), there must have been considerable pressure on the picture to succeed. The idea of toys coming to life is a seemingly sure-fire winner for a family film. However, this could easily have been handled badly. This is not the case with Toy Story.
The pioneering animation, brilliantly written script, top notch voice performances, and shrewd direction make this a timeless animated film.
Much has been said about the groundbreaking Pixar computer animation. This is understandable and justified. The visualisation of the story world is inventive and innovative. The quality of the animation enables the audience to capture the essence of the world and fully immerse themselves within it.
The film's script is incredibly tight. It is witty and exhilarating; whilst containing heart and drive in abundance. I would go as far as to say that this film has the best script out of the three Toy Story films (which is no mean feat).
The script is also effective in its use of characterisation, and it is especially prevalent with Woody. He's certainly not your archetypal Disney hero, but that's why he (and the film) works so well. He can be petulant, prone to jealousy and mood swings, insecure, and devious. These reasons (and others) are why Woody is loved; he has human qualities. He has his flaws, but he has a good heart.
The voice actors are exceptional in bringing the script to life. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen shine in their leading roles as Woody and Buzz. The supporting cast are also highly effective in their performances. A notable example would be Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head; he gets a fair share of the film's laughs (especially from the adult proportion of the audience).
Much of this would not have been possible without a safe pair of hands in charge of bringing all of these elements together. John Lasseter's directing expertise is there for all to see with his handling of this picture.
There are also some stand out moments from the film that solidify its stature. They are directly linked with the two backbones of the picture; Woody and Buzz. The 'Strange Things' sequence in which Woody watches his whole world fall apart before him (as Buzz takes over Andy's room) is beautifully shot and realised. The other stand out moment is when Buzz watches his perceived world (and sense of self) revealed to be false as he stares in disbelief at the Buzz Lightyear TV advertisement. His subsequent attempt to fly out of the window is, once again, exquisitely shot and ethereal. Another consistent ingredient between these two moments is the poignant and perfectly suited music by Randy Newman.
Toy Story is a film that seamlessly brings together the many aspects that make a great film. It possesses a strong premise and story, great characters, awesome visuals, and a great soundtrack. It is certainly no surprise that the film has gone on to influence many other computer animation features; whilst also being responsible for kick-starting one of the greatest trilogies in American cinema.