It’s been 30 years since Tom Hanks and Tim Allen brought Woody and Buzz Lightyear to life in the original Toy Story!
Pixar’s computer-generated movie masterpiece, directed by John Lasseter and distributed by Disney, would weave itself into the fabric of my final year as an undergraduate studying BA (Hons) Media Production.
A friend, who was studying computer graphics, invited me (I cheekily snuck in) to attend an early preview screening of Toy Story before its widespread release in the UK.
It all starts with a Tin Toy!
It was preceded by a Q&A with a university professor who discussed the influence of Disney’s Tron and the Lucasfilm Graphics Group, which Apple CEO Steve Jobs bought from George Lucas after he was fired from Apple and where he would triumphantly return a few years later and leave a lasting legacy. Toy Story’s genesis can be found in Tin Toy, an animated short film featuring the titular Tinny trying to escape from Billy, a human baby. That nascent narrative thread was developed into a buddy comedy.
Steve Jobs sold Pixar to Disney before his untimely death in 2011. The studio that once dwarfed the House of Mouse is but a brand alongside Marvel and Star Wars on Disney+. However, Toy Story’s cultural impact cannot be overstated.
What are your memories of Toy Story? Let me know in the comments below.
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