Twenty years ago this week, the American animation-film studio Pixar ushered in a new era in cinema with Toy Story, the first full-length film created entirely with computers. The technological triumphs of the time seem less impressive today, but the quality of the story explains its continued success. The film has already spawned two sequels, with a fourth film due in 2018.
What makes Toy Story one of the greatest animated films ever created? Why are the main characters – Andy’s toys Buzz Lightyear, the space action figure, and Woody, the cowboy doll – so popular that they appear everywhere from Disneyland rides and toy boxes to countless Halloween costumes? The answer may lie in the fact that Toy Story raised the bar for family films that also appeal to audiences of all ages.
The story is told so beautifully that even today it probably makes a few people think twice about throwing away old toys or replacing those that are lost.