#99. Toy Story

99. Toy Story - 1995

Directed by: John Lasserter
Written by: John Lasserter, Joe Ranft, Andrew Stanton, Pete Doctor (story)
Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Coen, Alec Sokolow (screenplay)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen

Previous viewing status: Watched at least 5 times, but not since 2000.


Toy Story was the beginning of an era. It's seriously hard for me to believe that it came out in 1995 when I was 12 years old. Animation has come so far since then but this film, regardless of technical aging, holds up. Why? What makes something that looks so primitive compared to animated films now hold it's own against them? It's the story and the directing. The crucial cinematography that perfectly mirrors realistic camera movements and decisive camera angles is the key that brings it through time. It was a film made entirely inside computers and yet it feels like it was filmed in a plastic reality with real cameras and actors.

There's some of everything in this film; comedy to drama to action to fantasy. The entire novelty of the story itself is genuinely blended with reality so it doesn't feel like they don't belong. The complex character arcs of Woody and Buzz Lightyear (Tom Hanks and Tim Allen) are perfectly mapped out while somehow avoiding cliches along the way. And what would the film be without a little bit of happy, American music from Randy Newman?

The film never feels like it drags or passes too quickly. And the real piece that makes the film really great is that, unlike every other Pixar film since, it doesn't feel air tight from questions; it doesn't feel locked behind cased glass, untouchable and perfectly wrapped up in a bow. I think that's part of the key to every great film - a little bit of imperfection. Things like Buzz pretending to be a toy when Andy plays with him even though he doesn't know he's a toy, or how the toys that have been dismantled in Sid's house can't speak, or where Andy's dad is in all this (even though he has a baby sister who is an infant). Things like that make it interesting to discuss! People don't like being given everything, we like to fill in pieces of the puzzle with our imaginations. Obviously plotholes make things difficult, but it's just nice to get something that doesn't feel like it's trying too hard.

Joe Ranft really brought the story a cinematic life with his mythical storyboarding skills. John Lasseter knows exactly what it takes to make kids compeled to love characters. Toy Story will always be there to tell children of the future, stories of friendship, overcoming jealousy, prejudice and misunderstandings.

RIP - Joe Ranft