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This groundbreaking 1995 film was the first-ever completely computer-generated feature film. The movie’s production company, Pixar Animation Studios, headed by director and co-writer John Lasseter, spent years creating and rendering the computer images of classic toys that were the heart of the film’s story.

 

The film takes place in the bedroom of Andy, a young boy with an ample collection of toys. The toys come to life when Andy’s not around (as all kids have always secretly suspected). It’s a motley crew of classics – Mr. Potato Head, Etch-a-Sketch, green plastic army soldiers, Barrel of Monkeys, fuzzy-haired Trolls, and more. Their leader is Woody, a pull-string cowboy with a big hat and a sunny personality. But it’s Andy’s birthday, and the toys are worried that his new presents will leave them facing the inevitable garage sale. They soon meet their new toy companion – Buzz Lightyear, a plastic, outer space action figure with flip-out wings and a flashing laser. He’s so real he doesn’t even realize he’s a toy.

 

Woody is jealous of Andy’s interest in Buzz and makes fun of him, trying to undermine his confidence. Then he takes matters to the extreme, knocking Buzz out of the window to the lawn below. This doesn’t go over well with the other toys, and Woody has to rescue Buzz and get him back to the bedroom. The operation doesn’t go as planned, and both Buzz and Woody wind up in the clutches of Andy’s neighbor Sid, a destructive little boy who likes to break off pieces of different toys to create horrible hybrids. On top of that, Andy and his family are about to move, and if Andy doesn’t take a toy with him, it will be left behind in the house.

 

The production was cutting edge, but the story was sweet and simple, and very well written. The voice talent was top notch. Tom Hanks played Woody, Tim Allen played Buzz, and they were joined by Don Rickles, Annie Potts, Jim Varney, John Ratzenberger, and Wallace Shawn. The screenplay, song, and score were all nominated for Oscars. This, along with the familiar elements of toys come to life and the bittersweet changes that come with growing up, made this film a huge success. More CGI films would follow Toy Story's lead, including Antz and A Bug's Life, as well as a Toy Story sequel in 1999.