Toy Story (1995): It’s a small, small world
1995 • John Lasseter • 1.78:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
Toy Story (1995), the first feature-length film created entirely with CGI, completely changed the world of animation and cinema. Directed by John Lasseter, it introduced a world in which toys come to life when humans are not around. Woody, Andy’s favourite toy and the leader, starts thinking he may soon be tossed aside when a new action figure, Buzz Lightyear, who ignores the fact that he is a toy, is introduced in Andy’s room.
Toys were a good way to embrace the plastic look of computer-generated textures at the time, and a strategic aesthetic solution to technical limitations. While it may look simple and even dated today, it used to take hours to render even a single frame. Nevertheless, Toy Story had a dynamic visual style due to the effective use of lighting and blocking.
While perhaps a little crude compared to today’s animated films, Toy Story still possesses a lot of charm thanks to the iconic characters it introduced. The film had all the elements that would come to define a Pixar movie: design, emotional storytelling and imaginative plot.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: When a boy’s new space ranger action figure threatens the position of his longtime cowboy doll, the toys secretly embark on a journey that will decide their friendship and their place in the world. Read my review of Toy Story.
- Actors: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts.
- Director: John Lasseter
- Year: 1995
- Origin: American Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Genre: Animation & Family / Pixar
