Here are things you didn’t know about your favourite franchise Toy Story
There’s hardly any child who doesn’t love toys. If you are a toy lover, then it’s likely that you have watched the Toy Story, the 1995 classic released by Walt Disney and produced by its subsidiary, Pixar Animation Studios. This was the first computer-animated feature-length film. And needless to say, it was such a hit with children across the world, that a whole franchise was created. The Toy Story franchise consists mainly of five animated films: Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 3 (2010), Toy Story 4 (2019), and the spin-off prequel film within a film Lightyear (2022). It also includes the 2D-animated direct-to-video spin-off film within a film, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000) and its television series of the same name.
Do you know what led to the creation of Toy Story or how it got its name? Here are some lesser-known facts about the franchise.
Toy Story is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records
Yes, you read that right. The animated film by Pixar set a new record as the first feature-length computer-animated film ever made. In fact, the film’s animator, John Lasseter got a Special Achievement Academy Award in 1996 for his ’inspired leadership’ of the Pixar Toy Story (USA, 1995) team, resulting in this iconic film.
A short film led to the creation of Toy Story
Tin Toy, a 1988 computer-animated American short film made by Pixar and directed by American film director John Lasseter, introduced the idea of toys being alive, which eventually led to creation of Toy Story. Pixar's 'Tin Toy' won an Oscar for Best Short Film (Animated) in 1988, prompting Disney to approach Pixar about collaborating on Toy Story.
How Toy Story got its name
The goal of Toy Story was to depict the lives of toys in the absence of humans, which was seen in this film as toys only came alive when Andy (the kid who owns all the toys) was not present. The toys remained ordinary and lifeless as long as Andy was in the room or playing with them. However, as soon as he left, they returned to being their mischievous selves, getting into all sorts of troubles! As a result, the film is known as Toy Story!
Woody wasn't originally supposed to be a cowboy!
Woody, one of the protagonists in Toy Story franchise, played by American celebrity Tom Hanks wasn’t always supposed to be a cowboy. The original character of Woody was a dummy for a ventriloquist. A ventriloquist is a performer who can make their voice appear to come from somewhere else, generally a human or animal dummy. Typically, they perform with a doll, and the voice seems to be coming from the doll.
Disney executives, who co-produced Toy Story, demanded that he be altered since ventriloquist dummies are usually linked with horror movies, and they didn't want their adorable kids' movie to be menacing in any way! What’s more is that the characters of Woody and Buzz Lightyear were inspired from toys from John Lasseter’s own childhood: a Casper Doll with a pull string like Woody! Talk about reliving your childhood!