Happy Twentieth, Toy Story

Once more I find myself stating that 2015 has been the year of returns and celebrations for tales we love and the characters we cherish. Nostalgia at the pure finest.

There are countless stories that have created a lasting impact, both on personal levels and as a whole. Every story, every characters means something to someone as it is so finely etched inside their hearts.

For many one of those stories is a little something about a story about toys. And what might happen when you are not watching.

No matter how old you are or any other contingency you probably have at least heard in passing of a little thing called Toy Story- if not watched it so many times counting said viewings is impossible. Saying this series is ‘little’ is one of the largest understatements humanly possible. Toy Story is a brilliant work of fiction and animation that not only enchanted viewers, but also opened new doors for animation.

The flagship film for Pixar stepped back from our more traditional human and animal characters and told the tale of something rather un-likely- toys.  To be much more specific the likes of cowboy with a pull-string and a bright and sparkly new space ranger action figure that believes he is actually a real space ranger. Together with rest of the toys from their owner’s room, embark on some interesting adventures that you would have a hard time imaging the toys around you actually living out.

It is to some extend an odd selection for the center of a story. Despite everyone having enjoyed toys in life, thinking of them as actually being alive and able to have the ability to speak can be simply shocking. It was truly a new concept that Pixar ran with and crafted an intricate film that now twenty years after the fact still has fans, new and old alike, loving deeply.

Despite nay-saying, a hard and trying path to get the story off the ground, Toy Story proved to be a true smash hit upon opening in theaters back on November 22^nd, 1995. Like most hit films it quickly became adored by fans and toys of the staring toys became incredibly popular among those who longed for their own Buzz or Woody. Perhaps even with hopes that their own toys of the character might come alive.

From the first film all the way to the third fans have watched the beloved toys from Andy’s room walk an expectantly exciting and thrilling lives that make one laugh and cry in a single breath. From seeing Buzz come to reality of what he is, Woody fear that he is no longer has any worth to his beloved owner, Jessie struggling to deal with her past- things everyone feels and faces. Even though they are in fact toys they are also incredibly human and real with such raw emotions.

But it was not only for the great work and heart that made the film shine that caused Toy Story to perhaps be one of the most important films in recent times. But the use of CGI animation. Up until that point the animation being seen on screens of all sizes was 2D and drawn by hand. Beautiful, naturally, yet often a time-consuming feat that could even limit what animators might be able to craft.

If not for Toy Story’s grand success works such as Shrek, Frozen, The Polar Expresses, never mind rest of Pixar’s films might have not come to be.  From films, to series and even anime if not for Toy Story the world of animation would be different. Sure, in time CGI would have come to light- but it would have no followed the path it had.

Pixar is truly one of the greatest studios that knows how to animate in the most breathtaking manor, develop interesting (and sometimes un-usual) characters and tug at the heart strings so strongly that can leave even the strongest of person tearing up before the credits roll.

Nostalgic is perhaps the greatest single word to sum up Toy Story. It might have been twenty-years now for us, but the magic is still strong and with the fourth film coming in 2017 we see that there is an even larger road ahead for Woody. Buzz and company. Until then, well, we have the first three films to watch on repeat.

Happy twentieth anniversary, toys. And thank-you for being such a large part of so many childhoods.

Join the conversation: What are you memories in regards to Toy Story? Eager for the fourth chapter?