TOY STORY (1995) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - John Lasseter

 

Written by - John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, Joe Ranft, Joss Whedon, Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow

 

Starring - Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles

 

 

 

"Toys came to life in this 1995 animated feature that made the genre’s history. Although Walt Disney had kept producing high quality films since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – in fact in the early nineties had experienced an invigorating rebirth that had won it acclaim and success come award season as well – its new partnership with Pixar was to revolutionise the house of mouse and the world of animation forever. The technique of computer 3D animation would infact set its standards and shape the audience’s newfound tastes. But apart from the undoubtable technological achievement presented in Toy Story, the true magic of the film lays at its core with a plot very original that plays around a common childhood fantasy of toys coming to life when nobody is looking. Here hence, we are introduced to the gang that would make for a great series of films – Andy’s toys headed by a cowboy named Woody who is his owner’s favourite and the gang’s undisputed leader. However, when Andy’s birthday comes, his mom buys him a modern film spaceman named Buzz Lightyear who threatens to take his top spot. The characters are quite colourful, the screenplay is amazingly creative and its blend of adventure with laugh out loud comedy is so well balanced that it puts the majority of live action films to shame. But, as hinted earlier, the secret of Lasseter’s film is that it deals with enthusiasm and a hint of nostalgia with a childish fantasy and imagination. And aside from the excitement and the humour, it is plain to see the Toy Story is a movie with a heart of gold that will genuinely appeal with young and old."

 

 

Animation, USA