Kicking off this Easter weekend in quarantine, I'm looking at Pixar's first feature-length film, and the first to be entirely computer animated.
Toy Story takes place in a world where toys come to life when humans aren't present, and follows one such group of toys owned by a kid named Andy Davis. Tom Hanks voices Sheriff Woody, a pull-string cowboy doll who occupies pride of place as Andy's favourite toy, and serves as the de facto leader of the other toys. The inciting incident occurs when the toys learn that Andy's birthday party is happening sooner than expected, as the family is planning to move house. It's here that Andy receives a new toy; Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger action figure voiced by Tim Allen. Unaware that he's a toy, Buzz becomes increasingly popular with both Andy and the toys, prompting a jealous Woody to try and regain his standing. When this backfires and Buzz is lost, Woody is cast out by the other toys. He tries to convince Buzz to come back with him, but they both end up at the home of Sid Phillips, Andy's sociopathic neighbour with a reputation for mistreating toys.
I think the world this film creates allows for a lot of imagination, stemming from how toys see the world differently to us.
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen share some great chemistry as Woody and Buzz, who both undergo major transformations. Woody initially envies Buzz, and they're at odds when Woody is unable to convince Buzz that he's a toy. Buzz eventually learns the truth, and sinks into a deep depression (getting drunk off imaginary tea - go figure) until Woody is able to help him out of it. Admittedly, this does lead to one question: Does every toy think they're real at first? They'd all find out sooner or later if that's the case, so is it a rite of passage?
While the focus is on Woody and Buzz, the other toys also get their moments to shine. These include: Rex, a cowardly plastic dinosaur voiced by Wallace Shawn; Mr Potato Head, a snarky and cynical potato doll with removable body parts, voiced by Don Rickles; and Hamm, a smart-mouthed piggy bank voiced by John Ratzenberger. They all get the best lines, and serve as minor antagonists when Woody seemingly disposes of Buzz.
There's also an interesting message about judging appearance; Woody and Buzz encounter various "Frankenstein"-like toys Sid has built out of mixed-and-matched parts. They don't speak (presumably they've been traumatised), and their monstrous appearance leads the pair to fear them. That is, until they actually repair Buzz after a failed escape attempt.
To be honest, I can't really find any glaring issues about the film without nitpicking. If there's anything particularly glaring, it's the fact that the toys look more lifelike than the human characters. But that's excused, since it's the first film of its kind and bound to make a couple of mistakes with the animation.
That's about it. I'll see you tomorrow for the next film.
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