For many of us, growing up meant watching Toy Story. The hit children’s animation aired back in 1995, featuring Tim Allen and Tom Hanks.
Toy Story is a magical story about a toy named Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), who feels threatened when his owner receives a new, more exciting toy—an astronaut figurine named Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen). As Woody’s jealousy grows, he devises a plan to get rid of Buzz once and for all, but things don’t go as he expected. There’s chaos and things take a turn for the worse when the toys get lost. The film is action-packed and filled with heartwarming moments.
Toy Story is the first feature film from Pixar and was directed by John Lasseter, and written by Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow. The film was the highest-grossing movie of its opening weekend and went on to earn over $373 million worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 1995. It also received widespread critical acclaim.
For fans of the movie, here are some interesting facts about the Toy Story you probably didn’t know about.
The Surprising Reason Tom Hanks and Tim Allen Joined Toy Story
Tom Hanks has previously discussed the reason why he chose to have a part in the popular movie, admitting he felt connected to the plot. He once confessed that he had always thought his toy could move when he was younger. Meanwhile, Tim Allen felt he wanted to star in the film after his biggest influence Chevy Chase turned down the movie.
The Production Process
What some fans will be surprised to know is that only 110 people work on the set of Toy Story. An astonishingly small team when compared to the 800-strong workforce behind The Lion King (1994).
Toy Story Stands Alone Until The Incredibles
Toy Story became Pixar’s only film to be directed solely by John Lasseter, without a co-director. This was until The Incredibles arrived nearly a decade later in 2004.
Shortest Movie in The Franchise
At just 81 minutes, Toy Story remains the shortest film in the franchise and the shortest Pixar movie to date. In an era when animated films often ran much longer, this concise runtime was a bold move.
Another interesting behind-the-scenes fact is that the film needed 800,000 machine hours and 114,240 animation frames in total.
An Iconic Toy Story Location
Pizza Planet was a key feature in Toy Story. In the movie, we see Woody and Buzz visit the arcade/restaurant after they are abandoned at the Dinoco gas station. Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toy get up to mayhem. However what we know as the beloved Pizza Planet in Toy Story was actually called the”Pizza Putt,” a combination of pizzeria and mini-golf course.
A Nod to Pixar’s’ Early Short Films
If you take a closer look at the bookshelf in Andy’s bedroom, you’ll spot a collection of books with the titles: Tin Toy (1988), Knick Knack (1989), Red’s Dream (1987), and Luxo Jr. (1986).
However, these aren’t just random book titles – they are references to some of Pixar’s earliest animated short films from the 1980s.
Another Cool Fact
Toy Story has cemented its place in pop culture. However, it also made history as the first-ever fully computer-animated motion picture.
Doubts from Executives
Nothing was ever plain sailing behind the set of Toy Story – including doubts about the movie’s likelihood of success from executive producer and Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs. But thankfully as production was underway, Steve had second thoughts and was excited about the project, believing that it would be a milestone in motion picture history.
Did you also know that Peep’s character in Toy Story celebrates the classic fairy tale “The Shepherdess and The Sweep” (1849) by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen? In Andersen’s story, like in Toy Story, toys come to life when their owners aren’t looking.
Disney’s Musical Push vs. Lasseter’s Vision
Okay here’s something that’s hard to imagine. Toy Story almost became a musical! This had been Disney’s original idea but writer John Lasseter was against it.
Stange Names for Characters
Buzz Lightyear is a memorable character in the film. His voice and mannerisms are hilarious and iconic. However, strangely he was originally going to be named Lunar Larry.
Casting decisions
Here are some actors who have auditioned for a role in Toy Story. Bill Murray, Jim Carrey, and Chevy Chase were considered for the role of Buzz Lightyear. Meanwhile, Rick Moranis was considered to voice Rex the Dinosaur.
Woody and Buzz Lightyear share their first names with classic cartoon characters Woody Woodpecker and his nemesis Buzz Buzzard.