Toy Story (1995)

In 1995, the concept of a feature-length computer-animated feature was probably about as likely to audiences as a feature-length hand-drawn animated feature was in 1937.  In 1937, Walt Disney premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.  In 1995, Disney and Pixar produced Toy Story.

Toy Story in many ways established the Pixar brand.  The cast was made up primarily of actors with distinct voices and personalities, not huge name marquee celebrities.  Yes, there was Tom Hanks as Woody, but after him was Tim Allen, still mainly the star of TV's Home Improvement and whose film credits were largely limited to the starring role in The Santa Clause from the year before.  After that is a series of actors with distinct voices but none of which seemed likely to open a movie all by him or herself:  Don Rickles, soon-to-be Pixar regular John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, R. Lee Ermey, Wallace Shawn, and Jim Varney.  Varney had been the main star for a film series, but was probably better known as the character of Ernest P. Worrel than by his own name.  The voices were all distinct and well-chosen for each of their required roles.

Likewise, despite the appeal of good animation, the story came first.  The core concept of what life is like for a child's playthings, toys that are eventually outgrown, and how they might feel about that, is explored as well as could be (a theme that would continue for each of the sequels too as the child/owner continues to get older and the toys fret about being lost or never played with again).  There is, as should be expected of Pixar, a moment when a character reaches the lowest low, though here Buzz Lightyear realizing he really doesn't fly isn't anywhere on the caliber of, say, an old man's heartbreak in the opening minutes of Up.  The characters emerge fully formed in a single movie, with Woody being at first jealous but basically a good soul, Buzz being confused about what he actually is, and the antagonistic, Rickles-voiced Mr. Potato Head causing problems and leading the other toys, including loyal Slinky Dog and besmitted Little Bo Peep, away from Woody when he needs them the most.  Of course Woody and Buzz end the movie the best of friends, but that's to be expected.

That said, like a good TV series trying to figure itself out in the early episodes, this first Pixar movie can be a bit of a shock when it is compared to anything the studio has put out the last few years.  The details to Merida's frizzy hair, the vast view of space from WALL-E, or even the marionette show Woody watches of himself in Toy Story 2 are still not in the technological cards yet.  Movie villains Sid and his dog Scud look rather bad, and backgrounds look flat in comparison to what's to come.  There's still some great details, like Buzz seeing his own reflection as he looks around Andy's room for the first time, but the studio will do better with its future features.

Plus, truth be told, the film pulls out a few too many Randy Newman songs.

All in all, the movie holds up rather well, establishes the quality and voice of the Pixar brand, and manages to make the view care what a cowboy doll and a space man action figure are going through.  Not a bad accomplishment for any first time studio.