Toy Story (1995)
★★★★½ — Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story arrived in November 1995 as the first feature-length film to be produced entirely in computer-generated animation, a genuinely historic technical milestone for a medium that had previously used CGI only in supporting bursts. John Lasseter, who had already directed the celebrated short Luxo Jr. (1986) at Pixar, shepherded the project through a famously difficult production that included a shutdown period in 1993 when Disney executives felt the characters were too unlikeable, requiring a substantial creative rethink. Pixar, still a relatively small outfit at the time, made the film in partnership with Disney on a modest $30 million budget, and the picture went on to gross over $400 million worldwide, effectively rewriting the commercial logic of studio animation for the decade that followed.
If you’d asked me twenty years ago, I’d have called this a flawless 5-star masterpiece. This film didn’t just kick off one of the greatest animated franchises of all time; it launched an entire era of 3D animation. And considering it actually released a Megadrive (genesis) game, yeah, it’s nothing short of revolutionary. It’s wild to think how much technology has advanced since then. Watching it now, some of the textures and facial animation feel dated compared to what Pixar themselves would go on to do. But here’s the thing: it still works . The story is tight, clever, and full of heart. The characters (Woody, Buzz, Potato Head, Rex) are so well-written they’ve become cultural touchstones. And the emotional beats still land like they always did. I’ve watched it with my kids more times than I can count, and every time, it still feels fresh. It’s got jokes for the adults, action for the kids, and a surprisingly deep message about friendship, change, and growing up. Sure, by today’s standards it might not dazzle visually, but Toy Story was never about the pixels. It was about storytelling, innovation, and proving that cartoons could be serious art. And in that respect, it absolutely nailed it. A pioneer. A classic. A must-watch. Just don’t hand me another Buzz Lightyear toy unless it actually does something.
Rating: ★★★★½ | Year: 1995 | Watched: 2025-05-14
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Sky Store
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK
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Related on Movies With Macca
More from John Lasseter: Toy Story 2 (1999) · Cars (2006)
More with Tom Hanks: Toy Story 4 (2019) · Inferno (2016) · Angels & Demons (2009) · The Da Vinci Code (2006)
More from the 1990s: Lessons of Darkness (1992) · Shinjuku Boys (1995) · Blue (1993) · Cemetery Man (1994)
More family: Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Wonder (2017) · Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005) · Anastasia (1997)
More comedy: The Eagle (1925) · The General (1926) · Americana (2023) · The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
