Genre Animation

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Item: Toy Story 2
Rating: 4.5
Author: Ross McLaren

★★★★½ — Toy Story 2 (1999)

By the late 1990s, Pixar had already changed what audiences expected from animated films. Toy Story, released in 1995 and also directed by John Lasseter, had been the first fully computer-animated feature film, and the question hanging over any follow-up was whether lightning could strike twice, or whether a sequel would simply coast on the goodwill the original had generated. Toy Story 2 arrived in 1999 with something to prove, and it did so in front of a global audience that was already emotionally attached to these characters. The premise this time centres on Woody being snatched by Al McWhiggen, an obsessive toy collector with an eye for rare merchandise, while the rest of Andy's toys stage a rescue mission across a busy city. It is a film about belonging, about what it means to be loved and, in a roundabout way, about the strange psychology of collecting (something any toy-buying adult will find uncomfortably familiar).

Lasseter, who had shepherded Pixar's output through its formative years and also directed Cars, brought a noticeably more confident hand to the production. The animation was a genuine step forward from the original, with richer environments and more expressive character work, reflecting both the rapid pace of development at Pixar and the studio's growing ambition. Tom Hanks returns as Woody alongside Tim Allen's Buzz Lightyear, and the two retain the easy, lived-in chemistry that made the first film work so well. New additions to the cast include Joan Cusack as Jessie, a cowgirl with a history of her own, and Kelsey Grammer as Stinky Pete, while Don Rickles reprises his role as the reliably prickly Mr Potato Head. It is a polished but unpredictable ensemble, and the newcomers slot in without making the film feel crowded. For animation fans curious about other films from this period, it is worth knowing that Pixar's output sits in rather different territory to, say, the hand-drawn work reviewed elsewhere on the site, such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which came out just three years earlier from a very different tradition.

Honestly think this is better than the first one. The inclusion of Jesse and Bullseye are great at moving the direction of this on. The toy collectors from Al's toy barn is great as a hapless villain. The graphics are so much better than the first too.

And I'd stand by that verdict without much hesitation. There is something genuinely refreshing about a sequel that does not simply retread familiar ground but actually earns its place in the series, and Toy Story 2 manages that without making a fuss about it. Jessie in particular brings a different kind of emotional weight to the story, and her backstory is the sort of thing that catches you off guard if you are not expecting it. If you have already read my thoughts on Toy Story 4, you will know the franchise has had its ups and downs in the years since, which makes coming back to this one feel all the more satisfying. Sometimes the second film really is the best one, and this might just be the proof.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Year: 1999 | Watched: 2025-05-15

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Trailer

▶ Watch the official trailer for Toy Story 2 (1999) on YouTube

Where to watch

Watch in the 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 · Zavvi

Watch in the US
Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Amazon Video · Apple TV Store · Google Play Movies · YouTube
Buy: Amazon Video · Apple TV Store · Google Play Movies · YouTube
Physical: Amazon US

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