Toy Story of Terror! (2013)
★★★ — Toy Story of Terror! (2013)
Within the vast catalogue of Pixar and Disney's output, the shorter spin-off or special feature often gets overlooked in favour of the main theatrical releases. Toy Story of Terror!, released in October 2013 as a television special broadcast on ABC, is a case in point. Clocking in at just twenty-two minutes, it is a seasonal detour rather than a full chapter, designed to sit comfortably alongside a bowl of Halloween sweets rather than on the big screen. The premise follows Bonnie's toys on a road trip that goes sideways when a stop at a roadside motel turns into something considerably more unsettling than anyone bargained for. It is a neat, contained little idea, and the kind of genre riff that Pixar's writers have always enjoyed: taking a familiar setting from adult popular culture and filtering it through the perspective of playthings with their own rules, fears, and loyalties.
The special was directed by Angus MacLane, a Pixar veteran who had worked as an animator and supervising animator on a string of the studio's features before stepping into the director's chair here. It was a co-production between Pixar, Disney Television Animation, and Walt Disney Pictures, and the production values are, by the standards of short-form television animation, genuinely polished. The horror-comedy framing is no accident either: MacLane has spoken publicly about his enthusiasm for genre filmmaking, and there is a clear affection in the way the special borrows the visual language of B-movies and classic monster pictures without ever tipping into something inappropriate for its family audience. The script keeps things brisk, which at twenty-two minutes it rather has to, but it also uses the brevity to its advantage by keeping the focus tight and the pacing crisp.
The returning voice cast is a considerable part of the appeal. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprise their roles as Woody and Buzz respectively, though the special takes the interesting choice of giving more room to some of the supporting players. Joan Cusack returns as Jessie, a role she has made her own across the franchise (her earlier appearances in Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 established the character's place at the heart of the series), and Stephen Tobolowsky joins the cast in a new role. Carl Weathers also appears, lending his reliably warm screen presence to proceedings in a way that suits the slightly heightened, genre-aware tone of the piece.
Toy Story of Terror is a fun, spooky twist on the beloved Toy Story formula, swapping epic adventures for a cozy, Halloween-themed thriller set in a roadside motel. When Bonnie’s toys get accidentally left behind during a road trip, they find themselves trapped in a creepy inn where disappearing toys and flickering lights make them suspect something sinister is afoot. The atmosphere is just scary enough for kids (think shadows, suspense, and Mr. Potato Head as a noir detective) but still packed with the humour and heart we expect from Pixar. It’s clever, well-paced, and full of great character moments, especially for Jessie, who takes charge with her usual fiery energy. While it doesn’t reach the emotional highs of the main films, it’s a solid little horror-comedy that plays like a love letter to B-movie tropes and classic monster movies. The animation is sharp, the gags are spot-on, and it’s refreshing to see the toys shine without Woody or Buzz stealing every scene. It’s not essential, but as a Halloween treat or a quick family watch, it delivers exactly what it promises: chills, laughs, and toy-sized bravery. Light, fun, and perfectly spooky.
What strikes me looking back on it is how well the special understands its own limitations and works squarely within them. For my money, the decision to foreground Jessie rather than leaning on Woody or Buzz is the smartest call MacLane makes, and it gives the whole thing a slightly different energy to the main films. It is the sort of short that rewards putting on when you want something familiar but with just enough of a twist to keep it from feeling like you have simply seen it all before. I would happily watch it again come October, probably with the lights off and something warm to drink. Sometimes twenty-two minutes is exactly the right length for a story.
Rating: ★★★ | Year: 2013 | Watched: 2025-09-25
Trailer
▶ Watch the official trailer for Toy Story of Terror! (2013) on YouTube
Where to watch
Watch in the UK
Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Rakuten TV
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video
Physical: Amazon UK · Zavvi
Watch in the US
Stream: Disney Plus
Buy: Amazon Video · Apple TV Store · Fandango At Home
Physical: Amazon US
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