Matt O’Connor
It’s one of the biggest pop culture franchises of all time, and it’s been more than 30 years since the first Toy Story came out back in 1995. As Pixar’s flagship series, Toy Story’s impact on the world of animation and movies in general cannot be overstated. Generations of fans have grown up watching Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang. This franchise now has over 30 years of history to its name, so let’s take a look back at how this group of toys have captured the hearts of so many people over the years.
Toy Story (1995)
As the film that kickstarted not just the franchise but Pixar’s reputation as a legendary animation studio, the first Toy Story revolutionized the animation medium being the first ever feature film completely created with computer animation. Sheriff Woody and the rest of the toys are surprised when Andy receives a new toy for his birthday, a benighted spaceman named Buzz Lightyear. The Toy Story cast is such an iconic bunch, with the banter turned bond between Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz being a major highlight of the franchise. In addition to the main dynamic duo, the other toys in Andy’s room make up the rest of the cast. You’ve got Mr. Potato Head, Rex the Dinosaur, Bo Peep, the squishy aliens, and many others. Woody and Buzz go on an adventure of monumental proportions as they end up in the clutches of Andy’s mean neighbor Sid. The sheriff and the spaceman’s antics never get old, and the “falling with style” is one of the most iconic scenes from Pixar’s repertoire. Although it’s definitely shown its age visually, the first Toy Story still is and will always remain a timeless classic that cemented the power of 3D animation in the world of cinema.
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Four years later, Toy Story 2 was released. Despite numerous production issues early on, Pixar knocked it out of the park once again. In this film, Woody ends up in the hands of a greedy toy collector who plans to sell him off to a toy exhibit on the other side of the world. We’re also introduced to the Woody’s Roundup gang. Woody’s horse Bullseye, the old prospector Stinky Pete, and Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Joan Cusack as Jessie is one of the the highlights of the film, especially with the somber scene revealing her backstory. Meanwhile, Buzz leads a rescue party to find where Woody is to bring him home. The comedic moments with the group are some of the best in the whole series, especially when another Buzz Lightyear shows up and takes Buzz’s place. This film’s climax is quite memorable as well, with Buzz and Bullseye chasing an airplane about to take off to help Woody and Jessie escape. Toy Story 2 keeps the same charm of the original and builds off of it to make for a sequel that delivers in every single area.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
After almost a decade in the making, Toy Story 3 released in 2010 and was set up to be the emotional conclusion to the franchise and its characters. Now in college, Andy has outgrown the toys. The gang end up being donated to Sunnyside Daycare and are content with staying there, but Woody refuses and leaves on his own. But as it turns out, Sunnyside isn’t as “sunny” as it seems, as the place is run by Lots-o’ Huggin Bear, who was abandoned and replaced by his owner. This film has by far the most emotional and tear jerking moments out of the whole series. Like with the previous film, the climax is one of the film’s best scenes. The toys end up in a dumpster and fall into an incinerator. But the aliens swoop in at the last second and save them all with a giant claw. By the end of the film, Andy gives the toys to a young girl named Bonnie. As one chapter closed for the toys, a new one had just begun. Like the other two films, Toy Story 3 was critically and commercially successful. While many were content with this being the last hurrah for the gang, their story was far from over.
Toy Story 4 (2019)
The fourth entry in the Toy Story saga released in 2019, as the gang ends up at a traveling carnival and meets a whole host of whacky new characters. The main newbie this time around is Forky, a plastic fork with googly eyes that Bonnie made in Arts and Crafts. While Woody ends up getting separated from the rest of the gang, he stumbles upon an old friend, Bo Peep. The two go on an adventure of their own to find the toys that have been lost or abandoned and give them a new home. By the end of the film, Woody decides to stay with Bo Peep, and the toys have an emotional goodbye with the Sheriff. While not as critically beloved as the original trilogy, Toy Story 4 was still an enjoyable film throughout.
Toy Story 5 (2026)
And now we come to the present day, and a fifth installment of the Toy Story franchise is on the way. From the details we know now, this film will revolve around the gang dealing with the advent of accessible technology. The main villain of the film will be a sentient iPad named Lilypad, and Conan O’Brien is set to make his Toy Story debut with the comedian stepping into the role of the potty training toy Smarty Pants. Toy Story 5 is scheduled to be released next year on June 19th.
To Infinity…and Beyond!
Toy Story is one of those franchises that continues to span across generations, with the stories that are told and the characters that we’ve been following have been and will continue to be perpetual. From humble beginnings as a project by an up and coming animation studio, to one of the best and biggest franchises in the world, Toy Story has truly grown to infinity and will go even further beyond. These characters have got friends in all of us.
