An Analysis of Toy Story

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Toy Story Analysis

Toy Story is the groundbreaking 1995 motion picture developed by Disney and Pixar and directed by John Lasseter. The film was so revolutionary not only because it was the first feature length animation to be created completely by CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) but also, also the film was more rounded in all respects. The characters not only looked more sophisticated and three-dimensional but their personalities were also more human and fewer cartoons like. The film uses a constructed text in order to put across a theme of two very different characters learning to work together beyond their rivalries to rise above a common enemy and work towards a common goal. The film uses characters and imagery very cleverly to portray this theme. The music used in the film is also different to other Disney features. Rather than the characters bursting into song themselves as in Aladdin or Hercules, the songs are played and sung by an outside person (Randy Newman) and reflect the mood and emotions of the characters in a particular scene. For example, the title sequence song “Friend in Me”, when Woody and Andy are playing together, and the scene where Andy’s room has been made over to a Buzz Lightyear theme, “Strange Things” where the song reflects Woody’s confusion and fear not only about the change in his surroundings but also the change in his friends and his own character and self-confidence. The attention to the smallest detail for example the reflections in Buzz’s visor give the film even more realism and depth. The use of unusual and imaginative camera angles, made possible by the use of CGI, also adds to the texture and pace of the film.

The film is then set against the background of toys. Woody voiced by Tom Hanks is the favourite toy of a little boy called Andy. However on Andy’s birthday he receives a new toy: Buzz Lightyear voiced by Tim Allen. This leads to a massive shift in roles with Woody being alienated not only by Andy but by the rest of his toys who once looked up to him as an authority figure and role model. However rather than them switching their allegiance from Woody to Buzz it is more a result of Woody’s own insecurity turning him into a bully than Buzz’s arrival which makes the other toys turn on him. However they both learn that when Woody pushes them into a difficult situation they aren’t so different from each other af...

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...ene: we learn Andy is moving homes, Woody’s position as Andy’s favourite toy, it’s Andy’s birthday party and that the rest of the toys are afraid of being replaced. The scene is also full of humour, which is consistent with the whole film. Much of this is more subtle humour like, Woody’s microphone is called Mike and Woody praises a seminar hosted by Mr. Spell, which by definition is an educational toy. The attention to detail in this scene is also evident. Most of the frames in which Woody is in, he is central to the shot. This again shows just important a character Woody is.

In conclusion, I feel that Toy Story is a much more advanced film when compared to some of Disney’s other animated films. Apart from the obvious technological advances made in animation technology, it also appeals on a much deeper level. The camera angles and techniques used help to add to the “realism” of the film but still give it an edge of the unreal. The way it appeals on all levels to both adults and children is helped by the fact that there is no clean-cut good and evil and even the good characters aren’t perfect. This is something that Toy Story has over even its followers such as “A Bug’s Life”.

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