On November 22, 1995, Toy Story debuted in theaters, marking the first computer-animated movie to be released. Beginning Friday, September 12, you can once again see Toy Story on the big screen to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The story centers on Woody, a cowboy doll voiced by Tom Hanks, who becomes jealous when a flashy new space ranger toy, Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Tim Allen, becomes their owner Andy’s new favorite.
“Toy Story” easily became one of the highest-grossing films of 1995. According to a June 2022 newsletter from the Oscars, when the movie was released, “animation was changed forever.”
“The genre, known for transporting audiences to new worlds, was up until that point mostly hand-drawn, using techniques made popular by Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros,” the newsletter says. “But when Disney joined forces with Pixar — a then-up-and-coming computer animation studio chaired by Steve Jobs — for ‘Toy Story,’ the first computer-animated feature film was born, and a new world of film was unlocked.”
Because of the success of the first Toy Story movie, several sequels were released — “Toy Story 2” in 1999, “Toy Story 3″ in 2010, and “Toy Story 4” in 2019. “Toy Story 5” was confirmed in February 2023 with Andrew Stanton writing and directing the movie. The movie is scheduled for release in theaters on June 19, 2026.
The Toy Story franchise has even inspired multiple themed lands and attractions at Disney Parks around the world. Toy Story Midway Mania opened in June 2008 at Disney California Adventure Park. The first Toy Story themed land opened at Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris Resort on August 17, 2010. Toy Story Land in Hong Kong opened on November 17, 2011. Toy Story Land in Shanghai opened on April 26, 2018, while Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World opened two months later on June 30, 2018.
You can even meet and greet the Toy Story characters at many Disney Parks around the world, as well as see them in various entertainment options including parades and shows. Rex the Dinosaur is the latest character you can meet. You can see him daily in Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure Park.
What do you think about the re-release of “Toy Story” in theaters? Did you see “Toy Story” during its initial theatrical release in 1995? Let us know in the comments.
