Toy Story
Director: John Lasseter
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Morris, Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, John Ratzenberger, Erik von Detten, Laurie Metcalf, Annie Potts
Woody (Tom Hanks), a good-hearted cowboy doll who belongs to a young boy named Andy (John Morris), sees his position as Andy's favorite toy jeopardized when Andy’s mother buys her son a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure for his birthday. Even worse, Buzz believes that he is a real Space Ranger, on a mission to return to his home planet and save the galaxy from an evil nemesis. While Andy's family prepare to move to a new house, Woody and Buzz must escape the clutches of maladjusted neighbor Sid Phillips (Erik von Detten) and reunite with their boy.
Identity plays a strong, symbolic role in the film, and nowhere is identity more perfectly illustrated, than in the characters of Woody and Buzz and the bond they share with their owner, Andy.
When Woody and Buzz first meet, their identities are clearly established. Woody’s identity is that of Andy’s favorite toy. His mantra is that as Andy’s favorite, it is Woody’s duty to be there for Andy. He is also the unspoken leader of the toys residing in Andy’s bedroom. Woody finds himself feeling very jealous and insecure, however, when Andy gets a Buzz Lightyear toy for his birthday. While Woody is initially steadfast in his belief that he is still Andy’s favorite toy, his fear of being replaced is soon realized, when Andy begins spending more time with Buzz than with Woody. Woody being Andy’s favorite toy is illustrated by the fact that Woody is the only toy to have Andy's name written on him. So, when Buzz is also inscribed with Andy’s name, it hurts Woody deeply and only confirms his fear that he has, indeed, been replaced as Andy's favorite toy. Woody is so jealous and insecure because he thinks that Buzz has replaced him as Andy's favorite, but notice, when Andy notices that Woody is missing from the car, he is worried about Woody being gone. When Andy goes to bed that night, he misses both of his toys, and Bo Peep sees Andy holding his special cowboy hat as he sleeps because he's so worried about Woody. When Buzz and Woody escape from Sid’s house, they land in the car and Andy is and he's happy to see both of his toys…not just Buzz. and he hugs both Buzz and Woody.
In the beginning, Buzz believes that his identity is that of a Space Ranger; a noble hero, who is tasked with protecting the galaxy from the Evil Emperor Zurg. Buzz shifts into a new identity as Andy's favorite toy as he spends more time in Andy’s bedroom. This is illustrated when Andy prints his name on Buzz's boot (a privilege that, up until this point, has only been shared between Andy and Woody.) And even after Woody pushes Buzz out the window, Buzz still maintains that he is a Space Ranger. His identity is completely shattered when Buzz sees the commercial for the Buzz Lightyear toy on Sid's television and he realizes the truth...that he is not a Space Ranger at all...he is just a toy. Woody tells Buzz that he is Andy's toy, and it is being Andy’s toy…not being a Space Ranger…that makes Buzz special to Andy. It is in this moment, that Buzz looks at Andy's name again, and realizes that Woody is right. It is only after Woody and Buzz go on their adventure alone, that their jealous and insecure rivalry is transformed into a sincere respect and friendship, and they realize that they can both be Andy’s favorite toy.
Toy Story still holds up as being the first chapter in one of Pixar’s best animated film trilogies, to date. While the story is quite simple, the characters are endearing, and the core message is one that both children and adults can appreciate. For being the first film in history to be a fully CGI-animated film, the animation is the most vibrantly creative and visually stunning work that Pixar has produced. I appreciate the journey that Woody and Buzz embarked on even more, watching this movie as an adult. The casting is stellar, particularly for Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, who bring the characters of Woody and Buzz to life onscreen. Toy Story is easily one of the crown jewels in Pixar’s animated canon. I would highly recommend this film.
© 2022 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: John Lasseter
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Morris, Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, John Ratzenberger, Erik von Detten, Laurie Metcalf, Annie Potts
Woody (Tom Hanks), a good-hearted cowboy doll who belongs to a young boy named Andy (John Morris), sees his position as Andy's favorite toy jeopardized when Andy’s mother buys her son a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure for his birthday. Even worse, Buzz believes that he is a real Space Ranger, on a mission to return to his home planet and save the galaxy from an evil nemesis. While Andy's family prepare to move to a new house, Woody and Buzz must escape the clutches of maladjusted neighbor Sid Phillips (Erik von Detten) and reunite with their boy.
Identity plays a strong, symbolic role in the film, and nowhere is identity more perfectly illustrated, than in the characters of Woody and Buzz and the bond they share with their owner, Andy.
When Woody and Buzz first meet, their identities are clearly established. Woody’s identity is that of Andy’s favorite toy. His mantra is that as Andy’s favorite, it is Woody’s duty to be there for Andy. He is also the unspoken leader of the toys residing in Andy’s bedroom. Woody finds himself feeling very jealous and insecure, however, when Andy gets a Buzz Lightyear toy for his birthday. While Woody is initially steadfast in his belief that he is still Andy’s favorite toy, his fear of being replaced is soon realized, when Andy begins spending more time with Buzz than with Woody. Woody being Andy’s favorite toy is illustrated by the fact that Woody is the only toy to have Andy's name written on him. So, when Buzz is also inscribed with Andy’s name, it hurts Woody deeply and only confirms his fear that he has, indeed, been replaced as Andy's favorite toy. Woody is so jealous and insecure because he thinks that Buzz has replaced him as Andy's favorite, but notice, when Andy notices that Woody is missing from the car, he is worried about Woody being gone. When Andy goes to bed that night, he misses both of his toys, and Bo Peep sees Andy holding his special cowboy hat as he sleeps because he's so worried about Woody. When Buzz and Woody escape from Sid’s house, they land in the car and Andy is and he's happy to see both of his toys…not just Buzz. and he hugs both Buzz and Woody.
In the beginning, Buzz believes that his identity is that of a Space Ranger; a noble hero, who is tasked with protecting the galaxy from the Evil Emperor Zurg. Buzz shifts into a new identity as Andy's favorite toy as he spends more time in Andy’s bedroom. This is illustrated when Andy prints his name on Buzz's boot (a privilege that, up until this point, has only been shared between Andy and Woody.) And even after Woody pushes Buzz out the window, Buzz still maintains that he is a Space Ranger. His identity is completely shattered when Buzz sees the commercial for the Buzz Lightyear toy on Sid's television and he realizes the truth...that he is not a Space Ranger at all...he is just a toy. Woody tells Buzz that he is Andy's toy, and it is being Andy’s toy…not being a Space Ranger…that makes Buzz special to Andy. It is in this moment, that Buzz looks at Andy's name again, and realizes that Woody is right. It is only after Woody and Buzz go on their adventure alone, that their jealous and insecure rivalry is transformed into a sincere respect and friendship, and they realize that they can both be Andy’s favorite toy.
Toy Story still holds up as being the first chapter in one of Pixar’s best animated film trilogies, to date. While the story is quite simple, the characters are endearing, and the core message is one that both children and adults can appreciate. For being the first film in history to be a fully CGI-animated film, the animation is the most vibrantly creative and visually stunning work that Pixar has produced. I appreciate the journey that Woody and Buzz embarked on even more, watching this movie as an adult. The casting is stellar, particularly for Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, who bring the characters of Woody and Buzz to life onscreen. Toy Story is easily one of the crown jewels in Pixar’s animated canon. I would highly recommend this film.
© 2022 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.