Toy Story
Pixar's Toy Story was the first fully computer-animated feature film, directed by John Lasseter and starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as mismatched toys Woody and Buzz. Released November 1995, it reinvented animation and launched a franchise that still dominates 30 years later.
Toy Story hit theaters on November 22, 1995, after years of development by Pixar, the computer-graphics subdivision of Lucasfilm that Steve Jobs had bought and spun out as an independent company. Directed by John Lasseter, the film told the story of Woody, an old-fashioned cowboy doll voiced by Tom Hanks, and Buzz Lightyear, a Space Ranger action figure voiced by Tim Allen. Every frame was computer-rendered—revolutionary and risky in an industry built on cel animation.
The film was distributed by Disney and broke every expectation. Critics praised its humor, heart, and technical innovation. The story was tight, the characters instantly lovable, and the animation fluid enough to sell the illusion of life. It became the highest-grossing film of 1995 in North America and grossed over $360 million worldwide. More importantly, it proved computer animation could tell big, meaningful stories—a revelation that reshaped the entire industry. Pixar went on to become one of cinema's most successful studios, and Toy Story became the launchpad for sequels and spin-offs that still release today.
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