Directed by John Lasseter, Pixar Animation Studios’ popular animated adventure comedy movie Toy Story for Disney is the first installment in the Toy Story franchise. It is also the first computer-animated feature film based on the story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, and Joe Ranft. It followed the relationship between the old-fashioned pull-string cowboy doll Woody and the modern space cadet action figure Buzz Lightyear.
Upon release, the movie received critical acclaim with praises for direction, story, and the fact that it appealed to all age groups. Toy Story is regarded as one of the best-animated films ever made and has attained the status of one of the most important films in the medium’s history. Animator and Pixar co-chief creative officer Pete Docter recently addressed the 30 years of Toy Story.
Pixar co-chief creative officer Pete Docter admits to being amazed that Disney’s Toy Story is still on top
It’s going to be 30 years since the audience fell in love with Woody and Buzz Lightyear’s cute banter in Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story. The movie is not only regarded as one of the most beloved animated movies but also the first computer-animated feature film.
In a recent conversation with THR, Pixar co-chief creative officer Pete Docter shared that when they were making the movie, they did not anticipate that the movie would hit popular culture. He noted that he still gets amazed that the movie is still on the list of top movies on Disney+.
Recalling the time when they were working on the movie, Docter further commented:
Working on it, it was just a bunch of us nerds. It felt like working in our garage. It was a whole rental space, not really fancy, and a small team, so it was very casual and loose. Thirty years later you look at it, and to be honest, it sort of looks like a video game now given how far computer animation has come.
The creative officer mentioned that according to him, it’s just a testament to great acting and they had great actors to voice their characters, and the right animation. He added that it was enough to get people to fall in love with the characters with noting that it’s crazy to think that it’s been 30 years already.
Tom Hanks voiced the character of Woody, and Tim Allen voiced the character of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story which went onto gross $394.4 million worldwide. When asked what stood out the most to him when he was working on the movie, Docter said one of the reasons why he’s into this whole thing is because of Disneyland.
He explained that they animated the whole movie, but it’s all kind of virtual, and so to be able to walk around in a space at Disneyland Park is like they’ve had this weird dream and now it’s real.
Pete Docter talks about the future of animation with AI
Artificial Intelligence is the most growing technology in every field, so, Pete Docter was asked about his view on the future of animation in regards to artificial intelligence during his conversation with THR. He said that the industry is at this weird crossroads or a new horizon, which is not new anymore. He further explained,
I think we are at a place now where two, or three generations have grown up on Toy Story specifically. And so what’s going to be new and surprising to them, I think we’re always trying to reach for that. We’ve got some cool stuff in the works.
The animator shared with the publication that Toy Story was a real game changer for a lot of his peers who studied hand-drawn animation, and that’s what they thought. Pete Docter added that he thinks AI is a great tool for people who know how to use it to say something about human experience, and so it will be a game-changer in the future.
However, he clarified that the most effective and powerful way to express something is in the hands of artists and storytellers. Docter also mentioned why he thinks that Toy Story impresses all age groups by explaining that they really saw the movie from kind of an adult point of view when they were making it. He said the toys are kind of parents, as they are there to serve the kids and help them grow.
Pete Docter concluded that Toy Story holds a very special place in his heart and for the studio as well because none of the success or 30th anniversary would’ve been possible if the movie didn’t work back in the day.
Toy Story is available to stream on Disney+.
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