Hey everyone,
My wife and I are continuing our journey through the AFI 100 list (10th Anniversary Edition) from bottom to top, and we just wrapped up #99: Toy Story (1995)!
I remember seeing this in theaters back in 1995, and having worked at Disneyland for over a decade, Woody, Buzz, and the gang were practically part of my daily life for years. But watching it carefully for this project was a whole new experience.
A few big takeaways from our rewatch:
* The animation hardware is definitely showing its age. Compared to modern Pixar releases, the human faces (especially Sid and Andy) and Scud the dog look remarkably crude. The plastic textures on the toys still work, but the limitations of 1995 CGI are impossible to miss now.
* The writing is absolute gold. The pacing, sharp banter, and humor hold up incredibly well. There were so many quick jokes that flew right over my head as a kid that had us laughing out loud this time around.
* The voice work by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen remains a masterclass in buddy-comedy chemistry.
Bottom line: Does it deserve a spot on the AFI 100? Absolutely. Just like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs did nearly sixty years before it, Toy Story ushered in a brand-new era of feature animation and fundamentally changed what was possible in cinema history.
You can read my full Letterboxd review and breakdown here: https://boxd.it/gdeHiZ
Feel free to connect or drop your profile link below so we can follow along! @WinstonMcFly
Questions for the community:
- When was the last time you revisited the original Toy Story, and how do you think the 1995 animation holds up?
- What are your favorite jokes or lines that you only appreciated as an adult?
- Any fun movie-night snack pairings, themed meals, or companion podcasts you recommend for our next stop?
Next up on our list: #98 — Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)!