Toy Story Was Released 25 Years Ago Today, Pixar Joins Fans in Celebrating

Can you believe it has been 25 years since we were first introduced to Woody and Buzz Lightyear in the Pixar classic Toy Story? The comedic animated adventure that follows the lives of several toys behind closed doors, when the kids are away, first hit theaters in good old 1995. And it became an instant blockbuster hit that has gone onto spawn a franchise that includes 4 movies and counting, several animated shorts, a spin-off TV series and a couple of TV specials. Today, Pixar celebrates the 25th anniversary of the movie that started it all, sharing this unique new art with fans of all ages.

Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The feature film directorial debut of John Lasseter, it was the first entirely computer-animated feature film, as well as the first feature film from Pixar.

RELATED: Evel Knievel Family Sues Disney Over Keanu Reeves’ Toy Story 4 Character Duke Caboom

In the movie, 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 his parents buy him a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure. Even worse, the arrogant Buzz thinks he’s a real spaceman on a mission to return to his home planet. When Andy’s family moves to a new house, Woody and Buzz must escape the clutches of maladjusted neighbor Sid Phillips (Erik von Detten) and reunite with their boy.

Along with the new art that Pixar released in celebration of Toy Story and its 25th Anniversary of release, the studio is also sharing some cool concept art that features a first look at Buzz and Woody in their initial conception.

Disney+ is also getting in on the action. They insist that the only way to spend this lazy locked-in curfew laden Sunday is to marathon all of the movies. Each is available to stream exclusively on Disney+, including the original Toy Story, its first sequel Toy Story 2, which arrived in November of 1999, the hugely popular Toy Story 3, which was released more than a decade later in 2010, and what currently stands as the final, but perhaps not the last, sequel with Toy Story 4, released in 2019.

Jon Erlichman is also getting into the fun, offering a look at how the movie was actually made. He shows off some early animatics on what looks to be a very ancient computer. Toy Story was a marvel of innovation and technology upon its initial release. You can take a look at how it came to be in the tweet below.

Following in the grand tradition of Toy Story, Forky Asks a Question is also currently streaming on Disney+. There are also several shorts and even an animated Buzz Lightyear spin-off series to check out if you are so inclined. Plenty of fans have chimed in to wish the movie a happy 25th birthday as well.

Topics: Toy Story