• Disney is releasing sequels for Toy Story, Frozen, and Zootopia
• Toy Story was first released in 1995 and has since been followed by three sequels
• There are several behind the scenes facts and secrets about the making of Toy Story
Here is what happened:
Disney has officially announced that sequels to popular movies Toy Story, Frozen, and Zootopia are in the works. Toy Story, which first premiered in 1995, was the first full-length movie made entirely with computer-generated imagery and unexpectedly became a massive success. The franchise has continued to thrive, with releases such as Toy Story 2, released in 1999, Toy Story 3 in 2010, and Toy Story 4 in 2019, each grossing over $1 billion worldwide. In addition to the sequels, there is also a Lightyear spin-off set to be released in 2022.
The original script for Toy Story was based on the Oscar-winning animated short film Tin Toy, which featured a toy named Tinny. The character of Woody, initially meant to be a ventriloquist dummy and played by Tom Hanks, was eventually transformed into a more relatable and less villainous figure after various revisions to the script. Toy Story also saw the addition of characters such as Buzz Lightyear, whose name was inspired by astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
The movie also featured Woody as the voice of Tom Hanks, being his first time doing voice work for an animated character. Another interesting fact is that the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joss Whedon, was brought in to help improve the script.
Toy Story 2, produced in 1999, faced a near disaster when an employee accidentally erased 90% of the film’s files, with the back-up files suddenly vanishing. Fortunately, one staff member had back-up files at her home, preventing a total loss of the movie. The intense production process of Toy Story 2 resulted in many of the animators developing carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries, revealing the dedication and hard work that went into creating the beloved film series.
