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AFI (2007) • AFI-099

Toy Story

1995 • John Lasseter
Toy Story poster
AVAILABLE EDITIONS
ABOUT THIS FILM
RUNTIME
81 min
FAMOUS QUOTE
“To infinity and beyond!”

Pixar’s groundbreaking animated film imagines a world in which toys come to life whenever humans leave the room. At the center is Woody, a loyal cowboy doll whose secure place as favorite toy is threatened by the arrival of Buzz Lightyear, a flashy space ranger who does not yet realize he is a toy. What begins as jealousy and rivalry gradually becomes an adventure that forces the two to depend on each other. As the first fully computer-animated feature film, Toy Story revolutionized animation while grounding its technical innovation in warmth, humor, and character-driven storytelling. It launched Pixar as a major creative force in modern cinema.

Why it matters

  • Toy Story changed the history of animation as the first fully computer-animated feature, proving that digital filmmaking could support not just novelty but rich, emotionally engaging storytelling.
  • Its blend of visual innovation, tight screenplay construction, and character-based humor helped establish the modern Pixar model and influenced decades of animated filmmaking that followed.
  • By turning childhood objects into emotionally legible characters, the film found a universal story about insecurity, friendship, and belonging that resonated with both children and adults.

Watch for

  • How the film quickly establishes the rules of the toy world, making its premise feel playful, coherent, and instantly believable.
  • The contrast between Woody and Buzz, whose clashing identities and performance styles drive both the comedy and the film’s emotional arc.
  • How Pixar uses movement, scale, and household geography to turn bedrooms, gas stations, and pizza parlors into dynamic spaces for action and suspense.
  • The way humor gradually gives way to real feeling, especially as Woody’s jealousy and Buzz’s delusion evolve into mutual respect and friendship.

Vibe

Animated ComedyBuddy AdventureChildhood ImaginationToybox JealousyFriendshipDigital MilestoneSuburban WonderPlayroom PhilosophyHeartfelt FunPixar Breakthrough
AFI RANK
1998: —
2007: #99