Toy Story Review

Get ready to enter a world where toys come to life in *Toy Story*, the groundbreaking animated film that revolutionized computer animation. Directed by John Lasseter, this movie tells the story of a toy cowboy named Woody and his jealousy towards a new toy, Buzz Lightyear.

Introduction to a New Era of Animation

_Toy Story_ was the first full-length film created entirely using computer-generated imagery (CGI). This 1995 film marked a significant milestone in animation history, showcasing the potential of CGI in storytelling. The movie follows the adventures of Woody, a toy cowboy voiced by Tom Hanks, and Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger toy voiced by Tim Allen. Woody, who is obsessed with being played with by his owner Andy, becomes jealous when Buzz enters the picture. As the story unfolds, Woody and Buzz find themselves lost and separated from their owner, leading to a series of events that teach them the value of friendship and teamwork.

Themes and Performances

The film explores themes of jealousy, friendship, and growth. The voice acting by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen brings depth and humor to the characters. The supporting cast, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Jim Varney as Slinky Dog, adds to the comedic relief. The film's direction by John Lasseter is commendable, as he brings the toys to life in a way that feels both realistic and imaginative. What makes Toy Story worth watching is its ability to balance humor and heart, making it a film that appeals to both children and adults. One specific reason it's great for English learners is that it uses everyday language in a fun and engaging way, making it easy for learners to understand and relate to the characters' conversations.

6 hidden details

First CGI Film

Toy Story was the first full-length film created entirely using computer-generated imagery (CGI). The film's success paved the way for future CGI films. It took a team of over 100 computer animators to bring the movie to life.

Original Story

The original story of Toy Story was inspired by a short film called Tin Toy, which was created by John Lasseter. The short film won an Academy Award and caught the attention of Pixar and Disney.

Voice Acting

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen were not the first choices to voice Woody and Buzz. The roles were initially offered to Billy Crystal and Jim Carrey, but they turned down the offers.

Character Design

The character of Woody was designed to be a classic toy cowboy, while Buzz Lightyear was inspired by classic science fiction characters. The design of the characters has become iconic in popular culture.

Music

The film's score was composed by Randy Newman, who also wrote the song 'You've Got a Friend in Me'. The song has become a classic and is often associated with the Toy Story franchise.

Sequel

The success of Toy Story led to the creation of three sequels, as well as several short films and spin-offs. The franchise has become one of the most successful in animation history.

The Takeaway

The takeaway from Toy Story is that friendship and teamwork can overcome even the toughest challenges. The film teaches viewers the importance of putting aside differences and working together towards a common goal. For English learners, it's recommended to watch the scene where Woody and Buzz first meet with subtitles to get a feel for the dialogue and vocabulary used in the movie. This scene is not only hilarious but also provides valuable language learning opportunities.

Watch this film. Speak better English by Sunday.

Vocabulary, idioms, cultural context, and one scene broken down for shadowing practice.

Vocabulary (16)

jealousy

early

a feeling of anger or bitterness because you think someone else is getting more attention or praise

"Woody felt jealousy when Buzz became Andy's new favorite toy"

teamwork

middle

the activity of working together with others to achieve a common goal

"Woody and Buzz learned the value of teamwork when they worked together to get back to Andy's room"

imagination

middle

the ability to form pictures or ideas in your mind

"The toys in the movie use their imagination to come up with creative ideas"

friendship

late

a close and supportive relationship between two people

"Woody and Buzz developed a strong friendship throughout the movie"

adventure

middle

an exciting or unusual experience

"Woody and Buzz went on a wild adventure when they got lost and separated from Andy"

space ranger

early

a person who travels in space

"Buzz Lightyear is a space ranger toy"

cowboy

early

a man who rides horses and takes care of cattle

"Woody is a toy cowboy"

owner

early

a person who has something as their property

"Andy is the owner of the toys"

separate

middle

to move or keep something apart from others

"Woody and Buzz got separated from Andy"

relief

middle

a feeling of happiness or comfort because something unpleasant has stopped or been avoided

"The comedic relief in the movie comes from the supporting characters"

realistic

middle

looking or seeming like real life

"The animation in the movie is realistic and engaging"

imaginative

middle

having a lot of imagination

"The toys in the movie are imaginative and creative"

common goal

late

a goal that is shared by two or more people

"Woody and Buzz worked together to achieve their common goal of getting back to Andy"

valuable

late

very useful or important

"The movie teaches valuable lessons about friendship and teamwork"

humor

middle

the quality of being amusing or funny

"The movie has a great sense of humor"

heart

late

the central or inner part of something

"The movie has a lot of heart and emotion"

Idioms & Expressions

to get along

to have a good relationship with someone

Woody and Buzz learn to get along as they work together

to put aside

to stop thinking about or worrying about something

Woody and Buzz put aside their differences to work together

to work together

to cooperate or collaborate with someone

Woody and Buzz work together to get back to Andy

to come up with

to think of or create an idea

The toys come up with creative ideas to solve problems

to go on an adventure

to go on a exciting or unusual experience

Woody and Buzz go on a wild adventure when they get lost

Cultural References

American West

The American West refers to the western part of the United States, known for its cowboy culture and open spaces. Woody's character is inspired by this culture.

Space Exploration

Space exploration is the discovery and exploration of outer space. Buzz Lightyear's character is inspired by this theme.

Childhood Imagination

Childhood imagination refers to the creative and imaginative play of children. The movie celebrates this theme and showcases the power of imagination.

Friendship and Teamwork

Friendship and teamwork are important values in many cultures. The movie teaches these values and shows how they can help overcome challenges.

Scene Breakdown for Shadowing

around 00:42:00

Woody: 'You're a toy!' 
Buzz: 'I am NOT a toy!' 
Woody: 'You're a space ranger!' 
Buzz: 'I am a space ranger!' 
Woody: 'No, you're a toy!' 
Buzz: 'I am NOT a toy!'

This scene is a great example of the humorous dialogue and comedic relief in the movie. The vocabulary used is simple and easy to understand, making it perfect for English learners. The scene also showcases the contrast between Woody's and Buzz's personalities, highlighting their differences and setting the stage for their adventures together. To practice shadowing, learners can try repeating the dialogue and mimicking the tone and inflection of the characters. This will help them improve their pronunciation and intonation skills.

Toy Story

Introduction to a New Era of Animation

Themes and Performances

6 hidden details

First CGI Film

Original Story

Voice Acting

Character Design

Music

Sequel

The Takeaway

Watch this film. Speak better English by Sunday.

Vocabulary (16)

Idioms & Expressions

Cultural References

Scene Breakdown for Shadowing

Watching films isn't enough — you need a plan.