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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Entertainment • Film

Toy Story

Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated adventure comedy film directed by John Lasseter and produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Disney.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated adventure comedy film directed by John Lasseter and produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Disney. It was the first feature film made entirely with computer animation and follows Woody and Buzz Lightyear as rival toys who must work together after becoming separated from their owner, Andy.

Plot

The film centers on Woody, Andy’s favourite toy, who feels threatened when Andy receives Buzz Lightyear, a new action figure. Woody and Buzz are forced to cooperate after they become separated from Andy.

Production

Toy Story was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by John Lasseter. Its computer-animated production marked a major milestone in feature-film animation.

Release and reception

The film was released in the United States on November 22, 1995. It received strong critical attention and became an influential family film.

Legacy

Toy Story launched a long-running media franchise that later included sequels, shorts, and related spin-off material. It is often cited as a landmark in animation history.

Key facts

  • Toy Story is widely described as the first entirely computer-animated feature film.
  • The film introduced Pixar as a major feature-film studio.
  • Tom Hanks voices Woody and Tim Allen voices Buzz Lightyear.
  • The story is set in a world where toys come to life when humans are not watching.
  • The film became the first entry in the Toy Story franchise.
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Canadian context

Toy Story was widely released and popular in Canada as part of the global Disney-Pixar catalogue, and it has been a familiar title for Canadian audiences in theatres, television, and home media.

Frequently asked questions

What is Toy Story?
Toy Story is a 1995 American animated feature film about toys that come to life when humans are away.
Who directed Toy Story?
Toy Story was directed by John Lasseter.
Why is Toy Story historically important?
It is commonly identified as the first feature film made entirely with computer animation.
Who are the main characters?
The main characters are Woody, a cowboy doll, and Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger action figure.
When was Toy Story released?
It was released in the United States on November 22, 1995.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_Story
    Supports: Basic film identification, release year, director, cast, and plot overview.
  2. Disney Movies — https://movies.disney.com/toy-story
    Supports: Official release date, runtime, genre, rating, and plot summary.
  3. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/toy-story-1995
    Supports: Historical significance as the first feature made entirely by computer and critical description of the film's premise.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114709/
    Supports: Release date and plot synopsis.