30 Years Ago Today, an Animated Movie Changed Cinema Forever (And There’s a Sequel Coming)

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Pixar is still the leader in animation, even with a few bumps in the road. For many years, they’ve consistently created films known for their beautiful visuals, smart stories, and heartfelt emotions. The studio started in 1979 as a small computer graphics department at Lucasfilm, focused on developing new technology. In 1986, it became an independent company with Steve Jobs as a key investor, and began making award-winning short films like the Oscar-winning Tin Toy. These early successes led to a groundbreaking deal with Disney to create the first full-length computer-animated movie: Toy Story. This film not only made Pixar incredibly famous, but also completely changed the animation world.

Released on November 22, 1995, Toy Story quickly became a huge hit with audiences. It broke box office records its opening weekend and ultimately earned over $373 million worldwide, making it the top-grossing film in the U.S. for the year. Reviewers loved the movie, especially its innovative animation, clever writing, and the fantastic voice acting by Tom Hanks (as Woody) and Tim Allen (as Buzz Lightyear).

Everyone loved Toy Story, making it an immediate hit and a true classic. It earned a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes and an Academy Award for being groundbreaking. But Toy Story was more than just a film – it sparked a huge franchise that continues to entertain people of all ages with sequels, a spin-off movie, and a TV show. The story isn’t over yet, as Disney and Pixar are already working on Toy Story 5.

Toy Story Changed the History of Animation

The movie Toy Story was a game-changer for the film industry, essentially launching the age of computer animation. Though the 1996 film Cassiopeia was also fully computer-animated, Toy Story was the first to become a huge commercial and critical hit, demonstrating that CGI could be used to create successful, full-length movies. Before 1995, traditional 2D animation was the norm, but Toy Story completely changed the landscape and ushered in a new era of filmmaking.

Pixar’s first hit film sparked a huge investment in computer-generated imagery (CGI) from major movie studios. Disney, working with Pixar on distribution, started shifting away from the traditional hand-drawn animation it was known for. Soon after, new animation studios like DreamWorks emerged, building on the innovations of Toy Story with films like Shrek. Later, Illumination joined the scene, cementing CGI as the dominant force in animation. Toy Story‘s groundbreaking success essentially created the modern animation industry, and many popular films—from Finding Nemo to The Incredibles—might not exist without it.

Toy Story 5 is scheduled to be released in theaters on June 19, 2026.

If Toy Story 5 happens, what kind of story would you love to see that pays tribute to the original Toy Story? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-22 16:10