THE TOY STORY: And Why a Decades-Old Franchise Continues to Resonate With New Audiences

The Beginning of a New Animation Era

Over the past 31 years, the world of filmmaking has been forever altered. It was the mid-1990s, and Disney was in the middle of a high-profile renaissance. With classic movies like "The Lion King", "Aladdin", "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast", critics and audiences agreed that the House of Mouse had found its mojo again.

But behind the iconic castle was another uprising studio looking for their big break. Enter Pixar Studios, a company fully invested in utilizing the newfound Computer Generated (CG) technology for their animations. Founded in 1986, Pixar came to life when late Apple founder Steve Jobs purchased the Computer Division from George Lucas and established the group as an independent company. Pixar's early resume included groundbreaking short films like the "Tin-Man" and random Listerine commercials. Anything they were asked to do, they did it. Even with all that success, the members of the company had yet to conceive their magnum opus.

How Toy Story Changed Animation Forever

Enter "Toy Story", where an outdated cowboy figure called Woody is afraid of being replaced by the shiny new toy in town, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. Nowadays, it would be akin to the iPhone 16 being replaced by the iPhone 17 Pro-Max. Thanks, Steve. But back in the 1990s, kids still loved playing with toys. Named the first fully CG animated film, the movie was lauded as one of the defining films of the decade. Director John Lasseter sought out to accomplish one thing: make it relatable to kids.

The Lasting Legacy of Pixar's Biggest Franchise

In the eyes of a 90s child, it must have been a surreal moment in time to go from "The Lion King" to "Toy Story". But that movie was a clear sign of evolution in the field of animation. With innovation comes imitation, and other animation companies took notice of the changing tides. 

Fast forward to 2026 and Pixar continues to challenge its tech capabilities to great effect. If box office is any measure, "Toy Story 5" shows that the franchise is still resonating with the kids, even in an era where technology reigns supreme. The premise of "Toy Story 5" actually showcases the girl that was given the toys by an adult Andy, discovering a new toy, the Tablet. Now I won't spoil anything for you, but the Tablet plays a huge part in the film.

Looking Ahead to the Future of Toy Story

Many franchises come and go, but few manage to change up while remaining relevant to the public consciousness. "Toy Story" is one of the rare few. From being a great risk for a fledgling company to becoming a global empire, I think it's pretty easy to say that those pesky toys aren't leaving the minds of children anytime soon.

Let's see how they tackle "Toy Story 6". It's inevitable at this point. Money talks, or should I say TOY talks.

Photo Credit: Disney/Pixar Studios