Toy Story Analysis

The 1995 computer animated film "Toy Story" is Pixar's first full length film. Although it is their first film, it is still packed with moving scenes and great messages. Like Pixar's later movies, this film uses a variety of tools to create a visually stimulating film. The use of shading, character conflict, and facial expression all comes together to make this film a true classic.

This film has excellent use of shading. Being the first full length computer animated film, it is surprising that the shading is so in depth. The effect of this shading allows the animated characters to feel more realistic. Without shading, all of the characters and objects onscreen would be flat. The shading creates a three-dimensional effect that brings the plot and world to life.

Character conflict makes this film seem more realistic as well. It is very difficult to make animations seem real, but the use of character conflict makes the characters jump off of the screen with liveliness. This film strays from the stereotypical "perfect world" of most animations. Buzz Lightyear and Woody, the two protagonists of the movie are constantly in opposition to one another during the plot. Real people have conflicts with one another, and "Toy Story" mimicks this by adding this perspective to the film.

The facial expressions within "Toy Story" are phenomenal for being the first full length animated film. The smiles and frowns of the characters breathes life into these animated toys. While watching the movie, I was reminded of real people while evaluating the facial expressions of the toys onscreen. This coupled with shading and character conflict creates a cinematic classic that allowed Pixar to be catapulted into the legendary company that it is today.