Toy Story: 10 Fascinating Behind the Scenes Stories | 30th Anniversary

Toy Story: 10 Fascinating Behind-the-Scenes Stories - 30th Anniversary

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at behind-the-scenes stories about the first four theatrical “Toy Story” films, celebrating the franchise’s 30th anniversary.

“The Brave Little Toaster” Could’ve Been the First CG Feature

“Toy Story” (1995)

Eight years before “Toy Story,” Jerry Rees directed another film about sentient objects searching for their master, “The Brave Little Toaster,” which Disney helped finance. The parallels likely aren’t coincidental. While the film would ultimately be 2D, John Lasseter originally pitched “Toaster” as a CG feature to Ed Hansen and then-Disney president Ron W. Miller. Although Disney had experimented with CG in films like “Tron,” the higher-ups didn’t take to his pitch. Almost immediately after, Hansen called Lasseter to his office, letting him go. This worked out for the best, as “Toaster” became a cult classic under Rees’ direction, while Lasseter subsequently found work at a division of Lucasfilm that came to be known as Pixar, paving the way for him to direct “Toy Story.”

Pixar Originally Wanted to Do a Christmas Special

“Toy Story” (1995)

Lasseter and producer William Reeves won the Best Animated Short Oscar for “Tin Toy,” a first for CG animation. While Disney was eager to hire back Lasseter, he hesitated to leave Pixar, despite its financial struggles. Disney nonetheless invited Pixar to pitch possible projects. Pixar’s ideas included an adaptation of “James and the Giant Peach” and “Bob the Dinosaur.” Since Pixar had only done shorts, commercials, and effects shots, they felt the next logical step would be a Christmas special based on “Tin Toy.” Disney favored “A Tin Toy Christmas,” but then-chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg thought they were thinking too small. He wanted Pixar to produce a full-length film. Since a CG feature was always Pixar’s end goal, they didn’t turn down the opportunity.

We Almost Got a Straight-to-Video Sequel

“Toy Story 2” (1999)

As Pixar’s main crew worked on their second feature, a smaller division oversaw a straight-to-video sequel to “Toy Story.” Ash Brannon, who’d go on to make “Surf’s Up,” would direct the follow-up, which Disney eventually saw as a potential big-screen release. While it was good enough for Disney, the sequel wasn’t up to Pixar’s standards. After promoting “A Bug’s Life,” Lasseter agreed to come back as the sequel’s director, although Brannon still served as co-director with Lee Unkrich. Key figures from the first film like Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter also signed on, although Disney refused to push back the film’s November 1999 release. The team reworked the story over a weekend, only giving them nine months to get “Toy Story 2” ready for theaters.

Don Rickles Died Before Recording Any Lines

“Toy Story 4” (2019)

In 2017, Don Rickles, who had voiced Mr. Potato Head since the original film, passed away. Although he signed on for “Toy Story 4,” Rickles had yet to record any dialogue, with the script still being developed. It wasn’t the first time Pixar had to address the death of an actor. Slinky Dog actor Jim Varney died after “Toy Story 2,” but the character lived on through his good friend Blake Clark. Director Josh Cooley felt nobody could replace Rickles, however. Rickles’ family reached out, asking if there was still a way to include him. Pixar searched through the first three films, theme parks, ice shows, and video games to find usable recordings for Rickles. The film was dedicated to him and animator Adam Burke.

A Near Tragedy Was Averted

“Toy Story 2” (1999)

Despite the nine-month deadline, management didn’t force employees to work overtime on “Toy Story 2.” Nevertheless, some crew members pushed themselves too hard. One exhausted animator was supposed to drop off his young child at daycare on the way to work. Talking to his wife later that day, the employee realized the baby was still in the car! Fortunately, it wasn’t too late, and rescue workers soon arrived. While a tragedy was prevented, everyone knew this was a sign that they were overworked. In the book, “Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volume 2,” Pixar employee Craig Good said of “Toy Story 2,” “We were mostly glad just to survive the experience. That was a brutal production. Almost killed people, literally.”

Casting Woody & Buzz

“Toy Story” (1995)

Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, and Robin Williams were suggested to voice Woody, but Lasseter thought Tom Hanks was the ideal candidate. Pixar won Hanks over with test footage using recordings from “Turner & Hooch.” They took a similar approach in trying to get Billy Crystal to voice Buzz Lightyear, mixing a recording from “When Harry Met Sally…” with animation. An ill-advised Crystal turned the project down. Crystal eventually realized his mistake, leaping at the chance to voice Mike Wazowski. Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and several others were considered for Buzz. Pixar turned their attention to Tim Allen, who was not only tailor-made for the role, but his delivery made the filmmakers realize that Buzz should be a toy who doesn’t know he’s a toy.

A Tin Toy Was Almost the Protagonist“Toy Story” (1995)

With the first film spawning from “A Tin Toy Christmas,” Pixar envisioned Tinny from the 1988 short as the main character. Similar to the finished film, Tinny would get left at a gas station, but in this version, he meets a ventriloquist’s dummy resembling a cowboy. Instead of returning to his owner, Tinny and the dummy wind up in a kindergarten classroom. The treatment was reworked with Tinny jeopardizing the dummy’s status as the favorite toy. Since Tinny wasn’t modern enough to be the cool new toy, he became a space-themed action figure named Lunar Larry, later Buzz Lightyear. The dummy was also dropped for a cowboy doll. While Tinny was denied top billing, he still found his way into the “Toy Story” franchise.

Circle Seven Almost Continued the Trilogy“Toy Story 3” (2010)

With negotiations between Michael Eisner and Steve Jobs falling through, it appeared Disney and Pixar might part ways following their initial deal. Disney would still own the films Pixar had made up to that point. Circle Seven Animation was created with the intention of producing sequels to Pixar projects. In addition to “Monsters Inc.” and “Finding Nemo” sequels, “Toy Story 3” entered development with Bradley Raymond of “The Lion King 1½” as director. They settled on a story where the toys ship themselves to Taiwan to save a recalled Buzz. Of course, Pixar ultimately reached an agreement with Eisner’s successor, Bob Iger. With Disney officially buying Pixar, Circle Seven was shut down. Pixar moved forward with “Toy Story 3,” but they started from scratch.

The Black Friday Incident“Toy Story” (1995)

While Jeffrey Katzenberg deserves credit for suggesting that Pixar make a buddy picture, he also told the crew to take the script in an edgy direction. The “edgier” it became, Woody turned into an unlikable protagonist. Not only is he emotionally abusive toward Slinky, but he purposely throws Buzz out the window. Hanks called Woody a “real jerk,” a sentiment echoed when Disney executives were shown story reels on November 19, 1993, aka “Black Friday.” The footage proved so disheartening that Disney Feature Animation president Peter Schneider wasn’t keen on moving forward. With encouragement from Thomas Schumacher, Pixar was given another chance. Writers like Andrew Stanton helped flesh out the story that the studio wanted to tell, earning a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Barbie Was Almost Woody’s Love Interest, “Toy Story” (1995)

Mattel Wouldn’t License Her For the First Film, But At Least We Got Bo Peep

Lee Unkrich Personally Called Andy’s Original Voice Actor, “Toy Story 3” (2010)

The Director Knew From a Voicemail Message That John Morris Had to Come Back

The Alternate Ending, “Toy Story 4” (2019)

Pixar Considered an Ending Where Woody Parts with Bo Peep, Who Finds a New Kid

Pizza Planet Was Almost a Miniature Golf Course, “Toy Story” (1995)

A Space-Theme Restaurant Was Deemed More Fitting For Buzz

“When She Loved Me” Made Sarah McLachlan Cry, “Toy Story 2” (1999)

Her Manager, Meanwhile, Called It “Kind of Weird”

The Movie Was Almost Lost

“Toy Story 2” (1999)

It’s hard to imagine that a major motion picture could just be erased. That’s almost what happened with “Toy Story 2,” however. In 1998, an animator accidentally entered a code that deleted about 90% of the work done. With the backups not working, it appeared that two years of work were gone. Thankfully, technical director Galyn Susman had been working from home after giving birth, having a copy with most of the lost material. Much would still be thrown out after Lasseter took over as director, and the elements of the story were retooled. Still, it seems unlikely that “Toy Story 2” could’ve moved forward without Susman, who was inexplicably laid off with over 70 other Pixar employees in 2023.

Do you have any behind-the-scenes stories about the “Toy Story” movies? Let us know in the comments.