Animation Mentor Student
Toy Story 3 Doesn't Phone It In
I have to admit, when I first heard that Toy Story 3 was being made, I was pretty apprehensive of the idea. A third film seemed entirely unnecessary and would simply retread the rescue-mission formula in a different scenario. And it is a rescue-mission…but it is also so, so much more. Having finally seen the film, a movie released nearly 15 years after the original, I cannot imagine any film being more essential. Toy Story 3 addresses plot threads that I thought had been neatly sewn up in Toy Story 2; but in fact, the series would have been utterly incomplete without it. Toy Story raised the common fear of being replaced. Toy Story 2 acknowledged and came to terms with the fact that Andy would eventually outgrow his toys. Toy Story 3 faces the brutal reality when that time has finally come, bringing the entire trilogy full circle and to a rewarding conclusion. I couldn’t imagine the series ending any other way.
To go into too much detail would be a disservice to the film; it deserves to be seen fresh and unspoiled. It DESERVES to be seen. I only wish that I could temporarily erase my memory of it in order to watch it again in complete wonderment. So instead of discussing the fine points I will attempt to remain broad in my comments. Toy Story 3 deals with some very weighty concepts for a “children’s” movie. This is without a doubt the darkest of Pixar’s films, and it just might be the best. Without trivializing the first two Toy Stories, it bests them in nearly every way. It’s central theme is one of abandonment, lost love, and being outgrown. But there is also hope, and the realization that some things do last forever. The film tugs firmly at the heartstrings at both the beginning and end. Watery eyes and a dry throat accompany the last 15 or so minutes. Children in the audience (at least at the showing I saw) were actually less affected than the adults. For the kids, I assume, Toy Story 3 was merely a great adventure story of toys in danger, but for many adults and waning teens, it was our own childhood in peril, once again vanishing before our very eyes. I don’t believe Toy Story 3 is a movie that can fully be appreciated by anyone who has not already been forced to leave their childhood behind. Furthermore, to see this film without having seen the first two movies would be a downright criminal act.
These things being said, the younger ones will still have fun. Toy Story 3 is full of grade-A comedy that will amuse viewers of all ages. Sure, the occasional bathroom joke will resound more loudly with children than adults, but there is plenty of material for all. Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is a riot as usual, but secondary characters are also given bigger chances to shine. Barbie (Jodi Benson) and Ken (Michael Keaton) stand out in particular. Barbie channels Reese Witherspoon’s best Elle Woods from the movie Legally Blonde, while Ken comes off as a more metro-sexual version of Fred from Scooby-Doo. Allusions to great works of literature and popular culture are abundant, without feeling forced or cheap.
Human Characters Get Plenty To Do
Toy Story 3 is a unifying human experience. The theater I sat in was packed, but outside of the one-liners and sight-gags, you could have heard a pin drop. No screaming children, no chattering lovers, no cell phone texters. Everyone was mesmerized. During the most heartbreaking, poignant moments of the film, quiet sniffles could be heard throughout the theater (mostly from adults). Parents gripped their youngest children closer, as if afraid to let go. For Toy Story 3 is not only about child’s playthings; it also represents some of the most realistic human characters I have seen in a Pixar film (and I don’t mean graphically). One of my few criticisms of Pixar films in general would be that they seem to have an easier time (or at least prefer) developing nonhuman characters to human ones. Most Pixar films (Up being one exception) feature humans as the outsiders, altogether distant and removed from the main characters, and with considerably less emotional depth. Toy Story 1 & 2 are prime examples. Toy Story 3, however, evolves these human characters as much as it does the nonhuman ones. As the audience, we see ourselves in them, whether as parents or as the children of parents. The human exchanges (with both other people and toys) are used sparingly, but are particularly potent.
There is nothing really that can be added to a film of this caliber. It is a flat-out masterpiece and the only film I can think of where I wouldn’t change a thing. It speaks volumes that when the movie ended, the entire crowd burst out into applause. Twice. Toy Story 3 is a unifying experience. If you see any film, see this one.
The year was 1995. Toy Account became the first function film to possess ever been produced using only computer system animation. It was just one of the most substantial events within the timeline of movie history. Gone had been the days of conventional, hand drawn animation. A brand new era had arrived. It may possibly happen to be the first but I believe it is also a single from the finest. Both Toy Tale and Toy Story 2 set an early benchmark for laptop or computer animation which has not yet been surpassed. I?m not speaking about the top quality from the animation (which yes, has enhanced) but rather the quality from the tale becoming told. I?ve observed a few films that are just as great (The Incredibles, Ratatouille) but I?ll constantly have a location in my heart for that Toy Tale series. There are two main causes. Firstly, the characters are all so memorable. Woody and Buzz Lightyear are central for the tales but plenty of screen time goes towards supporting players who are just as funny. I speak of Rex the dinosaur, Hamm the pig, and my individual favourites, Mr and Mrs Potato Head (voiced impeccably by Don Rickles and Estelle Harris). Secondly, the testimonies are laced which has a beautiful layer of sentimentality. Always inside background is the young boy named Andy who owns and plays with these toys. As he has grown up, his interest in them has slowly faded away. One particular part of me would like to obtain all tear-jerky whilst another part accepts that that is reality. These reports are fictional (certainly) but we do experience similar feelings in our real lives. As times transform, so too do our priorities and our friendships. In this adventure, Andy is around the verge of going to college. He hasn?t played with his toys in numerous many years and they sit in an old chest in his bedroom. There?s a cute scene in the begin with the movie where by the toys devise a cunning plan of obtaining Andy to play with them. That it is not a success. Now that he?s leaving house, Andy?s mother asks what he wants done using the toys. Andy would like them stored from the attic but due to a mix-up, they wind up being donated to some nearby child care centre. There, they meet a bunch of new toys led by a mild-mannered teddy bear named Lotso (Beatty). He tells them that they?ve arrive for the right place. With all the youngsters who attend the centre, they?re guaranteed to become played with for any extended, lengthy time. Something is amiss nevertheless. Lotso is not as cuddly as he looks. He forces our beloved toys into the toddlers section of the child care centre. After just just one day of becoming ?played with?, the toys are sore bruised. It is only a matter of time ahead of they?ll be broken by these over-excited kids and sent towards the scrap heap. They must discover a way of breaking out before that it is as well late. Toy Tale three is another wonderful chapter from the sequence. It?s not really as great as the initial two films but I could simply sit via it several periods. With such a rich array of enjoyable characters, there is seldom a dull moment. The new toys are all wonderful with special mentions heading to a psychotic monkey along with a metrosexual Ken doll. I chuckled at practically every scene shared among Ken and Barbie. There is an fascinating action finale which highlights the amazing talent with the animations team. I recently spoke with Australian animator Simon Allen who described that it took roughly a week to come up with just five seconds of movie! You?ve only got to look inside the background of some shots to understand why. The level of detail is outstanding. The public maintain demanding far more from their animated films and somehow, the animators maintain delivering. Above all else even though, Toy Tale three is really a fun adventure with lots of laughs and also a powerful narrative. It will undoubtedly capture the attention of both children and adults. It’s actually nearly difficult not to like.
Hi there could I quote some of the information here in this blog if I reference you with a link back to your site?
Really good movie, I watched it a ton of times
Certainly, Neil. Sorry I didn’t respond sooner, but your comment got caught by my spam filter, which I rarely check.