8. Toy Story 2 (written by Jen Amato)

Release Date: November 24, 1999

Voice Talents: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer. Wayne Knight

Directors: John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, Lee Unkrich

First Time I Saw It: The first time I saw Toy Story 2 was with my two sisters, since my youngest sister was, and still is, a huge fan of the Toy Story franchise. Although I was a teenager at the time, because of the success of the first movie, I did not feel to old to watch a movie which turned out to be a classic.

Its Impact on the Pixar Brand: Normally sequels don’t have much success, but Toy Story 2 continued in the lovable nature of the first movie. Although Toy Story 3 didn’t follow until more than a decade later, Disney/Pixar was able to capitalize on the branding through product lines, theme park rides and spinoffs. I think Toy Story 2 greatly impacted Pixar and became almost synonymous with the company.

Why I Love It: I love “Toy Story 2” first and foremost for the characters. Woody, Buzz and the rest of the crew are absolutely lovable. The introduction of Jessie and Bullseye add to the sweetness portrayed by the existing characters, and of course Al the Toy Collector displays a comedic villain for the plotline.

I appreciate Jessie’s flashbacks to her past, and can identify with the feeling of wanting to be wanted and loved, which I believe is one of everyone’s goals in life. The honest emotion an animated doll displays is testament to the brilliance of Disney and Pixar.

In the same vein, I liked how Woody realized his love for his friends and the camaraderie that further developed amongst all the toys.

The animation is also a big draw, as some cartoons and animated features have characters that, in my opinion, look terrible and unpolished. The Toy Story bunch looks as if they can be real dolls (which clearly they are, due to merchandising) without being ugly or offensive. I love anything Pixar mostly for its aesthetic appeal, and then for the creative storylines.

Best Moment: The best moment is when the language switch on Buzz turns to Spanish, and he starts speaking a foreign tongue. I also love his Spanish dance routine.

https://youtu.be/i-HyxeIFFDU

[php] wp_link_pages(array(‘before’=>’

‘)); [/php]

============================================================================================================================================