This is it, folks. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Well, American folks, anyway. Should this post go somewhere else, mods, do so with extreme prejudice.
Imagine this being narrated by Garry Chalk. His voice is heard here, and he voices the character Optimus Primal. youtube.com/watch?v=MS3VSSwQhD0
The fate of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of Andy’s toys will be decided right here, right now. Tonight, on June 18, 2010.
Fifteen years ago, on November 22, 1995, the first fully CGI animated film in history was released by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios: Toy Story. It opened to universal critical acclaim, and became one of the first animated films to ever make over 100 million dollars. The film was eventually inducted into the American National Film Registry, and was declared “historically and culturally significant.”
It was cemented into the hearts of millions, and is now the definition of nostalgia to the current generation of teenagers and young adults.
Four years later, Pixar did the inevitable and the impossible. On November 19, 1999, Toy Story 2 opened in theaters. It joined the group of elite sequels who have been recognized as just as good as and better than their original films. As with the original film, it was met with universal acclaim, and made 100 million dollars more than its predecessor.
As Pixar worked on other films, all of which had critical and commercial success, Toy Story 3 seemed to be either gone or forgotten.
In the eleven years since Toy Story 2, merchandise of the films has had booming and long-running success. The films are still considered family classics, but the films had all but fallen into obscurity in the public and media eye.
Then, in 2008, the gears of the second sequel began turning. Voice actors began to confirm their return to the film, directors and filmmakers were named, and animation had begun.
Toy Story 3 was coming.
In May 2009, with the release of Pixar’s tenth film Up, came a teaser trailer hailed and celebrated like no other: the very first trailer of Toy Story 3 had arrived. It confirmed nearly every voice actor had returned, and the CGI was immenslely improved since Toy Story 2.
In October 2009, to build up to the long awaited third film, the first two films were re-released in a double feature. They included what the immense fanbase had been waiting for: a theatrical trailer for Toy Story 3.
The drum roll continued to steadily beat with the release of seven posters, all revolving around specific characters, and the symbolic tagline: “No Toy Gets Left Behind.”
In February 2010, the next benchmark had arrived – the third and final trailer for Toy Story 3. It proved once again the CGI had improved, the voice acting was spot on, and a whole slew of new characters were arriving on the scene.
Throughout Spring 2010, each week Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich revealed two new characters every week, and confirming a vast and all-star voice cast to voice the new cast.
Now, the drum roll picks up. It is June 17, 2010. One day before this film is released.
Some of you have grown up with the Toy Story series since the beginning of its’ run in theaters in 1995, and some of you have just come to love these films.
Today we are not bandwagon riders. Today we are not diehard fans, obsessive fans, fan girls, fan guys, or movie-haters.
Today we are simply fans of the most successful film series in cinematic film history.
We are one fan together, and we will not leave that theater tonight until we have seen the ultimate fate of Andy’s toys with a hug goodbye!
No toy gets left behind tonight.
It has all come down to this. This is as real as it’s gonna get. Tonight’s the ultimate night… for the ultimate prize.
Now, let’s saddle up, and with this movie, go to infinity and beyond.
Let’s do it.
For Toy Story. For Toy Story 2. For Pixar fans EVERYWHERE.
Alright, I might be a bit off with the details about 2008.
And you’re welcome.