Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Woody and Buzz Lightyear are 30 years old. It’s true. Woody’s bald spot shown in upcoming Toy Story 5 proves it in the franchise’s next chapter. But Pixar is actually ten years older. It’s quite an achievement that will be celebrated during a special edition of 20/20 that airs Friday, June 12.
Toy Story 30 Years and Beyond begins with a brief history of Pixar from making TV commercials and short films. And then it drops this bombshell – Toy Story almost wasn’t made at all.
Tom Hanks (Woody) and Tim Allen (Buzz), share the challenges of making the first-ever full-length computer-animated feature. They also talk about how their characters have changed over the years and how they will face their new opponent. In Toy Story 5, it’s LilyPad, a tech-driven A.I. tablet.
The special will take us behind the curtain at Pixar Animation Studios where all the magic is done. It will also share exclusive footage from the new movie. The special introduces the next generation of storytellers who occupy the Emeryville, California, campus.
20/20 interviews Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter, Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton, and co-director Kenna Harris. Toy Story 30 Years and Beyond includes interviews with many of the film’s voice actors. In addition to Hanks and Allen, we get to hear from Joan Cusack (Jessie), Greta Lee (Lilypad), Tony Hale (Forky), Ernie Hudson (Combat Carl), Craig Robinson (Atlas), Blake Clark (Slinky Dog), Jeff Bergman (Mr. Potato Head) and Wallce Shawn (Rex the Dinosaur).
If Disney ever decided to change the music stylings of Toy Stoy, it just wouldn’t be the same. Composer Randy Newman’s music is iconic. The main theme song is instantly recognizable and plays like one of the film’s characters. According to press release from ABC, Taylor Swift is one of Newman’s biggest admirers. She says growing up with the Toy Story films, she’s had the soundtrack in her head “literally all her life.”
After attending an early screening of Toy Story 5, Swift was inspired to write “I Knew It, I Knew You”. She’s says it’s a song that brought her back to her country roots. And you can relax. Although a little melancholy, the song in nothing like Sarah McLachlan’s heart-breaking song, “When She Loved Me”, that was featured in Toy Story 2.
Toy Story 30 Years and Beyond – A Special Edition of 20/20 airs on ABC on June 12 at 8 p.m. It also streams on Disney+ and Hulu the next day. Toy Story 5 opens in theaters on June 19.
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