Six years on, and this now looks...well, "primitive" might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there's no doubt it has been surpassed by Pixar's subsequent movies. At the time, you could only watch and wonder in awe; now, you can look behind that, and the good thing is, it's still a well-written and crafted film. The relationship between old toy Woody and new arrival Buzz is as rounded and developed as anything you'll see in a live-action film, their distrust and rivalry for their owner Andy's affections, gradually changing into respect and friendship. It's a good job too, as the lack of any real adversary could otherwise leave the film flailing - Sid, the boy next door who tortures toys, is actually more interesting than Andy. No wonder John Lassiter described Sid as the kind of kid who'd grow up to be an animator.
For amusement, there are the rest of the toys, every one a tried and tested veteran with their own foibles, and in-jokes a-plenty. Not quite so impressed with Randy Newman's score, which sticks out, rather than standing out, and seems to be there largely to fill some contract clause about songs, insisted on by Disney. The irony of Buzz Lightyear, designed to be the most highly-desired toy, actually becoming the year's most highly-desired toy, is overwhelming.
B+
