Toy Story: A History – Questions & Answers (Based on the provided text)
Here are some questions and answers based on the provided text about Toy Story:
1. What was groundbreaking about Toy Story when it was released?
Answer: Toy Story was the first fully computer-animated feature film, which prompted a global shift away from conventional hand-drawn animation techniques.
2. Describe the initial relationship between Woody and Buzz Lightyear.
Answer: initially, Woody and Buzz Lightyear had a rivalry. Buzz’s arrival threatened Woody’s position as Andy’s favorite toy.However, this rivalry eventually blossomed into a profound friendship.
3. What was the original concept for the film before it became Toy Story as we know it?
Answer: The original concept revolved around a buddy film featuring Tinny, the wind-up toy from the short Tin Toy, and a ventriloquist’s dummy named Dummy.
4. What feedback did Disney give that led to changes in the characters?
Answer: Disney representatives felt the tin toy (Tinny) wouldn’t be a child’s preferred playmate and the dummy was perceived as unlikeable.
5. Who proposed the idea of turning the dummy into a cowboy?
Answer: Animator Bud Luckey proposed transforming the dummy into a cowboy, which ultimately became the character of Woody.
6. How much footage was scrapped during production, and why?
answer: Approximately 80 minutes of fully recorded footage was scrapped. studio executives (not Pixar) wanted the characters to be more wisecracking and improvisational, but this tone proved unsuccessful.
7. What was the significance of the phrase “Production Babies” in the film’s credits?
Answer: The phrase “Production Babies” acknowledged the additional two and a half to three years added to the production schedule after a significant amount of footage was scrapped and the film had to be largely restarted.
8. Why was Toy Story so crucial for Pixar’s survival as a company?
Answer: If Toy Story hadn’t been a success, Pixar likely wouldn’t have been able to continue operating for much longer. Steve Jobs had invested a significant amount of his own money into the company,and they were financially precarious.
9. According to David Price, what impact did Toy Story have on the film industry’s perception of computer animation?
Answer: Toy Story legitimized computer animation and proved it could be acceptable to mass audiences. Its success ushered in a “golden age of computer animated movies.”
10. What contributed to the film’s success beyond the animation itself?
Answer: The film’s success was also due to its grounding in a relatable world, achieved through innovative virtual camera techniques that mimicked real-world cinematography.