Case Study Outline – Extended

Toy Story

I .Introduction

Buzz and Woody

Toy Story became the icon of 3D animation as it was the first feature length movie made in computer generated 3D graphic. Directed by John Lasseter, Toy Story had changed the shape of computer graphic industry.

Thesis:

Toy Story has influenced the animation industry in technical aspect, storytelling aspect, and cultural aspect.

II. Body

A. History of Toy Story

Pixar worked on Toy Story under the supervision of Disney company, even though they work independently as an animation studio. Disney financially supported the production and involved in the development of the story.

B. Technical Aspects

Toy Story was the first feature length done completely in computer graphics. Being produced in a fairly new media, the quality of the animation was outstanding.

1. Modeling:

• Organic modeling: done in clay, scanned through the Polhemus Digitizer.


Scud Clay Model by Shelley Daniels. Scud Wireframe

• Geometric modeling: done in computers.

2. Animation

• Used simplified characters to ease and speed up the process of animation.

• Most of the expression are presented through the body language, and perfected through facial animation

C. Storytelling

Toy Story went through numerous changes and development stages before the animation could start, even after they had started animating, there were some scenes that needed to be reanimated to adjust to the storyline.

• Character development: characters in the movie were developed through several changes that would be incorporated with the storyline. For example: Woody was a ventriloquist dummy before he became a cowboy.

Woody early concept by Jeff Pidgeon

• Story session: story artists and the director of Toy Story brainstormed and make adjustments in the story that it would affect characters and settings of the movie. The most important thing in the story is Believability.

C. Toy Story in society.

Being an icon in the animation industry, Toy Story gained popularity across the generations since the year it was released. Through products and home videos, people of all generations became familiar with this feature film.

1. Cultural influence:

• Toy Story had broken the boundary of  animation consumers that are initially children. Adults also found this movie attractive as it is the first of its kind.

2. Financial Success :

• The first movie led Pixar to sell their shares to public and earned enough money to became Disney’s partner.
• Toy Story and Toy Story 2 broke the record of being the highest grossing animated film when they were released in 1995 and 1999. Toy Story 2 doubled the income from Toy Story.
• Toy Story had become so iconic that Disney produced merchandises under Pixar brand, especially Toy Story. There are more merchandises to be release in near future, such as Toy Story Lego and plush toys.

Toy Story Lego

D. The future of Toy Story.

• The third installment of the movie is currently in production, and Toy Story 3 is going to be released in June 18, 2010, directed by Lee Unkrich.

• Toy Story 3 continues the story as the main character is going off for college, interestingly enough, the voice actor for 18 year old Andy is John Morris, now 24, did the voice acting for Andy in 1995 and 1999.
• 14 years after the initial release, Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are re-rendered in stereoscopic camera for 3D effect, and going to be released in October 2009. These movies were released again for the young audiences who have never seen these in the big screen.

III. Conclusion

Toy Story movies had shaped the face of the current animation industry. It had become a part of the society which attracted people from different generations. In the future Toy Story movie, they still take part in shaping the culture and will continue their legacy for us.

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