TV Show Info
TV Show Name: Toy Story of Terror!
Studio: Pixar Animation Studios
Genre(s): Animated/Seasonal/Comedy
Release Date(s): October 16, 2013
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Jessie takes center stage!
Bonnie and her mother find themselves stuck in an out-of-the-way hotel on a stormy night. When Potato Head goes missing, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie lead the toys on a mission to find them. What they discover however is an evil internet toy vender and his pet lizard. With day coming, the toys must escape and reach Bonnie before they are lost forever.
Written and directed by Angus MacLane, Toy Story of Terror! was a Halloween special aired on ABC on October 16, 2013. Following Toy Story 3 in 2010, Toy Story of Terror! continues the story with the toys in Bonnie’s possession. The special has been released on DVD and Blu-Ray and also includes “vintage” toy commercials involving the fictitious toys in the special.
1/3 size G.I. Joe…I mean Combat Carl…rules!
Toy Story was a fun and different series of films that could have gone on and on if the makers wanted them to. Instead, Toy Story allowed their “owners” to age and passed the toys on to start a new series. While Toy Story of Terror! isn’t bad, it feels a bit like a shorter rehash of Toy Story 2.
Toy Story 2 had a ruthless collector kidnapping Woody and plotting to sell him. Here is an internet dealer doing the same thing. The story even harkened back to Toy Story 2 by looking at Jessie’s fear of being boxed again. Fortunately, the show is a short thirty minutes so it isn’t that big of a commitment.
The best part of the special is that they were able to get back the cast of the films. Even Tom Hanks stepped back into the cowboy boots of Woody despite his star status (I’m pretty sure there was a hefty check or some hitch to it). The special feels pretty cinematic in that nature.
At least watch the “vintage” commercials
The movie also looks great. With advances in computer generated graphics, the Toy Story movies have come a long way and what once was a big project can be produced for a quick half hour holiday special for probably a fraction of the cost.
It is good to see the toys back and “living” in their new lives. I don’t know that “Bonnie” years will live up to the “Andy” years, but it is a nice twist on a series that has lots of potential for stories…I just wish that this story had been a bit more about Halloween and less like a quickie remake of Toy Story 2. Toy Story of Terror! was followed by the Christmas special Toy Story That Time Forgot in 2014.
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