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The term “family-friendly” has always been bandied around like it was going out of fashion. And, nowadays, computer animation can be a way for companies to cash in on the often exceptional quality of such work, even if there is only one company who has consistently met their targets of perfection.

Pixar. Responsible for defining the form, they started with the risky business of Toy Story – the first ever entirely computer animated film. The film’s path wasn’t up a yellow-brick road like you may be led to believe from its success, but rather up a cobbled back-alley, as the script was originally so bad that Disney had to shelve it for four months.

This is all the more surprising when looking at the finished article – not a line out of place, with every support character just as lovable, believable, and developed as the perfectly voiced mains Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen). Taking you through an easily definable start, middle, and end, this little piece of history is such a touching friendship story that it’s enjoyable for everyone. Its sheer simplicity is defined by taking something everyone can relate to – that of your favourite childhood toy, and what if it could talk? It’s the family friendly film. Everyone’s imaginations are linked by just the premise.

Backed up by Randy Newman’s cherished score and songs, it seems no surprise that so many found a friend in Toy Story, and it will be no surprise when 2010 cinema is dominated by Toy Story 3.

– Dom Stroud – Editor