Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21076 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-10-17
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Animated, Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 546 minutes

Amazon.com
Toy Story
There is greatness in film that can be discussed, dissected, and talked about late into the night. Then there is genius that is right in front of our faces--we smile at the spell it puts us into and are refreshed, and nary a word needs to be spoken. This kind of entertainment is what they used to call "movie magic," and there is loads of it in this irresistible computer animation feature. Just a picture of these bright toys on the cover of Toy Story looks intriguing, reawakening the kid in us. Filmmaker John Lasseter's shorts (namely Knickknack and Tin Toy, which can be found on the Pixar video Tiny Toy Stories) illustrate not only a technical brilliance but also a great sense of humor--one in which the pun is always intended. Lasseter thinks of himself as a storyteller first and an animator second, much like another film innovator, Walt Disney.

Lasseter's story is universal and magical: what do toys do when they're not played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy's favorite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys (some original, some classic) during a wrenching time of year--the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though--he believes he's the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Bright and cheerful, Toy Story is much more than a 90-minute commercial for the inevitable bonanza of Woody and Buzz toys. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar for "the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." In other words, the movie is great. --Doug Thomas

Toy Story 2
John Lasseter and his gang of high-tech creators at Pixar create another entertainment for the ages. Like the few great movie sequels, Toy Story 2 comments on why the first one was so wonderful while finding a fresh angle worthy of a new film. The craze of toy collecting becomes the focus here, as we find out Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is not only a beloved toy to Andy but also a rare doll from a popular '60s children's show. When a greedy collector takes Woody, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) launches a rescue mission with Andy's other toys. To say more would be a crime because this is one of the most creative and smile-inducing films since, well, the first Toy Story.

Although the toys look the same as in the 1994 feature, Pixar shows how much technology has advanced: the human characters look more human, backgrounds are superior, and two action sequences that book-end the film are dazzling. And it's a hoot for kids and adults. The film is packed with spoofs, easily accessible in-jokes, and inspired voice casting (with newcomer Joan Cusack especially a delight as Cowgirl Jessie). But as the Pixar canon of films illustrates, the filmmakers are storytellers first. Woody's heart-tugging predicament can easily be translated into the eternal debate of living a good life versus living forever. Toy Story 2 also achieved something in the U.S. two other outstanding 1999 animated features (The Iron Giant, Princess Mononoke) could not: it became a huge box-office hit. --Doug Thomas

DVD features
Not only are the folks at Pixar smart, fun filmmakers, they understand the promise of DVD. The Ultimate Toy Box is a scrapbook of "ideas, art, and effort" behind the two landmark films. Both films are presented in their original widescreen (1.77:1) format with commentaries from director John Lasseter and his fellow filmmakers, but the real treasure is the third disc of background information from both movies. This includes the history, story design, animation, music, and publicity of each film. The first film's extras include material from an earlier released laser disc as well as new features examining the animation process. It clearly illustrates just how the film is made, right down to looking over an animator's shoulder as he works his program. The second film's extras include explanation of how abandoned elements of the first film were picked up in the sequel. There's also a fascinating look at how "Woody's Roundup," the faux '50s TV show, was created. Add hundreds of art stills, dramatic 360-degree views of the "sets," interviews, a guide to hidden jokes, original song demos, story reels, and early test work, and you have one of the best--and entertaining--disc sets ever made. --Doug Thomas

Los Angeles Daily News, October 20, 2000
"The computer maestros at Pixar Studios are working at the top of their game, but just as importantly, so are the screenwriters."

Customer Reviews

The best DVD set you can buy. Period.
If you're an "extras" hound like me, "Toy Story & Toy Story 2 - The Ultimate Toy Box" is the promised land. Hands down the best goodies of any DVD to this date. Oh yeah, and you get two excellent movies too! :)

I won't spend time on the movies themselves, except to say that they're two of the most entertaining films ever made. Instead, let's focus on why to get the 3-DVD set instead of the 2-DVD set.

The third DVD is truly impressive. You'll find fully-animated deleted scenes; funny & interesting interviews with cast, crew, animators, etc.; an absolutly hysterical debate on "Who's the best character?" with Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and the whole cast; some very detailed explanations of the techniques used to create the movies; and so much more. I've spent over three hours on Disc 3 alone so far, and there's a lot more to go!

There are even cool hidden features. For example, on Disc 3 choose 'Toy Story 2.' Under the 'Story' section, choose 'Jesse's Song.' On the next screen that appears, press the 'Left' arrow key on your remote control & you'll see a question mark. With the question mark highlighted, hit 'Enter' for a outtake with an introduction by the directors.

The sound & picture quality on all three discs are the best I've seen on DVD. Helps when the whole movie was CREATED digitally, eh? :)

All in all "The Ultimate Toy Box" is the best DVD set around, bar none. Well worth the extra money!

Great movie..PIRATED COPIES
DO NOT BUY FROM SELLER ONTARIOFILMS...THIS PERSON IS SELLING ILLEGAL COPIES OF MOVIES. I MADE THE MISTAKE OF BUYING TOYSTORY 1&2 FROM THIS CRIMINAL. THE DVD'S WERE COPIES (PIRATED COPIES) BURNED OFF AN ORIGINAL COPY. THE DISCS WERE SCRATCHED AND WOULD NOT PLAY ON ANY DVD PLAYER IN MY HOME. THEREFORE,
DO NOT BUY FROM: ONTARIOFILMS....YOU WILL GET RIPPED OFF!!!!

TOY STORY2 SHINES BRIGHTER THAN EVER IN ALL NEW 2DISC RELEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For those who missed out on the earlier two dvd releases of "toy story 2" have a reason to cheer now! Their patience seems to have paid off. Thanks to buena vista, All new special edition of pixar's superbly crafted, highly entertaining masterpiece will be available on dec26.

This being the first ever two disc release of the film, most of the special features available on the toy box and the single disc release will be here. Of course, there'll be quite a few new features as well alongwith a DTS track, a pixar dvd first(also available on the recently released 2 disc set of toy story 1 dvd).

As usual, first disc will contain the main feature which has been digitally remastered using higher bitrate with picture direct from pixar's digital source. Two audio tracks will be available on the disc, dolby digital 5.1 EX and DTS 5.1 ES. There will also be a commentary track for the enthusiast, featuring John Lasseter and his creative team including Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon and Andrew Stanton. Sneak peak of pixar's highly anticipated film "cars" will be the only other feature on this disc.

Disc2 of the set overflows with new and already seen features.

1. outakes

2. coolest toy featurette

3. all new game "which toy are you?"

4. "ponkikies" featuring woody, buzz and jessie

5. music medley "riders in the sky"

6. all new making of toy story2, featuring all the creative team behind the movie. Get an insight on how it was conceived and brought to life!

7. deleted scenes

8. john lasseter's profile

9. design galleries and storyboards of the sequence "woody's nightmare" and "jessie's song" with multi angle feature.

10. separate production segment featuring -
Designing Woody's Past
Making Woody's Roundup
Production Tour
Production Progression
Early Animation Tests
Special Effects
International Scene

11. publicity,character interviews,trailers, tv spots.....and more!!

It is being said that this will be a limited release. So grab this definitive edition dvd release of a classic as soon as its available. Trust me, you cant go wrong with this one!!!