Toy Story 3 is an upcoming computer-animated 3-D film being produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the third installment in the Toy Story series and is scheduled for release on June 18, 2010, in the United States. Lee Unkrich, who edited the previous films and co-directed the second, takes over as director. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen have been confirmed to return to voice the characters of Woody and Buzz respectively.

Plot

Andy is departing for college, and his toys, including Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen), are going to be put in the attic. Before they can be put in the attic, they are accidentally thrown away and are picked up by the garbage men. The toys find themselves at a local day-care center, where they must try to survive the playful but careless pre-school children. Woody attempts to save his friends and find themselves a new home, but matters are further complicated when Buzz is damaged during an escape attempt. The toys try to reset Buzz, but end up causing him to revert to a Spanish version of his delusions of being a space ranger, much to the other toys' discomfort.

Cast

• Tom Hanks as Woody
• Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear
• Joan Cusack as Jessie
• John Ratzenberger as Hamm
• Wallace Shawn as Rex
• Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head
• Estelle Harris as Mrs. Potato Head
• Jodi Benson as Barbie
• Michael Keaton as Ken
• Blake Clark as Slinky Dog
• John Morris as Andy Davis
• Laurie Metcalf as Mrs. Davis
• Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants
• Ned Beatty
• Jeff Garlin
• Bonnie Hunt
• Whoopi Goldberg
• Kristen Schaal

Lee Unkrich has confirmed on his Twitter account that Bo Peep, RC, Lenny, and Wheezy will appear in Toy Story 3. He also confirmed that there will be an animated short attached to the film.

Development

According to the terms of Pixar's revised deal with Disney, all characters created by Pixar for their films were owned by Disney. Furthermore, Disney retained the rights to make sequels to any Pixar film, though Pixar retained the right of first refusal to work on these sequels. But in 2004, when the contentious negotiations between the two companies made a split appear likely, Disney Chairman at the time Michael Eisner put in motion plans to produce Toy Story 3 at a new Disney studio, Circle 7 Animation. Tim Allen, the voice of Buzz Lightyear, indicated a willingness to return even if Pixar was not on board.

Jim Herzfeld wrote a script for Circle 7's version of the film. It focused on the other toys shipping a malfunctioning Buzz to Taiwan, believing that he will be fixed there. While searching on the Internet, however, they find out that the malfunctions are happening to many toys around the world and the company has issued a massive recall. Fearing Buzz's destruction, a group of Andy's toys (Woody, Rex, Slinky, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, Jessie, and Bullseye) venture to rescue Buzz. At the same time Buzz meets other toys from around the world that were once loved but have now been recalled.

In January 2006, Disney bought Pixar in a deal that put Pixar chiefs Edwin Catmull and John Lasseter in charge of all Disney Animation. Shortly thereafter, Circle 7 Animation was shut down and its version of Toy Story 3 was shelved. The following month, Disney CEO Robert Iger confirmed that Disney was in the process of transferring the production to Pixar. John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and Lee Unkrich visited the house where they first pitched Toy Story and came up with the story for the film over a weekend. Stanton then wrote a treatment. On February 8, 2007, Catmull announced Toy Story 2's co-director, Lee Unkrich, as the sole director of the film instead of John Lasseter, and Michael Arndt as screenwriter. The release date was moved to 2010.

Instead of sending Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and John Ratzenberger scripts for their consideration in reprising their roles, a complete story reel of the film was shown to the actors in a theater. The reel was made up of moving storyboards with pre-recorded voices, sound effects, and music. At the conclusion of the preview, the actors signed on to the film.

Marketing

The film's first teaser trailer was released with the Disney Digital 3-D version of the film Up on May 29, 2009. On October 2, 2009 Toy Story and Toy Story 2 were re-released as a double feature in Disney Digital 3-D. The second teaser trailer was attached as an exclusive sneak peek to the Toy Story double feature. The first full-length trailer was released on October 12, 2009.

Mattel and Lego are among those who will make toys to promote the film. Disney Interactive Studios will also produce a video game based on the film.

References

1. Tilly, Chris. "'Toy Story 3' Preview: Story details, plus footage screens in London", IGN, September 10, 2009
2. Anderton, Ethan. "Toy Story 3 Casting News Straight from Disney's D23 Expo!", FirstShowing.net, September 13, 2009
3. Fletcher, Alex. " Timothy Dalton cast in 'Toy Story 3'", Digital Spy, September 10 2009

External links

• Teaser trailer
• Toy Story 3 news at The Pixar Blog (unofficial)
• Toy Story 3 news at Upcoming Pixar/Pixar Planet