Woody's Position As Andy's Favourite Toy example essay topic

Toy Story Analysis Toy Story is the groundbreaking 1995 motion picture developed by Disney and Pixar and directed by John Lasseter. The film was so revolutionary not only because it was the first feature length animation to be created completely by CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) but also, also the film was more rounded in all respects. The characters not only looked more sophisticated and three-dimensional but their personalities were also more human and fewer cartoons like. The film uses a constructed text in order to put across a theme of two very different characters learning to work together beyond their rivalries to rise above a common enemy and work towards a common goal. The film uses characters and imagery very cleverly to portray this theme.

The music used in the film is also different to other Disney features. Rather than the characters bursting into song themselves as in Aladdin or Hercules, the songs are played and sung by an outside person (Randy Newman) and reflect the mood and emotions of the characters in a particular scene. For example, the title sequence song "Friend in Me", when Woody and Andy are playing together, and the scene where Andy's room has been made over to a Buzz Lightyear theme, "Strange Things" where the song reflects Woody's confusion and fear not only about the change in his surroundings but also the change in his friends and his own character and self-confidence. The attention to the smallest detail for example the reflections in Buzz's visor give the film even more realism and depth.

The use of unusual and imaginative camera angles, made possible by the use of CGI, also adds to the texture and pace of the film. The film is then set against the background of toys. Woody voiced by Tom Hanks is the favourite toy of a little boy called Andy. However on Andy's birthday he receives a new toy: Buzz Lightyear voiced by Tim Allen.

This leads to a massive shift in roles with Woody being alienated not only by Andy but by the rest of his toys who once looked up to him as an authority figure and role model. However rather than them switching their allegiance from Woody to Buzz it is more a result of Woody's own insecurity turning him into a bully than Buzz's arrival which makes the other toys turn on him. However they both learn that when Woody pushes them into a difficult situation they aren't so different from each other after all and that working together they can get home. Although it is blindingly obvious that Woody and Buzz are the heroes of the story they not the traditional Disney heroes. Woody quickly becomes jealous and insecure with the arrival of Buzz and this turns him into a bully. Not the characteristics expected of a Disney hero.

This is shown in the way Woody constantly ridicules Buzz making fun of his name and teases him maliciously about the fact he thinks he actually is a space ranger. This brings us on to Buzz. He is super confidant and suffers from delusions of grandeur. However although he may be a little irritating he is still likeable, cheerful and helpful. He has too much confidence in own abilities.

This is why when he sees the advertisement for Buzz Lightyear Action figures he completely loses his will to live and is unable to do anything. This is another theme that self belief has a reflection in what you are able to do as they both find out at the end in that when they have confidence in themselves they are able to rise above seemingly insurmountable obstacles in rescuing Buzz and getting back to Andy. Another theme is that of appearances being deceptive. Woody and Buzz immediately consider the toys in Sid's room as evil.

The audience also get this feeling. Not only do they look disturbing but also they are also associated with Sid who is the main evil character. Despite their initial fears, Woody and Buzz are soon convinced that Sid's warped creations are also prisoners and are in fact friends. It turns out that without the intervention of Sid's toys Sid would have killed Buzz and Woody. Therefore there is no actual traditional Walt Disney hero and the main theme is that everyone is capable of being a hero and that self-belief and a little altruism is all you need to over come obstacles and achieve a goal.

Disney heroes are usually less complicated than the characters in Toy Story with none of the personality flaws like jealousy and greed. There a re normally clean-cut barriers for who is good and who is evil. None of the characters in Toy Story are black and white except perhaps for Sid and Andy. Although I personally don't see them as characters in there own right. I only see Sid as the ultimate most obvious obstacle and Andy as a goal to aim for. They are also less detailed and less well created as CGI characters.

The notion of toys coming to life is something that both children and adults can relate to. It is easy for children because the film is about toys. This will heighten the appeal for children because toys are something, which they know and are parts of their everyday life. The visual comedy and bright colours also make it attractive for children. Scenes such as the fight scene under the truck and the chase scene at the end are full of visual comedy. The locations are also visually exciting.

Places like Pizza Planet, Sid's Bedroom and even seemingly mediocre places like the Petrol Station are brought to life with texture, lighting and great attention to detail. The fact that the perspective of the toy is used throughout also adds to the awesome atmosphere of the normally mundane locations. The ability to relate to the film is made easier for the adults since many of the toys used are older toys such as Mr. Potato Head and the Trolls. This triggers nostalgia. Adults would also appreciate the attention to detail used in the film. The scene with the Army Men near the beginning is good example of this.

Army Men traditionally have three features: a bent gun, blobs of plastic on the back and most notably the feet are fixed to a piece of plastic. On each of the soldiers these features noticeable. The humour is subtler with lots of puns. For example, in the bedroom where the toys first come to life, Potato Head rearranges his facial features to resemble a Picasso painting. He shows this to Hamm. He doesn't get it and Potato Head yells "You uncultured swine!" Although Toy Story is first and foremost a children's film many other genres are represented.

Examples of the horror, western, "Buddy Movie" and action genres are all present. Scene Analysis. The scene I have chosen to analyse is the scene in Andy's bedroom when we are first introduced to the toys. I feel this scene is important since it is one of the establishing scenes in the film where we meet most of the main characters.

Woody, when we are first introduced to him, establishes himself as an authority figure. The way the other toys look up to him and particularly the way Slinky makes towards him proves this. He also takes control of the staff meeting and organisms the toys. He is very calm and collected, apart from when he is confronted by Beau.

Cowboys are often seen as authoritative and heroic and this counts in Woody's case. From the start Mr. Potato-Head is identified as a very cynical character. He is the only one to challenge Woody's authority in the staff meeting and he constantly mocks him. This may also give evidence of envy towards Woody. Slinky appears to be Woody's "right-hand man".

This is shown by the fact he is the first one Woody try to tell about Andy's party and Woody relies on him to gather the toys together for the staff meeting. He is very defensive of Woody. When Mr Potato-Head criticises him Slinky is the only one to defend him. Rex, although he has the outward appearance of a dinosaur, is in fact very neurotic. He appears very nervous and eager to please and is constantly trying to live up to his exterior appearance.

When he tries to scare Woody he is not in the least bit phased. It is actually Rex who is most afraid. Beau is a very flirtatious "southern belle" type of character who is clearly in love with Woody. The type of language she uses with him and the way he responds shows that she is the dominant character in their conversations. This is very much the scene that sets the pace for the whole film.

There is also a lot of background in this scene: we learn Andy is moving homes, Woody's position as Andy's favourite toy, it's Andy's birthday party and that the rest of the toys are afraid of being replaced. The scene is also full of humour, which is consistent with the whole film. Much of this is more subtle humour like, Woody's microphone is called Mike and Woody praises a seminar hosted by Mr. Spell, which by definition is an educational toy. The attention to detail in this scene is also evident. Most of the frames in which Woody is in, he is central to the shot. This again shows just important a character Woody is.

In conclusion, I feel that Toy Story is a much more advanced film when compared to some of Disney's other animated films. Apart from the obvious technological advances made in animation technology, it also appeals on a much deeper level. The camera angles and techniques used help to add to the "realism" of the film but still give it an edge of the unreal. The way it appeals on all levels to both adults and children is helped by the fact that there is no clean-cut good and evil and even the good characters aren't perfect.

This is something that Toy Story has over even its followers such as "A Bug's Life.".