John Lasseter's first experience with computer animation was during his work as an animator at Disney, when two of his friends showed him the lightcycle scene from Tron. It was an eye-opening experience which awakened Lasseter to the possibilities offered by the new medium of computer-generated animation.[7] Lasseter went on to work at Lucasfilm and later as a founding member of Pixar.[8]
Pixar's Oscar-winning short film Tin Toy (directed by Lasseter) and its CAPS project were among works that gained Disney's attention and, after meetings in 1990 with Jeffrey Katzenberg, Pixar pitched a television special called A Tin Toy Christmas. By July 1991, Disney and Pixar signed an agreement to work on a film, based on the Tin Toy characters, called Toy Story.[9] The deal gave Pixar a three-film deal (with Toy Story being the first) as well as 10% of the films' profits.[10][11]
Toy Story's script was strongly influenced by the ideas of screenwriter Robert McKee. The script went through many changes before the final version. Lasseter decided Tinny was "too antiquated", and the character was changed to a military action figure, and then given a space theme. Tinny's name changed to Lunar Larry, then Tempus from Morph, and eventually Buzz Lightyear (after astronaut Buzz Aldrin).[12] Lightyear's design was modeled on the suits worn by Apollo astronauts as well as G.I. Joe action figures.[13][14] A second character, originally a ventriloquist's dummy, was changed to a stuffed cowboy doll with a pull-string, and named Woody for Western actor Woody Strode. The difference between the old and new toy led to a conflict between their personalities.[12] Lasseter wanted the film to not be a musical, but a buddy film, with the story department drawing inspiration from films such as 48 Hrs. and The Defiant Ones.[12] Joss Whedon claimed "It would have been a really bad musical, because it's a buddy movie. It's about people who won't admit what they want, much less sing about it. ... Buddy movies are about sublimating, punching an arm, 'I hate you.' It's not about open emotion."[15] Disney also appointed Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow and, later, Whedon to help develop the script.[12] In addition, Disney wanted the film to appeal to both children and adults, and asked for adult references to be added to the film.[15] Disney gave approval for the film on January 19, 1993, at which point voice casting could begin.[15]
Lasseter always wanted Tom Hanks to play the character of Woody. Lasseter claimed Hanks "... has the ability to take emotions and make them appealing. Even if the character, like the one in A League of Their Own, is down-and-out and despicable."[15] Early test footage, using Hanks' voice from Turner and Hooch, convinced Hanks to sign on to the film.[15][16] Billy Crystal was approached to play Buzz, but turned down the role, which he later regretted, although he would voice Mike Wazowski in Pixar's later success, Monsters, Inc.[17][18] Katzenberg took the role to Tim Allen, who was appearing in Disney's Home Improvement, and he accepted.[12] Toy Story was both Hanks and Allen's first animated film role.[19]
Pixar presented an early draft of the film to Disney on November 19, 1993.[15] The result was disastrous. It presented Woody as a "sarcastic jerk" because Katzenberg kept sending notes that he wanted more edge. Katzenberg took Schneider in the hall during the screening and asked him why it was bad, Schneider responded that it "wasn't their's [sic] anymore."[20] Walt Disney Feature Animation president Peter Schneider immediately shut down production pending a new script approved by Disney. Pixar survived the shutdown by falling back on its existing television commercial business while the script was rewritten.[15] The new script made Woody a more likable character, instead of the "sarcastic jerk" he had been. Katzenberg restarted production in February 1994.[12] The voice actors returned in March to record their new lines.[15]
It was Whedon's idea to incorporate Barbie as a character who would rescue Woody and Buzz in the film's final act.[21] The idea was dropped after Mattel objected and refused to license the toy. Producer Ralph Guggenheim claimed that Mattel did not allow the use of the toy as "They [Mattel] philosophically felt girls who play with Barbie dolls are projecting their personalities onto the doll. If you give the doll a voice and animate it, you're creating a persona for it that might not be every little girl's dream and desire."[15] Barbies did, however, appear in the film's sequels, Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. Hasbro likewise refused to license G.I. Joe but did license Mr. Potato Head.[12][15] The film's related toys were produced by Thinkway Toys, who secured the worldwide master toy license in 1995.[22]
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