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After the resounding success of Pixar's CG classic Toy Story, expectations were cautious surrounding Toy Story 2 (1999). Thankfully, this sequel turned out "as good as its predecessor" with Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen) venturing beyond the playroom in a thrilling kidnap plot. Critics and moviegoers were equally swept away by this lovingly crafted yarn.
Putting Away Childish Things
Lasseter and his crew talk about "respecting" the world they created in the first Toy Story while at the same "broadening the scope" in Making Toy Story 2. Thematically, they relate Woody's fears about becoming obsolete to our own fears about growing old and losing our loved ones. However, the real nuts-and-bolts are contained in the Behind The Scenes section. Tom Hanks confesses, "I am Woody," in the featurette Cast Of Characters while Tim Allen mourns, "I'm not quite as good looking as Buzz." Of course new recruits Joan Cusack (as Jessie the cowgirl) and Wayne Knight (as Al the collector) contribute too.
Despite the bad blood shed between The Mouse House and Pixar in the last couple of years, Walt Disney president Peter Schneider compares John Lasseter to the father of animation in a profile featurette. "Walt left us three great lessons," he says, "Tell a great story, tell it with great characters, and push the technology one step further," all of which Lasseter aims to do. Of course it's a team effort, which is evident in footage from a pitching session for Woody's Nightmare sequence. A storyreel-to-final film comparison and galleries of concept art, character designs and set designs paint the full picture of development.
Involving a slightly different aesthetic is Woody's Roundup - basically snippets of a 50s television show that represents Woody's past. In a featurette dedicated to this sequence, animators explain how they achieved the drunken movement of the marionettes and the scratchy black-and-white print. Elsewhere Lasseter shows off all the fake memorabilia crafted by the props department to accompany this fictional series.
Work And Play
Production Tour talks to the animators at every stage of the filmmaking process while the Progression reel breaks down the components for the opening Buzz Lightyear sequence. Using the multi-angle facility, you can flip through the raw storyboards, CG tests, set layouts and of course the final cut. The use of special effects for this scene, (eg the alien lasers) is covered in another featurette. Sound effects are also a crucial ingredient as revealed in an interactive deconstruction of the sound mix. Elsewhere you'll find a look at The Making Of The Songs and song demos by composer Randy Newman.
One of two deleted scenes finds Woody being fatefully whisked away to the yard sale by Godzilla Rex, which we're told was cut for being "way too coincidental". The other sees Buzz leading the toys across a busy city street. (Click on two Sheriff's stars on the second disc to find two more Easter egg snippets.)
A reel of outtakes is the highlight of the Toy Box menu (note: you can never go wrong with a fart gag) while the set-top game Which Toy Are You? makes for an inventive personality test. The Ponkickies featurette is just plain weird, with Buzz and Woody inviting you to play rock, paper, scissors in Japanese...
Finally, Lasseter and his crew provide commentary for the film on disc one where you'll discover fascinating behind-the-scenes trivia, eg the alien planet featured in the opening scene is also the ants' riverbed from A Bug's Life. This Special Edition package is simply chockablock with behind-the-scenes info and fun interactive features. It's a must-have for any self-respecting DVD collector.
EXTRA FEATURES
