The Origin of Toy Story: From Tin Toy to Pixar's First Feature

Aladdin Merchandise and Box Office Projections

• 🎯 The live-action "Aladdin" is projected to earn between 70-90 million dollars, significantly less than the live-action "Beauty and the Beast" due to competition from "Avengers: Endgame."
• 🛍️ Merchandise for "Aladdin" is heavily focused on Jasmine, featuring items like kimonos and swim tops, with some items referencing the live-action film and others the original animated version.

Disneyland Pin Trading and "Up" Anniversary

• 📌 Disneyland's Star Wars Launch Bay will host a pin trading event on May 16th, featuring a pre-purchase opportunity for pins from the "Up" collection celebrating its 10th anniversary.
• 🎟️ Admission to the pin trading event is $20, with special jumbo pins and mystery sets available.

Art of Disney and "Toy Story 4"

• 🎨 Artist Kurt Raymond will have a signing in two months, featuring new art based on "101 Dalmatians," "The Little Mermaid," and "Aladdin."
• ✨ Dave Avanzino's dimensional art pieces, including a "Pirates"-themed one, are available at Disney shops.
• 📚 "The Art of Toy Story 4" book reveals that the film is Pixar's first since "Toy Story 3" to be released in widescreen format and that "Toy Story 3" concluded Andy's story, not Woody's.

The Genesis of Toy Story

• 💡 The short film "Tin Toy" (1988) and its Oscar win were pivotal in Pixar's journey to creating "Toy Story."
• 🎬 A proposed "Tin Toy Christmas" holiday special was envisioned but faced high production costs, leading to discussions about a feature-length film.
• 🤝 Disney signed a three-picture deal with Pixar in May 1991, with "Toy Story" being the first.
• 🤠 The concept evolved from a ventriloquist dummy and a 1940s musician toy to a cowboy toy (Woody) and a spaceman toy (initially Lunar Larry, later Buzz Lightyear).
• 🚀 The spaceman character was inspired by Mattel's Major Matt Mason and was initially considered for voice actors like Billy Crystal and Jim Carrey before Tom Hanks voiced Woody.
• 🧸 "Toy Story" merchandise faced initial rejection from major toy manufacturers, with only Thinkway of Toronto willing to produce toys, leading to limited quantities of plush Woody dolls and Buzz Lightyear figures for the 1995 holiday season.

"Toy Story 4" and "Child's Play" Release

• 🧩 "Toy Story 4" features the character Tinny, bringing the story full circle from Pixar's early work.
• 🎭 The villain Gabby Gabby is modeled after Chatty Cathy and Talking Tina, with her henchmen being a quartet of ventriloquist dummies.
• 🔪 The release of "Toy Story 4" on June 21st coincides with the reboot of "Child's Play," produced by David Katzenberg, suggesting a deliberate marketing strategy to gain attention.