Toy Story's Merch Empire: From $10,000 Buzz to Pixar's Origins

The Genesis of Toy Story Merchandising

• 💡 Thinkway secured the Toy Story license because Mattel and Hasbro passed, with Mattel deeming Barbie as the Terminator too much, and Hasbro unwilling to have their G.I. Joe blown up.
• 🎯 Mr. Potato Head was one of the few Hasbro characters approved, voiced by Don Rickles, while Mattel also declined early designs due to their CG nature.
• 🚀 The Pixar short 'Tin Toy' winning an Academy Award in 1989 led Disney to explore feature film partnerships, setting a precedent for Pixar's involvement.
• ⚠️ A pivotal moment was 'Black Friday' in November 1993, where a version of Toy Story with a mean Woody was shut down by Disney, prompting Pixar to refocus on the story they wanted to tell.

The Evolution of Toy Story Merchandise

• 💰 The franchise has become a massive success, grossing over $3.3 billion worldwide and ranking as the 21st highest-grossing film franchise globally.
• 📈 Toy Story merchandise sees continuous waves of interest with each new installment or character appearance, demonstrating its enduring market appeal.
• 🧸 Early Thinkway toys from 1995, like a boxed Buzz Lightyear, can now fetch prices up to $10,000, highlighting the rise of collector culture.
• 🎮 The franchise adapts to changing times, offering traditional toys alongside modern digital items like Fortnite Buzz Lightyear skins.

Behind the Scenes of Toy Story 4

• 💖 John Lasseter envisioned Toy Story 4 as a personal love story and Valentine to his wife, Nancy, focusing on Bo Peep's journey and her relationship with Woody.
• 🎤 Jim Hill was slated to co-tell this personal story with John and Nancy Lasseter, but the plans were derailed by John's personal issues and subsequent departure from Pixar in 2017.
• 😔 As a result of Lasseter's departure due to allegations of misconduct, significant portions of the personal narrative were stripped from Toy Story 4.
• 🧠 John Lasseter, considered Pixar's first employee, was instrumental in its early success, including the short 'The Adventures of Andre and Wally B.', and his departure is seen by some as a factor in the perceived decline in recent Pixar/Disney film quality.

The Business of Pixar and Disney

• 🤝 Disney's initial three-picture deal with Pixar was renegotiated to a five-picture contract after the massive success of the first Toy Story, with Steve Jobs insisting on equal billing for Pixar and Disney on all promotional materials.
• 📈 Early Pixar's financial struggles were supported by John Lasseter's wife, Nancy, who maintained a full-time job while he worked on shorts and commercials, including Tropicana and Listerine ads.
• 🎬 The success of Toy Story transformed Pixar from a company known for shorts and commercials into a major animation studio, with John Lasseter's vision being key to its early breakthroughs.