Chronology and Timeline of Toy Story: How Old is the Toy Story Franchise?

Introduction to the Toy Story Franchise

The Toy Story franchise, created by Pixar Animation Studios and Disney, has captivated the hearts of audiences for decades. From its debut in 1995 to its latest entries, the series has chronicled the lives of toys and their human owners in a series of heartwarming and humorous adventures.

However, the internal chronology of these films can sometimes be confusing, especially when it comes to the age of the main character, Andy. This article aims to clarify the timeline of the Toy Story movies and provide a clear timeline for the series.

Internal Timeline of Andy's Age

The critical factor in determining the timeline of the Toy Story series is the age of the main character, Andy. While there is no definitive set date, we can infer the ages of characters based on the films themselves and consistent information provided throughout the franchise.

1. **Toy Story (1995)** - Andy is around 6 years old.

2. **Toy Story 2 (1999)** - Andy is around 10 years old.

3. **Toy Story 3 (2010)** - Andy is 17/18 years old.

Based on these points, the first film is set around 1998, which makes Toy Story 2 in 1999 and Toy Story 3 in 2010. The fourth installment, which is a sequel to Toy Story 3, would be around 2010 or 2011.

Production Timeline

Production on the original Toy Story began in 1991, according to Tom Hanks, who signed on to voice Woody when he saw Pixar's screen test of an early computer model of his character in sync with his voice from Turner and Hooch.

Initially, a different version of Toy Story was considered, where Woody was the antagonist. This version was scrapped in 1993 after Pixar pitched it to Disney, who wanted the film to appeal to adults but the results were disastrous. After Disney threatened to cancel the production, John Lasseter, the director, argued for Pixar to be given a chance, leading to the final version of the film.

Besides the scrapped version, Pixar also faced other challenges in production. They initially wanted to use Barbie as Woody's girlfriend, and the toy soldier that Sid blew up in the backyard was supposed to be a GI Joe figure, but Mattel and Hasbro refused to license them.

Tim Allen ultimately voiced Buzz Lightyear after Billy Crystal and Chevy Chase turned down the role.

Short Films and TV Specials

Besides the four main films, the Toy Story franchise has undergone various expansions with short films and TV specials. These have been released between 2011 and 2014. Additionally, a fourth installment of the original series was released in 2019, and another Buzz Lightyear movie came out last year.

The original series is scheduled to get a fifth installment, though no release date has been announced yet.

Conclusion

As of now, the Toy Story franchise is 27 years old, celebrated its 27th anniversary last November. Despite the absence of a definitive set date, the timeline of the franchise can be confidently stated based on the ages of the characters and the production timeline.

The enduring appeal of the Toy Story franchise can be attributed to its clever narrative, memorable characters, and the progression of its young protagonist, Andy, as he grows up.