Hey howdy hey! In honor of Toy Story 5 hitting theaters this week, we’re looking back at some of the original merchandise from the very first film released back in 1995. It feels strange to call Toy Story vintage, but it has been 31 years!
Toy Story holds a special place in my heart. It’s the first movie I remember seeing in theaters at three years old. I have vivid memories of my family interacting with the Green Army Men for the first time at what was then Disney-MGM Studios, watching the Toy Story Parade roll down Hollywood Boulevard, my parents’ intense ongoing competition aboard the newly-opened Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, and carrying around my own Woody and Buzz toys like they were the most important things I owned. (Hey, where’s that wimpy cowboy doll?)
— Vintage press photo of the Toy Story Parade
Toy Story opened in theaters on November 22, 1995, as the first feature-length film made entirely with computer-generated imagery. Pixar and Disney had been working toward that moment for years, and when it finally arrived, it caught audiences off guard — a film that looked unlike anything before it and still felt completely human.The film grossed over $373 million worldwide against a $30 million budget, and set the course for what Pixar would become.
— Image: MoviePosters.com
Woody and Buzz became instant icons. For a lot of people who grew up in the 90s, Toy Story was on repeat at home. It was Halloween costumes and kids meal toys, and the first thing that came to mind when someone said the word “Pixar.”
The mid-90s rollout of Toy Story product was everywhere: toys, clothing, accessories, and collectibles with bright colors and big graphics. Some of what came out of that era has held up surprisingly well. Here’s a look at some vintage Toy Story pieces that take you right back!
No vintage Toy Story collection is complete without at least a few wonky faces or disproportionate sizing… it’s part of the charm. This well-priced lot includes Rex, Woody, Hamm, Buzz, and a Little Green Man.
Available HERE | $30
I see no sign of intelligent life, anywhere… Go back to COOL with this vintage Buzz Lightyear backpack and lunch bag set, in pristine 90s condition. They even have puffy vinyl tags that say “to infinity and beyond!”
Available HERE | $43
Get rootin’, tootin’, ready for shootin’ with this vintage Fantasma watch, featuring Woody with rotating arms:
Available HERE | $24
CODE RED! Looking for a unique fit for your next visit to Toy Story Land? This vintage all-over-print tee is originally from Walt Disney’s World on Ice (now known as Disney on Ice)!
Available HERE | $110
This mini vinyl purse featuring 3 Little Green Men screams Y2K! Here I am, once again hoping we one day see a full-blown film accurate Pizza Planet at the parks…
Available HERE | $6
Finally, I’m ending on a Halloween note, since we’re already approaching spooky season here in Central Florida… and how could I not feature this creepy Woody mask? As Sid said: “Sweet dreams!”
Available HERE | $79.99
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