The leading type of animated film now these days are computer generated imagery, or CGI. Back in the 90s, it was more traditional, hand drawn animation. It's very easy to forget how ambitious Toy Story was when it released around Thanksgiving 1995. Let's just say that people expected it to flop. Nobody took it seriously as a contender. Low and behold, highest grossing film of 95, huge critical acclaim, the rise of Pixar, and a very strong franchise.
It has a very simple plot and moves by at a very fast pace. A group of toys, led by cowboy doll Woody. In comes the flashy new one, Buzz Lightyear. Things get out of hand, and the two have to get back to their child owner. There's more to it, but basic. No filler, no side plots. Plenty of visual stuff, quotable lines, tons of humorous moments. What also works that even though it's a Disney film, it doesn't follow the tropes associated with them. No romance as your big plot line, no singing, no sappy stuff. A film that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
As I said, it was ambitious. At 30 million, it was cheaper than what The Lion King's budget was the year prior. They did get some big names, but it wasn't all top of the line names outside of Woody and Buzz. They found ones they knew could create the film into a memorable one. It holds up in many ways and the score is still fantastic to hear. This is still my favorite of the Disney CGI films. It paved for more Pixar films, competitors in Dreamworks and Blue Sky (though Blue Sky is Disney owned now due to buying Fox), and the decline of traditional animation in film.
The appeal for Toy Story knows no bounds. You want a franchise with lots of respect and memorable, this is one of the few that has that. Give each one a watch. There is tons of enjoyment you'll get out of them and for different reasons.
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