WHAT WENT WRONG

Toy Story

November 17, 2025

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  • The creation of *Toy Story* was deeply intertwined with John Lasseter's departure from Disney due to his advocacy for CGI technology, leading him to co-found Pixar with Ed Catmull and Steve Jobs. 
  • Pixar was initially purchased by Steve Jobs for a mere $10 million, a deal that gave him a 70% stake and renamed the company, after George Lucas needed to liquidate the computer division due to financial strain from his divorce. 
  • The initial version of *Toy Story* presented to Disney was so cynical and dark—featuring a mean Woody who intentionally threw Buzz out a window—that Disney immediately halted production, forcing Pixar to rewrite the entire story in two weeks, with Joss Whedon contributing significantly to making Buzz oblivious to being a toy. 
  • Pixar's early animation technology, including the Menv program and the use of AVARs, was crucial for creating *Toy Story* but required immense computational effort, leading to creative compromises like limiting the number of characters and avoiding complex organic textures. 
  • Disney initially pressured Pixar to make *Toy Story* a musical, but Pixar successfully compromised by using Randy Newman's songs as narrative-setting montages, a stylistic choice that became a hallmark of the *Toy Story* franchise. 
  • The massive commercial success of *Toy Story* immediately following its release allowed Pixar to go public, secure a 50-50 profit share deal with Disney, and establish itself as a major studio independent of its initial production partner. 

Segments

Hosts Introduce Toy Story Episode
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(00:01:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts are excited to cover Toy Story for its 30th anniversary, praising its timeless story and technological breakthrough.
  • Summary: Chris Winterbauer and Lizzie Bassett welcome listeners to the episode of WHAT WENT WRONG dedicated to Toy Story. They express deep admiration for the film’s enduring quality and pioneering technology.
Lasseter’s Disney Dark Age Experience
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(00:08:41)
  • Key Takeaway: John Lasseter was inspired by animation but found Disney in a creative slump after Walt’s death, leading him to seek new technology.
  • Summary: The segment details John Lasseter’s early life and his disillusionment upon joining Disney during its ‘dark age,’ where animation felt stagnant compared to the work of Lucas and Spielberg.
Tron Inspires CGI Vision
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(00:12:32)
  • Key Takeaway: Seeing the CGI in Tron convinced Lasseter that computer graphics were the future for adding dimension to animation, despite Tron’s mixed reception.
  • Summary: Lasseter saw the 1982 film Tron and recognized the potential of CGI, though he noted the film felt like a ‘flashy tech demo’ and that Disney lacked centralized knowledge of the technology.
Lasseter Fired from Disney
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(00:24:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Lasseter was fired from Disney after failing to convince management that a CGI short film was worth the cost, as it offered no immediate savings over hand-drawn animation.
  • Summary: After his Brave Little Toaster pitch was rejected by Ron Miller due to cost, Lasseter was terminated from Disney.
Formation of Pixar with Steve Jobs
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(00:30:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Ed Catmull and Lasseter formed Pixar after George Lucas sold off the computer division; Steve Jobs bought a majority stake in 1986.
  • Summary: The computer division was spun off from Lucasfilm due to Lucas’s financial needs. Steve Jobs invested, renaming the company Pixar, with Catmull as President and Lasseter as CCO.
Luxo Jr. and Early Shorts
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(00:34:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Pixar’s shorts, like Luxo Jr., proved the artistic viability of CGI, even as the company struggled financially selling its hardware.
  • Summary: Lasseter’s short Luxo Jr. (1986) was nominated for an Oscar and demonstrated sophisticated lighting and character emotion using the new technology.
Disney Deal and Initial Dark Script
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(00:40:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Pixar partnered with Disney, but the deal heavily favored Disney. Jeffrey Katzenberg demanded an edgy, R-rated script, leading to a cruel version of Woody.
  • Summary: Pixar agreed to a restrictive deal with Disney. The initial script, influenced by Katzenberg, featured a mean Woody who intentionally threw Buzz out a window.
Black Friday and Script Overhaul
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(00:53:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Disney hated the dark story reels presented in November 1993 (‘Black Friday’) and nearly canceled the film, forcing Pixar to rewrite everything in two weeks.
  • Summary: The story reels showed a verbally abusive Woody. Lasseter begged for a second chance, and Joss Whedon was brought in to help restore the story’s heart.
Tim Allen’s Impact on Buzz Lightyear
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(00:50:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Tim Allen transformed Buzz Lightyear from an arrogant character into an earnest, delusional space cop, which greatly improved the dynamic with Woody.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss how Allen’s performance led to rewrites and created the perfect foil for Woody, leading to iconic moments like ‘falling with style.’
Car Dealership Advertisement
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(00:58:21)
  • Key Takeaway: A dealership called Task IKEA White Plains offers zero-down financing despite bad credit.
  • Summary: The speakers discuss a scenario where someone with horrible credit and no money was approved for a car at Task IKEA White Plains with zero money down, encouraging listeners to visit them.
Instagram Teen Safety Promotion
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(00:59:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Instagram is promoting features to protect teens online.
  • Summary: A promotional message about Instagram’s teen accounts, which default teens into automatic protections for contact and content visibility, directing listeners to instagram.com/slash teen accounts.
Expanding the Toy Story Crew
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(00:59:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The production crew for Toy Story grew significantly, and Joss Whedon’s role extended.
  • Summary: The crew expanded from 24 to over 110 members, still small compared to films like The Lion King (600+). Joss Whedon stayed for six months on what was supposed to be a three-week job.
Tragedy and Executive Shakeup
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(01:00:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Frank Wells’ death led to Michael Eisner overlooking Jeffrey Katzenberg for the number two position, resulting in Katzenberg’s departure.
  • Summary: In April 1994, Frank Wells passed away in a helicopter crash. Jeffrey Katzenberg expected to move up under Eisner but was overlooked, leading to a contentious exit and the founding of DreamWorks.
Shaping Toy Story’s Aesthetic
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(01:01:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Ralph Eggleston and Bill Cohn were hired to establish the film’s painterly look, focusing heavily on realistic lighting simulation.
  • Summary: After Katzenberg left, Ralph Eggleston (art director) and Bill Cohn (visual artist) shaped the aesthetic. They implemented a lighting crew to simulate live-action light sources for every scene.
Menv Animation Software Breakthrough
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(01:01:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Pixar’s Menv software (now Presto) allowed animators to interpolate motion between frames, avoiding tedious redrawing required in 2D animation.
  • Summary: The software Menv (Modeling Environment) allowed animators to isolate frames and let the computer calculate motion, similar to Morph Cut technology, speeding up the animation process.
Michael Jackson Music Video Reference
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(01:02:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The discussion briefly pivots to Michael Jackson’s ‘Black or White’ video and its director, John Landis.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss the Morph Cut technology shown in the ‘Black or White’ music video, noting that John Landis, who directed it, was also responsible for an accident resulting in three deaths on another set.
Evolution of Character Controls (AVARs)
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(01:03:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The complexity of character manipulation increased drastically from the first film to the fourth, shown by the number of AVARs.
  • Summary: The Menv technology also allowed for faster facial expression control using Articulated Variables (AVARs). Woody had 596 AVARs in 1995, increasing to 7,000 by Toy Story 4 in 2019.
Toy Selection and Software Limits
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(01:04:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Toy selection was based on nostalgia and the software’s limitations, favoring plastic toys over organic materials.
  • Summary: The toys chosen were ones the team grew up with and that worked well with the software (plastic, non-organic). This is why the human and dog characters look less refined than the toys.
Missing Toy Rights: Barbie and G.I. Joe
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(01:05:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Pixar could not secure the rights for Barbie (due to Mattel’s personality concerns) or G.I. Joe (due to a scene depicting destruction).
  • Summary: Barbie was envisioned with a tough, Linda Hamilton-esque personality, which Mattel rejected. G.I. Joe was replaced with ‘Combat Carl’ because Hasbro objected to a scene where the soldier was blown up.
Software Limitations on Human Characters
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(01:07:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Software limitations influenced character design, leading to the absence of Andy’s dad and the reuse of Andy’s model for his birthday party friends.
  • Summary: The difficulty in rendering complex organic materials meant Andy’s dad was omitted, and all of Andy’s friends at the party were essentially copies of Andy with minor changes.
Grind of Toy Story Animation
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(01:08:32)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite advanced tools, animation was painstaking, requiring extensive work for organic characters and complex sequences.
  • Summary: It took a week to fit facial expressions to audio for an eight-second shot. The green army men sequence was one of the most complicated, requiring Pete Docter to physically hop around to simulate their movement.
The Role of the ‘Imperfectionist’
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(01:09:59)
  • Key Takeaway: A dedicated digital painter, the ‘Imperfectionist,’ was hired to deliberately add scuffs and dirt to prevent the CGI from looking too perfect.
  • Summary: Tia Crater was hired as the ‘Imperfectionist’ to add realistic wear and tear, like scuffs and dirt, which also helped tell the story (e.g., Andy’s name wearing off his foot).
Disney’s Musical Mandate Conflict
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(01:10:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Disney insisted Toy Story be a musical like their Renaissance films, but Pixar refused, leading to a compromise using narrative songs.
  • Summary: Disney pushed for songs, but Pixar resisted. Disney music head Chris Montan proposed using songs narratively, similar to The Graduate soundtrack, which Pixar accepted.
Randy Newman vs. Bob Dylan Score
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(01:12:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Randy Newman was chosen for his warm Americana sound, despite Steve Jobs strongly advocating for Bob Dylan.
  • Summary: Pixar chose Randy Newman, who found scoring the film the hardest thing he’d ever written, resulting in the iconic ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me.’ Jobs wanted Bob Dylan, which the team felt would alienate children.
Toy Story’s Box Office Success
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(01:15:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Disney’s massive marketing machine propelled Toy Story to huge financial success, grossing $375 million worldwide.
  • Summary: The film opened strong, making $39 million in its first five days. Disney’s extensive marketing, including a fun house next to the El Capitan, ensured massive reach.
Pixar’s IPO and Contract Renegotiation
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(01:16:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Pixar went public one week after the film’s release, securing massive leverage to renegotiate a 50-50 profit share with Disney.
  • Summary: Pixar needed to become a studio, not just a partner. Their IPO was the largest of the year, making Steve Jobs a billionaire. In 1996, they successfully renegotiated for a true 50-50 profit split.
Academy Award Snub and Legacy
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(01:17:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite three nominations, Toy Story won zero Oscars, losing Best Original Song to Pocahontas, but it legitimized animation for all ages.
  • Summary: The film received a Special Achievement Award instead of competitive Oscars. The hosts agree that ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’ has had greater cultural staying power than the winning song, ‘Colors of the Wind.’
What Went Right: Buzz Lightyear Character
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(01:20:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Joss Whedon and Tim Allen are credited with cracking the Buzz Lightyear character, which became the keystone for the film’s cultural resonance.
  • Summary: The host gives a controversial ‘What Went Right’ to Whedon and Allen for defining Buzz, arguing that character was the missing keystone that made the film a massive success.
What Went Right: Steve Jobs’ Vision
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(01:21:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Steve Jobs is credited for protecting and funding Pixar when it was failing, allowing the technology and art division to survive until Toy Story succeeded.
  • Summary: Jobs poured his own money into the company, protecting the animation division and allowing the artists to create, which ultimately led to Pixar’s existence and success.
The Iron Giant Preview
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(01:23:51)
  • Key Takeaway: The next episode will cover the Warner Brothers animated film, The Iron Giant, directed by Brad Bird.
  • Summary: The hosts announce the next film, noting it is a traditionally animated film from Warner Brothers and warning listeners to prepare for tears.
Podcast Support and Patreon Details
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(01:24:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners can support the podcast through ratings, reviews, telling friends, or subscribing to Apple or Patreon for bonus content.
  • Summary: The hosts outline four ways to support the show, including a $4.99/month Apple subscription for bonus episodes (like reviews of Frankenstein and Avatar: Fire and Ash) and a Patreon for more content.