This review was originally published in the Post-Gazette on Wednesday, November 22, 1995.

With "Toy Story," Disney cuts to the chase. Now it can market the toys in the film directly without taking the middle step of making toys based on characters. That's because the toys are the characters in this whimsical animated film.

		'Toy Story' Rating: G for all audiences. Starring: Voices by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen. Director: John Lasseter.

Using a process called pixilation, which means that the images are entirely computer-generated, "Toy Story" has a novel look about it that works wonderfully in this context. Though more and more films make use of computer animation in various forms, "Toy Story" is the first full-length animated feature to do so. The fact that it took four years to make won't mean much to kids. They'll love it anyway.

"Toy Story" takes children into Andy's bedroom, where all the toys come to life the minute he leaves. They're led by his favorite, Woody, a talking cowboy doll with voice by Tom Hanks.

The toys are in an uproar this day. Andy will be moving to a new house soon, and they're worried that he might forget some of them. Worse, Andy is having a birthday party, and birthdays and Christmas are the days to dread if you're a toy. What if Andy gets something new that he likes better?

That's exactly what happens when Buzz Lightyear (voice by Tim Allen) is unwrapped. He's a space action figure armed with an assortment of cool gadgets, and he takes Woody's place on the bed.

"Toy Story" has a warm and comforting feel about it, along with some refreshingly old-fashioned values. There are no Batmans or Power Rangers in the film. Instead there are toys parents will remember from their youth. A Mr. Potato Head (voice by Don Rickles) hopes for a Mrs. Potato Head, and when Andy's little sister drools on him, he complains that he's for "Ages 3 and up! It's on my box!"

There's a Slinky Dog and a T Rex, a Little Bo Peep who has a crush on Woody, and a whole platoon of green plastic soldiers. In one hilarious sequence, they're sent on a reconnaissance mission to spy on the party, and they drag the baby monitor with them so they can report back to Andy's bedroom.

"Toy Story" teaches children that toys have feelings, too. The end result is that children will leave the movie with a new respect for them. Thank Sid for that. He's Andy's bad-boy neighbor, a kid who tortures toys and owns a sad bunch of mutilated creatures.

The other important lesson grows out of Woody's jealousy toward Buzz. Eventually, through a series of mishaps and adventures that find them joining forces, they become friends and learn that there's enough room in Andy's heart for both of them.

Director John Lasseter punctuates the action with a bouncy soundtrack by Randy Newman.

Since computer animation is not notably lifelike, the human characters don't fare as well as the toys. But the toys are completely engaging, and it is called "Toy Story." We get the world from their point of view, and it's wacky, irreverent and genuinely fun for all ages.