Toy Story 3 is an upcoming computer-animated 3-D film being produced by Pixar Animation Studios, slated for release on June 18, 2010. It is a sequel to the films Toy Story and Toy Story 2. Lee Unkrich, who edited the previous films and co-directed the second, takes over as director. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprise their roles as Woody and Buzz.

The third chapter of the Toy Story trilogy tells the story of Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the others of the Toystory cast, when their now teenage owner, Andy, leaves for college, leaving our heroes at a day-care center.

Slinky Dog's voice artist Jim Varney passed away due to lung cancer in 2000. He was replaced by a friend, who producer John Lasseter described as "sounding an awful lot like him". Wheezy the penguin's voice artist Joe Ranft passed away in a car accident in 2005.


According to the terms of Pixar's revised deal with Disney, all characters created by Pixar for their films were owned by Disney. Furthermore, Disney retained the rights to make sequels to any Pixar film, though Pixar retained the right of first refusal to work on these sequels. But in 2004, when the contentious negotiations between the two companies made a split appear likely, Disney Chairman at the time Michael Eisner put in motion plans to produce Toy Story 3 at a new Disney studio, Circle 7 Animation. Tim Allen, the voice of Buzz Lightyear, indicated a willingness to return even if Pixar was not on board.

Promotional art for Circle 7's Toy Story 3, displaying the storyline of the Buzz Lightyears being recalled.

Jim Herzfeld wrote a script for Circle 7's version of the film. It focused on the other toys shipping a malfunctioning Buzz to Taiwan, believing that he will be fixed there. While searching on the Internet, however, they find out that the malfunctions are happening to many toys around the world and the company has issued a massive recall. Fearing Buzz's destruction, a group of Andy's toys (Woody, Rex, Slinky, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, Jessie, and Bullseye) venture to rescue Buzz. At the same time Buzz meets other toys from around the world that were once loved but have now been recalled.

In January 2006, Disney bought Pixar in a deal that put Pixar chiefs Edwin Catmull and John Lasseter in charge of all Disney Animation. Shortly thereafter, Circle 7 Animation was shut down and its version of Toy Story 3 was shelved. The following month, Disney CEO Robert Iger confirmed that Disney was in the process of transferring the production to Pixar. John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and Lee Unkrich visited the house where they first pitched Toy Story and came up with the story for the film over a weekend. Stanton then wrote a treatment. On February 8, 2007, Catmull announced Toy Story 2's co-director, Lee Unkrich, as the sole director of the film instead of John Lasseter, and Michael Arndt as screenwriter. The release date was moved to 2010.

Instead of sending Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and John Ratzenberger scripts for their consideration in reprising their roles, a complete story reel of the film was shown to the actors in a theater. The reel was made up of moving storyboards with pre-recorded voices, sound effects, and music. At the conclusion of the preview, the actors signed on to the film. Animation began in April 2009; to commence the start of work on the film, Unkrich and the animation team shaved their heads. "Now that my animators and I are bald, here's the plan: see who can go longest without a haircut or shaving," the director blogged.

More Information at www.pixar.com. Image and Video Courtesy of Disney-Pixar and Apple Inc.