Screening celebrates 20th anniversary of 'Toy Story'

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) -- The Pixar team who made history with the world's first computer-animated feature film "Toy Story" shared laughs, inside stories, photos, and rare out-takes of the film at a 20th Anniversary celebration held by the San Francisco Film Society at San Francisco's Castro Theater.

"Toy Story" was Pixar's first feature film and was released in 1995.

At the Castro Theater Monday night, a long line of fans of all ages waited for a chance to meet the Pixar team who created the "Toy Story" characters.

"They've changed so many people's lives, they've had a profound effect on culture as a whole and we felt it was time to celebrate them," said Noah Cowan, the San Francisco Film Society Executive Director.

Pixar co-founder and President Ed Catmull arrived first on foot, casually walking up to the entrance before fans recognized him and surrounded him with smiles, handshakes and autograph requests.

Minutes later, Pixar co-founder John Lasseter arrived in a car from Emeryville with Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo," "WALL-E") and Pete Doctor ("Monsters, Inc.," "Up," "Inside Out") for a red carpet entrance.

"Back 20 years ago, computer animation was really just doing flying logos and no one thought that computer animation could entertain an audience for a feature length film. We knew different. It was not the technology, it's what you do with the technology to entertain people," Lasseter told KTVU outside the theater.

Lasseter says they knew the limitations of computer animation at the time, and ironically the weaknesses turned out to be good match for "Toy Story".

"The computer back then made everything kind of look like it was made of plastic. The main characters being made of plastic being toys were perfect," Lasseter said.

Lasseter says the film's success was a surprise even to them.

"No one knew who we were. We were quietly doing this. It took 4 years to create this film and when it came out in 1995, we were as stunned as anybody by the reaction," Lasseter said.

"Toy Story" animator and now Pixar director Pete Doctor remembered the feeling of watching it in a theater for the first time, saying it was "other-worldly".

"The fact that other people enjoyed it and said 'I thought my toys came to life too when I wasn't around,' that was kind of mind-blowing," Docter told KTVU.

Lasseter talked about one factor in Pixar's success: creating a team culture where people can take creative risks and fail, then fine tune.

"There's no hierarchy to our notes and comments. Everyone is there trying to make the every film the best it can be," he said.

Inside the Castro Theater, more than 1,000 people came to hear the Pixar team share stories and see behind-the-scenes clips from the movie's production.

"I loved Buzz Lightyear. I used to have a Buzz Lightyear toy," said Patrick Wu, a San Francisco fan.

"I guess it's kind of a universal story. I love the characters. And the metal spider with a baby's head will never leave my nightmares," said Raphael D'Amico of San Francisco.

Megan Wong of San Francisco said the film inspired her to become an artist and take classes at Pixar.

"Just seeing how they create movies that affected our childhood was really amazing," Wong said.

At one point, Lasseter also remembered the financial and moral support Pixar received from Steve Jobs. Lasseter told a story about his friend who had some prescient words over a dinner they shared.

"He said, 'You know John, when I make computers at Apple, what's the life span of them? Three years, five years, they're a doorstop. If you do your job right and make this animated feature film something special it could last forever,'" Lasseter recalled Jobs saying.

And those beloved "Toy Story" characters continue to have life, as Pixar prepares now for "Toy Story 4."

"To infinity and beyond..." as Buzz Lightyear says in the original film, as the 20-year-old franchise moves on into the future.