Like most of the world, I looked forward to Toy Story 3. When I caught a first glimpse of the trailer, I was immediately drawn to its effective introduction to our Toy Story gang. The chemistry between the toys in the group remained unscathed even after all these years. Instantly, reminiscence of the good old times with Andy’s toys and their adventures which I grew up with flooded my mind. The old gang was still at it, their characters now more defined as they were given better animation treatment by Pixar’s ever-growing wonder, yet their characters were still those we all loved and knew.

In typical fashion, there was a Pixar short before the actual movie itself. Day & Night combined the elements of modern day animation with a tinge of classic style, something which is rarely pulled off well. The story and entire idea was simple, but the imagination behind it was something fresh and new. Until now, I have not yet watched a Pixar short that I have not enjoyed. To be put simply, Day & Night was a satisfying appetizer before we were served the main course.

Toy Story 3 started off with the heart of its story, all the toys back in action during playtime. It was a well-played good-versus-bad story to start off nicely where it had once left, the good old times that made you feel a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Just like the rest of us, Andy grew up as well and now, it was time to decide the fate of our toy heroes, their wishes and attempts so that they would be played with by Andy. Not that toys really do come to life, of course.

Seventeen year old Andy is leaving for college soon and he has the dreaded task of clearing up everything in his room, including his old toy chest containing his childhood playmates. After getting the basic rundown from his mum, the group of toys are eventually sorted out. Year after year, they had scatted past the risks of yard sales, donations and other ways which could only break a toy’s heart when torn apart from its owner. As in reality, the toys have to go somewhere, eventually.

The movie was the perfect ending to tie up all the loose ends for our fellow toy heroes, their last adventure and a salute to all toys everywhere, the last curtain call for our plastic and cloth comrades and their expressions that would always return to their perfect smile whenever necessary. On a side-note, bring a handkerchief along to dry your tears behind the 3D glasses. The story played up my waterworks twice and the sniffles I heard in the still cinema is proof to my testimony. I encourage you not to play up your defenses, even the second time round, I could feel that wave of nostalgia as the movie went on.

To sum it all up, I give this movie another two thumbs-up (or more) for our friends over at Pixar. Lee Unkrich directed well enough and did the toys proud. Despite a bar of expectation raised so high for Pixar’s third installment of Toy Story, the element of wonder evolved throughout the film and kept on strong up to the very end. There really is nothing as timeless as a toy and this movie says it all. From little kids to the elderly, everyone has played with a toy at least once and I can guarantee that childlike fascination will overcome you in a snap with this movie.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars