The First Computer-Animated Feature
Next: November 22, 2026
Computer-made, brought to life by people.
The story
Where it comes from
This Story marks the anniversary of Toy Story, which opened in American cinemas on 22 November 1995. Directed by John Lasseter at Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures, it was the first feature-length film made entirely with computer animation. The Library of Congress, which added it to the National Film Registry in 2005, says it 'changed animation's face and delivery system'. Its approach has since become the standard way animated features are made.
How it's celebrated
There is no organised observance. Fans rewatch the film, often with children seeing it for the first time, and animation students study how a small studio pulled it off. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences keeps concept sketches and production art from the film in its collections, and the film returned to cinemas in 2025 for its 30th anniversary.
Did you know
- John Lasseter received a Special Achievement Academy Award in 1996 for leading the team behind the first feature-length computer-animated film.
- Accepting it, he said that computers alone did not create the film: 'a group of very talented people did'.
- Malaysia's first 3D animated feature film, Geng: Pengembaraan Bermula, featuring Upin and Ipin, opened in Malaysian cinemas on 12 February 2009.
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