At first glance, Toy Story is a harmless children’s movie by Pixar. Only as an adult does one realize the dark details hidden within the story. Among them are a famous queen and icons of the horror genre.
In 1995, Toy Story by Pixar was released and represented a small revolution. It was the first fully computer-generated feature-length animated film.
The charming presentation of the story with its toy characters thrilled the audience, which is why the series has received three sequels to this day. Part 5 is expected to follow in 2026.
Even the first installment proves that Toy Story is not exclusively suitable for children. Those who look closer will discover a whole range of references and details that only adults understand. In some cases, it’s probably better that way.
Heads up!
What references are there? Some of them are easier to recognize, while others are hidden in the background and may only be noticed by very attentive viewers.
A quite noticeable reference occurs in a scene where Buzz Lightyear is sitting at a tea party with two headless dolls. He introduces them as “Marie Antoinette and her little sister.”
Marie Antoinette was the famous queen of France who was in office during the French Revolution. In 1793, she was beheaded by guillotine, a few months after her husband, King Louis XVI. (via planet-wissen.de)
Here you can see the scene from Toy Story:
It’s a reference that most children (thankfully) should not understand. This also applies to three Easter eggs referencing famous horror films.
- In one scene, Woody turns his head 360 degrees around his neck – just like in The Exorcist. This scene from the 1973 horror film by William Friedkin has lost none of its terror to this day.
- The iconic alien from the eponymous film has also made it into Toy Story. In Pizza Planet restaurant, there is an arcade machine where you have to hit an alien with a hammer that bursts from a character’s body. This is a direct reference to the chestburster from the 1979 film Alien.
- Also in Toy Story, there is the easily recognizable carpet that also covers the floor of the Overlook Hotel from Shining. The film set a record upon its release.
Are there more references? The allusions to Star Wars are somewhat more child-friendly. Buzz mentions at one point a secret weapon, of which he knows the only weakness – just like the rebels in Star Wars know how to destroy the Death Star.
That there are several references to George Lucas’ star saga in Toy Story is not surprising. Pixar was originally established as the computer division at Lucas Film Graphics Group. John Lasseter, who later directed several animated films, including Toy Story, also worked there.
These examples show that the film offers more than just light children’s entertainment. Those who pay close attention will find numerous references even in the later installments. Have you noticed any? Please feel free to share in the comments. The sequel to the first part almost never came to be: Pixar accidentally deleted Toy Story 2 – A woman saved the film, now she’s getting fired.
