These beloved playthings helped inspire Pixar’s groundbreaking animated classic. Getty Images Published: June 18, 2026Last Updated: June 18, 2026 In 1993, the burgeoning animation studio known as Pixar started development on Toy Story, a fully computer-animated feature film about what happens when toys are left on their own. "Initially, the project started out as a Christmas special expansion of Tin Toy, [Pixar's 1988 short film]" says animation expert and author Drew Taylor.