LIGHTYEAR'S AHEAD

AS TOY STORY TURNS 30, MARION MCMULLEN LOOKS BACK AT PIXAR'S TRAILBLAZING ANIMATION

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Lovable cowboy Woody and fearless space ranger Buzz Lightyear first set foot on the big screen in Pixar Animation Studios first feature film 30 years ago.

The movie captured the hearts of audiences worldwide and there have now been four films ... with a fifth on the way next year. The movies have grossed more than £200million in the UK and Ireland alone, and it is the highest-grossing Pixar franchise of all time.

Double Oscar winner Tom Hanks was the voice of cowboy Woody while Galaxy Quest and The Santa Clause actor Tim Allen was Buzz Lightyear. Cheers actor John Ratzenberger provided the voice of piggy bank Hamm.

John says: "We recorded individually. It was the director and the creative team and producers and then I got to meet the rest of the cast like Tom Hanks and Tim Allen and the others at the premieres. That was really exciting especially because I'm a fan of their work and films.

"Toy Story has taken me to so many places. I've gone to Australia, the UK and Ireland. The one place I've not been yet is Asia so that would be exciting, but I've been able to meet fans in most of the world." He laughs: "When I talk to Toy Story superfans they say 'Oh, you sound so familiar. Then they put the pieces together."