Pixar’s first feature film directed by John Lasseter was Toy Story.
Released in 1995, Toy Story was the first fully computer-animated feature film. Lasseter directed the film, which follows toys led by Woody and Buzz Lightyear as they navigate a rivalry and a changing friendship. Its success established Pixar as a major feature-animation studio.
Lasseter later directed Cars, released in 2006, making that film his seventh feature as director. Because Cars has a strong road-movie identity and became one of Pixar’s most recognizable franchises, it is sometimes mistakenly remembered as an earlier project in his directing career.
Toy Story’s 1995 release also explains the recurring Pixar reference to the number 95, including Lightning McQueen’s racing number. Toy Story 2 followed in 1999, before Cars and before later Pixar franchises such as The Incredibles and Ratatouille.