Who composed the music for the Toy Story films?

Randy Newman composed the music for the Toy Story films.

Newman wrote the scores and songs that became central to the franchise’s identity, beginning with the original Toy Story in 1995. His work includes “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” the memorable theme performed by Newman himself and closely associated with Woody, Andy, and the passage of time.

Newman’s music combines orchestral film scoring with distinctive songwriting, often using playful rhythms, blues and jazz influences, and emotionally direct melodies. That mixture suited Toy Story’s unusual premise: toys provide comic adventure, but their feelings about friendship, abandonment, and growing up are treated seriously.

The composer returned for the main Toy Story sequels, including Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, and Toy Story 4. A common mix-up is to credit another major Hollywood composer, such as Hans Zimmer or John Williams, because both have written famous adventure scores. However, the Toy Story musical voice is Randy Newman’s, and his songs earned multiple Academy Award nominations across the series.