Toy Story 3 Teaser Trailer Analysis

The trailer is 1:43, whilst it is quite unconventional for a teaser trailer to be this long, with such a big release and hype leading up to the third installment of second Top-US Grossing Animation title. This alone would allow any audience over the age of 14 to take an automatic interest in the teaser trailer as it is one of the most anticipated animation films, if not the most anticipated animation films of all time.

The trailer itself, right from the first second of footage induces a familiarity element. Anyone who watched the previous installments will be familiar with the blue cloud filled wallpaper of the room and the small military figurines. I believe that this is a very important sequence in the trailer due to the fact that since it took so long to be released, Pixar would have to play on the nostalgia element blockbuster and hugely anticipated films like Toy Story induce. This in my opinion is so the audience is set up to not expect anything new, however the same formula that worked for the past two previous episodes. In that respect, the first shot is the establishing shot and it enables the audience to immediately relate to it, rather than question what direction the film is taking.

From the 21 second mark, we are reintroduced to the same characters that played in the previous films, this again reinforces the idea of similarity so not to throw the audience off and have them take an active part in following the story line. From this point it promises the same relaxed ride the other two installments offered.
The music, yet again isn't any different to what is to be expected. Calm, slow and relaxing are the same elements that were used in the previous films and worked great, notably 'You've got a friend in me' which boasts 4.6 million YouTube views. The background music stays the same and doesn't reflect any sort of change in emotions when Buzz takes away Woody's limelight, yet again to anyone who has previously watched Toy Story 1 or 2 will know that it has been a trend in the films.

Due to the fact it's animated film, it will no doubt appeal to younger audiences who maybe have not seen/understood the previous films. However this trailer uses the same feel, characters, music and basic character interaction that occurred in the previously films, combined with the fact it has been highly anticipated makes it appeal to an older audience who have seen and no doubt liked the previous installments.

Overall, the trailer is very precise in it's aim, reminding any older audience of what TS was about, and then re-enforcing the fact it is the same fun experience as the previous ones. Whilst also establishing a base for the younger audience to get to grips with the jokey atmosphere of the film itself. Nothing in the trailer was particularly challenging of risky, which plays to Pixar's advantage.

Elias L.