ABC will air a special edition of its news program 20/20 titled “Toy Story: 30 Years and Beyond” on June 12, 2024 [1].
The program marks a significant milestone for Pixar, examining the evolution of a franchise that redefined animation and continues to expand with a fifth film in development [2].
Produced in partnership with Good Morning America, the one-hour special is scheduled to broadcast from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET [1, 3]. The episode will delve into the creative secrets and production history of the series, which began with the original release of Toy Story in 1995 [4].
Viewers can watch the broadcast on ABC television or stream the content via Disney+ and Hulu [2, 5]. The special serves as both a retrospective of the last 30 years [4] and a preview of the next chapter in the series.
Tim Allen, the voice of Buzz Lightyear, reflected on the longevity of the characters and their connection to the audience. “It’s been an incredible journey watching Woody and Buzz grow up with us,” Allen said [6].
While some reports mention the broader legacy of Pixar, the primary focus of the special remains the three-decade impact of the Toy Story films [2, 3]. The program aims to bridge the gap between the nostalgia of the original 1995 debut and the modern era of digital storytelling.
““It’s been an incredible journey watching Woody and Buzz grow up with us,””
The timing of this retrospective suggests a strategic marketing push by Disney and Pixar to maintain brand momentum ahead of the fifth installment. By leveraging a news format like 20/20, the studio is framing the franchise not just as a series of movies, but as a cultural landmark of the last 30 years.
