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ADDITION- Disney - Region FREE - Blu-ray  March 2010:  Firstly, there is also a package of this film in a DVD Keep case HERE - for the exact same price. The edition I am reviewing is housed in a standard Blu-ray case (inside slip-case) - although I suspect content is exactly the same with both also including the second disc DVD.

When you put the disc in you select your language (English, French or Spanish) and then you are directed to the appropriate menus. The film language versions are seamlessly branched to bring onscreen signs/text in relation to the language you have selected.

My first impressions were that, of the 900+ Blu-rays I own, Toy Story is quite possibly the most impressive looking and sounding. Visually, it looks absolutely magnificent without a pixel out of place. Colors are warmer and detail and depth seem unreal they are so precise. This will be one of my first choices to demo my system to friends. The dimensionality seems to have benefited the most in the move to 1080P resolution. As we have said in the past - digital animation is that it is essentially flawless - it should have none of the common deficiencies that we can find when transferring live-action film to high-definition digital - things like edge-enhancement or noise removal manipulation. Haze and blurriness are intentional effects to create the perception of motion. Out-of-focus experiences are simply created to make the true focal object more primary to our vision. By rendering digital animation to Blu-ray we should be able to obtain the highest accuracy of the original. This is a prime example and I'll wager it actually looks better than theatrical - dependant on your individual system. It is easily the absolute best I have ever seen the medium look on my plasma. Hopefully the screen captures will bear this out to some degree.

The DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at a responsive 4429 kbps takes no backseat to the perfection of the video. Right from the opening Disney logo, crispy bouncing effects around the room, to Randy Newman's nasal crooning to Rex's faux growl - it sound stunning at times. The pristine video may be demonstration but the audio IS reference with effects dynamically well separated and tight with exceptional range. There are optional subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

We get the same commentary but plenty of new, if short, featurettes in HD and an initial plug for the highly anticipated The Story: An Exclusive Sneak Peek at Toy Story 3 running 2-minutes. In the Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: - Episode One: Blast Off – Buzz reports back about his adventure to the International Space Station. Paths to Pixar: Artists – In this series of shorts, Pixar artists talk about their career path and share advice to aspiring filmmakers and animators. Studio Stories: A series of amusing anecdotal shorts about life at Pixar. “John’s Car” recounts how Toy Story director John Lasseter refused to stop driving his beat-up car even after the film’s success. “Baby AJ” tells the hilarious story of how important Halloween is to the Pixar team and how one Pixar employee dressed up as the oversized baby from the short Tin Toy to win a prize. “Scooter Races” takes the audience on a rousing scooter race around the studio with John Lasseter and other employees. Buzz Takes Manhattan – is spectacular footage from Buzz Lightyear’s premiere as a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon running 2-minutes. Black Friday: The Toy Story You Never Saw – is described as the Toy Story filmmakers discuss the early cut of the film that very nearly shut down production entirely. There is also a "Maximize Your Home Theater" calibration test/reset for those interested. I was suspecting that the 2nd disc DVD would simply be the first disc from the last edition, but instead it is the exact same as the Blu-ray extras - with the feature, of course, being in SD.     

This is the most beautiful looking and sounding disc I own. Here's the phenomenal thing - my two kids sat glued to the screen even after all these years - as did I! I can't wait for Toy Story 2 and The Incredibles but as it stands this Blu-ray gets our highest ever recommendation. I was blown away scene after scene. Buy with extreme confidence.

 - Gary Tooze

ON THE DVDs: The new edition is advertised as Remastered picture and sound including High Digital "Bit Rate" and DTS Audio. Personally, I found nothing wrong with the first issue and had I reviewed it I would have given an almost perfect score in most areas. The Anniversary releases indeed has improved in a few important areas, but for many the image and audio benefits will only be marginally felt (if at all). We made the assumption that the original single box release is the exact same edition as in the 2-pack (with Toy Story 2). Noted detail differences are here:
 

- The Anniversary issue is very minutely brighter and sharper, but noticeable only on extensive zooming-in (projection users will also notice if they look very closely). It is more vibrant for lack of a better word.

- to my ear the audio in the DTS track is superior and a little more dynamic.
- the new release has a commentary and extensive additions (see above listing)

- optional subtitles are still yellow, but more prominent in the new Anniversary edition.

We are still digging through and we will continue to post more as we discover details.

 - Gary Tooze