Technical Specs

• Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy
• 2 BD-50 Dual-Layer Discs
• 4-Disc Set
• Bonus View (Profile 1.1)

Video Resolution/Codec

• 1080p/AVC MPEG-4

Aspect Ratio(s)

• 1.78:1

Audio Formats

• English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 Surround
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround
• English DVS (Descriptive Video Service) Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Spanish Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround
• French Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround

Subtitles/Captions

• English SDH
• Spanish Subtitles
• French Subtitles

Supplements

• Featurettes
• Theatrical Short

Exclusive HD Content

• Picture-in-Picture Commentary
• Audio Commentary
• Featurettes
• Games
• Promos
• Theatrical Trailers
• Poster Gallery

Best Sellers and Deals

Toy Story 3 - 3D (Blu-ray)

Disney/Buena Vista / 2010 / 103 Minutes / Rated G
Street Date: November 01, 2011

• Offer Details
• List Price: $49.99
• Amazon Price: $30.95 (38%)
• 3rd Party Price: $24.98
• Usually ships in 24 hours

Reviewed by Aaron Peck (3D Video Review by David Krauss)
Monday, October 31, 2011

The Movie Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

Up until now, aside from 'Toy Story 2,' Pixar had stayed away from sequels. This was an even more amazing feat when you realize every one of their movies, from 'Monsters Inc.' to 'The Incredibles' could have spawned a franchise, with numerous sequels generating endless box office and merchandising dollars. Still, Pixar decided to go with original story after original story, giving us movies populated with lovable characters and overwhelming heart. So naturally, when I head that Pixar would be doing another 'Toy Story' movie, I became very apprehensive. Pixar has built itself up into the most famous and recognizable production house in the US. Like Roger Ebert said, they're the only movie studio that also has celebrity status. They've spoiled us for years with their amazing, heartfelt storytelling. Hearing they were now returning to the 'Toy Story' franchise was a bit disappointing.

There's always apprehension involved when sequels are concerned. Are the old characters we've grown to love going to be given enough screen time? Are the new characters that will inevitably be introduced going to overshadow everyone else? Will the story seem watered down since we've already been to the well a couple of times before? These are all legitimate fears, but I should have had faith in Pixar. They know what they're doing.

Order 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows' Coming to Blu-ray June 12th

Andy is heading off to college, and Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang face the very real possibility of being neglected for the rest of their lives. When Andy's mother tells him to gather up his stuff and either put it in the attic for storage or in garbage bags for the dump, the gang prepare to take up residence in the attic. They all know one thing for certain, they don't want to end up as trash. Of course, after a little mix up, the bag of toys is mistaken for garbage. After escaping the garbage truck, the toys think they'll be better off donating themselves to a nearby daycare where kids will play with them everyday. Woody pleads with them. He tries to tell them that Andy didn't mean to throw them away, it was a mistake, but they don't listen (if I have one gripe about the movie, it's that the not listening to Woody storyline has been played out).

Most of the movie takes place in Sunnyside Daycare, where Andy's toys soon learn it isn't as happy a place as they had thought. After being relegated to the Caterpillar Room, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, and the Potato Heads are repeatedly bashed, crushed, and thrown by terrorizing toddlers. This is definitely not what they had in mind.

They meet a whole host of new characters, who are used to perfection here. The worry here is always that the new characters will feel stuck into a movie just to boost merchandise sales. Here the new characters instantly fit into the franchise, especially a suave-acting Ken Doll voiced by Michael Keaton.

Even after all my apprehension and worry, I have to say that I loved 'Toy Story 3.' It carries on the legacy of Pixar and the 'Toy Story' franchise. It's a perfect bookend to one of the best animated series of all-time. The climax alone is more exciting and thrilling than many of the action movies that came out this year.

The end is touching and sweet, harboring that same choked-up emotion that 'Ratatouille' inspired. 'Toy Story 3' has everything you could want from a new 'Toy Story' film. Is it as good as the first and second films? Not quite, but it's still one of Pixar's best.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

The 3D edition of 'Toy Story 3' comes packaged in a standard Blu-ray case sheathed in a 3D sleeve that mirrors the original cover art. The 3D Blu-ray, original Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Copy disc are all housed inside. Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4, and the default audio is English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1. There's also a Descriptive Video Service track for the visually impaired. Upon insertion of the 3D disc, previews for Pixar's 'Brave' and Disney's 'Planes' play automatically before the full motion menu with music pops up.

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture

'Toy Story 3' was the only installment in the trilogy originally released in a 3D version, and it is also - obviously - the most recent entry in the franchise, so it's not surprising that this transfer outclasses 'Toy Story' and 'Toy Story 2.' From a 3D standpoint, 'Toy Story 3' is still not a theme park-type attraction, filled with projectiles that make you duck, jump, or stir...and that's a good thing! The folks at Pixar have designed this film simply to be more lifelike in 3D, with figures and objects that protrude from the screen just enough to add appropriate dimension and enhanced depth. Look at how Buzz's hand subtly reaches toward us as he extends it to Woody in the incinerator, or notice the marvelous depth as Woody peers out of the carton as Andy prepares to leave home. This 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 effort makes us feel a part of the action without shoving it in our faces.

Detail, once again, is superior, with skin textures, hair, fabric, even the bits of garbage flooding the incinerator looking incredibly lifelike. Contrast is perfect, with lights and darks impeccably balanced. Colors - be they primaries or pastels - are bright and bold, and black levels are lush and inky. Lines are smooth yet razor sharp, making even the smallest items beautifully delineated. I might have noticed a dusting of noise on a couple of shots, but it was so brief and insignificant it barely merits mention. And no other digital glitches afflict this A+ rendering.

Simply put, this is another dazzling Disney 3D transfer that enhances 'Toy Story 3' and ramps up the home viewing Blu-ray experience to intoxicating and exhilarating heights. Looking for some 3D demo material? You've got it here.

The Audio: Rating the Sound

You knew that the picture was going to look great. That's pretty much a given when it comes to Pixar on Blu-ray, but what about the audio? Let me tell you something, the audio is the real treat on this release. 'Toy Story 3 3D' comes complete with an enthralling 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix that will keep you engulfed from the opening scene until the end of the credits. The soundfield is filled with lively noises and ambient sound that will totally immerse you in the story.

As soon as the toys get to the daycare center the masterful ambiance takes over. Screaming kids encircle the soundfield as they run amok. Clinks, clanks, and clangs are delivered with precision as the toys are greeted by a whole host of new toys. During a flashback with a rainstorm individual droplets can be distinguished. It's simply stunning.

Panning effects work wonders, especially as the 7.1 mix takes into account the two side channels. Now Woody is soaring high above you as the wind pushes him higher and higher. His screams and "Woos" are carried throughout the mix, placed exactly where they should be. When it comes time for the big final action-packed ending the mix is cranked up to a bass-laden LFE slug-fest that will catch you by surprise. All this time the soundtrack has been subtle and nuanced, giving us an extremely detailed but reserved audio experience. That all ends when the toys get to the dump and try to escape permanent doom. Room-shaking bass is released from the sub, but never so overwhelming that it takes over and drowns out the dialogue.

Just like the video presentation, this audio presentation is top-notch demo-worthy material. From the restrained, but detail-oriented beginning to the bass-rumbling ending this is another wonderful HD audio experience provided by Disney and Pixar.

The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff

All the supplements from the original 'Toy Story 3' DVD are included here.

• The Gang's All Here (Disc 2, HD, 11 min.) – We get re-introduced to all the original voice characters. Feels pretty promotional, but it's fun to see Tom Hanks and some of the new voices like Timothy Dalton, Bonnie Hunt, and Michael Keaton recording their voices in the sound studio.
  
• 'Day & Night' Theatrical Short (Disc 1, HD, 6 min.) – Like always, the short that ran before the movie in theaters is included on the disc. One of my favorite shorts to date, they just get better and better.
  
• Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: The Science of Adventure (Disc 1, HD, 5 min.) – Buzz, Hamm, and Rex talk about how space travel has progressed. Similar to the features that are found on the other two Blu-rays for parts one and two.
  
• Toys! (Disc1, HD, 7 min.) – A brief discussion from the animators talking about how hard it was to create so many new characters and toys for the new movie.
  
• Studio Stories: Where's Gordon? (Disc 2, HD, 2 min.) – A little story about a hidden office created at Pixar's new building by Andrew Gordon.
  
• Studio Stories: Cereal Bar (Disc 2, HD, 1 min.) – Pixar has a whole room devoted to cereal for their employees to enjoy. Another story that makes us all feel bad that we don't work there.
  
• Studio Stories: Clean Start (Disc 2, HD 3 min.) – A story about how everyone at Pixar shaved their hair, and how they finally got Lee Unkrich to shave his long flowing locks.
  

HD Bonus Content: Any Exclusive Goodies in There?

All the high-def exclusives from the original 'Toy Story 3' Blu-ray release are included here.

• Cine-Explore Picture-in-Picture Commentary (Disc 2, HD) – Kind of a weird situation here. The PiP Cine-Explore feature is actually located on Disc 2. This is one of the many must see features on this disc. Here director Lee Unkrich and producer Darla K. Anderson discuss the movie in fantastic detail. Unkrich is always personable and he's able, along with Anderson, to offer some interesting insight into the animation and the direction the story took. The Pixar charm shines throughout this feature as you can tell that these two really love what they're doing. Who wouldn't if you had their jobs?
  
• Beyond the Toybox: An Alternative Commentary Track (Disc 2) – The second disc also contains an audio commentary provided by production designer Bob Pauley, supervising animator Bobby Podesta, story supervisor Jason Katz, supervising animator Mike Venturini, and supervising technical director Guido Quaroni. This commentary isn't nearly as lively as the PiP commentary with Unkrich and Anderson, but it does offer a whole host of more technical comments if that's what you're into. These guys talk extensively about how certain shots were created and all the different goodies you can find throughout the movie.
  

Family Play (Disc 2)

• Goodbye Andy (HD, 8 min.) – Spoiler alert! Don't watch this featurette if you haven't watched the movie yet. It talks about how they were able to create better looking humans for this movie. Dreamworks, take note, this is how you animate human characters. It also talks about the decision Andy makes at the end with his toys.
  
• Accidental Toymakers (HD, 4 min.) – This featurette talks about how none of the major toy companies wanted to make the toys from the movie and how the actual toys came to life.
  
• A Toy's Eye View: Creating a Whole New Land (HD, 5 min.) – Find out how they were able to incorporate the 'Toy Story' franchise into the Disney Parks. It talks about the creation of 'Toy Story' Midway Mania (which in my opinion is the best ride at California Adventure Park). They also discuss the creation of a 'Toy Story' land in Disneyland Paris.
  
• Epilogue (HD, 4 min.) – You can watch the epilogue that is played during the end credits here without any of the annoying credits scrolling by.
  

Film Fans (Disc 2)

• Roundin' up a Western Opening (HD, 6 min.) – Lee Unkrich discusses the opening for the movie and how they created it. He talks about an alternate western showdown opening that's presented in storyboard form.
  
• Bonnie's Playtime: A Story Roundtable (HD, 6 min.) – A roundtable of Pixar regulars talk about how Bonnie's playtime was created and how many incarnations it went through.
  
• Beginnings: Setting a Story in Motion (HD, 8 min.) – Michael Arndt, the screenwriter for 'Toy Story 3' talks about how hard it was to start out writing the movie. It's a very interesting, yet simple how-to on creating a good screenplay.
  
• Life of a Shot (HD, 7 min.) – Anderson discusses the intricacies that go into creating a detailed world with individual detailed objects. Colors, lighting, and effects are all talked about here, showing us just exactly how many people were involved in just one scene from the movie.
  
• Making of 'Day & Night' (HD, 2 min.) – Director Teddy Newton and others describe how hard it was to create 'Day & Night.' According to them it was the hardest short to make because of the 2D characters that had a 3D world inside of them.
  
• Paths to Pixar: Editorial (HD, 4 min.) – Editors talk about putting together the movie from a bunch of different pieces.
  

Games & Activities (Disc 2)

• 'Toy Story' Trivia Dash () – This trivia game is powered by BD-Live. You can select to play with trivia from all three of the 'Toy Story' movies or just from 'Toy Story 3.' You play with two players and answer questions with the remote. It's kind of an awkward game and the music that accompanies it gets annoying really fast.
  

Publicity (Disc 2)

• Grab Bag (HD, 4 min.) – This is just a collection of promo clips that were produced for 'Toy Story 3' and its 3D aspects.
  
• Ken's Dating Tips (HD, 1 min.) – A great little clip with Ken giving hilarious dating tips.
• Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear Commercial (HD, 30 sec.) – A VHS-quality commercial for the Lotso toy.
• Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear Commercial 2 [Japan] (HD, 30 sec.) – Same kind of commercial but for Japan.
• Making of Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear Commercials (HD, 1 min.) – This featurette shows the making of the intentionally VHS-quality commercials.
• Internet Chat (HD, 1 min.) – An internet chat between Woody and Buzz making fun of each other.
• Security Cam (HD, 1 min.) – A promo that makes 'Toy Story 3' look like a horror movie.
• Gadgets (HD, 1 min.) – A promo for 'Toy Story 3' that juxtaposes the toys from the movie in against the backdrop of a futuristic car commercial.
• 'Dancing with the Stars' at Pixar (HD, 2 min.) – 'Dancing with the Stars' came in and helped Pixar create the dance scenes in the movie.
• Trailers (HD, 13 min.) – There are a ton of different trailers that are included here: 'TS3' Silence Trailer, 'TS3' Antipiracy Trailer, 'TS3' Teaser Trailer, 'TS3' Trailer 2, 'TS3' Trailer 3, 'TS3' Japan Teaser Trailer, and 'TS3' Japan Teaser Trailer 2.
• Character Intros (HD, 2 min.) – A promo that introduces the new characters that are in the movie.
• Poster Gallery (HD) – Check out a wide variety of posters that were created for the film.

Easter Eggs

No easter eggs reported for 'Toy Story 3 - 3D' yet. Found an egg? Please use our tips form to let us know, and we'll credit you with the find.

Final Thoughts

'Toy Story 3' is one of the best Pixar films. The studio took its time with this movie and didn't rush it. I still think it's a peg below 1 and 2, but it still chokes me up at the end. The 3D video is exceptional, the audio is demo quality, and there's a huge helping of extras that will keep you entertained for hours. This five-disc set comes highly recommended for the entire family. If you've got 3D capabilities, go out and grab this disc. Your family will thank you.

All disc reviews at High-Def Digest are completed using the best consumer HD home theater products currently on the market. More about our gear.

Puzzled by the technical jargon in our reviews, or wondering how we assess and rate HD DVD and Blu-ray discs? Learn about our review methodology.