FilmEdge previews this week's long-awaited release of Disney•Pixar's TOY STORY and TOY STORY 2 Special Editions with our advance review of the Blu-ray Combo Pack of each film, making these animated classics available in true high-definition for the first time in your home.

Directed by John Lasseter, Ash Brannon and Lee Unkrich (director of upcoming TOY STORY 3), TOY STORY 2 expands upon the antics of favorite characters Woody, Buzz, Hamm, Rex and Slinky Dog by adding new characters like Jessie, Stinky Pete and Bullseye.  Likewise the all-star cast of voice actors Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, John Ratzenberger, Jim Varney and Wallace Shawn reprise their roles, aside newcomers Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer and Wayne Knight.

Pixar's artists and technical geniuses also raised the level of their game, innovating new animation tools and ideas for TOY STORY 2 that weren't even dreamt of four years earlier. As usual, they also put many hidden references to prior films and shorts like A BUG'S LIFE which sharp-eyed fans will enjoy — as do the filmmakers in their Commentary Track. It all looks brand new in the Blu-ray's 1080p high-definition and 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio sound, finally presenting this computer animated masterpiece in its full digital HD glory as it was meant to be seen and enjoyed.  Of course this Combo Pack also offers the feature film and bonus features on the accompanying DVD edition which isn't available by itself until May 11th, further enhancing this release's value.

Randy Newman scores again with his original music including the wistful, heart-rending ballad When She Loved Me, sung with tender power by Sarah McLachlan and guaranteed to bring a tear to all eyes.  Newman's music works well with Gary Rydstrom's sound design to amplify the story's emotional highs and lows while grounding this CG fantasy in real world relevance to viewers of all ages.  Pixar storytelling luminaries Lasseter, Brannon, Pete Docter (director of Oscar-winning UP) and Andrew Stanton (director of FINDING NEMO and WALL-E) concocted this sequel's original story and quality ensues resulting in a timeless tale of loyalty which proves you must be true to yourself before you can be a true friend to others.

TOY STORY 2 's Special Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack also wrangles up a wealth of new Bonus Features exclusive to this new release:

• Characters: An Exclusive Sneak Peek at TOY STORY 3's newest toy cast members including Lots-O'-Huggin Bear (voiced by Ned Beatty), Buttercup (Jeff Garlin), Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) and Barbie's dream date, Ken (Michael Keaton). Hosted by its director Lee Unkrich, only this TOY STORY 2 release gives you this exclusive peek at this summer's new third film in theaters June 18th.
• Feature-length Commentary Track by directors John Lasseter, Ash Brannon and Lee Unkrich recount first-hand and most entertainingly how they and the Pixar team not only lived up to TOY STORY's legacy but plussed it.
• Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs — Episode Two: International Space Station is the second short of several co-produced with NASA encouraging young audiences' interest in space exploration as Buzz reports on his mission to the International Space Station in Earth orbit.
• Paths to Pixar: Technical Artists introduces some of the studio's brainiest team members who offer true and inspiring advice to budding artists how education and determination can make their filmmaking dreams come true.
• Three more entertaining Studio Stories offer entertaining anecdotes narrated and animated by Pixar crew, vignettes of life and production pressures of TOY STORY 2: how a complete rewrite of the film had animators and crew working with severe sleep deprivation; how the silly behavior and steam-venting from this pressure led to throwing toys into the ceiling insulation for laughs; and finally how the entire film was nearly lost forever when its computer files got accidentally erased!
• Pixar's Zoetrope is a celebration of the artform by building a new crowd-pleasing attraction based on animation's oldest display technology, now available for viewing at Disney's California Adventure theme park.
• Celebrating our Friend Joe Ranft offers a touching tribute to the joyful life and career of Pixar's beloved story artist and editor who helped create many of the studio's greatest stories and voiced some of their best characters.  If you've enjoyed any or all of Pixar's films since the original TOY STORY, you must view this tender salute to Joe.

This Special Edition also offers the Original DVD Bonus Features offered on TOY STORY 2's previous release, including: Making TOY STORY 2, a John Lasseter profile, Cast of Characters, a Toy Box of extras including outtakes, two Deleted Scenes with introduction, plus featurettes on the film's Design, Production, Music & Sound and Publicity.

In FilmEdge's review of the TOY STORY Special Edition, we spoke of Walt Disney theory of plussing: allowing talented artists, craftspeople and crews to add their own special touches and skills to make a great idea even better.  The Pixar storytellers and artists not only lived up to the original film's quality, they plussed it by creating one of those rare sequels as good if not better than its inspiration. This Special Edition of TOY STORY 2 boldly, soulfully and above all entertainingly continues the adventures of Woody and Buzz, which continue this summer in the third film. Disney•Pixar's 2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack available this Tuesday presents TOY STORY 2 in glorious high-definition as never available before, yet offers families greater value by including the DVD edition as well complete with new bonus features.  In the end, all the technical splendor and bonus goodies only extend the enjoyment of this timeless, classic animated tale that families and animation fans will enjoy today and for generations to come.