In this spiffy and fun-filled sequel to Toy Story (1995), Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is left behind when his child friend, Andy, goes to cowboy camp. The cowboy toy is then stolen by Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), who wants to sell him to a museum in Japan. Woody, you see, is a collectible who was once the lead character in a short-lived 1950s television show. Al, who runs a toy emporium, already has the other action figures from the show — Woody's horse Bullseye; Jessie (Joan Cusack), the cowgirl; and Stinky Pete (Kelsey Grammer), the Prospector.

Woody's friend Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) sets out from Andy's house on a rescue mission along with some other toys — Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles); Slinky Dog (Jim Varney); Rex (Wallace Shawn), the Dinosaur; and Hamm (John Ratzenberger), the Piggybank. The creative team of the Pixar Animation Studios, under the direction of John Lasseter, get plenty of chances to demonstrate their best stuff as Buzz Lightyear and his friends venture out into the streets of downtown and wind up at a busy airport cargo handling area.

The moral of Toy Story 2 is that nothing lasts forever so it's important to savor all the precious moments of love while you still have the chance. The zest-for-life motif also shines through the friskiness of Buster, Andy's dog.