It happened back in 2013. Pixar decided to take their most beloved franchise—the one that literally built the studio—and pivot into a spooky, twenty-two-minute television special. Most people caught it on ABC during the Halloween season. It was fun. It was creepy. It had Combat Carl. But then, something interesting happened: it moved to physical media. Honestly, in a world where everything is buried deep inside a streaming menu, the Toy Story of Terror DVD has become this weirdly important artifact for people who actually care about the Toy Story lore.
You’ve probably seen the movie. The gang is on a road trip with Bonnie. A flat tire leads them to a roadside motel. Then, one by one, the toys start disappearing. It’s a classic horror setup, but with Mr. Pricklepants acting as the meta-commentator who explains every trope as it happens.
But why buy the disc?
If you’re just a casual fan, Disney+ is fine. However, if you're the kind of person who geeks out over how Pixar actually builds their worlds, the physical release is a completely different beast. It isn’t just the short film; it’s a time capsule of a specific era where Pixar was experimenting with "Toy Story Toons" and television specials before they eventually committed to Toy Story 4.
The Toy Story of Terror DVD and the Death of Physical Media
Let’s be real for a second. Physical media is dying. Best Buy stopped selling discs. Target's aisles are shrinking. Yet, there’s a massive community of collectors who refuse to let go of their DVDs and Blu-rays. Why? Because streaming services edit things. They remove episodes. They change soundtracks. They go offline when licensing deals expire.
Owning the Toy Story of Terror DVD means you actually own the work.
The disc includes some stuff you just don't get elsewhere in the same way. We're talking about the "Toy Story Toons" like Hawaiian Vacation, Small Fry, and Partysaurus Rex. Sure, you can find those on Disney+, but on the DVD, they are curated. They feel like part of a cohesive collection.
Think about Small Fry. It’s that hilarious short where Buzz gets replaced by a tiny, "fun meal" version of himself. It’s a commentary on consumerism and those weird, neglected toys at the bottom of a fast-food bin. Having that tucked onto the same disc as a horror-themed special makes for a perfect 45-minute viewing block. It’s the perfect length for a kid's attention span or a quick nostalgic hit for an adult.
What’s actually on the disc?
Let's look at the specs. Most versions of the DVD come with a handful of features that explain how the director, Angus MacLane, approached the project. MacLane is a Pixar veteran. He’s been there forever. He eventually went on to direct Lightyear, but you can see his fingerprints all over Terror.
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He wanted it to feel like a 1980s horror movie.
The DVD includes these "Vintage Toy Commercials." They are brilliant. They created fake ads for Old Timer, Combat Carl, and Transitron. They aren't just clips; they are fully realized pieces of world-building that look like they were recorded on a VHS tape in 1985. On a streaming platform, these are often buried in an "Extras" tab that nobody clicks. On the DVD, they are front and center. They are part of the experience.
Then you have the audio commentary. This is where the real value lies. Listening to the creators talk about the technical challenges of lighting a "horror" movie within the Toy Story universe is fascinating. They had to make the Sleep Well Motel feel threatening but still stay within the visual language of Bonnie’s world.
Combat Carl and the Legend of Carl Weathers
One of the biggest reasons to keep the Toy Story of Terror DVD in your library is Carl Weathers. The late, great actor voiced Combat Carl, and he absolutely stole the show. It’s a hilarious, high-energy performance that riffs on his role in Predator.
"Combat Carl never gives up. Combat Carl finds a way."
It’s iconic.
In the special, Jessie is the main protagonist. She’s dealing with her claustrophobia—a plot point that traces all the way back to her being stuck in a box in Toy Story 2. It’s a surprisingly deep character arc for a "Halloween special." Combat Carl acts as her mentor, pushing her to face her fears. Having the physical copy feels like a tribute to Weathers’ range as a performer. He took a parody of a G.I. Joe and gave it enough heart to make the ending genuinely moving.
The Problem With Modern Digital Ownership
Have you ever noticed how digital movies sometimes just... change? Or how the "Extras" are suddenly gone because the interface updated?
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The Toy Story of Terror DVD doesn't do that. It doesn't need an internet connection. It doesn't track your data. It just plays.
There is also the matter of the "Vintage" aesthetic. The special is designed to look a bit grittier. When you watch a DVD on an older TV, or even upscaled on a modern player, the slight bit of grain actually adds to the horror-parody vibe. It feels authentic. It feels like those specials we used to tape off the TV on a Sunday night.
Why Collectors Are Hunting This Down
You might think a DVD from 2014 would be easy to find. It mostly is, but the prices for "New and Sealed" copies have been creeping up in enthusiast circles. People are starting to realize that these "interstitial" Pixar works—the stuff that happened between the big theatrical releases—are some of the most creative things the studio ever produced.
The writing in Terror is tight. It’s 22 minutes of pure efficiency. There isn’t a wasted line or a filler scene.
- The Setup: The flat tire and the creepy hotel.
- The Mystery: Toys disappearing one by one.
- The Reveal: The manager of the hotel is stealing toys to sell them on an eBay-like site.
- The Climax: Jessie overcoming her fear of boxes to save her friends.
It’s a perfect three-act structure condensed into a TV timeframe.
Most people forget that this was the first time we saw the toys in a truly "dangerous" human environment outside of Sid’s house or Sunnyside Daycare. The stakes felt real because the "villain"—the hotel manager’s iguana, Mr. Jones—was just a hungry animal. It wasn't an evil toy with a manifesto; it was just a lizard doing lizard things.
Nuance and the Pixar Style
There is a common misconception that Toy Story of Terror is just for kids. It isn’t.
If you watch it closely, it’s a love letter to 70s and 80s cinema. There are nods to Psycho, Aliens, and The Terminator. The score, composed by Michael Giacchino, is incredible. Giacchino is a legend—he did Up, The Incredibles, and The Batman. He treated this 22-minute special like it was a summer blockbuster.
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On the Toy Story of Terror DVD, you can actually hear the depth of that score. Digital compression on streaming can sometimes muddy the audio, but the physical disc (especially the Blu-ray version, if you can find the combo pack) has a much higher bitrate. The jump scares land harder. The atmospheric hum of the motel's air conditioner is more unsettling.
Is it worth buying in 2026?
Honestly, yeah.
If you have kids, it’s a staple. It’s spooky without being traumatizing. It teaches a genuine lesson about anxiety and claustrophobia without being preachy. If you’re a collector, it’s a piece of the "Golden Age" of Pixar shorts that we don't really see as much of anymore.
The physical disc also includes Skyward, or rather, various deleted scenes that show how the story evolved. There was an entire sequence involving a "crane game" that got cut for time. Seeing those rough animations and hearing the directors explain why they didn't work is a masterclass in storytelling. You learn that sometimes you have to kill your darlings to make the pacing work.
Final Verdict on the Physical Release
Look, nobody is saying you should throw away your streaming subscriptions. But for specific, high-quality pieces of media like this, the disc is superior. The Toy Story of Terror DVD represents a moment when Pixar was firing on all cylinders, taking big risks with their most valuable characters in a format that was traditionally reserved for "cheap" holiday cash-ins.
This wasn't a cash-in. It was a high-effort, beautifully animated, brilliantly voiced expansion of the Toy Story universe.
It’s also one of the few places where you get to see Mr. Jones the Iguana in all his glory. That lizard is a top-tier Pixar creature.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors
If you're looking to add this to your shelf, don't just grab the first one you see on a random auction site. Check the back cover. Ensure it includes the three "Toy Story Toons." Some budget re-releases might strip those away, though the original 2014 release is the gold standard.
- Verify the Region: Make sure you aren't accidentally buying a Region 2 disc if you live in the States, or vice-versa.
- Check for the Slipcover: For the serious collectors, the original release came with a shiny holographic slipcover that is prone to scratching. Finding one in "Mint" condition is a fun challenge.
- Compare Blu-ray vs DVD: If you have a 4K TV, the Blu-ray is significantly better due to the higher resolution of the computer animation. However, the DVD is perfectly fine for a nostalgic, slightly softer look that fits the horror theme.
- Watch the "Teamwork" Featurette: Once you get the disc, go straight to the behind-the-scenes features. It explains the "Transitron" toy design, which is a masterpiece of fake toy engineering.
Ultimately, this little disc is more than just a movie. It’s a reminder that great stories can be told in twenty minutes. It’s a reminder that Jessie is a total badass. And it’s a reminder that you should always check the vents in a creepy motel. You never know who—or what—is lurking in there.