Leave it to those nutty folks at Disney Pictures to create the cinematic masterpieces that they have consistently churned out: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin. Now, we can add Toy Story to that list.

Touted as the world’s first completely computer-animated, full-length motion picture, Toy Story breaks a lot of new ground. Yes, computers have been used in dozens of movies to create funky special effects and cool stunts (The Abyss, Terminator 2, Time Cop), but never before have these mechanical wonders been put to use to make an entire movie. Like I said, leave it to Disney.

As far as plot goes, Toy Story is a kind of Velveteen Rabbit tale. That is, a beloved toy discovers new friends and adventures on a quest to find out how much his owner, Andy, really loves him. Woody (voice by Tom Hanks!!) is said toy, an old-fashioned cowboy with the string in his back that, when pulled, makes him say really annoying things like, “There’s a snake in my boot!”

At he and his friends’ annual ritual of meeting their owner’s new toys (birthday), Woody is dumbfounded to find that Buzz Lightyear, a glitzy, battery-powered space ranger (voiced by Tim Allen), is the newest addition. Woody, of course, feels threatened by Buzz’s great wingspan and cleft chin, and the jealousy stirs when Andy starts showing a preference for this astronaut.

Throw in a few mishaps, a motley gang of toys and a bratty neighbor kid, and you’ve got the delicious makings of a funny, charming, heart-warming movie. And while the “G” rating might scare away those in our particular age group, don’t be afraid! It’s a nice break from Ace Ventura absurdity and Casino gangster-ness.

And yes, the animation is superb. In lesser hands (i.e., non-Disney), the movie may have been embarrassingly sub-par, but not so! Unlike conventional Bugs Bunny-esque cartoons, Toy Story has shadows, contour, amazingly minute detail and smooth, continuous motion. Even things that could have been filmed in real-life (cars, trees, streets) are animated, which is a tad hard to get used to. But it all adds up to a wonderful, unique adventure. Don’t wait for the video: you’ve got to see this on the big screen. ****

Mall Theatres, 7:00 & 9:00