--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we made 'Toy Story,' we knew, even…" description: "\"When we made 'Toy Story,' we knew, even back then, that this was going to be the ugliest film we would ever produce.\" — Lee Unkrich" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/lee-unkrich-8261_back_when-we-made-toy-story-we-knew-even-back_1462081.jpg" --- # When we made 'Toy Story,' we knew, even back then, that… ![“When we made 'Toy Story,' we knew, even back then, that this was going to be the ugliest film we would ever produce.” quote by Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/lee-unkrich-8261_back_when-we-made-toy-story-we-knew-even-back_1462081.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/lee-unkrich-8261_back_when-we-made-toy-story-we-knew-even-back_1462081.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/lee-unkrich-8261_back_when-we-made-toy-story-we-knew-even-back_1462081.jpg) > “When we made 'Toy Story,' we knew, even back then, that this was going to be the ugliest film we would ever produce.” [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creators anticipated the film would look bad, yet it became a classic, showing early doubts can be misleading. **In simple terms:** They thought it would be ugly, but it succeeded. Key Takeaway Don’t let early doubts stop you. Themes film production creative risk self‑doubt Mood reflective optimistic Type inspirational cautionary When to use this quote - pitch meetings - storyboarding - budget planning - marketing campaigns Key Concepts animation visual design audience reception Questions to Reflect On - What early criticism have you faced? - How can you turn doubt into motivation? A Different Perspective Even with doubts, technical limits can be overcome with talent and perseverance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [For 'Toy Story 3' to be recognized by the Academy as not only one of the best animated films of the year, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/for-toy-story-3-to-be-recognized-by-the-academy-as-not-only-one-of/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [I didn't want to be the guy who screwed up 'Toy Story.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/i-didn-t-want-to-be-the-guy-who-screwed-up-toy-story/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [Toy Story One' and 'Three' are among the best films ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-whitehouse/toy-story-one-and-three-are-among-the-best-films-ever-made/) [Paul Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-whitehouse/) > [I remember when John Lasseter called me back in the late 1990s to personally invite me to come be the voice of Barbie in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-benson/i-remember-when-john-lasseter-called-me-back-in-the-late-1990s-to/) [Jodi Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-benson/) > [When we did 'Toy Story,' that was an all-hands-on-deck situation that really was time-intensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-docter/when-we-did-toy-story-that-was-an-all-hands-on-deck-situation-that/) [Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-docter/) > [I worked in the story department for years on 'Cars' and 'Toy Story 3.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-scanlon/i-worked-in-the-story-department-for-years-on-cars-and-toy-story-3/) [Dan Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-scanlon/) > [I really love 'Toy Story' a lot. It's what I grew up with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gonzalez/i-really-love-toy-story-a-lot-it-s-what-i-grew-up-with/) [Anthony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gonzalez/) > [With 'Toy Story,' which is a fantastic film but is essentially animation, you get to make all your decisions beforehand. 'Jumanji' is shot much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-toy-story-which-is-a-fantastic-film-but-is-essentially-animation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They're just not into doing sequels after Toy Story so I don't think that's a possibility. But if they did, well sure, you'd have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-t-nelson/they-re-just-not-into-doing-sequels-after-toy-story-so-i-don-t-think/) [Craig T. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-t-nelson/) > [Animation is very singular. Like, even the 'Toy Story' movies. 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We just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/initially-when-people-asked-us-when-toy-story-2-was-going-to-come-out/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [When we were making 'Toy Story,' my grandmother was very ill, and she knew she was not going to make it. I went back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/when-we-were-making-toy-story-my-grandmother-was-very-ill-and-she/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [At Pixar, I don't have to compromise at all. When I look at the finished "Toy Story 3," I don't sit and constantly think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/at-pixar-i-don-t-have-to-compromise-at-all-when-i-look-at-the/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) ## More by Lee Unkrich > [If you look at the beginning of children's entertainment in literature, the first books that were written for kids were cautionary tales. 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