SAN JOSE – Toy Story 3, the Academy Award-winning smash hit bursts out of the toy box and onto the ice in Disney On Ice presents Disney’s Pixar’s Toy Story 3. 

An accomplished creative team and a cast of world-class skaters are gliding into San Jose at the HP Pavilion February 22-26, 2012 and Oakland at the Oracle Arena February 29 – March 4, 2012, bringing the Toy Story gang to Bay Area fans and families in an all-new, high-energy ice spectacular. 

 Inspired by the No. 1 animated movie of all time, families everywhere are invited to the ultimate Toy Story experience with Woody, the pull-string cowboy; space ranger Buzz Lightyear; Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl; and the rest of the gang in a fast-paced, witty tale, live on ice.  Produced by Feld Entertainment, Disney On Ice presents Disney’s Pixar’s Toy Story 3 is the exciting combination of all three Toy Story tales in one never-before-seen action adventure.

 “This show is truly revolutionary in its use of projection technology and special effects to bring an animated film to life,” says Producer Nicole Feld.  “We use the entire ice surface as a giant projection screen, allowing us to create imaginative visual effects and put a unique twist on a classic story.  The result is a live, interactive theater experience unlike anything audiences have ever seen.” 

 “We’ve all grown up watching the Toy Story movies,” says Producer Kenneth Feld. “Now our families – grandparents, parents, and kids alike – can re-live those incredible memories together.”

In order to bring the Toy Story world from screen to skates, this toypalooza relied heavily on the research and creativity of Director Patty Vincent.  For Vincent, translating the animated film to the ice was a detailed process.  “I watched the movie several times to get a sense for the feel of the film, as well as the characters and how they relate to each other,” says Vincent.  “I studied their movements and how they interact with one another, and combined all of that in order to be able to deliver the humor and heart of the film and its characters to the live audience.”

 “For us, the most difficult thing was trying to figure out how to capture the magic of the movie in an ice show,” says Creative Director and Writer Jerry Bilik.  “We decided that it would be nice to go back and capture some of the best moments from both Toy Story and Toy Story 2.  By adding that history, the show became more meaningful because we gave the story more continuity,” says Bilik.

As audiences travel from the world of humans to toys, Scenic Designer Joe Stewart had the task of ensuring that what the audience sees is believable, scaled proportionately, and “toy-like.” “The set itself has to exist in two separate worlds: Andy’s world and the world of the toys.  In the toys’ world, objects like Andy’s toy box become supersized as if seen from their perspective,” says Stewart.