Why do we never really grow out of our beloved childhood films?
With the release of Toy Story 5, we find ourselves revisiting the films that defined our childhoods.
Whether it’s an animated classic or a well-loved family classic, they offer more than just entertainment; they offer comfort and familiarity, writes Film News Blitz’s Madeline Rhodes.
But when there are so many new kids’ films released, what keeps us coming back to them?
Nostalgia
Nostalgia is the main reason people re-watch their childhood favourites; these films remind us of simpler times.
That could be the memory of family movie nights, going to watch it in the cinema with sweets in hand or the film we obsessed over as a child and collected all the merchandise.
To us, revisiting these films doesn’t just bring back the story, but all the emotions and memories we associate with that stage of our lives.
Even if we know the film back to front, line for line like the back of our hands, these films, over time, have built relationships and a sense of familiarity that new releases just haven’t had the chance to do.
‘Toy Story 5’
Released in the UK on 19 June, Toy Story 5 has sparked excitement across social media.
Part of that excitement comes from the adults who have been following the film series since the initial release in 1995.
The characters in Toy Story 5 have grown with its audience.
The toys are having a hard time coming to terms with new technology threatening their purpose, and Woody even has a bald patch.
As the toys come to terms with these changes, the audience is reminded that the world they now live in looks very different from the one they grew up with.
Cartoons don’t feel the same anymore
The Toy Story film series is a great representation of how animation has changed over the years.
Even though it was the first fully CGI feature film, we can still notice the stark difference from the first to the most recent film.
Older CGI films have a bit more charm than the newer, more polished CGI films, as audiences can see the creativity behind the limited technology.
There’s also a big change in audiences; Gen Alpha kids will not understand the same humour as millennials who watched the earlier cartoons.
Growing up doesn’t mean letting go
For millennials and Gen Zs, the magic of childhood films is hidden behind the warm, grainy screens that new HD technology simply cannot compete with.
Watching films now is a completely different experience with technology involved; you no longer have to sit through any adverts, wait to rewind the VHS tape or be limited to the stock in Blockbuster.
Having films readily on demand takes away a lot of the magic the older generations received from watching films.
That doesn’t mean modern cartoons are any better or worse; they are just made for a different audience.
The benefit of having streaming services today is being able to relive your childhood as many times as you want.
Technology has shown that growing up doesn’t mean letting go of your inner child.
There is always comfort in the familiar.
READ NEXT – Film analysis: Is ‘Toy Story 5’ really about Gen Z’s screen anxiety?
