Published at 12:00, Tuesday, 13 July 2010

Toy Story 3 stands as a testament to the advances made in computer animation over the last decade - while able to stand alongside the previous two instalments, the latest movie featuring the adventures of Buzz, Woody and co is more visually spectacular than ever.

John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich and Andrew Stanton - the figures behind the new Toy Story movie - decided to produce the film entirely in 3D. Rather than using it to simply improve the spectacle, they hope that the storytelling will be boosted by having three dimensions.

How so? Well, 3D offers cinema audiences a window into a world that they have never seen before. Granted, most of us familiar with Disney Toy Story know the characters and Andy, their owner, well. What three dimensions can do, however, is make you feel as though you're actually there, experiencing the thrills and spills first hand.

Toy Story 3 is directed by Unkrich, making the film editor only the third person after Lasseter and Brad Bird to lead a Pixar production single-handedly. The pressure was certainly on during the development process - Toy Story and its sequel are among the best-loved films in recent history, so the third instalment would have to meet very high standards.

To attempt to do so, the familiar characters we all know and love - from Hamm, Jessie and Mr Potato Head to Rex the dinosaur - have been joined by some new faces. If you can't say you've ever laid eyes on a lederhosen-wearing hedgehog with a penchant for acting, then you soon will be able to.

Enter Mr Pricklepants, voiced by former James Bond actor Timothy Dalton. Audiences have already been given a sneak peek of the loveable character on the Disney Channel, although it remains to be seen what his role will be in Toy Story 3.

Audiences will also be introduced to Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear. Voiced by Ned Beatty, the huggable bear, who just so happens to smell of fragrant strawberries, is known as Lotso for short and is one of the leaders at Sunnyside Daycare - Buzz and Woody's new home.

Created specifically for the film by the Pixar team, Lotso remains something of an enigma - but all will soon be revealed about his history and how he ended up in the toddlers' play pen.

Barbie's better half Ken will also making something of a dramatic introduction. Voiced by Michael Keaton, the character, who is constantly trying to shake off his image as a girls' toy, considers himself a bit of an expert with the ladies and even offers dating tips to some of the bachelors.

How did the characters end up in a toddlers' day centre? Well, Andy has grown up since Toy Story and Toy Story 2 and is about to leave home and begin his college career. He no longer needs his loyal group of toys, and with no younger brothers and sisters for them to be passed down to, Woody, Buzz and the gang find themselves in the hands of unforgiving tots. It remains to be seen whether they're able to escape.

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