 Pixar , which produced short animated films to promote their computers , was approached by Disney to produce a computer @-@ animated feature after the success of the short film , Tin Toy ( 1988 ) , which is told from a small toy 's perspective . Lasseter , Stanton , and Pete Docter wrote early story treatments which were thrown out by Disney , who pushed for a more edgy film . After disastrous story reels , production was halted and the script was re @-@ written , better reflecting the tone and theme Pixar desired : that " toys deeply want children to play with them , and that this desire drives their hopes , fears , and actions . " The studio , then consisting of a relatively small number of employees , produced the film under minor financial constraints . 
