How a Mum on Maternity Leave Saved This Pixar Classic — or We’d Have Missed 25 Years of 'Toy Story Joy'
It really was nothing short of a miracle.
Today, it’s impossible to imagine the world of animation without Toy Story 2 — a sequel that didn’t just succeed, but became truly iconic. Yet few people realise this film was once teetering on the brink of oblivion before it ever hit cinema screens. And if not for one astonishing twist of fate, we might never have known what happened to Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang after their first adventure.
One Awkward Mistake — And It Was All Gone
During post-production at Pixar, a genuine nightmare struck. Someone accidentally deleted nearly all the film’s files, including a nearly finished, ready-for-release version. Almost two years of work vanished in an instant. According to studio staff, scenes, character models, entire landscapes simply started disappearing before their eyes. And, as luck would have it, there wasn’t a proper backup in place.
A Rescue Straight Out of a Pixar Plot
It looked like everything was lost. But then, in a twist worthy of a Pixar script itself, salvation arrived. The project’s technical director — a woman named Galyn Susman — happened to be on maternity leave, working from home. And on her personal computer sat a backup of the film. Thanks to her, almost everything that had been wiped could be restored.
Pixar staff carefully transported her workstation back to the studio like it was a fragile vase, terrified of damaging the last remaining copy of the movie. After a frantic week of patching and fixing, the film was saved. And in 1999, Toy Story 2 hit cinemas, instantly winning the hearts of audiences and critics alike.
Now, more than 25 years on, the tale is remembered almost like an industry joke. But without that home computer in the suburbs — and the quiet foresight of one employee — Pixar might have suffered its first major flop, instead of achieving one of the greatest triumphs in its history.
