Exhibition - Theatrical Release Dates

Toy Story 3 was released on the 19th of July 2010 in the UK and the 18th of June in the USA. There is no specific reason films open first in America and then in Britain but i believe the most plausible reason is because its an American production.


The marketing ploy was to release the film in the Summer so children were able to go see it and it would rake in more money because children would be off school and families would all go together. 


The film was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on the 9th of November, this was cleverly plotted because it is near christmas therefore would be ideal for children's christmas presents. 

Toy story 3 was voted into the top ten christmas DVDs for 2010

Distribution and Marketing - Other Promotional Opportunities

Disney Pixar used techniques such as advertising Toy Story before other Disney films in the cinema so it would interest the same audience. Say if a family we're watching 'Up' released on the 9th of October, this would be a perfect opportunity to show the trailer of Toy Story 3 as its by the same production company and uses the same animation etc.

Distribution and Marketing - Social Networking

Social networking sites such as Myspace, Twitter and Facebook were also used to push forward the advertising campaign. 
These websites used a technique called viral marketing and viral advertising which are buzzwords referring to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales)


In April 2010, Pixar posted 2 videos to YouTube under the names 'MrCrazycommercials' and 'GaikokujinJoe1' as a promotion for the release of Toy Story 3. They were made to look like 1980s toy commercials.


Two thirds of the world’s Internet population now visit a social network or blog site weekly. 220+ million people visit the top 25 social networks each month. Facebook has 500+ million active users. Therefore promoting on a social networking site is highly beneficial for the movie as it reaches wider audiences all over the world.

Distribution and Marketing - Trailers

Disney Pixar released the first teaser trailer of Toy Story 3 on the 29th of May.

Still 12 months away from being released, the Toy Story 3 trailer was a real teaser, in that it actually provides no information about the movie. Instead, we get reintroduced to the main characters from the previous two films.

This could get Toy Story fans excited and they would maybe want to research more about the new film that was coming out. By only giving the audience a snippet of the film, and not giving too much away this is a perfect marketing ploy, leaving the audience wanting more. As the release date go closer and closer each month a little bit more was shown on the trailers however not too much to ruin the movie. Disney was extremely clever in doing this as it created a media buzz over the new blockbuster that was about to be released.

Distribution and Marketing - Posters

 

This is just one of the many advertising ploys created by Disney who were in charge of marketing and distribution. Posters like this went out each with a different character on therefore when seen, people would automatically know what it was for even if the title of the film wasn't on it.

The posters were first released on the 4th of March 2010, a good three months before the cinema release date of June the 18th. This was done to build up the hype of the movie. Also the reason of Disney Pixar releasing the film in June is because children break up from school for Summer and would be the best time to get the most money as parents will take their children to the cinema. Whereas if the film opening in Winter i doubt it would reach a wider audience as children are still at school. 

Locations

Toy Story 3 was made all in a studio so Disney didn't have to pay out for locations. Also Disney had their own CGI studios with all the technical aspects therefore didn't need to pay for that either which was a bonus for production. 

Casting

Having Tom Hanks as the vocal leader in the production - the main character, Woody, this is beneficial to the whole production as Tom Hanks is a very respected actor. Also he is an icon and has a massive following so evidently his fans would watch the film. Using someone as high profile as Tom Hanks who has been in such hits as Forrest Gump, Castaway and Saving Private Ryan, is definitely part of the money making scheme for the whole production and over the years Toy Story has become a phenomenon.

Also co starring next to Tom Hanks is Tim Allen the voice of Buzz Lightyear. He is also a well known actor and very respected. Having these two hollywood stars fronting the Toy Story campaign is a great marketing ploy as these two actors have been in some of Hollywoods best blockbusters. This would attract audiences because there is a slim chance these big actors would put their name to a bad film. 

Casting List - 

Tom Hanks ... Woody

Tim Allen ... Buzz Lightyear

Joan Cusack ... Jessie

Ned beatty ... Lotso

Don Rickles ... Mr Potato Head

Micheal Keaton ... Ken

Wallace Shawn ... Rex

John Ratzenberger ... Hamm

Estelle Harris ... Mrs Potato Head

John Morris ... Andy

Jodi Benson ... Barbie

Emily Hahn ... Bonnie

Laurie Metcalf ... Andy's Mum

Blake Clark ... Slinky Dog

Teddy Newton ... Chatter Telephone