Pixar Animation Studios will release their first ever television special titled “Toy Story of Terror.” It will feature the characters of the Toy Story franchise in a fun-filled scary adventure. As new characters are introduced, could a sequel or spinoff follow?

The 30-second trailer features appearances from Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Rex, Mr Potato Head and Mr. Pricklepants.These characters are voices by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and Timothy Dalton, among others.

Fans will also be delighted at some cast newcomers being given a sneak peek in the brief clip, which is situated in a seemingly ‘haunted’ motel.
As the toys go on a road trip, an unexpected turn leads them to a roadside motel, after one of the toys goes missing, the others find themselves caught up in a mysterious, monstrous, and terrifying sequence of events that must be solved before they all suffer the same fate.

The half-hour long TV special will be shown just before Halloween, and will probably be the first of many similar specials. The latest installment of Toy Story, “Toy Story 3” shown in 2010, turned out to be highest grossing animated movie of all time, crossing the $1 billion mark worldwide.

With overshelming box-office and critical success, it seems like a no-brainer for Pixar to make another installment. After all, the third movie ended with the toys getting a new owner. Yet, ‘purist’ fans have often protested that the story has gone full circle, and a sequel will only destroy the franchise’s legacy. Pixar and its parent company is also accused of a cash grab if they pursue another sequel.

Pixar has wisely toed the line by releasing short animated films, usually 7 minutes long. It featured further adventures of the old gang along with the new set of toys from their new owner Bonnie. As more characters are introduced, Pixar seems to be gaining enough ground to claim that a new full-length feature would not be a ‘sequel’ anymore, but a ‘spin-off.’

In the meantime, enjoy the half minute trailer: