Fifteen years ago Toy Story dazzled audiences young and old and paved the way for a new style of animation. And today, Toy Story 3 reinvigorates the magic of the original.

It has finally happened — Andy has grown up. And the little boy has now swapped his playthings for cellphones and is preparing to head off to college. His old friends — and ours — are terrified that they're going to be stowed away in the attic and forgotten, or thrown away with the rest of the trash.

Instead, through a combination of mishaps and a desire to stay loved, they end up at a day care centre. At first it looks like paradise — dozens of children and all the playtime they've been missing. But Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang soon realise that there is something much more sinister going on, and they realise the place they need to be is the one that they've just left.

As with most Disney/Pixar creations, Toy Story 3 is not just a film for children. Granted, the kids will love it, but adult moviegoers are almost guaranteed to leave the cinema with a goofy grin and a heart that feels twice its usual size.

Toy Story 3 revisits the best of the Toy Story franchise in a way that preserves the magic of the first two films without relying on the familiar. Sure, the old favourites are there — Buzz, Woody, Hamm, Mr and Mrs Potatohead, Barbie and Rex — but there are other new, complex characters that are introduced and developed with subtlety and grace.

And instead of the film being focused on the relationship between Woody and Buzz, all the toys get a turn in the spotlight — even Barbie, who in this movie finally finds her Ken.

The action sequences are eye-popping, the 3D animation subtle yet effective and the vocal work outstanding as always — bar the rather bizarre inclusion of Jeremy Mansfield as the voice of the veteran chatter telephone.

This movie is quite dark and sinister at times — there are a few characters that I found creepy (the giant baby doll and a terrifying toy monkey), so be aware of that when you're picking a movie to see with your kids.

And it's also extremely emotional — especially for fans that have followed the Toy Story films since 1995. I found myself almost in tears in a movie that is a perfect tribute to the toys that we have come to know and love.

Toy Story 3 is one of the best films of the year, and all in all is yet another masterpiece from the creative team at Disney/Pixar.