So what have Pixar done this time that will please an ever growing audience of Toy Story movie fans and also the many, many companies who produce merchandise that fills our departments stores? Well there are a few new characters such as Rex, an endlessly worrying and insecure dinosaur or Twitch, an awesome half man half insect action figure. This will enhance the product ranges of many merchandising companies and enable more products to be generated by the increase in demand once the film is launched. Action toys are a good example of this as each comes individually packaged and allows for a collection to be built.

Will Toy Story 3 capture the imagination third time around? This is a definite yes, as already many product manufacturers remember the huge demand for Toy Story 1 and 2 merchandise. It helps that there are still the big name stars behind the new version, Tom Hanks as Sheriff Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and now Michael Keaton as Ken, not forgetting Whoopi Goldberg as Stretch. If that does not do it then perhaps the fact that the new film will be released in 3-D may get the audiences flocking to the cinema to see how many of the characters have adapted to this format.

Can Toy Story 3 top Avatar as the biggest grossing film of all time? Avatar managed to gross over $2.7bn in 2009 and with Titanic way behind on just over $1.8bn in number two position it will be interesting to see if Toy Story 3 is able to capture a bigger audience in 2010. Disney and Pixar have been slowly releasing more trailers and established promotions with companies such as Lego and Mattel as the launch draws nearer. Only recently Steve jobs of Apple showed a demo of Apple's new iPhone OS 4 using an iAd for the new Toy Story 3 movie, which gives the new film a premium promoter. All this promotion is sure to get shoppers turning out in their thousands to get their hands on the latest toys, video games and many other forms of merchandise.

With the credit crunch not long behind us, it was surprising to see the popularity and expense paid out after the Avatar launch, it it just goes to show that even in times where money may be harder to find, we still manage to make sure our little ones have those latest toys and games that are brought about by new movies such as Toy Story 3.