Toy Story Collection Comes Alive in a Library Display

“To infinity and beyond,” Buzz Lightyear exclaims in "Toy Story." Lacey resident Edwin Wormann may say the same when it comes to his "Toy Story" collection.

When the lights go out in the Lacey Library this month, toys may come alive as there are approximately 100 Toy Story collectible figurines being showcased.

“I very rarely go to the movies or anything and for the first time I went down to the IMAX to see Toy Story 3. It choked me up at the end like it did a lot of people and I really liked it,” Wormann said.

Wormann first saw Toy Story when the original movie came out in 1995, although his daughter was too young to appreciate going to the movies at the time, he said. But he did not begin collecting Toy Story figurines until the latest move was released last year.

While shopping at Walmart the day after he saw Toy Story 3, Wormann purchased two little Buddy packs and the adult collection single packs.

“Within a week I was hooked,” Wormann said.

Wormann started purchasing collectibles from all the Target’s, Walmart’s, Toys “R” Us, and Kmart’s.

Finding Toy Story items to add to his collection became increasingly difficult as time went on.

Wormann remembered when he was a kid back in the 1950 when his mother had thrown out his Lionel trains and baseball card collections.

“I thought [Toy Story] was a cute movie and it reminded me of the toys when I was a kid,” Wormann said. “I decided I’m going to get something to start for my daughter that she could hold onto and maybe someday she’ll have something that she could bring into the antique road show or a collectible place.”

Wormann duplicates each item so his 16-year-old daughter can hold onto one and possibly enter another in an antique show.

“It’s simple, it’s the way life should be as everyone’s getting into their electronics and stuff, they’re losing the skills of imagination, playtime, and social lives,” Wormann said.

Wormann currently has approximately 200 Toy Story collectibles and the Library displays just under 100. In the middle of March, Wormann will update the display with the remaining items that have yet to be showcased.