How Toy Story 2 Was Almost Deleted: Data Loss Lessons 

Did you know that Toy Story 2 almost lost a year’s worth of data files including sketches? Imagine working for years on a massive project, only to have someone accidentally delete the whole thing with a single command.  

At 4BIS Cyber Security and IT Services, we’ve seen plenty of tech mishaps, but Pixar’s story is one of the most famous examples of what happens when backups fail and disaster recovery isn’t quite up to par. 

However, it also serves as an unexpected case study in the world of data management and the catastrophic consequences of data loss. In this article, we’ll explore the story of how the Pixar team nearly lost the entire film and extract valuable lessons on preventing data loss in our own lives and businesses. 

What Happened 

In the late 1990s, Pixar was deep in production on Toy Story 2. The move creation was progressing until an employee accidentally entered a command. The employee meant to run a command to delete files within a folder, but they accidentally ran it to run with a (core) root folder. That command began deleting everyone’s work from the past two years. 

First, Woody’s hat vanished. Then his boots. Then Woody himself. 

Entire scenes were being deleted, one by one, right before their eyes.  

They turned to the backup system to restore the files. But there was one big problem. The backups hadn’t been working properly for at least a month. They were able to restore what they thought was a good copy, but it was incomplete, and no one had noticed.  

As a result, the individual deleted most of the film’s files and there wasn’t a viable backup. Naturally the team panicked, having spent over three years creating the film.  

A Baby and a Home Computer Saved the Movie  

Enter Galyn Susman, the supervising technical director. She had recently had a baby and was working from home. Wanting to keep up with her team, she had a personal workstation set up to continue working on the movie. 

It was during an emergency meeting that Galyn remembered that she had a copy saved at home. Galyn and Oren Jacob (Technical Director) went to Galyn’s house and wrapped her desktop in blankets, strapped it in her Volvo, and drove it back to Pixar. 

Luckily, they were able to retrieve a working copy of the film from Galyn’s computer. And while that copy was not the most up to date (meaning some work was lost), they were able to save a good portion of the work. That offsite copy, which was not part of any formal backup strategy, ended up saving the entire production. 

Here’s what Pixar’s Can Teach Us

Takeaway 1: Regular Backups Are Essential.

The Pixar team had a backup system in place, but it was outdated and incomplete. They had not been consistently backing up the latest files, leading to the loss of over 90% of the work done.  

Establishing a robust routine backup process and system is essential.  

Takeaway 2: Your Backups May Not Be Working 

Pixar thought they had reliable backups. They didn’t. The backup system had been failing silently, and no one knew until a major incident occurred. 

Always verify your backups. Test them regularly to make sure they actually work. 

Takeaway 3: Offsite Backups are Critical 

How did Pixar survive this situation? A copy of the film existed outside of their main servers. 

Every business needs an offsite or cloud backup solution. Local backups can’t protect your data from fire, theft, or accidental deletion. 

Takeaway 4: Human Error Is Inevitable 

The file deletion wasn’t caused by a hacker. It was an internal accident. One wrong command caused an avalanche of problems. 

People make mistakes and they always will. Limit user permissions, set up alerts for major changes, and implement safeguards to reduce the impact of user error…because users are going to have errors. 

Takeaway 5: Communication is Crucial 

During the panic that ensued after the data loss, communication among team members broke down. Many were unaware of the backup procedures or how to access the remaining files. 

Foster an environment of open communication regarding data management protocols. Conduct training sessions to ensure that everyone understands how to back up their work and the importance of following these procedures. A shared knowledge base can prevent confusion in critical moments. 

Takeaway 6: Monitor and Test Your Systems 

After the data loss incident, the Pixar team realized their backup system was flawed. And they realized they had no regular testing process to ensure systems were functioning correctly. 

Regularly update your systems, test your backup and recovery systems. This proactive approach can make all the difference when you need to recover lost data quickly.  

Unfortunately, we see people rely on broken systems too often. 

Takeaway 7: Document Everything 

Create comprehensive documentation for your data management practices. This should include backup procedures, file naming conventions, verified redundancy, and control guidelines. Make this documentation easily accessible to all team members. 

Takeaway 8: Hope is Not a Plan 

Pixar was lucky. Your business may not be as lucky. A solid disaster recovery plan should not rely on chance or someone’s computer. Proactive measures will provide relief when an issue does occur. 

Learning from Mistakes: Don’t Wait for a Plot Twist 

If a world-class studio like Pixar could almost lose a major project, what could happen to your data without a solid plan? 

If your business is still running on outdated systems, you might as well hand Rex the keyboard. And we all know how that would go- prehistoric performance, constant panicking, and the very real risk of accidentally deleting the entire Jurassic period.

At 4BIS, we help Cincinnati-area businesses avoid disasters like this by building reliable, secure, and intelligent backup and recovery systems. Let us help you prevent the kind of mistake that could cost your company time, money, and reputation.  

Our services include: 

• Automated, tested, and monitored backups 

• Offsite and cloud storage solutions 

• Cybersecurity and access control to reduce accidental loss 

• Disaster recovery planning and implementation 

• Employee training on security best practices 

Contact us today for a free consultation and make sure your business is ready for anything. Ensure your data is never one command away from disappearing.  

Data loss can happen to anyone, but by learning from the mistakes of the past, we can take proactive steps to safeguard our work. Implementing regular backups, using version control, fostering communication, testing systems, and documenting processes are all crucial strategies for preventing data loss. Just like the beloved toys in Pixar’s films, our data is precious, and it deserves to be protected.