I’ve had July 16, 2010 circled on my calendar for many months now. Because Toy Story 3 is going to be my daughters first movie seen in the theatre. And myself, I’m a huge fan of everything Pixar does, starting with the original Toy Story. With the original cast back again, and a fun new story, it’s looking like a safe bet that Toy Story 3 wil be another smash blockbuster from the geniuses at Pixar.

Today, Disney Interactive announced Toy Story 3: The Video Game, which not surprisingly, ties in to the movie. While it does feature a story mode that follows the plot of the film (with Andy outgrowing his toys, they are donated to a day care centre and hilarity ensues), more intriguing is Toy Box mode. Developer Avalanche Software is literally giving players a toy box of options with which to create their own adventures, using Toy Story’s cowboys, space rangers,aliens and other toys in a wide variety of backgrounds.

“With Toy Story 3: The Video Game, audiences will have multiple ways to experience and enjoy the Toy Story world,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Story Mode follows the film’s story and adventures, while Toy Box Mode gets to the playful heart of the Toy Story franchise. By combining the power of imagination with the Toy Story universe, the game appeals to the joy of play in all of us.”

With movie tie-in games having a typically short life span once you get it home, the Toy Box mode sounds like a potentially great innovation, greatly extending value for parents. And anything that encourages younger gamers to utilize their creativity and imaginations is always a plus around here.

We’ll have a look at the game’s visuals later this week.

Toy Story 3: The Video Game goes on sale June 15, 2010 for the Wii, PS3, 360, DS and PSP.