The official trailer for “Toy Story 5” does not waste time trying to convince anyone that the toys still matter. It opens with the familiar faces that helped raise a generation, as the fear of playtime vanishes and a screen becomes a child’s new best friend.
Disney and Pixar dropped the new trailer on Feb. 19, with the film set for a June 19 release. Andrew Stanton will direct, with Randy Newman returning for the score, keeping one of the most recognizable sounds in animation tied to the next chapter.
The trailer frames the story as toy meets tech. Bonnie, now 8 years old, gets a tablet device called Lilypad that arrives with her own ideas about what play should look like. The toys do not feel ignored, but can be replaced by a device with built-in apps, games and attention.
After leaving at the end of “Toy Story 4,” Woody reunites with Buzz and the rest of the toys, working together to try to stop Lily. We hear from Woody when he talks with Jessie that more toys are being abandoned each day.
On paper, the movie plot sounds perfect for 2026. Kids grow up, interests change, toys adapt, or they fade. A tablet just accelerates the process.
However, I still believe the story should have ended with “Toy Story 3.” In my mind, it was a perfect send-off and there wasn’t a need for a fourth movie.
But 2019 came around and “Toy Story 4” earned more than $3 billion worldwide. That kind of success makes any ending no longer a given.
That is why it was announced that a fifth movie would be coming, because Pixar would be stupid not to cash in on the gravy train that put them on the map all the way back in 1995.
Still, the familiar voices are a big reason why fans, including myself, stay invested. Tom Hanks will return as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Joan Cusack returns as Jessie.
One detail in the cast that carries weight for longtime viewers is that Mr. Potato Head and Mrs. Potato Head will sound a little different this time.
Don Rickles, who voiced Mr. Potato Head from the start, died in 2017, and Estelle Harris, the voice of Mrs. Potato Head, died in 2022.
Legendary “Looney Tunes” voice actor Jeff Bergman is voicing Mr. Potato Head and actor, comedian and home cook Anna Vocino is voicing Mrs. Potato Head.
Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee, positions herself as helpful and modern. The trailer suggests something sinister under the friendly surface, with the device pushing the room toward screens and away from imagination.
If the film is successful, which early indication says it will be, Pixar will likely create another “Toy Story” film, and more and more sequels to the most beloved Pixar franchises like “The Incredibles” and “Coco,” which were already announced for a 2028 release.
Disney has made it clear that their approach relies on sequels and remakes because familiar brands feel safer than new ideas. Pixar has felt that pressure too, with recent original releases struggling.
That reality does not automatically make a sequel stale or unnecessary. The trailer shows a perfect plot designed for this day and age. A kid not only outgrows toys but also skips past them entirely.
My excitement comes from that same place. We do not need another “Toy Story” movie, but I still want to see it and relive my childhood with the toys that mattered to so many of us.
