Pixar once again delivers emotional life lessons wrapped in entertainment for both children and adults with Toy Story 5.
Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), and the rest of the toy gang return to help their human child, Bonnie, navigate the challenges of making friends. The introduction of a tablet named LilyPad (Greta Lee) complicates Bonnie’s relationship with her toys and adds a timely new conflict to the beloved franchise.
Recap
When we last saw Woody and Buzz in Toy Story 4, Woody chose to stay with Bo Peep at the carnival to help lost toys find new children. Before parting ways, Woody handed his sheriff badge to Jessie, symbolically passing leadership of Bonnie’s toys to her. Buzz and Jessie returned home to Bonnie.
Bonnie was first introduced at the end of Toy Story 3 when a college-bound Andy gifted his cherished toy collection to her. She later appeared in Toy Story 4, where she created Forky, who provided some of the film’s biggest laughs.
After four movies centered primarily on the toys, Toy Story 5 shifts its focus to the human child, and Jessie steps into a leadership role.
A Fresh Direction
Woody and Buzz take a backseat to Jessie in Pixar’s latest sequel. However, the filmmakers cleverly reintroduce Buzz through a high-tech variation of the character that delivers many of the movie’s funniest moments.
Director and co-writer Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL-E) and co-writer McKenna Harris find a fresh angle for the franchise by placing Bonnie at the center of the story. At the same time, the toys are far from sidelined, as Jessie’s past and unresolved emotional wounds become a key part of the narrative.
As in previous Toy Story films, a new toy disrupts the bond between child and toy. This time, the culprit is technology. LilyPad, an electronic tablet, takes control of Bonnie’s social life, creating emotional turmoil and distancing her from her toys.
Real-world concerns play a larger role in this installment, making the story resonate on a deeply personal level for audiences of all ages.
The film explores the consequences of our growing dependence on electronic devices. Bonnie struggles to make new friends because the children around her are glued to screens instead of interacting with one another. Eventually, she falls into the same trap.
Stanton, who directed WALL-E, is an ideal choice for Toy Story 5. The themes feel like a natural extension of his earlier work, which depicted humanity becoming consumed by technology while living aboard a spaceship.
Voice Cast
Joan Cusack steals the spotlight as Jessie, bringing emotional depth to the character as she confronts the lingering trauma of being abandoned by her first owner.
Conan O'Brien brings his signature humor and energy to Smarty Pants, a child’s electronic potty-training device. His performance injects fresh life into the film just as the story begins to lose momentum in the middle act.
Greta Lee delivers a commanding vocal performance as LilyPad, making the character both engaging and formidable.
Final Thoughts
Like most Pixar films, Toy Story 5 is likely to leave audiences reaching for tissues as it delivers poignant life lessons alongside its humor and adventure. By examining the impact of technology on childhood friendships and human connection, the film offers a message that feels especially relevant today.
You may even leave the theater tempted to put down your phone, spend time with friends and neighbors, or rediscover the simple joy of playing with an actual toy.
Toy Story 5 opens in theaters on June 19.
