Everyone thought the story was finished; then the screen took center stage. Can childhood’s favorite crew beat the one rival that never puts itself back in the toy box?
Pixar has dropped a fresh look at Toy Story 5 that already steadies jittery fans after the Buzz Lightyear misfire. The footage hints at a showdown tailor-made for today, with Bonnie’s new tablet Lilypad turning technology into the toys’ trickiest foe. Woody reunites with Buzz and Jessie as Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack return, joined by Conan O’Brien, Ernie Hudson and Greta Lee as Lilypad. With Andrew Stanton at the helm, the playroom legends look ready to prove they’re not outdated yet.
A beloved saga returns with new promises
Since 1995, Toy Story has been the rare franchise that keeps growing with its audience. After 4 luminous films, many felt 2019’s Toy Story 4 tied the bow for good. Then 2022’s Buzz Lightyear stumbled and doubts crept in about Pixar’s compass. The fresh Toy Story 5 trailer arrives as a gentle jolt of reassurance, tuned to feeling rather than noise.
The trailer everyone was waiting for
Disney and Pixar have confirmed Toy Story 5, and the new trailer sparks a neat blend of nostalgia and the modern. We glimpse the original gang reuniting, their bond intact, their humor dry. The twist is a foe hiding in plain sight: technology, embodied by Lilypad, a gifted tablet given to Bonnie. It smiles wide, yet it “listens all the time” (as the teaser suggests).
What we know about the plot
Bonnie’s toys head into uncharted territory as screens start replacing playtime. Jessie reaches out, pulling Woody back into the fold—even after his heartfelt parting at the end of Toy Story 4. Lilypad becomes the symbol of that tension, sleek and certain, while the toys fight to prove their purpose. The stakes feel higher as the crew navigates a changing childhood (and its silent algorithms).
Old voices, new talent, trusted direction
The bedrock remains: Tom Hanks returns as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, and Joan Cusack as Jessie. Fresh voices arrive, including Conan O’Brien, Ernie Hudson, and Greta Lee, who brings a cool, unsettling poise to Lilypad. At the helm is Andrew Stanton, whose Wall-E and Finding Nemo pedigree promises scale, humor, and quiet ache in equal measure.
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack lead the returning cast
Conan O’Brien, Ernie Hudson, Greta Lee (as Lilypad) join the lineup
Directed by Andrew Stanton (Wall-E, Finding Nemo)
Can Toy Story prove itself again?
After the disappointment surrounding Buzz Lightyear, the assignment is clear: rekindle trust, earn tears, land laughs. The trailer suggests the series is leaning into its roots while engaging today’s anxieties about attention, connection, and what “real” play means. If the camaraderie holds—and the storytelling finds its quiet corners—Toy Story 5 could stand as another tender chapter, one that nudges us to put the tablet down and listen.