It’s time to hand over the spotlight–and it’s not to Buzz or Woody.
When Toy Story first arrived in 1995, Disney and Pixar changed animation forever. The groundbreaking film–the first entirely computer-animated feature–went on to earn more than $400 million globally and became the second-highest-grossing movie of that year. What began as a technical achievement evolved into one of the most successful and enduring franchises in film history.
Since then, Toy Story has expanded into four main films, two spinoffs, several shorts and series, and inspired themed lands across Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland.
After the original trilogy concluded with Toy Story 3 in 2010, Toy Story 4 arrived nine years later, seemingly wrapping up the saga. So when Disney announced Toy Story 5 in 2023, fans were both surprised and intrigued—especially after Tom Hanks (Woody) had suggested that the fourth film would be the end. But both Hanks and Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear) are officially back.
Reactions to the sequel have been mixed. Some fans hope Pixar won’t stretch the series too far, while others are eager to see what new story the creative team has in store. Following the events of Toy Story 4, Woody sets out to help lost toys find new homes, while Jessie, voiced by Joan Cusack, takes command of Bonnie’s room with Buzz as her second-in-command.
This time, the story takes a new turn. Pixar revealed that Toy Story 5 will explore how technology has reshaped childhood play, introducing a new character: a tablet toy named Lilypad.
Back in May, Tim Allen told Entertainment Tonight that the movie is “a story about Jessie” and “very clever,” adding that the story will be “worth it.” On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Allen elaborated: “They reboot everything. It’s all about Jessie, which is really cool. She’s in trouble, and she needs help. We’re all over, so she has to gather everybody.”
He even shared details about the opening scene. “We’re [in] a FedEx plane [when] a hundred Buzz dolls land, and they’re all lost. They’re hysterical. They’re trying to find their way back, and there are a hundred of them. I hope they have it in there,” Allen said.
Promotional images have already sparked debate online. A still showing Jessie on Bonnie’s bed surrounded by Rex, Hamm, and the aliens, notably excluding Slinky Dog and the Potato Heads, prompted speculation. Some fans even accused Disney of cutting the characters for political reasons, with comments like “NO POTATO HEADS THIS IS TERRIBLE” and “Woke incoming.”
Those claims were quickly dismissed, as fans pointed out that Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head) passed away in 2017 and Estelle Harris (Mrs. Potato Head) in 2022. Pixar had previously used Rickles’ archival recordings to include his voice in Toy Story 4.
Despite the absence from the image, Disney and Pixar have confirmed that Slinky Dog, Forky, and Bullseye will return. Ernie Hudson joins as Combat Carl, taking over for the late Carl Weathers, while Conan O’Brien voices a new toy named Smarty Pants. Anna Faris is also joining the cast, reportedly as Lilypad. Toy Story 5 is slated for release on June 19, 2026.
