Toy Story 5: There's still a lot of life in these toys

The toys are back in town. And it’s an absolutely magical return.

In Toy Story 5, Jessie (Joan Cusack), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toys are having a great time playing with Bonnie. However, Bonnie is beginning to realize that her friends don’t have the same interests as her anymore. This leads her parents to buy her a LilyPad (Greta Lee), a new device that will help her connect with her friends in a whole new way. But the addition of Lily to the playroom upends Jessie’s relationship with Bonnie, leading the toys to stage an all-out war against tech for their child’s affection.

Co-directing with Pixar icon Andrew Stanton, first-time filmmaker Kenna Harris clearly understands what makes Toy Story so special as a franchise. As the key building block of the Pixar legacy, Toy Story has always been a series that’s more than merely about selling merchandise. There’s something honest and true that’s embedded within these characters that makes them feel human.

Having said this, I recognize that there may be some apprehension about the release of another adventure with Buzz and Woody. After all, it is the fifth film. It would be tempting for any company to rest entirely on the past in order to make a quick buck on diminishing quality.

But, somehow, Harris and Stanton have managed to turn back the clock again.

In short, Toy Story 5 is a masterful return to the emotion and heart that made Pixar into the animation standard. While the first half feels slightly disjointed with multiple (and seemingly unrelated) character arcs, the film’s second half weaves them together perfectly, creating a beautiful symphony of feelings that sits with the viewer long after the credits roll.

It’s worth noting that, with Toy Story 5 serves as a (very) soft reboot of the franchise. While Buzz and Woody remain essential, the series effectively passes its torch to Jesse as its primary storyteller. As they focus on the cowgirl’s battle with technology, Toy Story 5 marks the first film that doesn’t tell the story from Woody’s point of view. Instead, it’s ‘little sister’ Jesse that steps into the limelight.

And Cusack clearly revels at the opportunity to step into the sun as well. Given the chance to take the reins of the story, Cusack seems rejuvenated. There’s a fire in her performance that displays Jesse’s passion but also a sensitivity that breaks your heart in the best of ways. (Even so, it’s worth noting that Conan O’Brien’s Smartypants steals the film and, somehow, makes poop jokes feel almost intelligent.) With Cusack confidently in the lead, Jesse gives the world of Toy Story a new central voice while, potentially, allowing it to continue with a new direction.

‘New directions’ often feel like unnecessary risks in Hollywood, especially for a franchise that has always been built on the back of nostalgia. Toys in Andy’s room spoke to an era that felt long ago. Fisher-Price phones, Mr. (and Mrs.) Potato Head and Green Army men weren’t popular in the 90s. They made their mark two decades (or more) before that yet they were still featured prominently in Andy’s room.

Even so, from the very beginning, Woody’s fear of losing his place to ‘space toys’ was a reminder that progress was always moving forward. With the added layer of Woody and Buzz’s existential crises, the film offered us something both powerful and reflective; funny and furious.

Now though, the rules have well been established and, after the events of Toy Story 4, Woody’s emotional arc has essentially wrapped. To continue the series ran the risk of undoing everything that they’d accomplished with the franchise, especially when it comes to its central cowboy. But, with the pivot to focusing on Jesse, Toy Story 5 manages to avoid these pitfalls while changing the purpose of the series entirely. While nostalgia plays a role in the story itself, Stanton and Harris ensure that it never becomes the central pillar of the film.

Instead, Toy Story 5 is a tale for today, not (only) for the past.

That’s the real power of this installment. Toy Story 5 doesn’t feel like the franchise is exhausted. It feels like a new beginning. The conversations around the use of technology aren’t focused entirely about dealing with the past. (Although, to be fair, Jesse’s struggling to let go of the ‘the way things were’.) Rather, the film includes conversations about the dramatic impact of cyber-bullying and losing personal contact with each other. (Also, adult viewers should note that the kids aren’t the only ones hooked on their screens here.)

Without giving spoilers, Toy Story 5 recognizes that technology really has taken over and, with that, comes both pros and cons. Every new game and app brings with it opportunities to connect but also to hurt. There’s a battle for control that takes place between Lily and the toys as they both fight for what they believe is best for Bonnie. With her toys, she sparks imagination. With Lily? The promise of friendships. (Whether or not it delivers on that remains to be seen.) Yet all of these discussions are very grounded in the realities faced by the next generation of kids.

In essence, Toy Story 5 is no longer my Toy Story. Now, it’s my 11-year-old son’s Toy Story.

For many fans, that may be a tough (toy?) to swallow. After all, it can be difficult to accept the fact that times have really changed. But Woody’s world really doesn’t exist for Gen-Alpha anymore and to follow his journey would really show the age of the franchise. (Even his ‘middle-aged’ look hits a little close to home.) Yet, allowing Jesse to step out in front seems to breathe new life into a series that had earned the right to walk off into the sunset.

But Toy Story 5 proves that these toys still have a lot of life left in them.

Toy Story 5 is available in theatres on Friday, June 19^th, 2026.