Thirty years ago, Pixar put its name on the map with the release of Toy Story, a film that launched a franchise that has since grossed more than $3 billion worldwide and captured the hearts of children and adults alike.
The first three entries formed what many considered a perfect trilogy, closing the book on Woody, Buzz, and the gang in a deeply satisfying fashion, or so we thought. Then, in 2019, the franchise returned with Toy Story 4, a film I view as an epilogue to Woody’s journey. Despite Film Twitter’s divisive opinion, it’s a sequel I quite enjoy, even if it doesn’t quite reach the emotional heights of the first three films.
While Lightyear failed to set the world on fire, it only reinforced the belief that Disney and Pixar would eventually return to the mainline series, and that day has finally arrived.
With Toy Story 5, it was impossible for me to approach its release with anything but excitement. Not only do I love this franchise, but so does my daughter. In fact, the recent 30th anniversary theatrical re-release of Toy Story became her very first theatrical experience. For a series that played such a significant role in my childhood, being able to share it with her felt like a true full-circle moment and made returning to this world all the more meaningful.
Toy Story 5 picks up a few years after Woody chose to part ways with the gang and begin a new chapter alongside Bo Peep. In his absence, Jessie has stepped into the sheriff’s role within Bonnie’s room, with Buzz Lightyear faithfully by her side. However, as Bonnie grows older, her attention has shifted away from traditional toys and toward a new obsession: a tablet-like companion named Lilypad, which she uses as a way to connect with and make new friends. Faced with the possibility of becoming obsolete in an increasingly digital world, Jessie calls on an old friend to help the toys confront this new reality, prompting Woody’s return.
As with every entry in the franchise, the film’s screenplay remains immaculate. Each installment has handled its themes with remarkable care, and co-writer/directors Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris once again tap into the universal anxieties surrounding the passage of time and irrelevance, only this time through the lens of technology.
I grew up with Andy. Now I’m a girl dad raising a daughter in a world of tablets and screens. That’s why Toy Story 5‘s screenplay hit so hard. By making this Jessie’s story, Stanton and Harris craft an emotional and thoughtful exploration of technology’s place in childhood while reminding us of the importance of toys, imagination, and genuine human connection. At the same time, it continues the franchise’s incredible tradition of evolving alongside its audience. What spoke to me as a kid now speaks to me as a parent, which is a testament not only to the power of this film, but to the enduring strength of the franchise itself.
Another strength of the screenplay is its decision to place a greater focus on Bonnie. While the human characters have always been important to the franchise, this is the first entry that truly allows one of them to step into the spotlight. As Bonnie becomes a larger part of the story, the film finally gives her the opportunity to come out of her shell, adding an extra layer of emotional weight to the narrative while strengthening the bond between the toys and the child they care so deeply about.
Alongside the franchise’s consistently strong screenplays comes the wonderful voice work from Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack, and Toy Story 5 is no exception. While Hanks and Allen take on more supporting roles this time around, their infectious charm remains as evident as ever, with Allen’s Buzz providing some of the film’s biggest laughs.
The reality, however, is that this is Jessie’s film, and Cusack is absolutely sensational. She captures every facet of Jessie’s journey with warmth, vulnerability, and heart, rewarding the film’s decision to place her at the center of the story. Quite frankly, making Jessie the emotional anchor of Toy Story 5 is one of the smartest creative decisions the franchise has made in years, breathing new life into the series while proving there are still meaningful stories left to tell within this world.
Toy Story 5 continues to expand the franchise’s ever-growing toy box with another memorable collection of characters. Greta Lee is wonderful as the seemingly villainous Lilypad, bringing more depth and nuance to the role than one might initially expect. Meanwhile, Conan O’Brien’s Smarty Pants may have been my favorite addition to the new cast, consistently delivering some of the film’s funniest moments and proving to be an instant standout.
That said, no newcomer won me over more than Blaze’s pet pig, whose name I won’t spoil here. As someone who desperately wanted a pet pig growing up, I was immediately on board, and every scene involving the character left a smile on my face.
Toy Story 5 is also a visual delight. While retaining the animation style audiences have come to love from the franchise, the film introduces a distinct visual approach during the playtime sequences that works remarkably well. Not only does it enhance the sense of imagination and wonder, but it also helps make this one of the most visually striking entries in the series.
On the musical front, Randy Newman’s score once again proves why it has become such an essential part of the franchise’s identity. Consistently emotional and wonderfully effective, his music elevates many of the film’s most heartfelt moments. While Taylor Swift’s contribution arrives during the closing credits rather than within the film itself, the song beautifully captures the emotional core of the story and reinforces its central themes long after the credits begin to roll.
Thirty years after Woody first uttered there was a snake in his boot, Toy Story 5 proves there is still plenty of life left in one of cinema’s greatest franchises. By shifting the spotlight to Jessie, embracing the realities of modern childhood, and delivering the same heart, humor, and emotional intelligence that have defined the series from the very beginning, Pixar has crafted another worthy chapter in this remarkable saga.
What makes Toy Story so special, however, is that it has evolved into something much greater than the story of Andy and his toys. Over the course of three decades, it has become a cinematic handbook on growing up, offering lessons on friendship, change, loss, imagination, and human connection that resonate differently depending on where we are in life. As a kid, these films spoke to me through Andy. Today, they speak to me through Bonnie and as a father raising a daughter of my own. That ability to grow alongside its audience remains Toy Story’s greatest achievement and the reason it continues to endure generation after generation. Against all odds, one of the greatest franchises ever created has delivered yet another gem.
