Seven years after Toy Story 4, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the gang return in Toy Story 5, the next chapter in Pixar’s longest-running franchise. Pixar released the official trailer on Thursday.
This film asks all-too-familiar questions. What is the purpose of toys now that childhood is increasingly dominated by screens? In the trailer, Woody (now bald and wearing a poncho) and Buzz reunite to save Bonnie from a new smart tablet called “Lilypad.” They team up with Jesse, Forky, Slinky Dog, Hamm, Trixie, and an army of Buzz Lightyear to stop technology from taking over the lives of children.
The fifth installment reunites most of the voice cast, with Tom Hanks and Tim Allen returning as Woody and Buzz, and Joan Cusack, Blake Clark, and Tony Hale also co-star. Greta Lee and Conan O’Brien are new additions to the series, demonstrating Pixar’s continued efforts to revamp the ensemble while retaining its core team.
Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton will direct and write the screenplay. He said the film is not portrayed as a traditional showdown of good versus evil, but rather as an existential reckoning with toys facing obsolescence. Rather than simply positioning technology as an adversary, the film aims to explore how digital devices have changed childhood and what that inevitable change means.
The new film depicts the events of Toy Story 4, which ended with Woody choosing independence over living in Bonnie’s toy box, a decision that marked a significant turning point for the series. How, or if, that separation will be addressed is one of the sequel’s biggest open questions.
The film comes at a moment when Disney and Pixar animation is on the rise again. Inside Head 2 dominated the global box office in 2024, grossing over $1.5 billion and becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. Pixar will next release its original feature “Hoppers” in March, positioning “Toy Story 5” as a high-profile sequel at a critical time for the studio.
“Toy Story 5” will be released nationwide on June 19th.
Watch the trailer below.
