Phil Roberts 
Toy Story 5 may not be Pixar’s finest hour, but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable addition to one of animation’s most beloved franchises—and one that’s sure to delight audiences of all ages.
It’s time to return to the toy box. Six years after the previous installment expanded the story of Buzz and Woody while steering the franchise in a bold new direction, director Andrew Stanton brings audiences back for the fifth chapter of Pixar’s beloved series. Arriving on June 19, Toy Story 5 aims to be a landmark entry, further evolving the franchise by exploring Jesse’s connection with Bonnie and examining the growing influence of technology in children’s lives.
It’s an ambitious premise that tackles a highly relevant issue for modern families, especially in today’s supercharged climate. But can Toy Story 5 reach the emotional and storytelling heights of its predecessors, or is this latest adventure one trip to the toy box too many for Pixar?
REVIEW
Fear not, Toy Story fans, because Andrew Stanton’s Toy Story 5 is a great return to the toy box. Packed with fun, heart, and a poignant storyline, it’s a welcome reunion with old friends. Although it doesn’t reach the heights of the first three movies, the stunning animation and resonant storyline alone make this a bona fide blast. Whether it can match the box-office success of its predecessors remains to be seen, but all the ingredients are there: the return of beloved characters, a culturally relevant story, and the timeless blend of adventure, comedy, and heart that has defined the series from the beginning.
Toy Story 5 may not be Pixar’s finest hour, but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable addition to one of animation’s most beloved franchises—and one that’s sure to delight audiences of all ages.
BONNIE & LILYPAD
With Woody now off helping lost toys find new homes, Toy Story 5 shifts its focus to Jesse. As the newly appointed leader of Bonnie’s toy box, she becomes increasingly worried about Bonnie’s growing inability to connect with other children. Determined to help, Jesse devises a plan to encourage Bonnie to make friends with the neighborhood kids. Before she can put her scheme into action, however, Bonnie suffers an emotional breakdown in front of her parents, prompting them to seek their own solution to help expand their daughter’s social circle. Enter Lilypad.
With many children her age increasingly absorbed by technology, Bonnie’s well-meaning parents invest in a Lilypad, an interactive entertainment hub designed to combine learning, gaming, and social engagement. But the device, voiced by Greta Lee, soon hatches a plan of its own to tackle Bonnie’s isolation. After connecting Bonnie to a social network, Lilypad becomes determined to maximize her social popularity, encouraging her to abandon her beloved toys and rely on the device as her sole source of entertainment.
What follows is a race against time as Jesse and the gang try to help Bonnie find genuine friendships before she succumbs to the pressure to fit in. As Lilypad’s influence grows, Bonnie is increasingly encouraged to conform, forcing the toys into a desperate mission to preserve her individuality, imagination, and innocence.
PARENTAL VALUES
Like the best entries in the franchise, Toy Story 5 doesn’t shy away from exploring the challenges modern families face. At its core, the film sparks an important conversation about the influence of technology and social media on young people, encouraging children to seek meaningful, real-world connections rather than defining themselves through online confirmation. It’s a timely and resonant message, one that feels especially relevant in today’s increasingly digital world.
What makes the film particularly effective is that it never feels preachy. Andrew Stanton’s sharp screenplay approaches these themes with warmth, humor, and empathy, presenting them in a way that younger audiences can easily understand while offering parents a reflective look at their own childhood experiences. It’s a contemplative story for parents to enjoy, and I have to credit Stanton for making the film universally resonant.
JESSE AND BUZZ
The film also delivers an engaging subplot centered on the relationship between Buzz and Jesse. Building on threads established in previous installments, Toy Story 5 further develops their bond, with Buzz finding himself eager to take their relationship to the next stage. The result is several genuinely funny and charming moments, particularly as Tim Allen’s pitch-perfect performance sees Buzz navigating unfamiliar and often awkward emotional territory.
Stanton’s screenplay proves equally inventive elsewhere. The introduction of a new generation of Buzz Lightyear figures is both clever and surprisingly relevant, reflecting how iconic toys evolve to meet the demands of a changing world. Far more than a token long-running joke, these updated Buzz figures become an integral part of the story as it unfolds. This leads to some hilarious moments that will have kids and parents smiling from ear to ear, which is in keeping with the franchise’s best.
WHERE’S WOODY?
Unfortunately, despite Stanton delivering on so many levels, this outing practically sidelines Tom Hanks’ Woody and casts him to the fringes of the plot, which is a massive disappointment. Although he arrives to help save the day when the situation takes a darker turn, he has little to do aside from steering Buzz in the right direction and interrogating LilyPad when Jesse disappears. Even Buzz finds himself marginalized in this outing, resigned to another rescue storyline. Together with Woody, his involvement is limited, and their presence leans heavily on nostalgic references rather than meaningful roles.
This is especially disappointing given that the franchise is built on the dynamic between Buzz and Woody. Seeing them sidelined for much of the film feels like a disservice to these pillars of the franchise. That said, it is rewarding to see Jesse and Bullseye’s origins explored, and their story brought full circle, even if it comes at the expense of the core duo. Moreover, other familiar characters such as Rex, Forky, Hamm, Slinky, and Bo Peep are virtually absent, appearing only briefly in the background with no real impact on the story.
Of course, the story has to evolve and offer fresh perspectives, but after three excellent entries and a less-than-stellar fourth outing, it feels undeserved that these characters are marginalized. While these character shortcomings don’t derail the film entirely, they do leave Toy Story 5 feeling like a somewhat hollow addition to an otherwise outstanding franchise—and that’s hard to overlook.
BLISSFUL ANIMATION!
Thankfully, the film’s sensational animation and cinematography make up for any shortcomings in the story and its characters. Pixar has come a long way since its early days at Lucasfilm and through its evolution under Disney, and it continues to uphold that legacy by relentlessly pushing the boundaries of technology. The result is the most photorealistic entry in the franchise to date. The film looks utterly glorious, packed with vivid colors, breathtaking landscapes, and wonderfully rendered characters. In fact, I had to remind myself on several occasions that the film is entirely animated, and not a live-action affair. Of course, the characters are easily identifiable as animation. But the backdrops and gloriously picturesque vistas continually defy our expectations, delivering a deeply immersive experience.
Matt Aspbury and JC Kalache deserve considerable credit for the film’s sensational cinematography, as they once again manage to exceed expectations. I remain in awe of the Pixar design team’s ability to craft such visually striking and immersive backdrops, and Toy Story 5 pushes that artistry even further. By embracing a new iteration of its rendering technology, RenderMan XPU, the team has achieved remarkable results that elevate every frame, and every audience member will reap the rewards.
RANDY NEWMAN
And finally, no Toy Story film worth its salt is complete without a typically masterful score from Randy Newman, and Toy Story 5 hits the ground running and never looks back. Once again, the composer has delivered a suitably brilliant score that builds on his masterwork in previous entries and enhances it with some fun, fresh themes. Although this score isn’t as memorable as his previous scores, Newman proves he hasn’t lost a step and taps into his earlier work to offer a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Buzz and Woody are accompanied by some effective musical callbacks that will resonate with long-time fans of the franchise, while Jesse and Bullseye benefit from themes that echo the spirit of Woody’s Roundup era. The result is another solid entry in Newman’s filmography—one that leans into continuity and familiarity, offering audiences a soundtrack that reinforces the emotional throughline of the series while still providing moments of new musical flare. It wouldn’t be a Toy Story film without Newman, and I’m delighted to report that he has risen to the challenge once again. Not only does his music help make Toy Story 5 another triumph, but it also makes the ride all the more enjoyable, which is the calling card of a seasoned master at the top of his game.
VERDICT
Overall, Toy Story 5 is another well-executed triumph for Pixar. Although characters like Woody, Buzz and the rest of Andy’s toys find themselves sidelined in this outing, the emotionally poignant, resonant storyline, breathtaking visuals, and emotionally charged soundtrack more than make up for any disappointment. While long-term fans of the franchise may leave disappointed by the criminal lack of screen time dedicated to their old friends, new fans will find themselves swept away by the powerful storyline and colorful characters it introduces. The film is the perfect vehicle to bring in new fans and sell another wave of merchandise that will propagate our pop culture landscape for years to come, and that is welcome to see.
In an era when so many other franchises are struggling to sustain themselves, Toy Story’s constant evolution seems to resonate with old and new fans alike, and that is the key to Disney‘s success. Although the fifth adventure isn’t the film that takes us back to the glory days, it has more than enough in the locker to ensure another dominant performance at the global box office.
Ultimately, it reminds us of the importance of real friends and the influence of social media, and the message comes across loud and clear. So grab your friends, book your tickets and get ready to ride like the wind with Bullseye and the gang!
To infinity and beyond…
Toy Story 5 reopens the toy box in cinemas on June 19.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
