Stubs - Toy Story 5

Toy Story 5 (2026) voices Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Conan O'Brien, Scarlett Spears, Greta Lee, Shelby Rabara, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Craig Robinson, Frank Welker. Directed by Andrew Stanton. Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Kenna Harris Produced by Lindsey Collins, Jessica Choi Run Time: 102 minutes. Color. USA Animated, Adventure, Comedy

The toys are back in town and it’s good to see them.

Honestly, I was a little nervous about this film, based on fears that the Toy Story franchise would eventually run out of steam. But after 31 years, I’m happy to say that it can still make me cry.

This time around, the focus is not so much on Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and Woody (Tom Hanks) but more on Jessie (Joan Cusack). The story deals with toys in the age of tech and whether the two can co-exist. When last we left the toys in 2019, most were happily playing with Bonnie (Scarlett Spears), who has not grown in equivalent time as the gap between movies, and is probably now six or seven.

She still loves to play with Jessie, Buzz, Mr. Pricklepants (John Hopkins), Mr. Potato Head (Jeff Bergman), Mrs. Potato Head (Anna Vocino), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Dolly (Bonnie Hunt), and Hamm (John Ratzenberger), to name but a few. But that’s old-fashioned, as all the kids seem to be mesmerized by their smart pads. Trying to help her, Bonnie’s parents buy her a Lilypad (Greta Lee) but that’s when things start to go bad. The toys, led by Jessie, never ones to welcome newcomers that threaten the status quo, immediately confront her.

Bullseye (Frank Welker), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Atlas (Craig Robinson),
Smarty Pants (Conan O'Brien) and Snappy (Shelby Rabara).

Everyone, including Lily, wants Bonnie to make friends, but the right ones, which is the plot of the film. Jessie comes to trust technology when she meets discarded electronics, Smarty Pants (Conan O’Brien), Snappy (Shelby Rabara), and Atlas (Craig Robinson), who prove helpful. These toys belong to Blaze Manoukian (voiced by Mykal-Michelle Harris), a slightly older girl who has a similar imagination to Bonnie’s. But getting them together is harder than it seems.

Given the mood around the world about children and social media, Australia and the UK have moved to curtail exposure, Toy Story 5 serves as a bit of a cautionary tale. Smart pads may have a purpose, but they can also rob children of their imagination, and parents need to be concerned when their kids become hooked on them, as they can negatively affect the child's own perception of themselves.

There are cameos from previous films, including Bo Peep (Annie Potts) sans her sheep, Duke Caboom (Keanu Reevers) and Duck and Bunny but in a silent appearance. There are also 50 new and improved Buzz Lightyear toys (Tim Allen), which are lost and abandoned (think Cast Away cargo), but become key bit players when they mistake Jessie for the head of Star Command.

The animation is on par with the best out of Pixar, and this sequel shows that while the studio's track record isn’t perfect, they can still make great films with the right material. And the voice acting is good as well, even those who are picking up character voices now that their originators, think Don Rickles and Estelle Harris, are no longer with us. Even the new voices, Conan O’Brien, Shelby Rabara, and Craig Robinson, prove they are good additions, even if they only appear in this one film.

Toy Story 5 is a film that everyone in the family should enjoy, as long as they have a heart, and despite my initial concerns, I would highly recommend it. You have to know there is a sixth film probably coming in the 2030s, but as long as they can add on new characters with new storylines, it should be good to go.

End Note: Stay through the credits, there's more after the film ends.