Pixar is gearing up to bring back one of its most beloved franchises with the announcement of Toy Story 5, set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026. The reveal came during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France on June 13, 2025, where Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, Pete Docter, shared new details about the film’s premise, cast, and a sneak peek at the opening scene. Fans of the series are preparing for a fresh adventure that pits Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang against a modern and unexpected adversary: technology.
After the emotional conclusion of Toy Story 4, where Woody chose a new path away from Bonnie Anderson, the toys are back with Bonnie, now eight years old, who has a new obsession — a tablet device called Lily Pad. This frog-faced tablet, described by Docter as “sneaky” and “prickly,” convinces Bonnie that digital friends and games on the screen are far more appealing than her old toys. The stakes have never been higher for the toy crew, who must now face the challenge of competing with the allure of screens and gadgets in a world where children are increasingly “iPad babies.”
“It’s toys meet tech,” Docter told the audience at Annecy, explaining the core of the film’s conflict. The official logline echoes this, stating that “Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the rest of the gang’s jobs get exponentially harder when they go head to head with this all new threat to playtime.” This premise taps directly into contemporary concerns about how technology shapes childhood and play.
Concept art unveiled during the event showed the Lily Pad looming ominously over beloved characters like Buzz, Jessie, and Bullseye, symbolizing the digital giant overshadowing traditional toys. The opening scene, also shared by Docter, features a crate full of Buzz Lightyear figures stranded on a remote desert island, desperately trying to reconnect with Star Command — a gripping and novel start that recalls classic adventure tales like Cast Away.
Returning to voice their iconic characters are Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie. Notably, Ernie Hudson has stepped in to voice Combat Carl, a role previously held by the late Carl Weathers, who passed away in February 2025. Additionally, comedian Conan O’Brien will lend his voice to a new character named Smarty Pants, adding fresh energy to the cast.
Directed by Andrew Stanton, known for his work on Finding Nemo and Wall-E, alongside co-director McKenna Harris, Toy Story 5 promises to blend heartfelt storytelling with sharp contemporary themes. Stanton, who has contributed to every Toy Story film’s screenplay, said the toys’ jobs “get exponentially harder” as they face what kids are obsessed with today: electronics.
The film will also shine a brighter spotlight on Jessie, who, according to Tim Allen, plays a central role in this installment. Allen told WIVB that while Woody and Buzz will realign, the story is “a lot about Jessie,” highlighting her leadership in Bonnie’s toy room during this new era of play.
Pixar’s announcement at Annecy was part of a broader slate reveal, including two original films: Hoppers, scheduled for release on March 6, 2026, which follows a young woman who uploads her mind into a robotic beaver to save her local pond, and Gatto, slated for summer 2027, featuring a black cat in Venice navigating the city’s underbelly and finding unexpected friendship. Both films showcase Pixar’s commitment to original storytelling alongside beloved franchises.
Despite the excitement, the news of Toy Story 5 has sparked a divided reaction among fans. While many praise the premise as “genius” and “brilliant” for its relevance to today’s tech-saturated childhoods, others have criticized it as “too modern” or “generic,” fearing it might stray too far from the charm that made the series a classic. Some voiced concerns on social media, questioning whether introducing a tablet as the villain could dilute the franchise’s magic, while others welcomed the fresh layer and potential for meaningful commentary on technology’s role in kids’ lives.
At the heart of this debate is the challenge Pixar faces in balancing nostalgia with innovation. The franchise’s previous installment, Toy Story 4, was met with mixed reviews, with some feeling the story had reached a natural conclusion. Yet, the studio’s confidence in continuing the saga suggests there are still new stories to explore within this world.
Pixar’s push to return to a theatrical focus is also notable. Following recent projects like Dream Productions and the original series Win or Lose on Disney+, the studio is aiming for three films every two years, signaling a renewed emphasis on cinema experiences. As Pete Docter put it, there’s “something kind of magic” about watching films together in theaters that can’t be replicated at home.
With Toy Story 5 leading the charge, Pixar hopes to recapture that communal magic while addressing the realities of a generation growing up surrounded by screens. Will Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the gang successfully navigate this brave new world? Fans will have to wait until June 19, 2026, to find out if Pixar’s blend of nostalgia and modernity hits the mark once again.
