And the possible new villain might be dangerous not only for the toys.
Toy Story 5: Old Toys And New Friends
For many of us, childhood was made up of toys and Disney movies – and one Disney movie about toys in particular. After all, the adventure of Buzz and Woody, and their attempt to return to their kid Andy, was more than just a charming little story; it was one of the very first and therefore most captivating CGI animated films that the Mickey Mouse company released together with Pixar.
And just like the fans back then – who couldn’t decide whether they’d rather have Rex, Slinky, or maybe even Mr. Potato Head as part of their own toy collection – grew older, Toy Story also grew older, more mature, and more grown-up.
Later films in the series delved even deeper into themes of farewells, fear of loss, and finding hope in new beginnings, accompanying both young and old alike through four sequels so far.
Woody, Buzz And... A Tablet?
That Toy Story 5 was in the works had been known for some time – but the new teaser now gives us a first glimpse of the story, introduces new toys, and even reveals when the fifth toy tale will hit theaters.
As usual, the newest Toy Story once again centers on the worries of the toy cowboy Woody and his best friend, the plastic astronaut Buzz Lightyear, about being replaced. By now, the two – along with the little green aliens, cowgirl Jessie, and Forky, the spork-turned-toy – no longer live with Andy. For several years, they’ve been living with little Bonnie, who, in keeping with the spirit of the times, receives a learning tablet for kids as a gift.
Rumors have been circulating for a while that the tablet, called Lillypad and shaped like a frog, might be the new villain who wants to claim all of Bonnie’s attention for itself – and that sounds quite plausible. After all, many educators have long been concerned about how much screen time even the youngest children are allowed by their parents these days.
Children And Their Media Usage
According to studies, 45% of one-year-old children in the United States already use digital media – often passively, through television or smartphones. Teenagers spend an average of 8 to 9 hours online each day, amounting to around 60 hours per week. This development illustrates just how deeply screens have become embedded in everyday life.
The WHO recommends that children under five years old should have no more than one hour of screen time per day, and children under two ideally none at all.
Educators emphasize that screen time is not all the same. Interactive, age-appropriate content can foster learning and creativity, especially when parents actively engage with their children during media use. In this way, media time can become learning time.
At the same time, experts warn that too much screen time can lead to speech delays, sleep problems, and attention deficits, and can crowd out important experiences such as physical activity and social interaction.
For this reason, professionals recommend clear structures: fixed media times, screen-free zones (for example, during meals or before bedtime), and age-appropriate content. Children should learn early on to use media consciously and critically.
When Will Toy Story 5 Be In Theatres?
While the teaser itself only mentions summer 2026, the title of the video gives a more specific date, promising that the film will hit theaters on June 19 – at least as long as there are no major setbacks like during the production of Toy Story 2, when nearly the entire film was accidentally deleted.
During the production of Toy Story 2 (1998/1999), the following happened: an employee accidentally ran a delete command on the central server – and suddenly, files from the entire film production began to vanish. Within seconds, 90% of the movie was gone: models, animations, textures – everything.
Galyn Susman, one of Pixar’s technical directors at the time, was on maternity leave and working from home. Luckily, she had a private copy of the entire project on her home computer so she could keep working – ultimately saving the film.