There comes a point where there’s too much of something, but where is the line with Disney and Toy Story? According to Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton, there’s no limit to how far the beloved franchise can go, as the evolving nature of childhood leaves room to explore new ideas modelled after real-world developments.
Speaking to Empire magazine, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Finding Nemo and Wall-E discussed the changes in the toy landscape over the years, from playing with them in the ’90s, when the first film was released, to the current era of technology — the focus of the upcoming instalment.
“Honestly, it’s not even really about a battle so much as the realisation of an existential problem: that nobody’s really playing with toys anymore,” Stanton explained. “Technology has changed everybody’s lives, but we’re asking what that means for us — and to our kids. We can’t just get away with making tech the villain.”
In Toy Story 5, described by Pixar chief officer Pete Docter as “Toy Meets Tech”, a tablet called Lillypad will be the new foe. That doesn’t mean that the past journey of Buzz Lightyear and friends is forgotten; rather, it represents the act of accepting and welcoming change.
“So 3 was the end… of the Andy years,” said Stanton. “Nobody’s being robbed of their trilogy. They can have that and never watch another if they don’t want to. But I’ve always loved how this world allows us to embrace time and change. There’s no promise that it stays in amber.”
A new visual of Buzz was also revealed, showing the fan-favourite character in a densely forested area alongside others of his kind, likely a still from the opening scene, which features the group of Lightyears on an isolated island without connection to “star command”:
Otherwise, story details are light, but what’s certain is that Toy Story 5 will mark the return of Tim Allen as the voice of Buzz, set to reunite with his on-screen cowboy counterpart, Woody, and shift its focus onto Jessie the Cowgirl. The film is slated for release on 19 June 2026, serving as the latest addition to a beloved series that has grossed over US$3.3 billion worldwide.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
