Alright…we have to talk about Pixar because I’ve had it up to here with defending them.
Putting my accusing hands down, I’ve been one of the biggest supporters of Pixar over the last few years. While I don’t think we’re in an era of Pixar’s best films and probably won’t be for some time, there have been some awesome releases. Luca was a fun-as-heck film. I talked about Inside Out 2 and its representation of anxiety for ages, and how it felt like it connected to my own experiences. Even Elio is a fun little movie.
But as someone who has been a fan of Pixar for some time – essentially her entire life – I’m very concerned about the upcoming Toy Story 5 for one specific reason. The hype has been somewhat deflated, and I need to discuss why.
Finding Nemo. Others are fans of some of their later films, such as Up, Wall-E, Inside Out, or Coco. I’ve even met a few who have liked some of the 2010s releases, like Brave and Luca, more than the older ones (as rare as they are).
However, one thing all levels of Pixar fans agree on is that Toy Story movies are always on their list of favorite Pixar films, no matter what.
The first Toy Story is what started it all. Many consider Toy Story 2 to be the perfect sequel. Toy Story 3 was an epic conclusion to a trilogy of children’s films that shaped an entire generation. And Toy Story 4 was… fun. It wasn’t the best in the franchise, and I still think that the Toy Story saga should have ended with the third film, as many others do. But I won’t sit back and say it wasn’t enjoyable. I was content with the movie ending as it was.
And then Toy Story 5 was announced.
There’s a certain level of excitement that every Pixar fan experiences when they hear about a new Toy Story film, but for most, this time, it was cautious optimism. Toy Story is great, but typically, the more a franchise produces new films, the lower their quality becomes. With some of Pixar’s latest releases not performing as well critically, it’s understandable to be a little wary of this trend.
I always give Pixar movies a chance, and this is no different. However, a piece of news has emerged regarding the villain of the upcoming film, and I… am not a fan.
Toy Story 5 is going to be…a tablet.
The news was revealed at the Disney showcase during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France in June 2025. The premise is that the tablet has a different idea of what is good for Bonnie in terms of playtime and that her old toys, such as Buzz, Jessie, and Bullseye, deserve to be put away in the closet.
…huh?
I don’t have any children of my own, but I have several younger cousins and know plenty of people with tiny children who still play with toys but also have a tablet because that’s just the modern age. No kid is going to give up toys for a tablet anytime soon, given the amount I still see.
But alright, fine; the concept is relatively new and interesting for a film like Toy Story, which has been around since the 1990s. It’s a good way to showcase evolving technology and its impact on the youth. But do we really want that in a Toy Story movie?
Coco and how its exploration of culture and death relates to my family and how much it means to me. Inside Out 2, again, has a great representation of anxiety and fear of growing up and not being good enough. There are great lessons out there.
But man, I really don’t need a Toy Story movie, of all things, to suddenly be an hour-and-a-half-long dissertation on the effects of technology on the youth. I already get enough of that in the news. I didn’t need that pushed on me in this film, of all things to talk about.
And this is coming from a Gen Z person. If anyone has anything to say about how tech has harmed our generation and the one that has come after, it’s me and the people who grew up around me, who really never knew what it was like not to have an internet connection at home. But we’re still here and playing with toys, and so are the kids below us.
A part of me can predict how this is going to end – with Bonnie somehow getting rid of the tablet, but that’s just not realistic because they are a part of our lives now. What’s the point of trying to make a movie where it’s considered the villain when we should be finding a way to distribute it better so it’s not as easily addictive?
upcoming Pixar movie to look forward to, but still…I wish we got another Lotso.
It may be time for a Toy Story rewatch to get ready for the new movie, truly. Or a Pixar marathon. Something has to get my hype going again.