Like most millennials my age, I grew up with Toy Story. These films were a huge part of my childhood, and when Toy Story 2 and 3 arrived, I was genuinely excited. But if I’m being honest, by the time the fourth instalment was announced, I did wonder whether Pixar was pushing things too far. Despite how much praise Toy Story 4 received, it never quite connected with me in the same way the original trilogy did. So, it was with a fair amount of reluctance that I found myself sitting in a cinema watching Toy Story 5 on opening weekend.
The premise, however, immediately intrigued me. It taps directly into one of the biggest tensions of modern childhood: what happens when technology takes over and the toys that once defined imagination become irrelevant? Screens surround children everywhere. Phones, tablets and digital entertainment are introduced at younger and younger ages, and there is a real concern that we are slowly losing some of that childhood imagination, creativity and sense of playfulness that toys represent.
This fifth instalment follows Jessie and the rest of Bonnie’s toys as their world is disrupted by the arrival of a tablet called Lilypad. However, while competing with this new form of entertainment, the toys also have to help Bonnie navigate this changing world and find connection, friendship and belonging in an environment that looks very different from the one they know.
Going in, I deliberately knew as little as possible beyond the teaser trailer, and I have to admit that I was relieved by just how much this instalment worked.
What impressed me most about Toy Story 5 is that it understands the emotional heart of this franchise. Pixar knows exactly where to press those nostalgic buttons, and when Sarah McLachlan’s iconic “When Somebody Loved Me” begins playing in the opening scene, my eyes were already dangerously close to tears.
For longtime fans, the song is so closely tied to Jessie’s story that its inclusion immediately signals that this is going to be a much more personal journey for her. After four films largely centred around Woody and Buzz, it is wonderful to see the narrative shift towards Jessie. She’s always been one of the strongest characters in the series, and this film finally gives her the opportunity to explore questions about belonging, purpose and what happens when the world starts moving on without you. These questions resonate because, at some point, many of us have to confront them ourselves. Where do we find meaning? What happens when our role changes? How do we adapt when the world moves forward without us?
Of course, this is still Toy Story, and Pixar has not forgotten that these films work because they are funny. The new standout character for me was Smarty Pants, a hilarious toy designed to help children with potty training. It is such a ridiculous concept that it could only really work in the hands of Pixar. Voiced by the endlessly entertaining Conan O’Brien, the character (like Forky before him) brings a wonderfully chaotic energy to the film and quickly becomes one of the highlights.
One thing I noticed while watching Toy Story 5 is just how much animation has evolved. I recently revisited the original Toy Story, and what stood out was how much more time those early films allowed moments to breathe. Scenes were slower, quieter and more reflective. This new instalment moves at a much faster pace, almost as if the film itself is reflecting the speed of the modern world it is commenting on. While technically impressive, I did find myself missing the slower camera pans, longer shots and quieter moments that the first three films got so right.
Surprisingly, perhaps the weakest element of the film is the original song by Taylor Swift. With a superstar like Swift attached, you almost expect an S-tier bop, but this feels only slightly above average – which is genuinely difficult to admit as a Swiftie. It is perfectly pleasant, but it does not quite reach the emotional heights of Pixar’s best original songs.
The reality is that the Toy Story franchise has probably been stretched further than it originally needed to be. A fourth and fifth instalment were never essential, and there is always a risk that beloved franchises begin to feel like they are clinging to past success. However, when the quality remains this consistently high, it becomes difficult to argue against another chapter.
Thirty-one years after the original release, there is something special about a franchise where parents can revisit the magic they experienced as children while a new generation discovers it for the first time. In fact, now that Toy Story 5 exists, I almost feel obliged to revisit the fourth film, because the franchise feels less like a trilogy with an extra chapter tacked on and more like a complete journey. With director Andrew Stanton suggesting that another chapter may already be on the horizon, it seems this journey may not be finished yet.
After five films, that is no small achievement. The greatest compliment I can give Toy Story 5 is that it does not feel like a franchise clinging to the past, but rather one that still has something worth saying.
Overall, Toy Story 5 is a film I expected to tolerate but ended up genuinely enjoying. It may not have been entirely necessary for this franchise to reach a fifth instalment, but the fact that Pixar has once again created something with genuine heart, humour, and purpose is a testament to why these characters remain worth revisiting once every few years.
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