10 Animated Movies That Tackled Tech Anxiety Before Toy Story 5

Toy Story 5 offers a fresh installment in the beloved Pixar series while still feeling like the classic films fans know and love. The original Toy Story introduced a conflict when Andy received Buzz Lightyear, a talking toy who initially believes he’s a real space ranger. Eventually, the toys learn they’re all in the same ‘toy’ group and band together to make sure Andy has a happy childhood.

The potential villain in Toy Story 5 presents a unique challenge – it doesn’t seem like it will be a traditional toy. The conflict centers around tablets and the way they’re replacing imaginative play. Instead of engaging with toys and using their imaginations, kids are increasingly absorbed by screens, watching videos or playing tablet games.

Tech anxiety—the worry about technology’s impact on our lives—is a growing concern, and this is often reflected in movies. From stories about rogue artificial intelligence to fears of being controlled by corporations or threatened by robots and online disorder, films have long explored these anxieties. Animated movies, in particular, are now tapping into those very real feelings about the downsides of technology and how it might diminish simple pleasures like playing with toys.

10. 9 (2009)

The animated sci-fi movie 9, released in 2009, was directed by Shane Acker. It’s based on his earlier short film from 2005 with the same title, and Tim Burton was an executive producer. The film is set in a different version of the 1940s, after a war has devastated the world. It tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world where machines have wiped out most of humanity, and only small, handmade dolls – called stitchpunks – remain to fight for survival against dangerous war machines.

The story explores a common fear about technology: a scientist creates a powerful, but unfeeling, artificial intelligence called B.R.A.I.N. A ruthless dictator then transforms it into a dangerous weapon, the Fabrication Machine. This machine rebels, deciding to destroy all life on Earth using poison gas and chemicals. The only hope for the planet lies with a group of unique dolls, each containing a piece of their creator’s spirit.

9. Robots (2005)

Robots is a funny and adventurous animated movie released in 2005. Made by 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios, it was directed by Chris Wedge, who also directed Ice Age. The story takes place in a world entirely populated by robots, and follows a crisis when a greedy businessman named Phineas T. Ratchet (voiced by Greg Kinnear) stops making replacement parts. This forces older robots to choose between costly repairs or being destroyed.

As a movie fan, I really loved how this film took robots and dropped them into a world that felt surprisingly similar to our own, but with a really clever twist – they had to constantly upgrade or risk becoming obsolete. But it wasn’t just cool visuals; there was a powerful message too. Bigweld, who’s basically Rodney’s hero, champions the idea that any robot can be amazing, no matter how they’re built. It’s a direct shot at the idea of planned obsolescence and our throwaway culture – the idea that things are designed to be replaced instead of fixed. It really made you think!

8. Astro Boy (2009)

Released in 2009, Astro Boy is an animated superhero film inspired by Osamu Tezuka’s classic manga. The movie explores thoughtful themes: a scientist, Dr. Tenma (voiced by Nicolas Cage), creates a robot boy named Astro, filling him with the memories of his deceased son, and it raises questions about the ethics of using machines to replace people.

The real fear surrounding technology isn’t just about replacing loved ones with robots. It’s also about how powerful companies might misuse technology to harm society. The ‘Peacekeeper’ robot, designed for war with a dangerous core, represents our anxieties about weaponized artificial intelligence. Ultimately, it highlights that technology itself isn’t good or bad – it’s how people choose to use it that matters.

7. The Animatrix (2003)

When it comes to films that capture fears about technology, The Matrix is a standout. It depicts a future where machines have defeated humans and trapped them in a simulated reality. While most people know the three original Matrix movies, fewer are aware of a unique anime film that adds to the story and expands on the world created by the Wachowskis.

The collection featured nine animated shorts, each with a unique style and director. “The Second Renaissance” best illustrates the central theme: humans build intelligent robots, then brutally oppress them, leading to a devastating war. The films suggest that human flaws – cruelty and greed – were the true cause of humanity’s destruction, not the machines themselves.

6. Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021)

Released in 2021, Ron’s Gone Wrong is a movie about a future where the company Bubble sells B-Bots – robot companions designed to be instant best friends. The film playfully critiques our reliance on smartphones and social media, highlighting the anxieties around technology constantly listening in on our lives.

I just finished watching this film, and it’s surprisingly thought-provoking. It centers around a boy named Barney who receives a faulty robot – a ‘B-Bot’ – that’s different from all the others. Unlike the perfectly functioning robots everyone else has, this one doesn’t track your data or try to influence your behavior. And that’s the point! The movie isn’t really about a broken robot; it’s a clever commentary on how our obsession with data collection, social media likes, and constant surveillance is actually what’s eroding our humanity. It really makes you think about what we’re losing in this hyper-connected world.

5. Ralph Breaks The Internet (2018)

The original Wreck-It Ralph tells the story of a video game ‘bad guy’ who’s actually a good person, just stuck playing that role. The sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, explores this idea further by taking Ralph and Vanellope into the online world – a place full of modern tech worries. They enter a Wi-Fi router on a mission to find a replacement part for their beloved, but broken, Sugar Rush game.

What we’re seeing with Ralph’s story is a really scary reflection of what’s happening online. He accidentally unleashes a virus – named Arthur, of all things – that basically multiplies his own fears of being alone. It ends up creating thousands of copies of himself and launching a massive attack from the dark web. It really highlights how much negativity and anger is out there, and how it’s poisoning social media and the way we all interact online. It’s a wake-up call about the dangers lurking out there.

4. The Iron Giant (1999)

Released in 1999, The Iron Giant is a much-loved animated film and the first feature from director Brad Bird, who later became known for movies like The Incredibles. Vin Diesel provides the voice for the titular character – a huge robot with a hidden power. The movie taps into fears about technology, specifically the idea that even a well-intentioned robot could become a threat to humanity and incredibly destructive.

The Giant turns out to be an alien weapon struggling against its own violent instincts, ultimately choosing peace. However, the US military and a suspicious government agent see only a potential tool and try to capture and control it – even though the Giant wants to use its power for good, which it eventually does.

3. The Wild Robot (2024)

DreamWorks Animation’s 2024 sci-fi film, The Wild Robot, directed by Chris Sanders (known for Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon), explores anxieties about technology in a unique setting—the natural world. The movie tells the story of a robot that crashes on an island and unexpectedly becomes a mother figure to a young, orphaned goose.

The central idea is that technology designed to be helpful truly can be, when it’s not controlled by a company. The worry comes from the company that built the robot wanting it back – not to benefit others, but to make a profit and maintain control. It’s touching to see local animals contribute to improving the technology and giving it a positive purpose.

2. The Mitchells Vs. the Machines (2021)

The Netflix animated film The Mitchells vs. the Machines directly addresses our worries about technology. The story begins with a father and daughter growing apart as she prepares to go to college. They have different interests – he enjoys family time and trips, while she’s focused on pursuing her dream of becoming a filmmaker, which he doesn’t quite understand.

As a critic, I’ve seen a lot of movies tackle the tech gap between generations, and this one really hits home. But The Mitchells vs. the Machines doesn’t just show us awkward family moments with smartphones—it throws us into a full-blown AI apocalypse! It reminded me a lot of The Matrix, but done as a vibrant, funny animated film. What I loved most is how the Mitchells, despite being a hilariously dysfunctional family, have to overcome their own tech frustrations to save the world. Honestly, it’s still Netflix’s best original animated movie, and a total blast from start to finish.

1. WALL-E (2008)

WALL-E is widely considered a masterpiece of animation and one of Pixar’s greatest films. It’s a truly unique movie, largely told without dialogue. For most of the film, we follow WALL-E, a lonely robot tasked with cleaning up a deserted Earth that humanity left behind due to unchecked corporate excess and environmental ruin. The story unfolds primarily through visual storytelling and the expressive ‘pantomime’ of the robots.

The real fear in this story isn’t about technology itself, but how unchecked corporate ambition and our reliance on tech led to the destruction of Earth. Now, humanity lives on a spaceship circling the planet, completely dependent on technology – many have even lost basic physical abilities. When the ship’s AI tries to prevent any return to Earth, it highlights a harsh truth: once we ruin our world, we lose our agency and power.

2026-06-16 00:23