I Did Not Expect Toy Story 5’s Director To Explain Why The Pixar Franchise Is Similar To Game Of Thrones

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It seems like an odd comparison, but what do the long-running, beloved Toy Story movies and the gritty, complex series Game of Thrones have in common? While they appear completely different on the surface, Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton recently pointed out a surprising similarity between the two – a single, specific element that connects them.

Andrew Stanton, who has been involved with the Toy Story films from the start – writing all of them except Toy Story 3 (where he just wrote the story) – is now directing a Toy Story movie for the first time. Toy Story 5 is slated for release in 2026. When asked by DiscussingFilm what he’s most looking forward to about revisiting this world, he responded:

People assume we’re just making numbered sequels, and I understand why. But to me, it’s similar to a show like Game of Thrones – it’s always been designed as a continuing story. The great thing about this storyline is that time naturally moves forward. We allowed time to pass – Andy went to college, Bonnie grew up, and things evolved like they do in real life. Some characters aged out, others moved on, and that allows us to keep the story going in a really exciting way.

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It feels strange to think of Toy Story and Game of Thrones in the same breath, but I understand what director Andrew Stanton means. Unlike The Simpsons, where things pretty much stay the same, Toy Story needs to show the passage of time and how it impacts the toys, the kids who own them, and their world. It’s similar to how the political situation in Game of Thrones changed over its eight seasons—though not exactly the same, Stanton’s point still holds up.

You know, after all these years, it’s amazing how good Woody, Buzz, and the whole crew still look. Seriously, think about your own childhood toys – they weren’t exactly pristine after a few decades! It got me thinking: if Toy Story followed the lead of shows like Game of Thrones and explored its past, that could be brilliant. We got House of the Dragon taking us back centuries before Game of Thrones; imagine a Toy Story prequel! I’d be completely hooked if it was set in the 1940s or 50s, showing us what life was like for these toys back then. That’s a story I’d definitely pay to see.

The story of Toy Story 5 reflects today’s world, focusing on Bonnie, now eight, and her fascination with a tablet called Lilypad (voiced by Greta Lee). The film introduces new characters like Atlas (Craig Robinson) and Smarty Pants (Conan O’Brien), and will bring Woody back together with Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang after he left in Toy Story 4. It arrives in theaters on June 19th.

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2026-01-28 03:41