Toy Story 5 Teaser Trailer Promises to Deliver Toys vs Technology — But is The Age of Toys Over?

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Pixar has released the first trailer for Toy Story 5, giving fans a first look at the next installment in the beloved Disney series. The movie is scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 19, 2026, and will reunite audiences with Buzz, Woody, and Jessie. This time, however, they’ll face a new challenge: technology.

NEW teaser for ‘TOY STORY 5’

— Geeks + Gamers (@GeeksGamersCom) November 11, 2025

The trailer focuses on Lilypad, a smart tablet designed like a frog and voiced by actress Greta Lee, known for her roles in Past Lives, The Morning Show, and TRON: Ares.

Lilypad is a modern toy – it’s digital, connects to the internet, and uses apps and voice commands to make playtime more interactive. It’s a far cry from traditional toys, and its introduction raises a thought-provoking question: are classic toys becoming a thing of the past?

The film brings back familiar faces like Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie. Joining them is Conan O’Brien, who plays Smarty Pants, a funny new toy designed to help with potty training.

Andrew Stanton, the director of films like WALL·E and Finding Nemo, helms this movie, with Kenna Harris (Ciao Alberto) co-directing and Lindsey Collins (Turning Red) as the producer.

The preview doesn’t reveal much about the story, but it definitely explores ideas about staying true to others, becoming outdated, and how we view growing up – all seen through how much we rely on technology today.

A Safe Play for Disney — and a Necessary One

With Toy Story 5, Disney and Pixar are aiming for a safe bet after some recent disappointments at the box office. The studio has struggled with original movies and more unusual projects like Wish, Strange World, and Lightyear that didn’t perform as well as expected.

And that last one stings the most.

The 2022 film Lightyear, intended as a fresh, standalone origin story for the Buzz Lightyear character, was a major box office disappointment. Despite costing over $200 million to make and benefiting from the popular Toy Story franchise, it didn’t earn enough money to cover its costs.

Viewers found it perplexing, reviews were mixed, and the series, previously a guaranteed hit, now seemed less secure.

Those three recent Disney films failed at the box office, likely because they focused on controversial social issues that didn’t resonate with viewers.

After facing several setbacks, Disney became hesitant to take risks. Instead of pursuing original concepts, the company decided to focus on making sequels to its most beloved and successful films.

Both Inside Out 2 and Moana 2 were massive successes in 2024. Inside Out 2 earned over $1.64 billion worldwide, helping to restore Pixar’s strong reputation for great stories. Moana 2 also performed exceptionally well, grossing $1.06 billion for Disney.

Disney seems to have realized that viewers currently prefer familiar, well-made content over films that feel preachy or overly ambitious.

The Question of Relevance

Toy Story 5 faces a challenge. The series has already given Woody and Buzz two seemingly definitive goodbyes, and continuing it after Toy Story 3—which many considered a perfect conclusion—and a somewhat confusing Toy Story 4, could feel unnecessary and driven by commercial interests rather than creative storytelling.

However, the basic idea behind this story feels relevant today. With children increasingly using tablets instead of traditional toys, the struggle between Lilypad and those who prefer older ways could really connect with audiences.

Final Thoughts

The teaser trailer for Toy Story 5 ends with Lilypad lighting up her screen and happily saying, “Hi! Let’s play!” While adorable, it’s also slightly unsettling—and that might be intentional.

NEW poster for ‘TOY STORY 5’

— Geeks + Gamers (@GeeksGamersCom) November 11, 2025

This isn’t just another movie for Disney. It’s a crucial test to see if relying on fond memories will still attract viewers for a fourth sequel – and if Pixar can once again captivate audiences with truly imaginative storytelling, rather than simply relying on predictable formulas.

After Lightyear, they can’t afford another misfire.

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2025-11-12 01:01