Tom Hanks
Woody (voice)
Overview
When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet as a gift and becomes obsessed, Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang's jobs become exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
3 min read AI-generated editorial review
The Glow of Obsolescence
I walked into the theater carrying the exact same baggage you probably have. We've said goodbye to these characters twice now. The third film offered the perfect melancholy send-off to adolescence, and the fourth gave Woody a surprisingly poignant existential out. So, why are we back in the toy box? I was ready to be cynical. I really was. But what Andrew Stanton does with Toy Story 5 disarms that cynicism almost immediately by making the toys' irrelevance the actual text of the movie.
Stanton, who has been orbiting this universe since the 1995 original, steps into the director's chair here with a surprisingly pragmatic view of franchise longevity. In an interview with Empire last year, he argued that nobody is being robbed of their original trilogy just because new stories exist. "There's no promise that it stays in amber," he noted. And he means it. The world of Toy Story 5 feels aggressively unstuck from the nostalgic amber we expect. Bonnie is eight now. The defining object in her bedroom isn't a sheriff or a space ranger, but a sleek, glowing tablet called the Lilypad.
The threat here isn't a vindictive prospector or a plush bear running a daycare mafia. It's a screen. I keep coming back to an early scene where Woody, Buzz, and Jessie stand at the foot of Bonnie's bed in the dead of night. The only light in the room is the cold, blueish aura of the tablet illuminating the sheets. The toys don't move. They just watch the glow. Stanton's camera lingers on their static, plastic faces for an uncomfortably long time, letting the silence stretch out. You can feel the quiet terror of being replaced not by another physical plaything, but by an algorithm. Greta Lee provides the soothing voice of the Lilypad, and her line deliveries are terrifying precisely because they are so warm and frictionless. She doesn't want to destroy the toys. She doesn't even know they exist.
I walked into the theater carrying the exact same baggage you probably have. We've said goodbye to these characters twice now. The third film offered the perfect melancholy send-off to adolescence, and the fourth gave Woody a surprisingly poignant existential out. So, why are we back in the toy box? I was ready to be cynical. I really was. But what Andrew Stanton does with Toy Story 5 disarms that cynicism almost immediately by making the toys' irrelevance the actual text of the movie.
Stanton, who has been orbiting this universe since the 1995 original, steps into the director's chair here with a surprisingly pragmatic view of franchise longevity. In an interview with Empire last year, he argued that nobody is being robbed of their original trilogy just because new stories exist. "There's no promise that it stays in amber," he noted. And he means it. The world of Toy Story 5 feels aggressively unstuck from the nostalgic amber we expect. Bonnie is eight now. The defining object in her bedroom isn't a sheriff or a space ranger, but a sleek, glowing tablet called the Lilypad.
The threat here isn't a vindictive prospector or a plush bear running a daycare mafia. It's a screen. I keep coming back to an early scene where Woody, Buzz, and Jessie stand at the foot of Bonnie's bed in the dead of night. The only light in the room is the cold, blueish aura of the tablet illuminating the sheets. The toys don't move. They just watch the glow. Stanton's camera lingers on their static, plastic faces for an uncomfortably long time, letting the silence stretch out. You can feel the quiet terror of being replaced not by another physical plaything, but by an algorithm. Greta Lee provides the soothing voice of the Lilypad, and her line deliveries are terrifying precisely because they are so warm and frictionless. She doesn't want to destroy the toys. She doesn't even know they exist.
Audience Opinions
AI summary of viewer review patterns
Audience 7.6/10 AI
"A moving, gorgeously animated sequel that finally puts Jessie at the center, even if the tech-heavy message and Woody’s return do not work for everyone."
Jessie’s storyline is widely praised as the emotional core, with several viewers calling her arc the best reason this sequel exists and appreciating how it deepens her past while tying into themes of changing childhood. Visuals are singled out as spectacular, and the toys-versus-technology concept strikes a chord with many parents, who like that it encourages play beyond screens. At the same time, some feel the anti-tech message becomes repetitive, certain jokes and subplots are clichéd or clunky, and Woody’s comeback after Toy Story 4 feels shoehorned in and reduces the focus on other classic toys.
What viewers praise
- Jessie-centered story The narrative gives Jessie the spotlight with a thoughtful, emotional arc that several viewers describe as a satisfying payoff for her character.
- Top-tier animation Lighting, textures, and expressive character animation are repeatedly described as beautiful and technically brilliant, with some shots making it easy to forget everything is animated.
- Resonant tech theme The focus on screen time versus imaginative play connects strongly with parents, who appreciate a clear message about balancing devices and real-world fun.
- Emotional impact Key scenes involving Jessie, her history, and the idea that toys are never truly forgotten leave viewers teary and nostalgic.
- Charming humor and warmth Despite heavier themes, many still find it cute, funny, and uplifting enough that it makes them want to go outside and play again.
Common complaints
- Woody feels shoehorned Several viewers think Woody’s return undercuts his Toy Story 4 farewell and would have preferred the story to commit fully to Jessie without him.
- Preachy messaging The repetition of the technology lesson leads some to feel the film is more message-driven than fun, with the theme occasionally overshadowing the story.
- Weaker ensemble use A number of classic toys and side characters appear only briefly, leaving parts of the cast feeling underused compared with earlier entries.
- Uneven humor and pacing A portion of viewers call out stretches with forced jokes, potty humor, and side plots that feel messy or less inspired than the franchise’s best moments.
- Perceived cash-grab elements The existence of a fifth entry and the focus on a hot-button topic like kids and tablets lead a minority to dismiss it as a shallow continuation with less to say.
Recommended for
Toy Story series devotees Jessie and Joan Cusack admirers Parents navigating kids’ screen time Family animation night planners Nostalgic 90s kids Pixar visual craftsmanship fans
Buzz & Rumors
Public reports AI-researched entertainment notes
“TOY STORY 5” TEA TIME: SWIFT SECRETS, PIZZA PLAGIARISM & PIXAR CRYING SESSIONS
The toys are back, but the real drama is happening outside the toy box. From Taylor Swift-fueled fan conspiracies to a very salty Cartoon Network creator, “Toy Story 5” has stirred up more off-screen chatter than a daycare full of talking dolls. Let’s unwrap the juiciest gossip attached to Pixar’s 2026 nostalgia bomb.
On-Set Drama & Cast Feelings
Greta Lee Completely Lost It (In Front of Legends)
- Greta Lee, who voices the new tech menace Lilypad, admitted she cried uncontrollably when she saw “Toy Story 5” for the first time with Tim Allen and Joan Cusack watching on. She was so overwhelmed joining such an iconic franchise that she melted down in front of Buzz and Jessie themselves. Emotional chaos, but make it Pixar.
Tim Allen Nearly Didn’t Come Back
- Tim Allen confessed he was hesitant to return as Buzz, saying “Toy Story 4” was “just so intense” and felt like the story was over.
- At a joint interview, Tom Hanks gleefully needled him to “tell the truth” about why he dragged his feet, joking that Allen wanted to analyze whether “the rising arc of Act One” really paid off in the finale. It plays like playful banter, but you can feel the creative anxiety underneath.
Joan Cusack Left Hollywood… Then Came Back for Jessie
- Before signing on for “Toy Story 5,” Joan Cusack had largely ditched Hollywood for a low-key Chicago family life. She opened up about stepping away from the business and only returning because the story—and Jessie—pulled her back in. Jessie lassoed her right out of semi-retirement.
Red Carpet Chaos & Paparazzi Moments
Taylor Swift Basically Hijacked the Premiere
- At the L.A. premiere, Page Six made it crystal clear: Taylor Swift “stole the show.” She turned up in full movie-star mode and proceeded to fan-girl over Tom Hanks so hard she asked him to sign her personal “Toy Story” DVD on the carpet.
- She was photographed with Jessie, with Conan O’Brien, and in a mega-group shot with Hanks, Allen, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee, director Andrew Stanton and more. Not a cast member (officially), yet she’s in all the power photos. Interesting.
The Jessie Doll Moment That Broke the Internet
- At the premiere, Swift was given a Jessie doll alongside Joan Cusack—Pixar posted the moment, and the comments immediately spiraled into “She’s totally Emily” theories. Red carpet prop or coded casting clue? Fans are choosing chaos.
Scandals & Controversies
The Great Pizza Plagiarism Accusation
- Cartoon Network creator Pete Browngardt (of Uncle Grandpa fame) publicly accused Pixar of ripping off his character Pizza Steve with “Toy Story 5”’s new toy, Pizza with Sunglasses—voiced by Bad Bunny.
- His claim: both are cool, anthropomorphic pizza slices wearing shades.
- Legal breakdowns say the case is “almost certainly” going nowhere because you can’t copyright the idea of a slice of pizza in sunglasses and Pixar’s version is a 3D, limbless toy vs. Browngardt’s lanky 2D goofball.
- Still, it kicked up a social-media storm and briefly turned a side character into the center of a mini-industry scandal.
Swifties, Theories & Secret Roles
Is Taylor Swift Secretly Emily? Fans Think So
- Fan speculation has become a full-blown movement: Swift is rumored to be secretly voicing Emily, Jessie’s original owner from “Toy Story 2.” This is unconfirmed, but the “evidence” pile is wild:
- Trailers confirm Emily appears, but her voice actor is conspicuously unannounced.
- “Toy Story 5” is heavily Jessie-focused, making Emily more central again.
- Swift has a new original song for the movie, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” on the soundtrack, adding emotional weight to the theory.
- After Pixar posted her receiving a Jessie doll, fan comments like “She’s definitely Jessie’s owner” and “I swear if she’s actually an older Emily…” went viral.
- One major theory on X and Reddit: Swift is both singing on the soundtrack and playing an older, unseen Emily in brief voiceover or flashback. Again: rumor, not confirmed—but Pixar’s refusal to kill the theory is only feeding it.
Leaks, Deleted Bits & Fan Drama
Leaked “Deleted Scenes” Flooded the Internet
- Months before release, supposed “Toy Story 5 leaked footage” clips bounced around Reddit and Facebook, including a post claiming to show an intense grown-up Sid scene and “deleted” Sid content. Many were quickly called out as fake or fan edits, but that didn’t stop them from racking up views.
One Big Backstory Had to Be Cut
- A studio-friendly piece revealed that a full backstory sequence for one character was animated and then sliced out of the final cut because of pacing, with hints it may show up later in bonus content. The studio didn’t name the character, so fans are debating: Emily? Bonnie? A Buzz variant? No answer yet.
Wild Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
Andrew Stanton Accidentally Became Director
- Stanton originally just agreed to write “Toy Story 5.” Pixar loved his draft—which already centered Jessie, tech vs. toys, and a wild gag involving 50 “Hi-Tech Edition” Buzz Lightyears—so much they basically pushed him into the director’s chair for his first-ever Toy Story directing credit.
Joan Cusack’s “Chaotic and Wonderful” Jessie Improvs
- Co-director Kenna Harris says Cusack’s Jessie sessions were so off-the-wall that several of her “chaotic and wonderful” improv ideas made it straight into the movie. If Jessie sounds especially unhinged and hilarious this time, you can thank Joan going feral in the booth.
50 Buzzes & a Tech Nightmare
- The film features fifty Buzz Lightyears, a tablet villain (Lilypad), and visual sequences built to look like pastel chalk and handmade crafts inside Bonnie’s imagination—a deliberate, arts-and-crafts contrast to the cold digital world. Yes, they spent nearly four years obsessing over how a child’s doodles should move.
“Toy Story 5” might be about toys vs. tablets on screen, but off screen it’s all about Swift vs. secrecy, pizza vs. plagiarism claims, and actors vs. their own emotions. For a movie about plastic, there’s a lot of real-life drama packed in that toy chest.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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