Toy Story 5

[Sotiris]

Destination D23 Guests Treated to First Look at New Character from "Toy Story 5"
https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-pa ... irst-look/

A New Sheriff in Town? First Glimpse at Woody and Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5
https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-en ... new-image/

'Toy Story 5' Gets a Huge Update as Tim Allen Promises Buzz and Woody Will Reunite
https://collider.com/toy-story-5-update ... ime-allen/

Tim Allen Confirms ‘Toy Story 5’ Isn’t About Buzz or Woody
https://collider.com/tim-allen-toy-stor ... ed-jessie/

Rumor: Greta Lee & Craig Robinson Join The Cast Of ‘Toy Story 5’
https://thedisinsider.com/2025/11/02/ru ... y-story-5/

[Sotiris]

The teaser poster and teaser trailer have been released.

[PatchofBlue]

[DisneyJedi]

Um… okay. I know it’s due to the frog tablet’s reflection, but something about Woody’s eyes in the teaser seems off. I’m not sure why.

[Hardbackyoyo]

We’ve Seen the Opening of ‘Toy Story 5’ and It Changes Everything
https://collider.com/toy-story-5-openin ... tim-allen/

"Woody is called back for help!"... this makes the big farewell in the 4th one so much more impactful!!! Woody saying goodbye to his best friends to live an independent life with his girlfriend and finding value without a child, only to casually reunite and babysit Bonny again...
its giving me Direct to Video vibes

Woody returning for something important doesn't suddenly make him a Bonnie's toy again, you know. Goodbyes matter because they reflect a truth in the moment, not because they must last forever. The emotional impact of TS4 comes from Woody’s growth, not from him never seeing his friends again. There's no reason why he can't come visit his friends sometimes. He knows Bonnie's address, after all.

[Hardbackyoyo]

"Woody is called back for help!"... this makes the big farewell in the 4th one so much more impactful!!! Woody saying goodbye to his best friends to live an independent life with his girlfriend and finding value without a child, only to casually reunite and babysit Bonny again...
its giving me Direct to Video vibes

It is. This movie is an easy way to make money and to sell toys. There's no need to make more movies from the Toy Story universe. I would have preferred shorts like they did some years ago.

Nothing in Pixar’s record with this franchise has ever said "cash grab." I get why sequels make people nervous, but Pixar hasn’t treated Toy Story like a cash grab in 30 years. The shorts are fun, but they can’t explore character growth the way the films do. TS5 has potential to build on TS4 the same way TS4 built on TS3. Why can't you just give them the benefit of the doubt?

[Thumper_93]

It is. This movie is an easy way to make money and to sell toys. There's no need to make more movies from the Toy Story universe. I would have preferred shorts like they did some years ago.

Nothing in Pixar’s record with this franchise has ever said "cash grab." I get why sequels make people nervous, but Pixar hasn’t treated Toy Story like a cash grab in 30 years. The shorts are fun, but they can’t explore character growth the way the films do. TS5 has potential to build on TS4 the same way TS4 built on TS3. Why can't you just give them the benefit of the doubt?

They made the fourth movie to sell toys and they have made this one to sell more toys. The third movie was the perfect end for the saga, then they created another end that nobody asked and here we go again with another movie that was not necessary at all. I never said that the movie is going to be bad but the truth is that they are using this franchise because it gives easy money and they need it. There's no benefit of doubt here.

[Hardbackyoyo]

Nothing in Pixar’s record with this franchise has ever said "cash grab." I get why sequels make people nervous, but Pixar hasn’t treated Toy Story like a cash grab in 30 years. The shorts are fun, but they can’t explore character growth the way the films do. TS5 has potential to build on TS4 the same way TS4 built on TS3. Why can't you just give them the benefit of the doubt?

They made the fourth movie to sell toys and they have made this one to sell more toys.

If that is true, then how come Disney didn’t merchandise most of the new characters heavily? I didn't see any Gabby Gabby toys anywhere, and Duke Caboom hardly got any. Same with Giggles McDimples.

Not many people know this, but ideas for a fourth Toy Story movie were actually first brainstormed by the people at Pixar months before Toy Story 3's release. The idea that that they made Toy Story 4 to sell toys has no basis in fact.

[PatchofBlue]

It is. This movie is an easy way to make money and to sell toys. There's no need to make more movies from the Toy Story universe. I would have preferred shorts like they did some years ago.

Nothing in Pixar’s record with this franchise has ever said "cash grab." I get why sequels make people nervous, but Pixar hasn’t treated Toy Story like a cash grab in 30 years. The shorts are fun, but they can’t explore character growth the way the films do. TS5 has potential to build on TS4 the same way TS4 built on TS3. Why can't you just give them the benefit of the doubt?

Speaking just for myself, it's because I really don't think that the 4th Toy Story movie built on the franchise at all, and so I don't expect number 5 to do that either. Woody's little midlife crisis from the 4th movie was entirely manufactured, and breaking from Buzz and company didn't bring him to a more enlightened place. Pixar just remembered how profound it was when Woody and friends let Andy go off to college, and the suits thought they could apply that onto another separation, and it would work just as well ...

[Hardbackyoyo]

Nothing in Pixar’s record with this franchise has ever said "cash grab." I get why sequels make people nervous, but Pixar hasn’t treated Toy Story like a cash grab in 30 years. The shorts are fun, but they can’t explore character growth the way the films do. TS5 has potential to build on TS4 the same way TS4 built on TS3. Why can't you just give them the benefit of the doubt?

Speaking just for myself, it's because I really don't think that the 4th Toy Story movie built on the franchise at all, and so I don't expect number 5 to do that either. Woody's little midlife crisis from the 4th movie was entirely manufactured, and breaking from Buzz and company didn't bring him to a more enlightened place. Pixar just remembered how profound it was when Woody and friends let Andy go off to college, and the suits thought they could apply that onto another separation, and it would work just as well ...

Woody's crisis in TS4 wasn't "manufactured." It's the culmination of everything he's struggled with since TS1. Let's go over this movie by movie.

TS1: His entire identity collapses when he's no longer "the favorite."

TS2: He is confronted with the fear of becoming "useless" or "forgotten."

TS3: He fights desperately against the idea of being outgrown, even when everyone else has accepted it.

TS4: He finally reaches the breaking point where those fears catch up to him.

TS3 ended Andy's story, while TS4 ended Woody’s childhood identity. They're different emotional beats. Just because TS4 didn't go the direction you preferred doesn't mean it didn't build on the franchise.

[PatchofBlue]

Woody's got a complex around feeling forgotten, yes, but the first three movies brought those issues to a much more satisfying resolution. Number 4 had to retcon some things we had known about both Woody and the attitudes of the larger story.

Some things that number 4 expects us to buy into in order to make Woody's TS4 storyline work:

-1. Woody has to leave Bonnie because he's not actually fulfilling his function as a toy under Bonnie's care/Bonnie doesn't actually care about Woody

We saw how quick Bonnie was to take to him in the third movie when she saw him on the sidewalk and immediately bonded with him, and after only a single afternoon with each other, they were tight. Pretending that she's over him all the sudden, and this is supposed to be some sign from the universe that he needs to move on, is a textbook retcon.

-2. Woody will never actually find happiness with as another kid's toy

A huge revelation for Woody in number three is that even though his time with Andy has some to an end, he has the capacity to bring more happiness to other kids in similar positions. That's honestly a solid take on the matter. Much more than suggesting that Woody's best days are actually behind him.

-3. Woody is only staying with Bonnie out of a very misplaced sense of loyalty.

Woody's loyalty has always been his superpower. That is what convinced him to go back to rescue Buzz from Sid, or Jessie from being shipped off to Japan, or Andy's toys from Lotso. Even him choosing to say goodbye to Andy at the end of three was a sign of trust that it was time for him to grow up as he followed the natural cycle of youth and maturation. Trying to frame his greatest strength as a latent character flaw ... I'm not here for it.

I'm always interested to see a new direction for a story, but nothing about Woody's arc followed his natural trajectory. They had an outcome designed in mind, and they bent the current of the characters in order to fit that template.

[Hardbackyoyo]

Woody's got a complex around feeling forgotten, yes, but the first three movies brought those issues to a much more satisfying resolution. Number 4 had to retcon some things we had known about both Woody and the attitudes of the larger story.

Some things that number 4 expects us to buy into in order to make Woody's TS4 storyline work:

-1. Woody has to leave Bonnie because he's not actually fulfilling his function as a toy under Bonnie's care/Bonnie doesn't actually care about Woody

We saw how quick Bonnie was to take to him in the third movie when she saw him on the sidewalk and immediately bonded with him, and after only a single afternoon with each other, they were tight. Pretending that she's over him all the sudden, and this is supposed to be some sign from the universe that he needs to move on, is a textbook retcon.

-2. Woody will never actually find happiness with as another kid's toy

A huge revelation for Woody in number three is that even though his time with Andy has some to an end, he has the capacity to bring more happiness to other kids in similar positions. That's honestly a solid take on the matter. Much more than suggesting that Woody's best days are actually behind him.

-3. Woody is only staying with Bonnie out of a very misplaced sense of loyalty.

Woody's loyalty has always been his superpower. That is what convinced him to go back to rescue Buzz from Sid, or Jessie from being shipped off to Japan, or Andy's toys from Lotso. Even him choosing to say goodbye to Andy at the end of three was a sign of trust that it was time for him to grow up as he followed the natural cycle of youth and maturation. Trying to frame his greatest strength as a latent character flaw ... I'm not here for it.

I'm always interested to see a new direction for a story, but nothing about Woody's arc followed his natural trajectory. They had an outcome designed in mind, and they bent the current of the characters in order to fit that template.

Your entire critique only makes sense if you've already decided TS3 must be the end. If you start from that idea, of course TS4 and TS5 will feel wrong, and that's because you don't want any continuation, and not because the story doesn't support one. I can also tell that you don't like the idea of Woody's whole philosophy being challenged. Sometimes a character's deeper issues don't become obvious until the story finally brings them to the surface. TS4 didn't invent Woody's loyalty problems, it just made them explicit.

[Kyle]

Completely agree with PatchofBlue, well said. Its sometimes a bit hard for me to articulate my problems with 4, but you nailed it.

[Hardbackyoyo]

Completely agree with PatchofBlue, well said. Its sometimes a bit hard for me to articulate my problems with 4, but you nailed it.

You don't like seeing Woody's loyalty quality being challenged?

[Hardbackyoyo]

Woody's got a complex around feeling forgotten, yes, but the first three movies brought those issues to a much more satisfying resolution. Number 4 had to retcon some things we had known about both Woody and the attitudes of the larger story.

Some things that number 4 expects us to buy into in order to make Woody's TS4 storyline work:

-1. Woody has to leave Bonnie because he's not actually fulfilling his function as a toy under Bonnie's care/Bonnie doesn't actually care about Woody

We saw how quick Bonnie was to take to him in the third movie when she saw him on the sidewalk and immediately bonded with him, and after only a single afternoon with each other, they were tight. Pretending that she's over him all the sudden, and this is supposed to be some sign from the universe that he needs to move on, is a textbook retcon.

-2. Woody will never actually find happiness with as another kid's toy

A huge revelation for Woody in number three is that even though his time with Andy has some to an end, he has the capacity to bring more happiness to other kids in similar positions. That's honestly a solid take on the matter. Much more than suggesting that Woody's best days are actually behind him.

-3. Woody is only staying with Bonnie out of a very misplaced sense of loyalty.

Woody's loyalty has always been his superpower. That is what convinced him to go back to rescue Buzz from Sid, or Jessie from being shipped off to Japan, or Andy's toys from Lotso. Even him choosing to say goodbye to Andy at the end of three was a sign of trust that it was time for him to grow up as he followed the natural cycle of youth and maturation. Trying to frame his greatest strength as a latent character flaw ... I'm not here for it.

I'm always interested to see a new direction for a story, but nothing about Woody's arc followed his natural trajectory. They had an outcome designed in mind, and they bent the current of the characters in order to fit that template.

1.
It’s not really a retcon, it’s natural kid behavior.
Bonnie was simply bonding with other toys over time. Kids shift favorites constantly. Andy did the same thing between Toy Story 1 and 3.

The movie isn't saying "Bonnie forgot Woody and that's bad."
It's saying "Woody can’t define his worth only by whether a kid plays with him every day."

We actually see him helping Bonnie, sneaking into her backpack, and looking after Forky, so his loyalty stays intact. But her changing interests spark his self-reflection.

2.
True. Toy Story 3 taught him he could move on to another child.
Toy Story 4 expands that idea: he doesn't need to be owned by one child at all to bring joy.

Helping lost toys find kids at the carnival is still the exact same mission, just applied to many children instead of one. It doesn't undo TS3. It deepens the theme.

3.
The movie doesn't say loyalty is bad, it shows how loyalty without self-reflection can keep someone stuck.
Woody clings to his role with Bonnie even when she’s clearly fine and loved by other toys. His arc is realizing that letting go is just growth.

[Patricier21]

Woody's got a complex around feeling forgotten, yes, but the first three movies brought those issues to a much more satisfying resolution. Number 4 had to retcon some things we had known about both Woody and the attitudes of the larger story.

Some things that number 4 expects us to buy into in order to make Woody's TS4 storyline work:

-1. Woody has to leave Bonnie because he's not actually fulfilling his function as a toy under Bonnie's care/Bonnie doesn't actually care about Woody

We saw how quick Bonnie was to take to him in the third movie when she saw him on the sidewalk and immediately bonded with him, and after only a single afternoon with each other, they were tight. Pretending that she's over him all the sudden, and this is supposed to be some sign from the universe that he needs to move on, is a textbook retcon.

-2. Woody will never actually find happiness with as another kid's toy

A huge revelation for Woody in number three is that even though his time with Andy has some to an end, he has the capacity to bring more happiness to other kids in similar positions. That's honestly a solid take on the matter. Much more than suggesting that Woody's best days are actually behind him.

-3. Woody is only staying with Bonnie out of a very misplaced sense of loyalty.

Woody's loyalty has always been his superpower. That is what convinced him to go back to rescue Buzz from Sid, or Jessie from being shipped off to Japan, or Andy's toys from Lotso. Even him choosing to say goodbye to Andy at the end of three was a sign of trust that it was time for him to grow up as he followed the natural cycle of youth and maturation. Trying to frame his greatest strength as a latent character flaw ... I'm not here for it.

I'm always interested to see a new direction for a story, but nothing about Woody's arc followed his natural trajectory. They had an outcome designed in mind, and they bent the current of the characters in order to fit that template.

1.
It’s not really a retcon, it’s natural kid behavior.
Bonnie was simply bonding with other toys over time. Kids shift favorites constantly. Andy did the same thing between Toy Story 1 and 3.

The movie isn't saying "Bonnie forgot Woody and that's bad."
It's saying "Woody can’t define his worth only by whether a kid plays with him every day."

We actually see him helping Bonnie, sneaking into her backpack, and looking after Forky, so his loyalty stays intact. But her changing interests spark his self-reflection.

2.
True. Toy Story 3 taught him he could move on to another child.
Toy Story 4 expands that idea: he doesn't need to be owned by one child at all to bring joy.

Helping lost toys find kids at the carnival is still the exact same mission, just applied to many children instead of one. It doesn't undo TS3. It deepens the theme.

3.
The movie doesn't say loyalty is bad, it shows how loyalty without self-reflection can keep someone stuck.
Woody clings to his role with Bonnie even when she’s clearly fine and loved by other toys. His arc is realizing that letting go is just growth.

Well said! Could not have said nor agree even more! Especially with what you say at the end here about loyalty, which, for the record is something that to say the least, I wish I had known in my own life……

Also well stated what you said earlier about “goodbyes only truly matter because they reflect a truth in the moment, not necessarily because they last forever” a truth that needs to be emphasized more as well to say the least……