“You have a friend in me,” was the saying in the past. But these days, it seems to be saying, “You have a friend in screens,” wherever you turn. That’s the basic idea of Pixar’s upcoming Toy Story 5, anyway. Pete Docter, the head of Pixar, took the stage during Disney’s D23 Expo panel to provide a significant update on Buzz, Woody, and Jessie’s upcoming big-screen adventure. He revealed a first piece of concept art in addition to confirming studio legend Andrew Stanton as the film’s director. In broad terms, the picture represents what the fifth outing will delve into: the idea that kids these days are becoming more and more enamored with electronics than they are with traditional toys.
Stanton revealed during his speech on the D23 stage that Toy Story 5 will address “what kids are obsessed with today: electronics.” Furthermore, the accompanying artwork depicts Woody and his friends as appearing especially dejected as they are ignored in favor of a tablet screen at the foot of a child’s bed (is that Bonnie?). Of course, there is still a lot to learn from this, not the least of which is how Woody has reconciled with his fellow toys following his decision at the conclusion of Toy Story 4 to start a new chapter with Bo Peep. Additionally, a sneak peek at D23 revealed that the movie would feature an army of programmed Buzz Lightyear toys on the rampage.
Hopefully, Stanton can present some thoughtful thoughts about how younger generations’ relationships with technology are changing and what that means for traditional play concepts and toys without turning into a list of “screens bad” ideas. You’d think he had a compelling tale to tell, having directed famous masterpieces like Wall-E and Finding Nemo. When Toy Story 5 opens in theaters in the summer of 2026, we’ll find out.