I just got out of Toy Story 5, and honestly, I adored it.
At this point, I don’t think there’s a more iconic animated franchise than Toy Story. Nothing else really comes close. These movies have been going strong since 1995, and somehow they’re still finding new things to say. The first three films—what I consider Andy’s trilogy—are basically flawless. Toy Story 3 might still be the strongest of the bunch. Toy Story 4 was good, but after seeing Toy Story 5, I definitely think it’s the weakest entry in the series. That’s not saying much, though, because there really isn’t a bad Toy Story movie.
What impressed me most about Toy Story 5 is that it tells one of the most grounded and relatable human stories the franchise has tackled in a long time. Andy growing out of toys will probably always be the emotional peak of the series, but this movie explores something incredibly relevant today: friendship, imagination, and the growing role of technology in children’s lives.
Bonnie remains a wonderfully unique kid because she still loves using her imagination. Some of my favorite scenes in the entire movie are the moments where her imagination takes over and the animation style changes to show the adventures she’s creating with her toys. They’re some of the most visually creative sequences in the film.
The central conflict revolves around Bonnie struggling to make friends. She’s introduced to Lily Pad, a device that connects kids through something called The Pond, where they can chat, play games, and socialize online. The movie doesn’t paint technology as inherently evil, which I appreciated. Instead, it asks important questions about how technology is used and how much of a child’s social life should happen through a screen.
What I loved is that the film understands technology can bring people together, but it also understands that online connections aren’t always genuine friendships. Bonnie learns that lesson the hard way, and the movie does a fantastic job exploring the challenges kids face in a world increasingly dominated by screens. The message about parental involvement, supervision, and helping children navigate technology felt thoughtful and mature without ever becoming preachy.
Greta Lee is excellent as Lily Pad. She starts off as a strong antagonist, but like many great Toy Story characters, there’s more going on beneath the surface. By the end, she even gets one of the funniest jokes in the entire movie.
On the toy side of things, this is very much Jessie’s story. One of the franchise’s recurring themes has always been abandonment and being outgrown, and Jessie has now experienced that multiple times. Her emotional arc centers on wondering whether she’s ever truly made a difference in a child’s life. When she finally realizes the impact she’s had, even if she never gets to see the results firsthand, it’s one of the movie’s strongest moments.
Woody and Buzz are great as always. Their chemistry remains timeless, and Woody has evolved into something of a mentor figure. He’s been through so much at this point that he almost serves as the wise veteran of the group. The movie even gets plenty of laughs out of how old Woody is compared to everyone else, which feels appropriate considering this franchise has been around for over thirty years.
The new characters are excellent additions. Conan O’Brien’s Smarty Pants, Craig Robinson’s Atlas, and Snappy all bring a lot of personality to the movie. Blaze is also a strong human character who complements Bonnie’s story nicely.
My biggest disappointment is that Ducky and Bunny are essentially sidelined. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele were among the highlights of Toy Story 4, and seeing those characters barely used here was a real bummer.
Still, that’s a minor complaint in a movie that succeeds on so many levels. The animation looks fantastic. The voice acting is top-notch. The emotional storytelling remains as strong as ever. The themes about imagination, friendship, technology, and growing up all land beautifully.
More than anything, I love the movie’s message about protecting your imagination. In a world where kids are increasingly glued to screens, Toy Story 5 argues that imagination is still one of the most important tools we have for connecting with other people. That’s a message I think kids need now more than ever.
And at the end of the day, that’s why this franchise continues to work. Beneath all the jokes, adventures, and talking toys, these movies have always been about people. They’ve always been about connection, friendship, and the impact we leave on one another.
I respect the hell out of this movie, and I respect the hell out of this franchise.
Toy Story 5 is another winner.
