Let me start with a hot take: I did not love Toy Story 4.
While I don’t think it was a bad movie due to the fact that it’s beautifully animated, well acted, and emotionally resonant, I do think Toy Story 3 delivered what felt like the perfect ending to one of the greatest animated trilogies ever made. I struggled to understand why we needed another chapter. And personally, I struggled with saying goodbye to Woody. It felt like the franchise had reached its natural conclusion.
So naturally when Toy Story 5 was announced, I was skeptical, however I am happy to report that Toy Story 5 completely blew my expectations out of the water.
Rather than feeling like an another sequel no one asked for, Toy Story 5 feels like a genuine return to what made these movies so special in the first place. This time, the spotlight shifts toward Jessie as she, Buzz, and the rest of Bonnie’s toys navigate a new chapter of modern childhood. Bonnie is now growing up, and with that growth comes change, uncertainty, and the universal desire to fit in with your friends and find where you belong.
What struck me most about the film is how relevant it feels to today’s kids. Bonnie becomes attached to a device called a LilyPad, a piece of technology that immediately feels familiar in a world increasingly dominated by screens. As someone who has worked as a babysitter, I’ve seen firsthand the conversations parents are having about screen time, technology, and how children interact with both.
While Disney had the opportunity to go surface level with this conversation, Toy Story 5 doesn’t take the easy route.
The film isn’t interested in telling audiences that technology is inherently bad. Instead, it asks a much more interesting question: How do we maintain meaningful relationships and connections in a world filled with constant digital distractions? I find the film to be a thoughtful exploration of friendship, belonging, and human connection that feels surprisingly mature without ever becoming preachy.
One of my biggest concerns going into the film was how Woody would fit back into the story. After Toy Story 4, I wasn’t convinced there was a natural way to bring him back. Yet somehow, Pixar pulls it off. Woody’s integration feels authentic, earned, and emotionally satisfying.
The animation is also some of the most inventive the franchise has ever attempted. For years, we’ve watched children play with toys, but we’ve rarely been invited into the imaginative worlds those children are creating. Toy Story 5 changes that. The film visualizes the dreamlike spaces that exist during playtime, allowing audiences to experience the worlds the toys experience when a child’s imagination takes over. It’s whimsical, creative, and one of the film’s most visually exciting ideas.
And it’s genuinely funny. Laugh out loud funny.
There’s a subplot that initially feels like it shouldn’t work at all, the kind of idea that makes you wonder if the film is trying to do too much. Yet somehow it becomes one of the movie’s most entertaining elements and integrates seamlessly into the larger story.
At its core, Toy Story 5 is about growing up, finding your place, and learning how to adapt to a changing world without losing the relationships that matter most. It’s heartfelt, surprisingly relevant, visually inventive, and full of the charm that made audiences fall in love with these characters nearly three decades ago.
Most importantly, it made me believe in the magic of Toy Story again.
Rating: 4.5/5
