Writer/Director: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack
‘A Spectacular Sequel’
Few animated films about toys have built a legacy as strong as Toy Story. Through its depiction of toys that reach for the sky, it became a beloved film kids glorify. On a personal level, I find the series about toys relatable. At an early age, I formed a strong bond with toys that I had no plans to ever throw in the garbage. My heart would soar with happiness when my dad took me to the store to purchase toys I would adore. Even when they were highly expensive, our father was never reluctant to buy me toys that he found productive. Like Woody, my toys were precious accessories that always had a friend in me. It didn’t take long before I formed a bond with toys going to infinity and beyond. Collaborating together, my brother and I created fantasy tales for toys we would treasure. Called ‘Puppies’, we created imaginary games for toys we considered more than just accessories. As the years went by, I believed my friendship with toys would never die. However, aging brought my love for toys to a closure. When the inevitable day came to throw toys away, I was so sad I ran out of words to say. Assuming that I had outgrown toys she considered childish, my mother told me to dispose accessories I had grown to cherish. Without a doubt, it was hard to talk about abandonment of toys turning life inside out. As strange things started happening to me, I regretted soul-crushing loss of toys I loved dearly. To cope with loss of toys facing abandonment, I turned to technology tablets as a replacement. The sad fact I had to face was tech couldn’t replace toys I embrace. A part of my routine, toys were accessories which couldn’t ever be replaced by a screen. Years later, I treasure a franchise that reminds of toys which changed my life forever.
As a fan of a franchise about toys that thrive, I admired “Toy Story 5”. Released in 2026, Andrew Stanton’s movie honoured the animated series. Packed with awe-inspiring animation, strong storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a spectacular animated sequel. At the centre of it all is Tom Hanks, who embodies a toy seeking owners’ affection. Although “Toy Story 5” is a spectacular sequel, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, lacking strong momentum. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of the franchise.
“Toy Story 5” continues adventures of toys seeking to survive. Tom Hanks embodies Woody, a sheriff toy seeking love. Woody shares bonds with his owner Bonnie (Scarlett Spears), whom he loves dearly. However, Woody’s life changes when his owner favours technology causing danger. The Lilypad (Greta Lee) is a device that threatens Woody’s bond with Bonnie. Questioning his purpose as a toy, Woody discovers technology comes without joy.
Andrew Stanton has always been fascinated with stories of animation. His iconic film “Finding Nemo” offered a captivating portrait of animated fish unable to let go off their children causing sorrow. With “Toy Story 5”, however, Stanton created his first Toy Story sequel. It’s the filmmaker’s first attempt to honour a franchise about toys with a story but he succeeds immensely. Evoking John Lasseter’s “Toy Story”, Stanton effectively uses montages capturing larger-than-life bonds between kids and toys they love dearly. For instance, montages enhance the playtime scene. During this unforgettable scene, Bonnie and Blaze spend valuable time playing with favourite toys together. It brought back heartwarming memories of my love for playing with toys that always had a friend in me. Montages are tricky techniques. As Pete Docter’s “Inside Out” suggested, montages elevate animated movies about emotions. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Using stunning animation, Stanton captures toys that mean the world to children.
Another admirable aspect of “Toy Story 5” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the most impressive movies Pixar has made. Evoking Lee Unkrich’s “Toy Story 3”, Stanton effectively uses storyboarding to capture emotions faced by children and toys that are separating. For instance, storyboarding elevates the abandonment scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Bonnie abandons precious toys for the sake of using a technological device. It reminded me of my emotions being emotionally devastated when I parted ways with precious toys that I appreciated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the movie a heartfelt atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that abandoned toys bear. Through phenomenal animation, Stanton captures powerful bonds between toys and children.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Toy Story 5” is an animated film about toys that’s engaging. Throughout the Toy Story franchise, most movies have often portrayed toys as helpless accessories without any sense of agency. For instance, “Toy Story 2” depicted the toys as downtrodden victims that are stolen by greedy collectors causing adversity. Thankfully, however, “Toy Story 5” avoids these pitfalls. Evoking Pete Docter’s “Up”, Stanton effectively uses dramatic monologues to capture strong bonds between toys and children that build up. For instance, monologues elevate the Jessie discovery scene. During this heartfelt scene, Jessie delivers an emotional speech expressing her love for her owner that abandoned her. It reminded me of my strong connection with toys that I regretted abandoning leaving me emotionally affected. Monologues are tricky techniques to use in animated movies. As Pete Docter’s “Soul” suggested, monologues elevate animated movies about musicians. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Stanton honours an animated franchise that’s beloved today.
One appreciates astonishing vocal performances.
Tom Hanks delivers one of his best career performances as Woody. Hanks has always excelled at playing the toy sheriff overcoming fear throughout his career. With “Toy Story 5”, however, Hanks brings an emotional side to the toy audiences haven’t seen before. It’s a role that gives the actor an opportunity to showcase undeniable talent for playing animated characters. With riveting expressions, he captures angst, bravery and grief faced by a toy seeking affections. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the greatest actors working in Hollywood today.
While the movie is mainly an extraordinary showcase for Hanks, the supporting cast is also excellent and worthy of appreciation. Joan Cusack continues to shine as Jessie, capturing heartbreaking emotions faced by a doll abandoned by owners in a tragedy. Tim Allen is terrific, using his powerful voice to capture the despair experienced by Buzz Lightyear. Lastly, Greta Lee merits appreciation. As the Lilypad, she is unforgettable.
Despite extraordinary performances, however, “Toy Story 5” can’t quite honour an animated franchise about larger-than-life toys seeking to survive. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks engaging pacing. Unlike previous movies in the franchise which had strong momentum, the latest instalment lacks entertaining pacing. Stanton’s decision to integrate subplots about an army of Buzz Lightyear toys into the movie is commendable but hinders the pacing. Due towards this problematic decision, sequences capturing the army of Buzz Lightyear toys aren’t as entertaining as Jessie’s journeys to reunite with Bonnie. As Angus MacLane’s “Lightyear” demonstrated, subplots about Buzz Lightyear elevate commemorated animated spin-off movies. Therefore, “Toy Story 5” is one of those animated movies that not everyone would adore.
Nevertheless, fans of the animated franchise will definitely enjoy “Toy Story 5” and so would audiences seeking family-friendly entertainment. A spectacular animated sequel, it honours a franchise about toys that are powerful.
Nearly 30 years following the release of an animated movie about children forming a bond with action-figures that go to infinity and beyond in a story, it’s a touching reminder that tales of toys are worth telling in movies audiences love dearly.
As strong as Woody’s friendship with Buzz Lightyear, it has motivated me to recover years after my toys vanished out of thin air causing despair by treasuring an animated franchise that has created rare movies I will forever hold dear.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 