In the late hours of 11 November, Pixar launched its teaser trailer for Toy Story 5 on YouTube, with the tagline “the age of toys is over…?”
In the 50-second teaser for the June 2026 release we are introduced to a new toy; Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee, a tablet that has arrived for Bonnie. It seems the entire beloved Toy Story gang will return for the fifth instalment of the award-winning franchise (or sixth, if you’re including the spin-off 2022 flop Lightyear), along with the new foe.
INXS’ ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ plays out while fellow toys watch Lilypad’s arrival with fear and uncertainty. Fan-favourite duo Woody and Buzz, voiced by returning stars Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, cling to each other as we hear: “Hi there, I’m Lilypad. Let’s play!”
In an adjoining first-look poster, launched on social media at the same time as the trailer, we see a confused Jessie (Joan Cusack), Buzz, and Woody reflected in Lilypad’s screen, a menacing smirk on her face below the slogan “It’s On”. The post’s caption? “Playtime meets screentime.”
Based on what we’ve seen so far from the film’s marketing, we can only assume Toy Story 5 will centre around stereotypical parenting in the 2010s onwards and how tech is seen as the villain in so many childhoods nowadays.
The term “iPad kid” was first coined in 2010, the same year Toy Story 3 released. It negatively refers to Generation Alpha (born from 2010–2024) children who appear to be reliant on, or even addicted to, technology. According to Google Trends the phrase peaked in late 2012 though it has been used consistently since its creation, and hit its second-highest peak in September 2025. Clearly, “iPad kids” aren’t going anywhere; we’ve all seen a toddler in a pram, barely able to clutch the enormous tablet held just inches from their face.
The team at Pixar has clearly found a story in this new generation and their upbringing; they are, after all, the first age group to grow up in a society where smartphones and social media existed before them.
In a statement, co-directors Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris said: “It’s been a hilarious and poignant journey exploring how our favourite team of legacy toys might respond to today’s world of technology.
“Having the remarkable Greta Lee bring Lilypad to life—balancing a playfully antagonistic tone with humour and heart—has been incredible.”
How exactly the creators will navigate this new villain, with tech being the ‘enemy’ of traditional physical toys, is yet to be discovered but it is certainly an exciting direction for the franchise.
Digital culture outlet SQ Magazine states: “In 2025, approximately 1.08 billion people worldwide will be affected by some form of technology addiction.” As we all become more dependent on technology, perhaps the messaging behind Toy Story 5 will be a reminder of humanity’s need for togetherness and physical connection for the sake of our wellbeing. Not just for children, whose development is much more positive when playing with open-ended toys and resources, but also adults who are replacing quality family time with doomscrolling and rarely mentally unplugging from the online world.
It will be interesting to see how the studio weaves this narrative without completely shunning the use of technology, though it wouldn’t be the first time this has been done successfully—2008’s WALL-E, also directed by Stanton, was a masterclass in this and was a box office hit.
As we saw the benefits and risks of technology in WALL-E, one can only hope Toy Story 5 will highlight the pros and cons of technology use for young minds, or will be a direct callout to parents to encourage physical play. Given the franchise’s record with its villains, there will likely be a redemption arc somewhere; maybe we will be taught how Lilypad can be used for good, but only in moderation?
The release next summer will certainly stir some conversation, though not all for the right reasons. YouTube comments are generally non-plussed about the fifth Toy Story release, with user TheSkeletonGentleman commenting: “The horrified expressions on the toys’ faces throughout the teaser perfectly represents how I feel about there being a Toy Story 5.”
Others are curious about how Woody has ended up back with the original group of toys, after he parted ways with them at the end of Toy Story 4.
Whatever happens, Toy Story 5 will have some large shoes to fill. The first two movies both have the rare score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and carry dozens of award wins and nominations between them. Toy Story 3 and 4 don’t fall far behind, with RT scores of 98% and 96% respectively and each surpassing $1 billion at the box office.
And for Pixar, whose 2025 release Elio struggled to break even at the box office, it will be interesting to see whether this new angle for everyone’s favourite toys will pay off.
Words by Sophie Coombs
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