The first Toy Story 5 trailer is here, and Pixar clearly still knows how to hit us right in our childhood. Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang return for another emotional rollercoaster that explores what happens when the toys face their biggest rival: technology.
According to Collider and The Hollywood Reporter, the trailer opens with Bonnie’s room looking more digital than ever. A talking smart toy called Lilypad, shaped like a cartoon frog and voiced by Greta Lee, has stolen the spotlight from the old favorites. Woody’s cowboy hat looks a little more worn, Buzz’s buttons are fading, and Rex seems doubly convinced this is the end.
It’s all the humor and heart you’d expect from Pixar, but with a sharp commentary on what it means to grow up in the age of screens. And the release? Confirmed for June 19, 2026.
Woody and Buzz Aren’t Ready to Retire
The first Toy Story 5 trailer wastes no time reminding fans why Woody and Buzz remain one of the best duos in movie history. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are back, and even after nearly thirty years, their chemistry is effortless.
The teaser shows Woody trying to rally the group while Buzz insists on taking a mission-based approach. Their friendly banter hits the same nostalgic sweet spot as the original films. Jessie appears in full cowgirl spirit, calming everyone while Hamm mutters that he “misses the days when batteries were the scariest thing in the room.”
Forky returns too, still confused about his place in the world. In one quick scene, he stares at Lilypad and asks, “If she knows everything, what does that make me?” Mr. Potato Head replies, “Less chat, more charm.” Classic Toy Story.
A Modern Story with Familiar Feels
The story teased in the first Toy Story 5 trailer feels modern but familiar. The toys face their biggest existential crisis yet when children start preferring interactive devices over imagination. Bonnie’s room is full of gadgets, and for the first time, Woody and the other toys are forced to question if they still belong.
Director Pete Docter told Entertainment Weekly that the film explored “what happens when playtime changes, but love stays the same.” It’s a concept that strikes at the heart of the franchise. The tension builds when Lilypad, the AI-driven toy, begins suggesting that imaginative play is old-fashioned and outdated. But as always, the gang refuses to go quietly.
The trailer hints at a journey beyond Bonnie’s bedroom. There’s a quick shot of the toys exploring a bright tech expo, where plastic figures meet robotic companions. Buzz even tries to speak with a toy drone, only to get ignored. It’s funny and bittersweet at the same time, a balance Pixar has mastered.
Why the First Toy Story 5 Trailer Hits So Hard
Fans will spot plenty of callbacks to earlier adventures. The Pizza Planet truck flashes by during a highway chase, the claw aliens make an appearance near a vending machine, and there’s a quick glimpse of Bo Peep leading a rescue mission. One emotional moment shows Woody glancing at an old photo of Andy, reminding viewers how far these characters have come.
Pixar seems fully aware that it’s walking a tightrope between nostalgia and new ideas. The tone of the first Toy Story 5 trailer feels more like Toy Story 3 than 4, kind of hopeful but tinged with melancholy. The stakes aren’t about being lost or replaced this time. They’re about relevance, belonging, and what happens when the world moves on without you.
The first Toy Story 5 trailer promises closure. Woody’s final line in the tease says it best: “Maybe every kid stops playing, but a toy never stops caring.”
