Toy Story 5 is hitting theaters next summer, but until now, details on the animated sequel have been sparse. Now, Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter has given a first glimpse into the plot and central conflict of the film at a presentation attended by Collider‘s Michael Zimmerman. Docter describes the movie as “toy meets tech“: you’ll be able to see for yourself when it premieres on June 19, 2026. Docter, who has been with Pixar for over 35 years, reiterated the key themes of the Toy Story franchise and previewed the central plot that will drive the newest sequel:

“In all the Toy Story films, above anything else, the job of the toys has been to be there for their kids. But with Toy Story 5, that job gets exponentially harder when our toy crew gets replaced by what kids are obsessed by today: electronics.”

He sets out the new status quo for the franchise’s plastic protagonists, following the events of 2019’s Toy Story 4: “If you remember from Toy Story 4, Woody has left the kids’ rooms for a life of adventure with Bo and her friends, helping lost toys in need. Sheriff Jessie is now in charge of Bonnie’s room with the recently deputized Buzz as assistant deputy, and the rest of the toy crew is still around with their same sassy attitudes. So, like, Hamm, Rex, Slinky, Mr. Potato Head.”

However, there’s trouble in the toy room. The specter of modern technology, which has advanced so much and found so many more places in the lives of both adults and children since the first film premiered in 1995, looms over the toys as they attempt to be there for their owner, Bonnie. That technology will be personified in the film as Lily, an electronic tablet:

“…Bonnie is now eight, and she’s become more concerned about being socially connected and making friends, which is why her parents agreed to get her this LilyPad. It’s a new tech tablet, which allows Bonnie to chat with her friends, and play games, and other things too. But Lily can also be a bit sneaky and prickly to be around, because in her mind, it’s a lot better to be socialized, and Bonnie needs to move on from toys, so that puts them at odds with our toys. They both have very different opinions on what Bonnie needs.”

To resolve the conflict, the toys will need to call on an old friend: “Woody is called back to help, but it’s been a while since they’ve all seen each other, and he and Buzz don’t always see eye to eye. As Mr. Potato Head says in the movie, ‘It’s nice to see them arguing again.‘” Docter didn’t want to spoil any more of the film: to find out what happens next, you’ll have to hit the theater next June.

Who Will Star In ‘Toy Story 5’?

Reprising their voice roles on the big screen for the fifth time are Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Allen, for one, was reluctant to come back after the emotional climax of Toy Story 4, but he was impressed with the script, stating, “We’re back for a good reason now, and it is very, very clever.” Combat Carl will return for the film as well, although without his original voice actor, the late Carl Weathers; Ghostbusters‘ Ernie Hudson will step in to voice the character. Conan O’Brien will play Smarty Pants, a newcomer to the franchise who O’Brien declared “the best character of them all.” Mom‘s Anna Faris will also join the cast in an unspecified role.

Directing Toy Story 5 is Finding Nemo and WALL-E‘s Andrew Stanton. Stanton has written all four previous Toy Story movies, and is writing the script for the fifth, but this will be the first one he’s helmed.

Toy Story 5 will be released on June 19, 2026.

via Collider