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Key Points Toy Story 5 introduces Lilypad, a modern day villain symbolizing technology's challenge to classic toys. Original cast returns; new tech-toy characters debut; film releases June 19, 2026. The story explores staying relevant as legacy toys face the rise of digital entertainment. Woody and the gang are facing their toughest competition yet, and it’s not another mean toy. Disney and Pixar dropped the first teaser trailer for Toy Story 5 on Tuesday, Nov. 11, and fans got their first look at a villain that hits differently than Sid, Lotso or any baddie that came before. Meet Lilypad: a high-tech, frog-shaped smart tablet that represents every parent’s modern-day struggle and every classic toy’s worst fear. Toy Story 5 Pits Legacy Toys Against Modern Technology Seven years after Toy Story 4 brought us to tears, our beloved toys are back for another adventure. But this time, Woody, Buzz and Jessie aren’t just competing with other toys for playtime—they’re up against screens, apps and the instant gratification of digital entertainment. Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee, is described as making the gang’s jobs “exponentially harder” as they battle this new threat to traditional play. It’s a premise that feels almost too real for millennial parents who grew up playing with action figures and dolls, only to watch today’s digital natives prefer iPads and tablets. What Can Fans Expect from Toy Story 5? Tom Hanks returns as Woody, Tim Allen is back as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack reprises her role as Jessie. Tony Hale also returns as everyone’s favorite spork-turned-toy, Forky. New to the cast is Conan O’Brien, who voices Smarty Pants, a toilet-training tech toy that sounds absolutely hilarious. The film arrives in theaters June 19, 2026—marking 31 years since the original Toy Story changed animation forever in 1995. For fans who’ve grown up with these characters through five movies spanning three decades, this installment promises to hit close to home. A Story That Speaks to Every Generation What makes this concept so brilliant is how it mirrors real life. Just as Woody once worried about being replaced by Buzz’s flashy space ranger appeal, now all the classic toys face obsolescence in an age where kids’ attention spans are measured in TikTok videos and YouTube shorts. Tim Allen previously teased that the sequel “could be a very, very interesting way to reunite” the beloved characters, and it seems the creative team has found a story worth telling. As one unnamed screenwriter reportedly told Allen, “If I didn’t get this right, I wouldn’t do it.” 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 The trailer’s tagline feels especially poignant: sometimes the biggest adventures aren’t about going to infinity and beyond—they’re about staying relevant in a world that’s constantly changing. Get ready to feel all the feelings when Toy Story 5 hits theaters June 19, 2026.
