TOY STORY 5 First Look: Pixar Teases a "Toys vs. Tech" Showdown with Jessie in Charge
Pixar is cracking open the toy chest again, and for the first time in a while, Jessie’s calling the shots.
At this year’s Annecy Animation Festival, Pixar’s CCO Pete Docter offered a glimpse into Toy Story 5, unveiling concept art and a two-minute sneak peek from the upcoming sequel, which is set to hit theaters summer 2026.
It’s been nearly 30 years since the original Toy Story debuted and changed animation forever, and now, the studio is revisiting that legacy with a story that flips the script in some unexpected ways.
The concept art Pixar shared features Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and Bullseye staring in confused awe at a new electronic toy named Lilypad, a screen-based gadget that appears to be front and center in the story’s new thematic battle.
As Docter explained, this entry leans into the idea of “Toys Meet Tech,” with Bonnie, now 8 years old, discovering a toy tablet that immediately threatens the relevance of her more traditional toys.\
“Jessie is now the leader of the toys in Bonnie’s room, with Buzz serving as her right-hand man,” according to Docter. And while Woody may have parted ways with the group at the end of Toy Story 4, he’s not out of the picture entirely sd Buzz and Woody will reunite in Toy Story 5.
Tim Allen, returning once again as the voice of Buzz, has teased that the film offers “a very, very clever story” and emphasized that it’s “not just a cash grab.”
He added that the sequel “won’t take away from Toy Story 4’s poignant ending,” where Woody chose a new path as a lost toy alongside Bo Peep.
According to The Wrap, one sequence shown at Annecy features a group of rogue commemorative Buzz Lightyear action figures waking up on a beach, wandering into a shipping container, and gathering around a campfire.
Tom Hanks is set to return as Woody and Joan Cusack as Jessie, along with new additions to the cast. Conan O’Brien will lend his voice to a toy named Smarty Pants, and Ghostbusters alum Ernie Hudson will step in as Combat Carl, taking over for the late Carl Weathers.
Giving Jessie a more central role signals a shift in focus, and after years of watching Woody wrestle with identity and loyalty, it’s nice to see another beloved character step into the spotlight. Jessie’s already had emotional depth, that heartbreaking “When She Loved Me” montage is still devastating, but this time, she gets to lead.
The conflict involving classic toys vs. cutting-edge tech feels like a timely evolution of the franchise’s original premise. Back in 1995, Buzz Lightyear was the flashy new toy. Now, he and the gang face the same obsolescence he once represented. It’s a clever mirror, and exactly the kind of idea Pixar loves to explore.