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Toy Story isn't just another Pixar movie in my house; it's practically family history. It was one of the first films my husband and I bonded over, long before kids, before Disney+, before we could quote Buzz Lightyear in our sleep. When our boys were born, Woody and Buzz were the first toys we bought, followed by Jessie, Bullseye, Lotso, Forky, you name it, we have it. Our teen might not care anymore, but the collection still sits proudly in his room, a little museum of nostalgia. Which is probably why this hurts to say: the Toy Story 5 trailer just dropped, and it's disappointing.
The new teaser feels like something Pixar had to release rather than wanted to. It's polished but empty, the kind of placeholder trailer that exists only because marketing needed something before Thanksgiving weekend. If you remember the Frozen 2 teaser that featured footage not even in the movie, it's that kind of situation. A few seconds of animation, a recycled Randy Newman cue, and the vague promise of "rediscovering play in a digital world." It's Pixar's equivalent of a shrug.
From what's been revealed, Toy Story 5 focuses on Bonnie, now older and glued to her iPad. The story seems to follow the toys as they come to terms with being replaced by screens, turning the franchise into a parable about technology, childhood, and attention spans. On paper, it sounds like a decent metaphor. In practice, it looks about as subtle as a Buzz Lightyear crash landing.
The real head-scratcher is Woody's return. If you remember Toy Story 4, Woody left Bonnie's house to live with Bo Peep, finally finding freedom and closure. It was one of Pixar's rare, perfect endings. So why is he back? The trailer shows him briefly scared, but there's no Bo, and no explanation. It feels like either a retcon or a cop-out. Pixar earned that emotional goodbye, and undoing it cheapens everything that came before.
When Toy Story 4 came out, our house was divided. I loved it- Forky was weird and wonderful, and the ending felt earned. My husband hated it, saying it should have ended with Andy's goodbye. This time, though, we're both on the same side: unimpressed. Pixar doesn't need another sequel; it needs another spark. The original trilogy ended perfectly. Toy Story 4 was unnecessary but heartfelt. Toy Story 5 feels unnecessary and confused.
I understand the pressure. Pixar has had a rough few years, with box-office hits hard to come by and sequels still being the safest bet. But nostalgia only works when it feels like a gift, not a strategy. Woody, Buzz, and the gang taught a generation what love, loyalty, and growing up meant. Stretching their story for another round just because they can might be the one adventure that finally breaks the spell.
As someone who still has every figure on the shelf, I'll always have love for these characters. But this new trailer didn't make me cry, laugh, or even smile. It just made me wish Pixar had left the toys where we last saw them - happy, free, and finally at peace. Maybe that's what growing up really means: knowing when to let go, even of your favorite toy story.
Watch the teaser trailer below: