The first teaser trailer for the highly anticipated Toy Story 5 has officially landed, and it's already stirring a major conversation among fans, who are convinced its modern storyline will hit a little too close to home for parents.
A New High-Tech Threat
Released on November 11, 2025, the brand new teaser opens with the ominous tagline: ‘The age of toys is over…?’ It quickly introduces viewers to the franchise's new antagonist, Lilypad, a frog-shaped smart tablet voiced by actress Greta Lee.
The trailer shows a package arriving for Bonnie. As the existing toys, including Woody and Buzz, look on, the package is opened to reveal the glowing green tablet, leaving the classic toys in a state of visible shock. The teaser frames technology itself as the ‘new threat to playtime’.
Fan Reaction: A Resonant and Complex Topic
The immediate reaction on social media platforms like X and Reddit was swift and pointed. Many fans identified the core conflict as a direct commentary on contemporary childhood.
One user, Asoiaf_266AC, succinctly captured a common sentiment on X, stating: ‘The iPad baby storyline is about to wreak havoc on some parents.’
On Reddit, user AllTheReservations acknowledged the familiarity of the theme but expressed curiosity in Pixar's handling of it: ‘Admittedly the “kids these days want iPads, not toys” story is pretty well trodden ground by this point, but I am pretty interested to see how Toy Story would handle it. They’ve usually handled their themes and messages really well, and kids’ screen usage is becoming an increasingly complex topic.’
Another fan, nicolasb51942003, argued that the concept could be highly resonant, saying, ‘Yes, it is unnecessary yet again, but the concept of toys vs electronics sounds like it could be resonating to those who both played with toys as kids/grew up with the original films and are now glued to their phones, and iPads.’ The user also expressed trust in director Andrew Stanton.
Some, like lalisatto on X, praised the concept as ‘so smart’, while silly_sophie08 suggested the film could serve as a valuable lesson for children about screen time. However, not all feedback was positive, with user imleeyo commenting that the plot feels ‘literally 10 years too late.’
Returning Favourites and Release Date
The film will see the return of the original voice cast, with Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack reprising their iconic roles as Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie, respectively.
This fifth instalment is set to continue the legacy of the Disney franchise that first began in 1995. With the release of Toy Story 5 scheduled for June 19, 2026, the series will have spanned over three decades. The previous film, 2019's Toy Story 4, was a massive commercial success, grossing $1.074 billion worldwide and earning two Academy Award nominations.
