More than 30 years after Pixar revolutionized animation with the first Toy Story, the beloved franchise is gearing up for its next chapter. Today, Disney and Pixar unveiled the first teaser trailer for Toy Story 5 and it’s already shaping up to be a nostalgic, comedic, and tech-savvy evolution of the iconic series. The film is officially set to hit theaters on June 19th, 2026.
And yes — Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the whole crew are back. But this time, they’re facing a threat unlike anything they’ve encountered before.
Meet Lilypad: The Smart Tablet Toy Changing The Rules Of Playtime
The teaser introduces Lilypad, a sleek, frog-shaped high-tech smart tablet voiced by Past Lives star Greta Lee. The trailer gives fans a peek at her capabilities — intuitive, fast, adaptive, and fully equipped to challenge the old-school playtime hierarchy. Lilypad isn’t evil, exactly… just efficient. And that’s a problem. Her arrival instantly sends Buzz, Woody, Jessie, Forky, and the rest of the gang scrambling to keep up. Suddenly, imagination, teamwork, and improvisation — the foundations of their world — are being outpaced by an electronic new kid in the toy box. It’s classic Toy Story energy with a 2026 twist: heartfelt humor meets modern chaos.
A Star-Studded Return With New Faces Joining The Family
The core voice cast that defined the franchise returns once again. Including, Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie, Blake Clark as Slinky Dog, and Tony Hale as Forky.
Joining them is Conan O’Brien, voicing an all-new character named Smarty Pants — a quirky, brainy addition whose comedic energy fits naturally into the Toy Story universe.
Andrew Stanton Takes The Creative Chair
Animation legend Andrew Stanton — the creative force behind Finding Nemo, WALL-E, and Finding Dory — steps into the director’s chair for the fifth installment. Stanton has been part of the DNA of Toy Story from the beginning, having co-written all four previous films. Now, he takes full writing credit as the sole screenwriter of Toy Story 5. In fact, it’s a full-circle moment for both the studio and fans.
A Franchise That Defined Generations
Since 1995, Toy Story has been Pixar’s crown jewel. Not just commercially, but culturally. The series pioneered the era of fully computer-animated films, set new emotional standards for family storytelling, and delivered two billion-dollar installments with Toy Story 3 (2010) and Toy Story 4 (2019), both Oscar winners for Best Animated Feature.
Now, Toy Story 5 marks Pixar’s 31st feature film. Its release will follow the studio’s upcoming original project Hoppers (March 2026) and arrives on the heels of recent box office fluctuation: the modest performance of Elio contrasts sharply with the record-shattering success of Inside Out 2, which became the highest-grossing film of 2024.
Despite ups and downs, one trend remains undeniable… Pixar sequels, especially Toy Story sequels, always deliver. Which is why the excitement around Toy Story 5 is already electric.
A Glimpse Into The Future Of Play
If this first teaser proves anything, it’s that Pixar is honoring the legacy of the franchise while steering it toward fresh emotional and comedic territory. The film looks to explore The challenge of navigating modern tech, the evolving definition of play, the unbreakable bonds of chosen family, and, as always, the timeless question: what does it mean to be a toy? The heart is still there. The humor is sharper than ever. And the adventure is just beginning.
Nonetheless, Toy Story 5 hits theaters June 19th, 2026. Watch the teaser trailer above and get ready to return to infinity… and beyond.