Toy Story 5 trailer: A confident continuation that understands both its characters and its audience

Toy Story 5 brings back the nostalgia, but also tackles change and relevance in a way that actually lands.

With Toy Story 5 official trailer out, we now know that they story picks up right where the teaser left off, giving us a fun, nostalgic, and unexpectedly emotional look at the next chapter of Pixar’s beloved franchise. Hitting theatres on June 19, 2026, the film leans into a “toys versus tech” theme, putting the classic gang up against the pull of modern electronics.

The trailer opens during one of Bonnie’s playtime sessions, where Forky is earnestly officiating a wedding between himself and a plastic knife bride, treating the whole thing with complete seriousness until it unravels when Rex dramatically gets “poisoned.” The mood then shifts to the central conflict. Bonnie has a new frog shaped smart tablet called Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee, and its presence changes the dynamic in the room. With its glowing screen and interactive features, Lilypad holds Bonnie’s attention in a way the toys find hard to match. For Woody,Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang, the issue is not just about competing for playtime, but about confronting the uncomfortable possibility that they might no longer be the first choice.

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The most emotional punch comes from Woody’s return, especially after he chose to leave with Bo Peep at the end of Toy Story 4. Seeing him back with the gang feels comforting but also slightly bittersweet, because he looks a little worn down and changed by his time away. His reunion with Buzz, voiced again by Tim Allen, is easily the emotional anchor of the trailer.

Here’s the trailer in case you haven’t watched it yet.

What works about this trailer is that it does not overcomplicate things. It knows that the kids watching today live in a different world from the one the original Toy Story introduced, and instead of ignoring that shift, it leans into it while still holding onto the emotional core that made people fall in love with these characters in the first place. The humor is still there, the action looks lively and there are scenes that hint at deeper emotions without trying too hard.

Overall, it feels like a sincere continuation rather than an unnecessary sequel. If you were unsure about whether this story needed to be told, this trailer makes a pretty convincing case. For longtime fans, it feels less like another installment and more like catching up with old friends who are learning how to adapt, just like the rest of us.

What did you think of the Toy Story 5 trailer, did it win you over? Tell us in the comments below. 

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