Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (voice of Tim Allen) in "Toy Story 5."
Disney‑Pixar
Disney‑Pixar’s Toy Story 5, featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack, has opened in theaters nationwide this Friday. The film continues the family‑friendly adventure that began in 1995, adds new layers of digital interactivity, and delivers fresh character arcs that resonate with contemporary audiences.
Directed by Andrew Stanton—renowned for his work on Finding Nemo and WALL‑E—Toy Story 5 drops its latest chapter six years after the fourth installment. The narrative follows little Bonnie (voiced by Scarlett Spears), an eight‑year‑old who acquires a “Lilypad” (Greta Lee) for a digital playdate. Bonnie’s fascination with her new gadget strains the attention she once had for her classic companions: Jessie the Cowgirl (Cusack), Buzz Lightyear (Allen), and Woody (Hanks).
When Bonnie invites friends from the Lilypad chat group to a sleepover, Jessie and her equine partner Bullseye attempt to join but are inadvertently left behind. While the bullseye and buddy search for Bonnie, they encounter a young farm girl named Blaze (Mykal‑Michelle Harris) and uncover opportunities that could reshape their destinies. As Buzz and Woody mobilize to reunite the team, the film illustrates the enduring bond between toys and the children they protect.
Note: The following section contains major spoilers from “Toy Story 5.”
End‑Credit Sequence Highlights
The film’s end sequence opens on a deserted island where a crashed shipping container contains dozens of Buzz Lightyear action figures. One toy, freed from its packaging, animates the others, enabling the Buzz brigade to activate their electronic features. The group’s mission to locate their commanding STAR Command leads them into conflict with a then‑unknown foe: Zurg’s advanced drones, which surprise the original Buzz and the crew with capabilities they had not anticipated.
Midway through the end credits, the audience witnesses a communal scene: a school bus unloads into a playground where a group of children, before the arrival of Buzz drones, are mysteriously enchanted. The electronic toys descend, captivating students and even a principal, who secretly tucks a Buzz drone into his briefcase. Shortly thereafter, one scene circles back to the schoolyard, where a student retrieves an upgraded version of the arch‑rival, Evil Emperor Zurg, from his backpack. The film closes with an ominous line from Zurg, “We meet again, my son!”—a callback to an earlier revelation that the alien adversary is, in fact, the family’s patriarch.
While the film does not feature a traditional post‑credits scene, it offers a musical cameo as Lilypad and the “Pizza Sunglasses” toy perform a brief rap. Bad Bunny (Grammy winner and 2022 Super Bow Half‑Time Show performer) lends his voice to this unexpectedly vibrant number, joined by familiar characters: Rex (Wallace Shaw), Trixie (Kristen Schaal), Dolly (Bonnie Hunt), Mrs. Potato Head (Anna Vocino), Forky (Tony Hale), and Mr. Pricklepants (John Hopkins). The light‑hearted duet provides a celebratory capstone to the film’s playful storytelling.
Rated PG, Toy Story 5 remains a family‑friendly cinematic event that pairs nostalgic charm with contemporary technology themes, illustrating why it continues to captivate audiences of every age.