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Credit: Inside the Magic
In 1995, Disney and Pixar released Toy Story, a movie that would change the film industry. Toy Story was the first feature-length film made entirely by computer animation. Toy Story was a huge success, grossing nearly $400 million, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 1995. The movie was just the start of what would become an incredibly successful franchise.
So far, there have been four Toy Story films, two spinoff films, four short films, three animated series, and two television specials. There are also entire lands dedicated to the franchise at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland.
Related: Bizarre ‘Toy Story’ Fan Theory: Does Woody Know He’s in a Movie?
The original Toy Story trilogy films were released in 1995, 1999, and 2010, and while eleven years is a long time in between films, Disney and Pixar would wait another 19 years before releasing Toy Story 4.
All four films have been very well received by audiences, which is why, in 2023, Disney confirmed that Toy Story 5 was in development. Fans were shocked, as star Tom Hanks — who voices Sheriff Woody — said that the fourth film would be the final film in the treasured franchise. However, when the fifth film was announced, Disney also revealed that Tom Hanks and Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear) would be returning to their iconic roles.
Related: ‘Toy Story 5’ Needs More Woody, Less Buzz Lightyear
Reactions to the fifth movie were a little mixed, as many fans worried that Disney and Pixar were pushing it when it came to how many stories there were left to tell. Most fans feel that it’s always better to go out on a high note, instead of continuing to create movies until the storylines are so overdone that audiences just stop caring.
We don’t know much about the new Toy Story film, but Disney has released a few details.
As you may remember from Toy Story 4, Woody chose to leave Bonnie and his fellow toys to help abandoned toys find new homes. That decision left Jessie in charge of Bonnie’s room and made Buzz Lightyear her second-in-command.
Related: Several ‘Toy Story’ Characters Get Their Own Spinoff, Official Trailer Revealed
The new film will address something that the prior films have not: changing technology and the new toys that have come from those changes. Disney and Pixar have confirmed that a new toy, a tablet named Lilypad, will make its debut in Toy Story 5.
However, a new image from the film has fans up in arms and worried that some MAJOR characters will not be making an appearance.
The newly released image featured Jessie standing on Bonnie’s bed, and other characters can be seen on the floor, including Buttercup, Rex, Hamm, Dolly, Mr. Pricklepants, Trixie, and the ever-present aliens.
Related: Tim Allen Reveals Major ‘Toy Story 5’ News!
Along with the new image, the X (formerly Twitter) account Mario + Minion Dude (@mariominiondude) also shared newly rendered images of Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Lilypad.
Many fans began wondering where other classic characters were, primarily Slinky Dog and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. Things got so heated that some angry commenters felt that Disney had cut the characters because the company was “woke.”
NO POTATO HEADS THIS IS TERRIBLE
NO POTATO HEADS THIS IS TERRIBLE
— Orange Feline (@Paintown67) July 6, 2025
Woke incoming
Woke incoming
— ヒーロー❤️ (@hyprasingro) July 7, 2025
Of course, accusations of Disney cutting characters for political or ideological reasons were quickly shut down, as many commenters were reminded that the actors who played Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head died. Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head) passed away in 2017, while Estelle Harris (Mrs. Potato Head) died in 2022.
In order to make Mr. Potato Head part of Toy Story 4, Pixar dug through two decades worth of Don Rickles’ voice sessions and deleted scenes, and were able to piece together a role for the beloved character.
Other commenters worried that the movie was going to cut Buzz and Woody, but as stated above, Tim Allen and Tom Hanks have already confirmed their roles in the new film.
It is also important to note that characters not seen in the new photo — like Slinky Dog, Forky, and Bullseye — have already been confirmed for Toy Story 5 via other official photos released by Disney and Pixar.
It has further been confirmed that Erie Hudson will voice Combat Carl, taking over for the late Carl Weathers, and Conan O’Brien will play a new character named Smarty Pants. Anna Faris is also reportedly confirmed for the movie, but her role is undisclosed.
Toy Story 5 is scheduled to be released on June 19, 2026.
Would you be disappointed if Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head were not in Toy Story 5, or do you think Disney should honor the actors who played them and not recast their voices? What characters are you looking forward to seeing in the new movie? Do you think Disney and Pixar should continue to make Toy Story movies, or is it time for the franchise to conclude? Let us know all your thoughts on Toy Story in the comments!