Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
Toy Story 5 is doubling down on nostalgia.
After four films that many believed had neatly wrapped up the story, Pixar is returning once more to its flagship franchise.
The first trailer for Toy Story 5 suggests the studio is not shying away from comparisons to earlier chapters, reviving old tensions and long-running themes that defined the series.
Whether audiences feel the saga needs another installment remains an open question.
Familiar fears return
Much of the new film appears to circle back to a core idea that has driven the franchise since 1995: the anxiety of being replaced.
In the trailer, a new character named Lilypad barges into Bonnie’s room, triggering fresh worries among the toys that they may no longer matter. The premise echoes earlier turning points, from Buzz Lightyear’s arrival in the original film to Woody’s damage in Toy Story 2 and Andy’s departure for college in Toy Story 3.
The sense of looming irrelevance has long powered the emotional stakes of the series, and Toy Story 5 seems poised to revisit that same uncertainty.
Meta nods abound
The trailer openly references the franchise’s past. When Lilypad first appears, Rex responds with, “Extinction… not again!” The line works as a dinosaur joke but also gestures toward the toys’ repeated brushes with being cast aside or destroyed.
Later, Hamm remarks, “It’s good to see them [Woody & Buzz] fighting again.” The comment highlights the return of the duo’s familiar rivalry, a dynamic that defined the earlier films and was notably altered in Toy Story 4.
Other moments double down on nostalgia: a play-acting wedding for Forky, a confrontation on Bonnie’s bed that mirrors Woody and Buzz’s first showdown, and a reprise of “You Got a Friend in Me.” Even a car-chase sequence recalls past escapades.
Fresh stakes or repeat?
Despite the callbacks, Pixar appears to be layering in new elements. Jessie’s memories of Emily resurface, and an army of Buzz Lightyears hints at larger-scale chaos. A visibly aging Woody introduces themes that edge closer to mortality and the passage of time.
The franchise has historically maintained critical and commercial strength, even as other long-running series have faltered. That track record may reassure fans wary of sequel fatigue.
Still, Toy Story 4 divided some viewers who felt the series had already reached a natural conclusion with Toy Story 3.
Combined with Pixar’s more uneven recent box office performance, questions remain over whether a fifth entry can justify its existence.
For now, the trailer signals a film fully aware of its legacy and willing to revisit it head-on.
Sources: ScreenRant
