Toys Story 5: Is Technology Better than Toys?

Pixar’s latest Toy Story film looks at how technology is changing the way children play.

Toy Story 5 brings back some of Pixar’s most favourite characters, including Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie. But this time, the toys face a different kind of problem: technology.

Released in June 2026, the film follows Bonnie as she becomes interested in a new tablet called Lilypad. At the start of the film, the story focuses on Bonnie’s struggle to make friends. This becomes an important part of the story as she turns to technology to connect with other children, while creating new problem for Jessie and the other toys. They are no longer competing with another toy. They are competing with a tablet with multiple features that can offer different forms of entertainment and interaction. It can play games, show videos, and connect Bonnie with other people.

Compared with traditional toys, the tablet offers something new and exciting every time she uses it.

This became a challenge for Jessie and the other toys to get Bonnie’s attention. The film shows how technology can easily become more attractive to children because it provides instant entertainment.

One of the most interesting parts of Toy Story 5 is how it shows the way technology is changing how children play. In the earlier films, the toys were worried about being replaced by newer toys. In this film, technology becomes the main competition.

“Toys are for play, but tech is for everything” – Woody from Toy Story 5

Lilypad gives Bonnie something different from her traditional toys. It allows her to communicate and connect with other children through a device.

The film does not say that technology is bad. Instead, it shows both sides. Technology can help children connect with others, but too much screen time could also mean less time for imagination and physical play.

This makes the story feel relevant to children today.

There is a risk that Pixar relies too much on a franchise that may only attract older generations who grew up with the original films. However, the new film gives a new story by showing how technology has become a part of childhood.

In this sequel, Woody is no longer the main character. It gives Jessie a bigger role and focuses on a problem that many families can understand.


Most of the critics have reacted positively to the film. Variety praised Toy Story 5 for continuing its familiar themes of childhood, change and growing up, while also bringing in a more modern issue.

SPOILER ALERT: Toy Story provides us a sweet wedding scene where Jessie and Buzz Lightyear get married. In this scene, Bonnie and Blaze use their toys to create their own imaginary wedding, including Lilypad. This scene shows how traditional toys and technology do not necessarily compete. Instead, they can both become part of the children’s playing experience.

The film also takes an unexpected turn as viewers would assume that Lilypad is the antagonist. Instead, Lilypad teams up with Jessie to help Bonnie’s well-being. This shows that traditional toys and technology can work together, giving the story a more positive and balanced view of technology.

For people who grew up watching Toy Story, seeing a new sequel can be an emotional experience, bringing back memories of their childhood.

But the film is not only about nostalgia. It gives the viewers a glimpse of how childhood would look like when technology is such a big part of everyday life, which older generation may not have experienced in the past.

The toys represent imagination, creativity and traditional play. Lilypad represents the world that children are growing up with.

The film does not suggest that technology must replace toys. Instead, it encourages us to enhance playing with toys with the help of technology.

This may be relevant to people who grew up with Toy Story and are now having children of their own. They can see the familiar characters from their childhood being introduced to a new generation, while also relating the film’s message about how technology is changing the way children play.

After four successful films, Toy Story 5 gives the franchise something new to talk about while bringing a fresh sense of humour to the story. By bringing in technology, such as Wi-Fi, smart devices and drones, the film reflects how much childhood has changed since the first Toy Story.



It connects a familiar childhood story with a current issue. Technology is changing how children communicate, learn, and play, and Pixar uses its beloved characters to explore that change.

For older viewers, it is a reminder of the toys they grew up with. For younger viewers, it is a story about finding a place for both technology and imagination.

Pixar has once again found a way to turn a familiar childhood story into something relevant after so many years. By bringing technology into the story, Toy Story 5 connects the childhood many viewers remember with the childhood children are experiencing today.