Toy Story 5 Review: Pixar's Beloved Franchise Shows Signs of Franchise Fatigue

The fifth instalment of Pixar's Toy Story franchise has arrived, and while it maintains the studio's signature slick animation and polished production values, critics argue the series is running low on creative fuel. The film introduces a new antagonist in the form of a tablet device called Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee, which threatens to replace traditional imaginative play with addictive technology. However, the movie ultimately softens its critique by portraying the device as capable of sentimental heroism, a narrative choice that has disappointed reviewers seeking bolder storytelling.

The plot reunites familiar characters, including Woody (Tom Hanks), who now lives a feral existence away from human control, romantically paired with Bo Peep (Annie Potts), and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), who remains sheepishly in love with Jessie (Joan Cusack). Bonnie, the shy child from the fourth film, struggles as the only kid in her area who still plays with physical toys, and her acquisition of a Lilypad leads her into a world of online bullying. Meanwhile, a new character, Blaze (Mykal-Michelle Harris), a horse-loving farm girl, emerges as a potential friend.

The film attempts to recapture the emotional depth of earlier entries, particularly the heart-wrenching song "When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2, by incorporating a new song by Taylor Swift. However, critics note that the emotional payoff feels unearned, and the film's central theme of mortality appears underpowered. New characters, including obsolete battery-powered devices like Smarty Pants (voiced by Conan O'Brien), add comic relief but do little to revive the franchise's waning sense of jeopardy and novelty.

At more than 30 years old, the Toy Story series is a cornerstone of Pixar's golden age, but Toy Story 5 has left many reviewers questioning whether the franchise has reached its natural end. While the film is technically proficient, it suffers from what one critic described as "IP exhaustion," lacking the passion and originality that made its predecessors classics.