Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for “Toy Story 5.”
Pixar Animation Studios released its latest installment of the Toy Story franchise on June 19. “Toy Story 5” was announced in February 2023. Fans were wary of yet another installment, fearing that “Toy Story 5” would further threaten the legacy of the original “Toy Story” trilogy. However, expectations were far surpassed upon the film’s release, with it currently being rated a 95% by audiences and a 92% by critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Toy Story franchise began 31 years ago, and the world has changed immensely since 1995. The films have been a source of comfort and nostalgia for generations, reminding audiences of the magic of childhood and the inevitability of change as one grows up. But the relationship between children and technology is far different now.
Generation Alpha — the demographic born between 2010 and 2024 — is known for being “iPad kids,” with an unhealthy dependence on screens that replaces a traditional childhood focused on toys and playing outside. For many children, the themes found in the earlier Toy Story franchise are not relatable. One of the directors of “Toy Story 5,” Andrew Stanton, felt this societal change meant the franchise had more to explore, using the newest film to confront these issues head-on and meet the moment in a purposeful way.
Each “Toy Story” installment meditates on the relationship between children and imagination, told from the perspective of toys. The original trilogy followed the story of Andy, who eventually grew up and slowly forgot about his toys. It’s a familiar part of life and relays the message of the inevitability of change. Then in “Toy Story 4,” Andy’s toys have managed to build a new life with the character Bonnie (Scarlett Spears). But in “Toy Story 5,” the threat to toys is much more existential. The change that occurs is a total disruption of childhood that strays from the past narrative — technology threatens to end the relevance of toys permanently.
The first glimpse of Bonnie in the film is of her enjoying imaginative play with her toys — untouched by technology. However, it’s revealed she is having trouble making friends with other kids. But this isn’t just due to shyness; her peers have already moved past toys, despite still being very young, and instead play with technological devices. To show the scope of this issue, there’s a shot where the scene pans out and the toys realize every house in the neighborhood is illuminated by the glow of a device, as parents and children alike are glued to screens. This haunting scene shows just how widespread the issue of excessive technology use is.
This film reflects real-world struggles, like a parent’s decision to allow or limit their child’s screen time. Bonnie’s parents decide to give her a tablet called Lilypad (Greta Lee). They’re hesitant, but the other kids communicate through a device, so they feel it’s necessary in order for their daughter to make friends. The transformation of Bonnie’s character is instant; she becomes a shell of her former self. The joy and whimsy that previously characterized her instantly disappears. She spends all her time attached to her Lilypad. She forsakes her toys for the endless dopamine machine. She constantly holds it in her hands as if it’s glued to her.
Lilypad, like Bonnie’s parents, believes technology is the secret shortcut to friendship. And the tablet initially connects Bonnie with her peers. However, Bonnie soon forgoes the important build up of real friendships and is devastated when her dreams of a sleepover — a hallmark of girlhood — is shattered. Her new friends are addicted to their tablets and instead of actually socializing, they co-exist while looking at their individual screens.
The sleepover is traditionally a place for girls to socialize and be vulnerable with each other. But in “Toy Story 5,” the presence of devices destroys the formative experience. This scene shows how technology is not only replacing toys but fundamentally rewiring childhood development and friendship.
The film also delves into another negative side of online-based friendships: cyber-bullying. Bonnie is subjected to incessant bullying in an online chat between the girls. They make fun of her for still having toys, pressuring her to leave her childhood behind more quickly. Through these scenes, the film portrays how internet usage among young children can expose them to a type of bullying that is more widespread.
When Bonnie’s cowgirl doll Jessie (Joan Cusack) and her horse Bullseye (Alan Cumming) end up misplaced and arrive at the house of a different girl, Blaze (Mykhal-Michelle Harris), they realize that she is the perfect friend for Bonnie. Both girls love imaginative play and have therefore been rejected by peers. The friendship that blooms between the two is symbolic of how connections are stronger when built apart from screen time.
While at Blaze’s house, Jessie and Bullseye meet three new characters: Atlas (Craig Robinson), a GPS toy; Snappy (Shelby Rabara), a digital camera; and Smarty Pants (Conan O’Brien), a potty-training aid. They represent the era between analog and digital, when technology wasn’t so menacing. Before the takeover of phones, single-purpose devices could be used to perform functions without the risk of addiction. These characters help Jessie see that with limitation, technology can be helpful instead of harmful. This development reflects the real-life movement to go back to using single-purpose devices like digital cameras and iPods. Atlas, Snappy and Smarty Pants also bring humor to the film as they join Jessie on her journey to spark a friendship between Blaze and Bonnie.
“Toy Story 5” offers hope for those who are terrified by the prospect of the future being a dystopia of technology. The film is a reminder that there are still kids who value play and imagination. It refuses to accept the death of childhood whimsy and instead argues that there can be a balance between toys and technology. “Toy Story 5” comes at a time when the movement to get offline and indulge in youthful whimsy is growing stronger by the day. Amidst the darkness, this film shows it’s not too late to disconnect.
Ayiana Grana is an Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer. She can be reached at angrana@uci.edu.
Edited by Travis Foley and Geneses Navarro.
