To Infinity and Beyond: The Return of Toy Story

Toy Story 5 (2026) is the latest installment in one of Pixar’s longest running series. Its first movie came out in 1995—over 30 years ago—and now in 2026, Pixar is still cranking out more. Even after so much time has passed, Toy Story still holds relevance in the modern era, and this new addition only proves it. 

When Toy Story (1995) was released, it received widespread acclaim. It was praised for its animation and a plot that was accessible for both kids and adults. The characters, like Buzz and Woody, reflected some of the popular toys of the time. In the movie, Buzz is gifted to Andy, a young kid playing with his toys. Buzz is a newer, advanced model, similar to the ones in the 90’s, and has more of an appeal to the younger generation. Woody, on the other hand, is an old cowboy, influenced by the 1950s’s howdy dowdy puppets. Andy, as a result, starts to grow fonder of Buzz. Woody feels replaced, like how the newer models supersede those from past years.

In today’s world, with Pixar’s Toy Story 5, the themes in this movie show resemblance to our modern day society. Bonnie, a young girl, is one of the only people who still plays with toys in her neighborhood, and because of that, she struggles to make friends. Everyone communicates via Lilypad, which is an electronic device that bears a resemblance to an iPad. It sheds light on how, in the digital age, kids are becoming more reliant on technology for fun and play and less on toys. Later in the movie, Bonnie gets a Lilypad and is able to make friends, but the connections she makes are artificial and her friendships aren’t heartfelt. She feels more isolated and alone as a result.

Towards the end, Jessie and Lilypad work together to help Bonnie form a friendship that’s genuine, showing how technology can be helpful as long as it’s balanced with authenticity. Pixar tries to convey that kids can utilize technology while toys can still hold importance. Bonnie doesn’t need to choose between one or the other—she only needs to find a balance between the two. 

From the looks of the reviews and charts, Toy Story 5 won’t be the last Toy Story, nor will it be the last one that performs well. The relationship between toys and kids is constantly evolving, changing from each decade to the next, and each movie that Pixar releases will always be relatable in some way and appeal to the audience. This time, Pixar conveys the importance of technology in our modern-day world while balancing it with relics from the past. It shows how kids can use technology while also still enjoying toys. 

But even if you aren’t a kid, this movie still holds a place in people’s hearts. The singer and songwriter Taylor Swift wrote the single “I Knew It, I Knew You” for Toy Story 5 because she fell in love with the movie. She says that writing it felt like “second nature” and that she was a “Toy Story kid from age of 5 till now.” “I Knew It, I Knew You” is about reconnecting with a friend or person after a long time apart and the feelings that it evokes, like deep-rooted love and nostalgia for childhood memories. She wrote it from Jessie’s perspective, a toy who feels nostalgic when she remembers her previous owner, though it can also be applied to people reconnecting with their toys and memories from the past.

Overall, this new movie was a hit—it succeeded in connecting to a newer generation and even inspired a talented singer. Toy Story 5 was able to do it all, bridging the gap between technology and toys—old and new.