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Toy Story 5’s Villain Revealed — And It’s Not What You’d Expect”
15
Jun
Jun
Pixar recently debuted concept art and story beats for Toy Story 5, unveiling a playful yet formidable new nemesis that challenges Bonnie—and the toys—in a brand-new way
The New Villain: Lily Pad, the Frog-Themed Tablet
- Revealed at the Annecy Animation Film Festival, Lily Pad is a brightly colored, frog-shaped children’s tablet designed to compete for Bonnie’s attention.
- In Pete Docter’s words: “It’s a new tech tablet… but Lily can also be a bit sneaky and prickly… in her mind Bonnie needs to move on from toys”.
- This “toy vs. tech” theme carries through the tagline “Toy meets Tech”, spotlighting the clash between Bonnie’s traditional toys and modern devices.
A Familiar Face(s) in Unfamiliar Terrain
- The film opens with multiple Buzz Lightyear toys waking on a remote beach, shipwrecked from a container, from which they’ll build a makeshift raft to “remember their allegiance to Star Command”.
- Woody, Buzz, Jessie (Joan Cusack returns), and the rest of the gang will team up again—but tensions are already bubbling between Woody and Buzz.
Stars and Creators on Board
- Woody and Buzz Lightyear return with original voices: Tom Hanks and Tim Allen.
- Joan Cusack reprises Jessie.
- New voice talents: Conan O’Brien (as “Smarty Pants”) and Ernie Hudson stepping in as Combat Carl .
- Directed and written by Andrew Stanton, co-directed by McKenna Harris, and produced by Jessica Choi.
Release Date
Mark your calendars: June 19, 2026 for the theatrical release of Toy Story 5.
📱 Social Buzz: Twitter First Look
Fans are already reacting to the concept art montage:
“First concept art from #ToyStory5 has been released. The LilyPad will be the villain.”
Check out the discussion here on X (formerly Twitter):
▶️ YouTube Highlight: Meet Lily Pad
Watch this video breakdown for a closer look at the new tablet-villain and what it might mean for Bonnie—and the toys:
🔍 What Makes Lily Pad So Intriguing?
- Symbolic Rivalry: Lily Pad isn’t evil in a traditional sense—it represents modern technology distracting Bonnie from her beloved members of the toy family.
- Character Conflict: Bonnie, now eight, stands at the crossroads of childhood—torn between cherished toys and digital allure.
- Emotional Stakes: The toys confront the risk of being replaced, emotionally and physically—with Woody stepping up, Buzz confronting his duplicates, and Jessie anchoring leadership.
👀 What to Expect Next
- More concept art, trailers, and teaser clips likely to come during D23 or next year’s festivals.
- Voice talent interviews (Tim Allen has teased significant intrigue around Buzz, Jessie, and a surprising “iPad kids” subplot).
- A peek into Pixar’s evolving exploration of childhood through the lens of technology and nostalgia, ushering in “Toy meets Tech.”
