Tech Catches Up With ‘Toy Story 5’ & It’s a Bittersweet Tale

Technology has finally caught up with Woody and his friends in Toy Story 5, resulting in a bittersweet tale that might mark the end of the long-running animated series that has entertained generations of viewers.

When the feature animation ‘Toy Story 1’ premiered in 1995, it won the Special Achievement Award. The animation showed, for the first time, what it feels like for a toy when it is discarded for a new, shiny one. The plot is symbolic, as it teaches children to value their friends and others in their lives, for they all add value to their lives in different ways.

Fast forward 31 years and two Academy Awards – Toy Story 3 (2010) and Toy Story 4 (2019) later, the toy gangs are battling a different villain – Technology. Cowgirl toy Jessie has worked hard all summer on strategies to help their human owner Bonnie make friends. But the arrival of the Millie-pad, a screen touch game pad, upsets their plans as Bonnie is holed up in her room, glued to the pad.

At her wits’ end, Jessie puts across an SOS call to Woody, who is on a mission to save abandoned toys.

“Tech has invaded our house, too. I am losing to this device.”

“I don’t know Jessie. Toys are for play, but tech is for everything.”

Woody does answer the call, along with Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and friends, who go to war for the soul and happiness of every child.

“Our mission on this planet is to make a child happy,” said Lightyear. The result will be one of two things: the toys are eviscerated, or they find a way to co-exist with other Millie-pads. And with the child’s happiness in the balance, it behoves the toys to consider Millie-pad’s point: “Bonnie needs help from someone from her own century.”

Netizens gushed with nostalgia at the trailer:

“Jessie is reliving her old trauma with Bonnie now. Poor thing,” @SHEABUDDHA

“From being the first computer-animated film to having multiple photorealistic shots. What a journey,” @ayywhb

“Pixar knows we are watching this trailer on our phones and some kids on their iPads,” @MasterShlemonOfficial

“Toys are for play, tech is for everything. That line honestly hits pretty hard,” @Jackthelord

“It’s actually pretty poetic that Jessie is basically experiencing what Woody went through when he first met Buzz,” @lightyearpig12

“Toy Story 3 seemed like a perfect ending, and I remember it feeling cheap when 4 came out. But as a ’90s kid who grew up with this series, playing with toys, and now a teacher, Toy Story 5 might be one of the most important movies to come out right now,” @wwCs49

Toy Story 5 will premiere in Cinemas on June 19.