11 Facts You Don’t Know About Toy Story 5
Toy Story 5 will arrive in cinemas on 19th June 2025, and will this time see the iconic toys compete for 8-year-old Bonnie’s attention, as she becomes fascinated with the educational tablet Lilypad.
If you cannot wait for the film to arrive and want to learn more about it, you’ll be happy to know we have plenty of Toy Story 5 trivia to make you feel excited for its upcoming release.
Continue reading to discover 11 facts you don’t know about Toy Story 5.
1. Andrew Stanton Returned for Toy Story 5
You might be thrilled to know that Andrew Stanton, who co-wrote the first four films, returned to write and co-direct Toy Story 5.
In addition to writing Toy Story 1-5, Stanton co-directed A Bug’s Life (1998) and directed Finding Nemo (2003), WALL-E (2008), and Finding Dory (2016).
2. A Return to the Original Aspect Ratio
Toy Story 5 marks the return to a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, which was used in the first three films. It is a departure from a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, which is a widescreen format.
It is a return to Toy Story’s original style, which could delight many fans of the movie franchise, as it will provide a more intimate frame for each character.
3. The Film Took Over 4 Years
Toy Story 5 reportedly took four years to make. Tim Allen confirmed in 2023 that the film had been in development for some time, and the scripting and pre-production phase is believed to have started in late 2023 to early 2024.
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen also confirmed they started their voice work in late 2024, with many voice actors wrapping their recording sessions in late 2025.
Four years is a typical timeframe for the film franchise, as Toy Story 1 and 3 followed a similar schedule. Miraculously, Toy Story 2 took nine months to make, and Toy Story 4 took five years due to script rewrites.
4. The Teaser Trailer Earned 142 Million Online Views within 24 Hours
The Toy Story 5 teaser trailer earned an impressive 142 million online views within its first 24 hours.
It is believed a significant number of these views came from Instagram and TikTok, as the teaser went viral almost immediately.
It is now one of the most-watched animated trailers in film history, outperforming Inside Out 2 and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s trailer numbers.
5. Conan O’Brien Role as Smarty Pants Started as a Joke
The idea of Smarty Pants, a tablet-based toilet training toy, was initially a joke between Pixar’s executives and Conan O’Brien.
However, the executives loved the idea of the high-tech yet pretentious toy that they decided to turn him into a Toy Story 5 character.
6. Ernie Hudson Didn’t Know He Was Replacing Carl Weathers
Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) voices Combat Carl in Toy Story 5, replacing Carl Weathers, who passed away in February 2024.
However, Pixar didn’t reveal Hudson’s character until he started working on it. The 80-year-old veteran actor said, “I was very happy to be included, but I didn’t know I was stepping in for Carl, who was a good friend.”
7. Greta Lee Voices Lilypad
In January 2025, it was rumoured that Anna Faris was joining the Toy Story 5 voice cast, with many believing she would play the educational smart tablet Lilypad.
However, it was announced in November 2025 that Greta Lee (The Morning Show) would voice the new character, who is eight-year-old Bonnie’s new favourite plaything.
8. A New Rendering Technique was Used for Lilypad
To help Lilypad stand out from the toys in Toy Story 5, Pixar used a new rendering technique to create her screen-glow aesthetic.
The rendering is a visual contrast to the traditional toys’ plastic yet warm textures, supporting the toys vs tech narrative.
9. Craig Robinson Will Voice Atlas
Craig Robinson (The Office) lends his distinctive voice to the brand-new character Atlas in Toy Story 5. However, Pixar has yet to reveal who he is or his role in the film.
It isn’t the first animated character Robinson has voiced, as he is Mr. Shark in The Bad Guys.
10. A Toy Story 5 Parade Appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
In celebration of the summer 2026 release of Toy Story 5, a giant Buzz Lightyear float appeared in the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The event featured a Commemorative Edition sticker on Buzz’s arm, which served as a teaser for the multi-Buzz army that appears in the fifth installment.
11. Tim Allen Had to Voice Many Glitchy Versions of Buzz Lightyear
Tim Allen spent a significant amount of time in the recording studio for Toy Story 5, as he had to voice 50 glitchy versions of Buzz Lightyear.
The 50 commemorative units each have differing personalities and verbal tics determined by their demo mode malfunction.
The 50 Buzz Lightyears are washed up on a beach in a shipping container, with a software glitch convincing them that they’ve landed on an alien planet.
12. A Toy Story 5 Easter Egg May Feature in the Film Hoppers
The upcoming Pixar film Hoppers (2025) reportedly features a specific Toy Story 5 Easter egg.
The movie is believed to feature a reference to a defective toy or tablet-style interface connected to the much-loved franchise. Keep your eyes peeled for it!
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