Remember 1995?
ADVERTISEMENT The OJ Simpson trial was dominating headlines; Diana candidly revealed that there were three people involved in her “crowded” marriage; Pogs reached peak popularity; Pierce Brosnan got his first stab at Bond; Oasis released ‘Wonderwall’, ensuring that no party or campfire would ever be the same again because of try-hard hopeless romantics armed with a guitar; and EVERYONE was attempting “The Rachel” haircut.
Then there was Toy Story, the first-ever all-computer-animated feature which represented a seismic shift and heralded a new era for animation films.
That was over three decades ago.
Feel free to take a moment as you wrestle with the ceaseless march of time that will eventually claim you, your dreams, and your hairline.
Yes, time has its way with us all, and Pixar has ensured that no one forgets it in their new Toy Story 5 trailer. In it, the toy gang are faced with new antagonist Lilypad, a tablet device that threatens the plastic friends. Jessie calls on everyone’s favourite sheriff cowboy for help, but when Woody arrives… He’s aged.
At one point, Woody takes off his hat, revealing a bald spot and the other toys look shell-shocked. Trixie the Triceratops quips, “Someone needs a brown marker.”
Later, Lilypad snarkily remarks to Woody: “What are you, some sort of old man toy?”
The reveal, first spotted on February 19th, has quickly gone viral, with many Toy Story fans feeling nostalgic, emotional, and reminded of their own age. The moment is resonating particularly strongly given the franchise’s long history and the emotional connection audiences have with these characters, who have, in a sense, grown up alongside them.
The depiction of aging, even in a playful, animated context, is a relatively rare sight in mainstream entertainment. While the internet has responded with humor – some joked that Toy Story 6 would be about Woody getting a hair transplant – the underlying sentiment speaks to a broader cultural conversation about accepting the natural process of aging, particularly for men. The response highlights a shift in attitudes, with many praising Pixar for normalizing a reality often avoided in visual media.
The trailer also offers a glimpse into the plot of Toy Story 5, which sees the abandoned toys uniting to battle against technology – specifically, Lilypad, the tablet – that has “invaded” children’s homes. This premise taps into contemporary anxieties about the increasing role of technology in childhood and the potential displacement of traditional toys. The narrative positions Woody and his friends as defenders of a simpler, more tactile form of play, a theme that is likely to resonate with parents and audiences alike.
Tom Hanks reprises his role as Woody, and Joan Cusack returns as Jessie, who now leads the group. The film is slated for release on .
Don’t even begin to pretend you’ve aged out of this series, dear reader. We know we’ll see you in line come opening weekend.
