TL;DR: Pixar officially announced that Toy Story 5 is coming in June 2026, and the "villain" isn't a disgruntled teddy bear or a creepy doll—it’s a tablet. The movie is leaning directly into the "screens vs. toys" struggle every modern parent deals with daily. While we wait for the release, it's a great time to revisit the Toy Story franchise or check out shows like Bluey that celebrate the kind of imaginative play the movie is trying to protect.
We all thought the series wrapped up perfectly with Toy Story 3, and then we thought it really wrapped up with Toy Story 4. But Pixar is heading back to the toy box for a fifth installment, directed by Andrew Stanton (the mind behind Finding Nemo and WALL-E).
The premise is surprisingly meta: Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang are facing their most formidable opponent yet: The Tablet.
Concept art released at D23 shows a group of toys looking neglected at the foot of a bed while a child is huddled under the covers, face illuminated by the cold blue glow of a screen. It’s a visual every parent recognizes. This isn't just a movie about toys anymore; it’s a movie about the attention economy and how it’s changing childhood.
For the last 30 years, Toy Story has been a love letter to the power of imagination and the secret life of physical objects. But the world has changed since 1995.
In our community data, we see that by age seven, over 65% of kids have regular access to a tablet, and by age ten, that number jumps to nearly 90%. The "iPad kid" phenomenon isn't just a meme; it’s the reality of modern play.
When a kid plays with LEGO, they are the director, the writer, and the actor. When a kid plays Roblox or watches YouTube Kids, they are often being fed a stream of content designed by algorithms to keep them clicking. Pixar is essentially making a movie about the death of boredom—and why that’s a problem for childhood development.
In previous movies, the "bad guy" was usually someone who didn't value toys correctly (Sid), a toy who felt abandoned (Lotso), or a toy who wanted to be a collector's item (Stinky Pete).
By making the tablet the villain, Pixar is shifting the conflict from "human vs. toy" to "analog vs. digital." It’s a gutsy move because, let’s be honest, most of us will probably end up watching Toy Story 5 on a tablet at some point.
If you want to lean into the themes of imagination and "unplugged" play before 2026, here are some top-tier recommendations that handle the tech-balance well:
If Toy Story is the gold standard for movies about play, Bluey is the gold standard for TV. It is essentially an instructional manual for parents on how to play with their kids. It rarely features screens, focusing instead on how the simplest household objects can become a magic portal. Check out our guide on why Bluey is the ultimate "anti-brain rot" show
If you want a movie that tackles the "tech is taking over" theme with a lot of humor and heart, this is it. It’s chaotic, visually stunning, and handles the nuance of "tech is great but also kind of ruining our family dinners" perfectly.
Is The Mitchells vs. The Machines too scary for younger kids?
If you are going to give them tablet time, this is one of the better options. It’s a digital dollhouse. There are no "levels" or "winning," which reduces the dopamine-loop stress. It encourages the same kind of storytelling kids do with physical toys. Read our full review of Toca Boca World
This is the ultimate bridge. It uses the Nintendo Switch but requires kids to build physical cardboard contraptions (a piano, a fishing rod, a robot suit) to play. It’s literally "toys meet tech" in a way that feels productive rather than passive.
While we don't have an official rating yet, every Toy Story movie has been Rated G or PG.
- Ages 2-5: They will love the slapstick humor and seeing Buzz and Woody again. They probably won't get the "screens are bad" subtext, and that’s fine.
- Ages 6-10: This is the target demographic. They are the ones currently negotiating for more Minecraft time. The movie might actually spark a good conversation about why they feel "bored" when the tablet is taken away.
- Ages 11+: Expect some eye-rolls. Tweens are savvy; they might see the movie as "boomer propaganda" if Pixar isn't careful. However, if the movie acknowledges that tech is fun but just needs boundaries, it might actually land.
Pixar has a history of making us cry about our own parenting choices. (Remember the "Take her to the moon for me" scene in Inside Out? I'm still not over it.)
Expect Toy Story 5 to trigger some "iPad guilt." As a Screenwise community, we try to move away from guilt and toward intentionality.
A tablet isn't a villain in real life; it's a tool. The problem is when the tool becomes the only way a child knows how to engage with the world. If your kid spends four hours on YouTube watching someone else play with toys instead of playing with their own, that’s the "villainous" behavior the movie is targeting.
Learn more about the "Passive vs. Active" screen time distinction
You don't have to wait until 2026 to have this conversation. Use the trailer or the news about the movie as a jumping-off point:
- "Why do you think the toys are sad that the kid has a tablet?" (Helps them see the perspective of physical play).
- "What’s something you can do with a toy that you can’t do on an iPad?" (Focuses on tactile creativity, like building a fort or getting toys messy).
- "Do you ever feel like the tablet is 'winning' your attention?" (A great way to check in on their own digital wellness).
Toy Story 5 feels like Pixar’s attempt to reclaim childhood from the algorithm. Whether they succeed or it ends up feeling like a lecture remains to be seen. But for intentional parents, this is a huge cultural moment. It’s an opportunity to look at our living rooms and ask: Are the toys winning, or is the screen?
If you're feeling like the screens are winning in your house, don't panic. You don't need to throw the iPad out the window. You just need a plan.
Next Steps: