Woody and Buzz Reunite in Trailer for Toy Story 5 as Frog-Like Tablet Lilypad Upends Playtime
A newly released trailer for the fifth entry in the toy story franchise reunites Woody with his original group while introducing a frog-shaped smart tablet called Lilypad that threatens traditional play. The preview offers the clearest look yet at returning characters, new voices and a central conflict that sets the sequel on course for its June 19 theatrical release.
Toy Story — What happened and what’s new
The trailer, released by the film’s creators, shows the return of core characters including Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie alongside familiar faces such as Forky, Hamm and Slinky Dog. It also introduces Lilypad, described on-screen as a frog-like tablet whose high-tech features create a new challenge to the toys’ role in a child’s life. In the clip Lilypad is framed as having “disruptive ideas about what is best for their kid, Bonnie. ”
Key moments in the trailer include a reunion between Buzz and Woody: Buzz greets Woody with the line “It’s been too long cowboy, ” then embraces a slightly balding Woody, and the pair quickly fall back into their old bickering. That reunion follows Woody’s choice at the end of the previous film to leave the group and help abandoned toys, a decision the new trailer directly acknowledges.
The cast in the preview mixes returning and new voices. Joan Cusack returns as Jessie; familiar toy characters such as Hamm and Forky appear; Mr Potato Head is voiced by Jeff Bergman following the death of the prior actor for that role. New additions include the voice of Lilypad, played by Past Lives star Greta Lee, and several other newcomers identified by name in the trailer. A cheerful talking GPS hippo toy and a camera toy also appear among the new characters.
Musically, the trailer features the classic Randy Newman song “You’ve Got a Friend in Me, ” and Newman is confirmed to return with an original score for the film. A tagline teased in the promotional material reads: “Times may change but friends are forever. ” The film is scheduled to be released in cinemas on June 19 (ET).
Behind the headline — context, incentives and stakeholders
The trailer frames Toy Story 5 as a sequel that directly confronts changes in toy technology and the shifting landscape of play. The central tension presented is between long-established toys whose identities are tied to being playable companions, and a new smart device that redefines how a child might engage with playthings.
- Who gains: New characters tied to modern technology are positioned to attract interest and expand narrative possibilities.
- Who risks losing: Traditional toys within the story are shown to face obsolescence, and the trailer foregrounds their need to adapt or resist to preserve their purpose.
- Leverage points: The reunion of Woody with the original gang and the emotional beats of familiar character dynamics are presented as the franchise’s core appeal amid technological disruption.
The trailer deliberately uses reunion beats, familiar music and a suggestive antagonist to signal a mix of nostalgia and novelty as the film’s selling points.
What we still don’t know and what happens next
- Missing pieces: The trailer does not reveal the full plot trajectory, the depth of Lilypad’s influence on Bonnie or how extended character arcs will resolve. Specific roles and screen time for several newly announced cast members remain unclear.
- Open questions: How Woody’s previous decision to live away from Bonnie will play into the new story; whether the toys will find a way to coexist with or counter the new technology; and the narrative function of each new character beyond their initial introduction.
- Next-step scenarios:
- Toy adaptation: The toys find ways to adapt to modern play, integrating or outsmarting Lilypad — full resolution likely revealed in the film release on June 19 (trigger: theatrical premiere).
- Escalation and conflict: Lilypad’s disruptive design intensifies competition for a child’s attention, prompting a factional response among toys — trigger: additional trailers or clips that show extended conflict scenes.
- Emotional reunion focus: The film centers on character relationships, using the technological threat as backdrop to resolve Woody’s and Buzz’s dynamic — trigger: promotional interviews or materials highlighting character-driven themes.
Near term, further marketing material and the June 19 release will clarify plotlines and character roles. For fans and observers, the trailer establishes the sequel’s primary conflict and signals a blend of nostalgia with a premise built around changing forms of play.
