The highly anticipated first teaser trailer for Pixar's "Toy Story 5" has been released, promising a new adventure for Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the beloved gang. Set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026, the fifth installment in the iconic series introduces a formidable new antagonist: technology itself, personified by a high-tech, frog-shaped tablet named Lilypad.

Lilypad, voiced by the remarkably talented Greta Lee, is designed to provide endless hours of fun while simultaneously rendering the traditional toys obsolete. The teaser footage vividly depicts the terror Lilypad instills in the existing toy characters, including Rex, Forky, and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, who are shown quaking in fear even before the device is activated. Woody and Buzz Lightyear are seen holding tightly to each other, anticipating the challenges this new technology will bring. This apparent terror is playfully juxtaposed with Lilypad's friendly voice and facade, which merely expresses a desire to play, yet the other toys understand it will make their existence exponentially harder. This dynamic sets up a perfect clash between the digital age and the traditional world of toys, a theme that director Andrew Stanton and Pixar chief Pete Docter have been teasing for some time.

Greta Lee's casting adds significant talent to the already star-studded "Toy Story" universe. Lee, known for her roles in "Tron: Ares," Kathryn Bigelow's "A House of Dynamite," "The Morning Show," and her breakout performance in the Oscar-nominated film "Past Lives," brings a "playfully antagonistic tone with humor and heart" to Lilypad, as noted by Stanton and co-director Kenna Harris. Lee is the second major new character announced for "Toy Story 5," joining Conan O'Brien, who is set to voice Smarty Pants, a toilet training tech toy.

The film sees the return of core voice actors, including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as the fiery cowgirl Jessie, and Tony Hale as the hand-crafted Forky. Blake Clark also returns as Slinky Dog. Notably, "Ghostbusters" star Ernie Hudson has joined the cast to take over the role of Combat Carl, previously voiced by the late Carl Weathers.

While the reunion of Buzz and Woody for another tech-centric adventure will undoubtedly be a highlight, "Toy Story 5" is being shaped as a particularly Jessie-centric tale. The previous film, "Toy Story 4," concluded with Jessie inheriting Woody's sheriff badge, a development that now positions her to lead the charge against their new technological adversary. Tim Allen has described the story as "very, very clever," emphasizing Jessie's central role with support from her friends. Faced with such an existential threat to the legacy of playtime, the entire toy ensemble will need to band together.

"Toy Story 5" marks Pixar's 31st feature film. The "Toy Story" franchise holds a special place in cinematic history, with the original 1995 film setting a groundbreaking precedent as the first fully-computer animated feature. Disney, after distributing the first two films, acquired Pixar in 2006. The series continued its success with "Toy Story 3" in 2010 and "Toy Story 4" in 2019, both of which surpassed $1 billion at the global box office and earned Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature. While Pixar's recent box office performance has seen fluctuations, with "Elio" grossing $152 million compared to "Inside Out 2" achieving over $1.5 billion in 2024, the consistent success of its sequels, particularly within its longest-running and most lucrative franchise, offers reason for optimism for "Toy Story 5".