Steamboat Charlie

Tag: Toy Story 5

  • Everything You Need To Know Ahead of Toy Story 5

    Everything You Need To Know Ahead of Toy Story 5

    Toy Story 5 releases tomorrow, and it’s safe to say anticipation is high. It’s been seven years since Toy Story 4 released and there have been a few changes and updates to the Toy Story universe. Here is everything you need to know ahead of Toy Story 5.

    Note: The below contains minor spoilers ahead of Toy Story 5!

    New Toys and Familiar Faces

    As with any Toy Story, we can expect all the usual suspects like Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Mr Potato Head and the gang are all back on the big screen. A number of supporting characters return too, including Toy Story 4 favourites Forky, Karen Beverly and Duke Caboom. Toy Story 5 also introduces a host of new characters, most notably the film’s villain, Lilypad, a smart tablet, voiced by Greta Lee. Fun fact, this is actually Greta Lee’s second Disney movie, having starred in Tron: Ares in 2025.

    The Buzz and Woody Reunion

    At the end of Toy Story 4, we saw Woody and Buzz part ways with Woody staying behind as a ‘lost toy’. From the trailers, We know Woody eventually ends up back with the gang and in Bonnie’s bedroom, however we don’t yet know how they reunite. Thankfully, the film does help bridge this gap and Buzz and Woody’s separation is not ignored. We will have to wait and see how it all it ties together, but I’m pleased it’s not being brushed aside!

    Jessie Takes the Spotlight

    Since Woody left Bonnie’s toys at the end of Toy Story 4, we see from the trailer that Jessie has taken over as the sheriff of Bonnie’s room. We know that Jessie goes head-to-head with Lilypad and they clash to protect Bonnie’s imagination and the film heavily resurfaces Jessie’s deeply rooted trauma and abandonment issues from Toy Story 2. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this plays out as I feel Jessie definitely played a much smaller role in the past few movies.

    The Creative Team Behind the Magic

    The fifth instalment of the Toy Story franchise is directed by two-time Academy Award winner Andrew Stanton (who directed Finding Nemo and WALL-E), alongside co-director Kenna Harris. Despite this being the first Toy Story movie Stanton has directed, he is well-versed in the Toy Story universe, having served as a writer for story and screenplay on all four previous films. It will be awesome to see the direction he takes Toy Story 5 in!

    The Return of Randy Newman

    There’s another familiar behind-the-scenes star returning for Toy Story 5 – none other than Randy Newman. Composer of the iconic “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and every Toy Story soundtrack ever since, it’s great to see Randy Newman return for the fifth instalment. The main single for Toy Story 5 is, however, provided by Taylor Swift, who contributed an original song titled “I Knew It, I Knew You”.

    Are you ready for one more adventure?

    It’s hard to believe we are finally getting a fifth chapter to a story that started all the way back in 1995. Whether you are rooting for Jessie’s new era as leader of the room, or just desperate to see how Buzz and Woody finally cross paths again, tomorrow is going to be an emotional day for Disney fans everywhere.

    What are your predictions for the movie? Do you think a smart tablet will make a good Pixar villain? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

  • 10 Underrated Side Characters in the Toy Story Franchise

    10 Underrated Side Characters in the Toy Story Franchise

    The vast, colourful cast of characters in the Toy Story franchise is a huge part of what makes the movies so enjoyable. From fan favourites like Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie, to Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head and their adopted Alien children, every character brings something unique to the Toy Story universe.

    But alongside the main cast, Toy Story also has a huge number of smaller characters who don’t always get the same amount of screen time, yet somehow manage to steal every scene they appear in.

    For this list, I’ve decided to focus on some of the more underrated side characters, rather than the obvious choices like Hamm, Rex or Bo Peep. These are the characters that might only have a few moments on screen, but still leave a lasting impression.

    Here are 10 of the best side characters in Toy Story:

    Sarge & Bucket o’ Soldiers

    As someone who spent most of their Saturday mornings growing up playing with toy soldiers and recreating epic battles across the living room floor, it’s no surprise that I have to include Sarge & the Bucket o’ Soldiers in my list! I really love the concept of the toys having their own personal army and the opening scene in Toy Story, where the soldiers spy on Andy’s birthday party, is just pure cinema! I’m a bit gutted we’ve not seen them since Toy Story 3 and even that was pretty much a farewell to the characters, but nevertheless, they are one of the best side character groups in the franchise.

    Three green plastic army men toys standing on a wooden shelf near a window, with one soldier saluting against a background of green trees and blue sky.

    Barrel of Monkeys

    Based on the real life toy by Milton Bradley, Barrel of Monkeys actually appears in all four Toy Story movies. I really love how Pixar used a board game and created ‘toys’ from it to bring it to life for the Toy Story films. Their hooked arms actually serve a lot of purpose in the Toy Story universe too, whether that’s attempting to rescue Buzz or to save RC. The “Death by Monkeys” scene in Toy Story 3 is genius too and a great example of how a child’s imagination can run wild.

    Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, and Rex looking out a wooden window frame at a chain of red plastic Barrel of Monkeys toys hanging down the outside wall.

    Chunk

    Toy Story 3 introduced us to a huge number of characters, and Lotso’s henchmen crew provide some of the more interesting minor characters in the movie. One of my personal favourites is Chunk, a rock-like monster from Sunnyside Daycare. He is the epitome of a tough guy goon, providing the muscle for Lotso while also delivering some great comic relief – one of his best lines is: “He ain’t the sharpest knife in the…uh…place where they keep the knives!”.

    Chunk, the rock-like monster toy from Toy Story 3, smiling with bright blue eyes alongside other henchmen toys at Sunnyside Daycare.

    Rocky Gibraltar

    Rocky Gibraltar is another character based on a real-life toy; the collectible Wrestling Superstars figures made by Hasbro. The character features fairly prominently in Toy Story – I love the “Strange Things” sequence in the movie where he works out with Buzz and then helps him repair his ship with the tape dispenser. We don’t see much of him outside of the first Toy Story, albeit a few scenes in Toy Story 2, but he’s a character who really stands out for me.

    The muscular Rocky Gibraltar action figure toy standing on a wooden floor in front of a closed door, flanked by four small green plastic army men.

    Peas-in-a-Pod

    A really unique set of characters, the Peas-in-a-Pod first appear in Toy Story 3 as one of Bonnie’s toys. I really love the concept of there essentially being three individual characters coming together to create one collective character and the Peas-in-a-Pod tie in works really well for this. They have a few funny interactions with both Woody and Mr Potato Head in Toy Story 3, but only have a minor appearance in Toy Story 4. Fingers crossed we see them again in Toy Story 5!

    Lenny

    Lenny is one of my favourite side characters in the Toy Story franchise, mainly because I had my own Lenny action figure way back in the late 90s which brings me so much nostalgia just thinking about! Lenny actually plays a fairly big role in Toy Story and then a bit of a smaller role in Toy Story 2, often acting as the eyes for the toys. I really love Lenny and Woody’s relationship in the first movie too, they really seem like good pals.

    Lenny the blue wind-up binoculars toy standing in the foreground, with Woody, Bo Peep, Rex, Slinky, and Mr. Potato Head gathered behind him inside a moving box.

    Hockey Puck

    Very much the definition of a minor character, Hockey Puck is only seen briefly in Toy Story after Mr. Potato Head grouchily asked him what he was looking at, to which he just shrugged. Little is known about what happens to the character after that, he is not seen in the moving van later in the movie or in any subsequent Toy Story features. Despite the limited screentime, I think this is just such a fun minor side character and the fact we never see him again other than that one scene where he has beef with Mr Potato Head, make Hockey Puck even more of a mystery!

    The minor character Hockey Puck from Toy Story, featuring a black puck body with crossed red hockey sticks, yellow hands, and red boots standing on a wooden floor.

    Mr Pricklepants

    Another of Bonnie’s existing toys we were introduced to in Toy Story 3, Mr Pricklepants is pretty iconic as far as side characters go! Sporting a William Shakespeare-esque accent, Mr Pricklepants serves as a nice change of pace from some of the more excitable toys that Bonnie has. I also love the fact that Mr Pricklepants is voiced by former James Bond star Timothy Dalton – how cool is that! Interestingly, John Hopkins will voice the character in Toy Story 5.

    Mr. Pricklepants the stuffed hedgehog wearing green lederhosen and a Tyrolean hat, standing on a table next to Buttercup the unicorn and Trixie the triceratops.

    Combat Carl

    Combat Carl action figures appear in various forms throughout the Toy Story franchise. First, in the first Toy Story movie, Sid famously explodes a Combat Carl figure with a firecracker. In the short Toy Story of TERROR!, a Combat Carl figure and a 4-inch one called Combat Carl Jr both appear, voiced by Carl Weathers. Then in Toy Story 4, three Combat Carl Jr.s assist Bo Peep – this time voiced by Ernie Hudson. Combat Carl is based on G.I. Joe action figures and whilst they often only have minor roles, I really love the continuity to the ‘Combat Carl’ brand in the Toy Story franchise.

    A binocular view of a green camouflage Combat Carl action figure with a firecracker strapped to its back, running as Sid's hand lights the fuse.

    Buster

    Of course, no side character list would be complete without a dog featuring! Andy’s dog Buster actually has a really great character arc over the course of the movies. Right at the end of Toy Story, Andy receives Buster as a Christmas present, much to the concern of the toys. By the time Toy Story 2 rolls around, Buster is an integral part of the toy group, with Woody even being able to train him. By Toy Story 3, Buster is old and a little chubbier than he was as a puppy – the scene where he falls asleep and falls on Woody will always make me chuckle!

    Whilst it’s unlikely that we will see Buster again, he definitely goes down in my list of best boys in the Pixar universe.

    In all honesty, this list could have been 30 of the best side characters in Toy Story, but I tried to keep this as concise as possible and based on my personal preference!

    What characters would you add to this list? Who do you want to make an appearance in Toy Story 5? Let me know in the comments.

  • The 2026 Disney Watchlist: Every Movie & TV Show Confirmed

    The 2026 Disney Watchlist: Every Movie & TV Show Confirmed

    If you thought 2025 was busy, 2026 is shaping up to be an absolute powerhouse for Disney, Pixar, and Marvel. From long-awaited sequels to some incredibly unique original stories, here is the full checklist of everything we’ll be watching on the big and small screens this year.

    January

    • January 6: Will Trent
    • January 6: The Rookie
    • January 7: Tron: Ares (Disney+ Streaming Debut)
    • January 13: Hey A.J.!
    • January 16: Phineas and Ferb
    • January 22: Disneyland Handcrafted (New Documentary)
    • January 26: American Idol
    • January 27: Wonder Man
    • January 30: Send Help (Theatrical)

    February

    • February 4: The Muppet Show: Sabrina Carpenter Special
    • February 20: Psycho Killer (Theatrical)
    • February 25: Scrubs
    • February 27: Celebrity Jeopardy! All Stars

    March

    • March 4: Daredevil: Born Again
    • March 6: Hoppers (Theatrical)
    • March 22: The Bachelorette
    • March 27: The Dog Stars (Theatrical)
    • March 27: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (Theatrical)

    May

    • May 1: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Theatrical)
    • May 22: The Mandalorian and Grogu (Theatrical)

    June

    • June 19: Toy Story 5 (Theatrical)

    July

    • July 10: Moana (Live-Action Theatrical)
    • July 31: Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Theatrical)

    August

    • August 1: Sofia the First: Royal Magic

    October

    • October 16: Whalefall (Theatrical)

    November

    • November 25: Hexed (Theatrical)

    December

    • December 18: Avengers: Doomsday (Theatrical)

    Looking at that list, I honestly can’t wait for the year ahead. Seeing Star Wars return to the big screen with The Mandalorian and Grogu feels like a massive moment we’ve been waiting years for, and the hype for Robert Downey Jr.’s return in Avengers: Doomsday is very, very real.

    On the animation front, I have to say that Hoppers is right at the top of my list – the trailer looks like such great fun and it’s exactly the kind of quirky original story Pixar does best. What are you most excited for in 2026? Let me know in the comments!

  • Pixar Announces New Film “Gatto” Plus First Looks at Toy Story 5 & Hoppers

    Pixar Announces New Film “Gatto” Plus First Looks at Toy Story 5 & Hoppers

    Pixar surprised fans on social media yesterday with a major announcement: a new film set in the world of Luca, plus new images and concept art for their upcoming projects.

    New Pixar Movie Gatto Announced!

    An animated black cat with bright green eyes named Nero, walking on a stone staircase in a colorful Italian city scene with canals and historic buildings, from Pixar's Gatto.
    Image Credit: Pixar

    Slated to arrive in cinemas in 2027, Gatto comes from Luca director Enrico Casarosa and returns to Italy, whilst following a black cat named Nero. Pixar’s post states that Nero is “Indebted to a feline mob boss, he finds himself forced to forge an unexpected friendship that may finally lead him to his purpose…”.

    I’m thrilled we’re heading back to the world of Luca! I’ve always felt the film flew under the radar due to its pandemic release, but I also like the fact that Gatto is a completely new original story, set in the world of Luca, rather than a direct sequel. I wonder if Nero will cross paths with Machiavelli, Giulia’s dads cat?

    The image released alongside of the announcement shows the main character Nero exploring the streets of what looks to be Venice. At first glance, the image looks like concept art — but it’s actually the final animation style of the entire movie! This is super refreshing to see and credit to Pixar for trying something new.

    The whole concept of a main cat protagonist in an animated movie is especially interesting, given that earlier this year the animated movie Flow won the Academy Award, as well as countless other awards. It may just be a coincidence, but those animated movie cat lovers out there are in for a treat!

    New Image From Hoppers

    Two fluffy, beaver-like animated creatures from Pixar's Hoppers. One is wearing a small gold crown and holding a stick, while the other looks on with a happy expression
    Image Credit: Pixar

    Pixar also released a brand new image from Hoppers, an upcoming Pixar film scheduled for release in March 2026. The image shows two joyful-looking beaver-like creatures, one wearing a crown and holding a stick. Whilst we don’t know a great deal about Hoppers just yet, the Pixar website states that the basic premise is that ‘scientists have discovered how to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals!’.

    Of course, the new image doesn’t reveal much in terms of plot, but I must say, the animation looks fantastic. Just look at how fluffy the beavers’ fur is!

    New Concept Art Image From Toy Story 5

    Concept art from Pixar's Toy Story 5 showing Buzz Lightyear, Jessie the Cowgirl, and Bullseye the horse looking at a large, green frog-shaped tablet displaying chat messages.
    Image Credit: Pixar

    Toy Story 5 is also set for a 2026 release, and Pixar has released a concept art image. The image depicts Buzz, Jessie and Bullseye facing off with a tablet, which again coincides with what we know about the premise of Toy Story 5: ‘it’s Toy meets Tech’. Again, the image doesn’t really give us anything more than what we already know, but it’s another sign that we’re edging ever closer to seeing Woody, Buzz and the gang back together!

    Which upcoming Pixar film are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments.