Review: "Toy Story 5"

On November 22nd, 1995, Pixar Animation Studios reinvented animation. The release of Toy Story, the first ever feature-length CGI animated motion picture, was a blockbuster smash. It earned rave reviews from critics and the public, grossed over $400 million dollars, and even a won a Special Achievement Oscar for being the first ever CGI animated feature. Pixar has expanded the “toy-verse” a great deal since the original, having each of the characters from the first film make new friends in various numerous short films, half-hour television specials and four feature-length sequels. Toy Story 5 (2026) was released on June 19th, 2026. Here are my thoughts:

Picking up from where the fourth film left off, the toys’ new owner, Bonnie, is so desperate to make new friends. In an attempt to help her do that, Bonnie’s parents buy her a “Lilypad” to help facilitate virtual connections. They soon realize it might not have been the best option as the device begins to consume her time and alter her day-to-day attitude. Furthermore, the device has Bonnie form connections with kids who seem like they care about her, but they don’t. 

Meanwhile, Buzz Lightyear is on the verge of proposing marriage to his long-time love, Jessie the Cowgirl (who’s been Buzz’s love interest since Toy Story 2 (1999)). Jessie is overwhelmed by the pressures of being Sheriff, having been promoted at the end of “4.” Together, they also attempt to help the “Bonnie” situation to no avail, and they summon the only toy whom they believe can help the situation, Woody. 

“Toy Story 5,” reunites the all-star voice cast of Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Joan Cusack as Jessie. New additions include Geta Lee as Lilypad and Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants, a potty-training toy. Jeff Bergman and Anna Voicino voice Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head succeeding the Potato Heads’ original voice talents, Don Rickles and Estelle Harris (who passed away in 2017 and 2022). The film is co-written/co-directed by Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris. Stanton co-wrote the four previous “Toy Stories” and co-wrote/directed Finding Nemo (2003) and Wall-E (2008) and (each winning Best Animated Feature Oscars). Harris worked as a story artist on Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and directed the short film Ciao Alberto (2021), part of the Luca (2021) franchise.

“Toy Story 5,” is about how technology can consume us and deceive us into thinking, saying, and doing the wrong things if we let it. It’s meant to help, but it’s not meant to live our lives for us. Everyone, not just kids but adults, at some point has to figure out how to work with technology but not let it become a distraction from the beautiful gifts real life has to offer. A virtual friend is not real, but a physical friend is one the most real things possible. The message of real friendship, and that friends are what see us through, has been present in the previous “Toy Story” films and it continues in the new one. 

Margaret Kerry

When Walt Disney produced animated features, the voice actors cast in the movies not only recorded their voices but were also filmed performing on the studio’s soundstages as artistic references for the animators. There were, however, some characters who required no voice, but still needed a model. One who played a key role as the model for the character Tinker Bell in Peter Pan (1953) was Margaret Kerry.

When “Peter Pan” was released, a rumor spread that Marilyn Monroe was the inspiration for Tinker Bell’s design in the movie, but that is 100% false. Margaret Kerry was no stranger to “doubling/modeling” having served as a camera double for Elizabeth Taylor in the Oscar-winning National Velvet (1944). She auditioned as Tinker Bell’s model and worked on the movie for six months. 

While she provided the gestures, the studio provided the props. They gave her a mirror to stand on, which helped create the scene in the film where Tinker Bell gazes at her own reflection and isn’t sure if she’s gained weight or not. They also gave her a huge pair of scissors and keyhole which inspired the scene where Tinker Bell is trapped in a jewelry box and desperately tries to keep Wendy from kissing Peter Pan. Tinker Bell’s Supervising Animator, Marc Davis, brilliantly captured all of her talent in his design. 

In addition to modeling Tink, Margaret Kerry also modeled and voiced the red-haired mermaid in the film’s Mermaid Lagoon scenes. Her voice is heard when Peter Pan shows up to the lagoon and they gush and said “Did you miss me?” Besides her Disney contributions, she made various film and television appearances, including playing an unnamed Fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935) and two first-season episodes of The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968). Margaret Kerry passed away at the age of 97 on June 11th, 2026. She was one the last surviving cast members of “Peter Pan,” in addition to Kathryn Beaumont (who voiced Wendy Darling) and Paul Collins (who voiced brother John Darling)

Sadly, Margaret Kerry was never awarded the Disney Legend Award, which is the award recognizing contributions to the Walt Disney Company. Her unsung talents, however, certainly helped “Peter Pan” become a beloved classic. She was a light to this world and her modeling talents certainly “lit up” the character of Tinker Bell.