More than 30 years after Toy Story first introduced Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the secret lives of Andy’s toys, Pixar is returning to the franchise with Toy Story 5 .
Since the original film was released in 1995, the series has followed the toys through new owners, broken loyalties, near goodbyes and actual farewells, from Andy leaving for college to Woody choosing a life beyond Bonnie’s bedroom.
The fifth film , out in UAE cinemas on Thursday, introduces a new challenge for the group, as Bonnie’s playtime is disrupted by Lilypad, a frog-shaped smart tablet voiced by Greta Lee.
Before the latest sequel arrives, here is where the story stands.
Toy Story
The first Toy Story film, the first feature-length 3D animation, was released in 1995. Photo: Disney/Pixar Info
The first Toy Story introduces Woody, a pull-string cowboy doll who is the favourite toy of a young boy named Andy. Woody is the natural leader of Andy’s room, keeping the other toys organised and reassured whenever their owner is away.
That changes when Andy receives a new toy for his birthday: Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger action figure who believes he is a real intergalactic hero. Buzz quickly becomes Andy’s favourite, leaving Woody jealous and insecure.
After a series of accidents, Woody and Buzz are separated from Andy and end up in the hands of Sid, Andy’s destructive next-door neighbour. Their escape forces Woody and Buzz to work together, with Buzz eventually accepting that he is a toy while Woody learns that Andy’s love is not something he has to guard alone.
By the end of the film, Woody and Buzz are friends. The first film establishes the basic rules of the series: the toys are alive, but only when humans are not watching, and their purpose is tied to being loved and played with by a child.
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2 (1999) expanded the story outside of Andy's immediate world. Photo: Disney/Pixar Info
The second film expands the franchise beyond Andy’s immediate world.
After Woody is accidentally damaged before Andy leaves for cowboy camp, he begins to fear being forgotten. He is then stolen by Al McWhiggin, a toy collector who plans to sell him to a museum in Japan.
Woody discovers that he was once the star of a popular television show called Woody’s Roundup. He also meets the other toys from that world: Jessie, Bullseye and Stinky Pete. For the first time, Woody is confronted with the possibility that he could be preserved forever, rather than eventually being broken, lost, or outgrown.
Jessie’s story becomes one of the film’s most important emotional turns. She was once loved by a girl named Emily, but was later abandoned as Emily grew older. Her experience shows Woody what can happen when a child moves on.
Woody ultimately rejects the museum and chooses to return to Andy, even though he knows that Andy will one day grow up. Jessie and Bullseye join him, becoming part of Andy’s toy collection.
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 (2010) introduced a new toy owner, Bonnie. Photo: Disney/Pixar Info
Toy Story 3 takes place years later, as Andy prepares to leave for college.
Most of his childhood toys have already gone, but Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, Rex, Hamm, Slinky Dog, Mr and Mrs Potato Head and the aliens remain. The toys believe Andy no longer wants them and, after a misunderstanding, end up being donated to Sunnyside Daycare.
At first, Sunnyside appears to offer the toys a new life with children who will play with them every day, but the daycare is run by Lotso, a bitter teddy bear who was once replaced by his owner and now harshly rules the toys there.
The toys eventually escape, but not before one of the franchise’s darkest sequences, in which they nearly face destruction together at a landfill. They are saved at the last moment and return to Andy.
The film ends with Andy giving his toys to Bonnie, a young girl who still plays with imagination and care. He introduces each toy to her before handing over Woody last. The scene functions as Andy’s farewell to his childhood and gives the toys a new home.
Toy Story 4
Toy Story 4 expanded the rules of what toys could be with Forky (Tony Hale). Photo: Disney/Pixar Info
Toy Story 4 shifts the focus from Andy to Bonnie, and from the group to Woody.
Although Woody is now one of Bonnie’s toys, he is no longer the favourite. He is often left in the closet while Bonnie plays with Jessie, Buzz and the others. Woody still sees his purpose as protecting Bonnie, even when she does not seem to need him in the same way Andy once did.
The film introduces Forky, a toy Bonnie makes from a spork, a pipe cleaner and other craft materials during kindergarten orientation. Forky believes he is trash, not a toy, but Woody insists that he matters because Bonnie made him and loves him.
The journey to keep Forky safe brings Woody back into contact with Bo Peep, who has been living independently for years after being separated from the group. Unlike Woody, Bo no longer belongs to one child. She helps lost toys find child…
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