The highly anticipated trailer for Toy Story 5 has arrived, and its ominous tone signals a new kind of battle for our favorite toys. Since the original Toy Story captivated audiences in 1995, the franchise has explored themes like rivalry with newer toys, the passage of time, and even being lost or forgotten. But this time, the antagonist is far more pervasive: a tablet named Lilypad.
The trailer opens ominously, inside a delivery truck. Rex and Slinky Dog quiver with apprehension as Bonnie’s mom calls out for a package destined for her room. The familiar toys – Forky, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Jessie, Bullseye, even the aliens – all share an air of worried anticipation.
“The age of toys is over,” chilling text appears on screen as Bonnie reaches into a box to reveal Lilypad – a frog-shaped tablet with a bright personality voiced by Greta Lee (The Morning Show ). Lilypad eagerly greets Bonnie with a playful, “Hi there! Let’s play!”
Finally, the iconic duo of Buzz Lightyear and Woody materialize on screen, visibly shaken. Their faces reflect palpable fear in the face of this new digital interloper.
Already boasting nearly 3 million views on YouTube, the trailer confirms Lilypad’s role as a high-tech smart tablet posing an unprecedented challenge to the toys’ traditional playtime dominion.
This storyline resonates deeply with contemporary anxieties surrounding childhood screen time. A March report by Common Sense Media revealed that by age two, 40% of children own tablets; by four this figure rises to 58%, reaching nearly a quarter of eight-year-olds by age eight. Children spend an average of 2.5 hours daily engaged with screen media (almost 3.5 hours for ages five to eight).
Teenagers often acknowledge the detrimental effects of excessive screen time on mental health, yet struggle to break free from its grip. As Clive, a member of SheKnows Teen Council, confided at sixteen, “We’re aware that being on our phone isn’t good…but [putting it down] can be difficult…like pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.”
Ajani, also part of the Teen Council and nineteen years old, echoed this sentiment: “It’s creating sort of an epidemic. It’s starting at a way earlier age, allowing kids to compare themselves more and become addicted.”
Toy Story 5, slated for release in June 2026, promises not only entertainment but also potentially sparks crucial conversations about responsible screen time use within families.
