- “We got to keep people surprised” says Pixar executive
- Andrew Stanton is writer and director for Toy Story 5
- Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprising roles after seven years
Pixar’s chief creative officer Pete Docter has revealed that the Toy Story 5 movie will surprise fans and have audiences saying “wait, is this a Toy Story movie?”.
The fifth instalment of the animated franchise is scheduled for release in 2026, but Docter was keen to tease details in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
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Docter has been with Pixar since 1990, when he was hired by co-founder John Lasseter. Over the following decades, he played a key role in developing some of the studio’s biggest blockbusters. His work includes the Oscar-winning Up, Inside Out, and Soul, all of which earned Best Animated Feature.
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Speaking about Toy Story, for which he was the supervising animator, Docter said, “I just am still amazed. It’s in the top bunch of movies on Disney+. Thirty years later, you look at it, and to be honest, it sort of looks like a video game now, given how far computer animation has come.” He added that its lasting popularity is “just a testament to the great acting,” which has helped the film stand the test of time and remain a beloved classic.
Toy Story 5 will surprise fans
Docter credits writer and director Andrew Stanton for bringing something new to the franchise in Toy Story 5. He thinks fans will watch it and be taken by surprise. Stanton won Academy Awards for best animated picture for Wall-E and Finding Nemo, so he has a pretty solid track record.
“If you go back and look at Bambi – I’m picking an extreme that’s kind of intentionally slow because it is about nature and watching the changes seasons and things – I think films have definitely sped up”, Docter told THR.
“Even Toy Story one to Toy Story 4, the level of visual sophistication, including the pacing, we’re just trying to keep in touch with the rhythms of the world and it’s definitely faster. So I will say Toy Story 5, I think Andrew’s done a really great job of letting moments breathe in unexpected ways. Things that you’re like, wait, is this a Toy Story movie? Just some of his choices, which I think we need at this point. We’ve had four of ’em already. We got to keep people surprised, so it’s going to be fun.”
Pixar icons
When asked what stood out from the process of making the first film, Docter reflected on the fun of seeing characters take on new life with some unexpected casting. “I don’t really remember how I used to see Mr. Potato Head, but as soon as [Don Rickle’s] voice and the sarcasm and the sort of adult nature – he’s a brilliant actor and an even more amazing comedian. And to be able to harness his sarcasm and dour, that was an unexpected marrying with that character I think at that time. That was really fun.”
Toy Story 5 will reunite Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as Pixar icons Woody and Buzz Lightyear, respectively, marking their first time reprising the roles in seven years.
Docter explained that the Pixar team initially questioned whether the original film was Woody’s or Buzz’s story. Ultimately, he suggested, “It was a buddy film. It was these two characters who butt heads, who hate each other, who grow to love each other to the point of self-sacrifice. And I think that’s a really beautiful story, and it’s one we’ve come back to several times. But Toy Story was the first, so it really has a special place in my heart – and obviously for the studio – because none of this would’ve been here had it not worked.”
