(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
In Toy Story 5, we’re introduced to a new character Lilypad, a high-tech frog-shaped smart tablet voiced by Greta Lee that makes Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime. Tom Hanks returns as ever loyal cowboy Woody, Tim Allen reports for duty as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack saddles up again as the rootin’ tootin’ cowgirl Jessie. It was recently announced that Conan O’Brien will also be a part of the voice cast as toilet training tech toy, Smarty Pants. Pixar’s Toy Story 5 is directed by American filmmaker Andrew Stanton, director of the movies A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, Wall-E, John Carter, Finding Dory, and eps of Stranger Things, Tales from the Loop, For All Mankind, and 3 Body Problem recently. Co-directed by Kenna Harris (of Ciao Alberto). The screenplay is also written by Andrew Stanton. Produced by Lindsey Collins (Turning Red, Wall-E, Finding Dory). Made by Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, CA. (courtesy First Showing)
Is there anything more happiness-inducing than a new Toy Story movie?
I say an emphatic, quip-heavy “NO!” because even though every movie has more than its fair share of jeopardy, angst, existential peril and big questions on value, purpose and love, they always end on the more joyous side of the life equation.
The films universally celebrate the value and joy of friendship, family and connection, of imagination and the joy of creative intimacy and how while the new kids on the block, whether they be a fancy new story 31 years ago or a flashy shiny piece of tech now, may strut and stride their stuff and look to be relegating all of those wondrously good things to the remainders bin, we still need all of them.
The more things change, the more they stay the same, and the joy of a Toy Story film is that they celebrate that without once feeling reactionary; rather they celebrate the beauty and wonder of the things that make us human and how they persist and have value and vibrancy no matter how much the world changes around them.
Toy Story 5 releases 18 June in Australia and on 19 June in U.S.