The franchise continues to succeed in ‘Toy Story 5’

MANILA, Philippines — Is the age of toys really over? Kids now play with tablets and computers. They spend most of their time onscreen playing with their devices.

“Toy Story 5” negates that notion, and children still prefer their favorite toys in this day and age, proving that old toys can admirably learn new tricks while reckoning with an era of seemingly endless screen time.

The first “Toy Story” was groundbreaking for its originality. It was state-of-the-art computer-animated cartoon about the tactile pleasures of playtime.

Even after more than three decades — 31 years to be exact when the first film premiered in 1995 — the “Toy Story” franchise continues to evolve. That’s why in its fifth iteration, the story has a new twist.

Many viewers will probably not think about the new development, but the romance and the pair ended up at the altar.

The beloved, well-loved and popular group of toys recently delighted viewers anew with “Toy Story 5,” produced by Pixar Animation Studio for Walt Disney Pictures, which brought back a surprising story with sheriff Woody, space ranger Buzz Lightyear, the cowgirl rag doll Jessie, Hamm, Rex, Slinky Dog, Mr. Potato Head and Mrs. Potato Head and Bo Peep.

Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack, center) gets the lead in ‘Toy Story 5.’

It will be remembered that Tom Hanks, who voiced Woody, said in May 2019 that “Toy Story 4” would be the final film in the franchise, although the fifth film was not ruled out. In February 2023, it was announced that “Toy Story 5” was being developed again with Hanks and Tim Allen (as Buzz) returning to reprise their characters.

In “Toy Story 3,” Buzz Lightyear and Jessie started their relationship.

Forky, a plastic spork with googly eyes, and the daredevil toy Duke Caboom (voiced by Keanu Reeves), a parody of Evel Knievel, were introduced in “Toy Story 4.”

The tech-toy, potty training device named Smarty Pants (voiced by Conan O’Brien) joins “Toy Story 5,” directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo” and “Wall-E”). Forky gets a bride, Knifey.

A high-tech, frog-themed tablet named Lilypad (voiced by Greta Lee) became the addiction of now eight-year-old Bonnie.

Buzz, Woody, Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack) and the rest of the gang came face to face with Lilypad, the villain in the form of a brand-new tablet device with her own set of disruptive ideas for Bonnie. Will playtime ever be the same for the shy and lonely Bonnie, with the arrival of Lilypad? Will electronics, a new threat to playtime, make children’s toys obsolete?

Although “Toy Story 5” lacks the groundbreaking draw of the first “Toy Story” and the emotional peaks of “Toy Story 3” and “Toy Story 4” (this one made me cry), it proves that franchise fatigue does not exist with its viewers, who now have a new generation of children adoring a growing legion of lovable characters.

The latest installment to the franchise is still a worthy sequel, with a poignant story on friendship and technology. The franchise still carries that enviable track record until the final frame, and the fifth installment manages to keep the story alive — and apparently going.

“Toy Story 5” starts with a brigade of a hundred Buzz Lightyears running on a deserted island. The succeeding scenes remain visually stunning, heartwarming and genuinely funny. The tech invasion has become widespread, as warned by Woody, and more children’s toys are facing abandonment.

One of the most heartbreaking scenes was Jessie explaining being left out by her previous owner, Emily, with the background of Sarah McLachlan’s When She Loved Me. Jessie is undoubtedly the lead in this installment. From her story in “Toy Story 3,” she became quickly embarrassed by her antique toys compared to new tech devices.

While Randy Newman returned to do the score for “Toy Story 5,” Taylor Swift announced last June that she contributed an original song for the film, I Knew It, I Knew You, that plays in the end credits. That added Taylor’s star power to the soundtrack. When the track was released last June 5, it topped the US Billboard Hot 100 Charts, making Disney’s third and Pixar’s first song to do so. The song was also penned by Taylor.

After the second week, “Toy Story 5” grossed $610M worldwide and will definitely extend its run and box-office muscle.