Toy Story 5 Director Addresses Biggest Criticism of Franchise (& He Has a Point)

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The ending of Toy Story 3 was incredibly moving, as Andy said goodbye to his toys and gave them to Bonnie before going to college. It felt like a fitting conclusion to a wonderful trilogy, giving Woody, Buzz, and the others one last adventure with Andy before they began a new life with a new owner. For many Millennials who grew up watching Toy Story, it was the perfect way to end the story. However, Toy Story 3 was a huge financial success, earning over $1 billion globally, and Pixar has since released two more films. While some fans worry these sequels diminish the original trilogy’s magic, Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton disagrees.

In a recent interview with Empire magazine, director Andrew Stanton addressed a common criticism of the Toy Story films. He explained that Toy Story 3 concluded the story arc centered around Andy, assuring fans that they have a complete trilogy if they wish. However, Stanton also emphasized his belief that the strength of the Toy Story universe lies in its ability to evolve and reflect the passage of time, meaning things won’t remain static forever.

Toy Story Continues to Evolve With the Times

It’s interesting to see fans worried about a potential Toy Story 5, because the same thing happened before Toy Story 4 and even Toy Story 3. People were afraid Pixar would ruin the satisfying ending of Woody’s story by adding another film. However, Toy Story 4 turned out to be a huge success, earning over a billion dollars and winning an Oscar. It also told a thoughtful and moving story about dealing with change, making it a valuable part of the series. It wouldn’t have felt realistic for Woody to instantly adjust to life with Bonnie; his journey in Toy Story 4 allowed him to find his own purpose, much like how students discover themselves when they go to college.

Toy Story 5 could be another great film from Pixar, offering its usual blend of fun and meaningful observations about the world. The first teaser suggests the story will explore the differences between classic toys and newer, tech-based ones. A tablet named Lilypad leads a group of modern toys, representing how much kids today enjoy using screens. However, like other Pixar films, Toy Story 5 is expected to offer a complex look at technology, avoiding simple villainization. The filmmakers recognize technology’s significant influence on everyone’s lives and are approaching the subject in a fascinating way.

With so many popular series being stretched thin with endless sequels and spin-offs – like the many Marvel and Star Wars shows on Disney+ – it’s understandable why fans are worried about Toy Story 5. These concerns are based on what’s happened with other franchises. However, Pixar has always been careful with the Toy Story films, taking its time to ensure a good story. There was a nine-year gap between Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4, and now seven years have passed since the last film. This shows they don’t rush projects and only move forward when the story feels right. Given that the previous two Toy Story movies each earned over a billion dollars, it would be easy to quickly make another sequel for profit, but the filmmakers aren’t interested in that.

Even though the Toy Story series keeps expanding in exciting directions, what director Andrew Stanton said about the first three movies remains true. Those films create a complete and satisfying story with a clear start, middle, and finish. Fans could happily end their journey there and still feel like they’ve experienced a full arc. However, the positive reaction to Toy Story 4 and the excitement for Toy Story 5 show that audiences are eager for more adventures with Woody and Buzz. Similar to Pixar’s plans for sequels to Inside Out – to delve into different stages of life – future Toy Story movies could explore how things have evolved and changed.

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2025-11-20 01:23