It's official. Despite my elder Gen Z protestations, Toy Story 5 is officially coming in June 2026, and to mark the occasion, we've been graced with a new trailer. I'll resist the urge to make this a whingefest about how we should've stopped at 3 (4 at a push), and bring your attention to one pressing issue – Woody's new look.
While admittedly it's fun to see the animators playing with the beloved character design, I was shocked and appalled at how they had massacred my boy, demolishing my childhood in the process. Is nothing sacred? Am I forced to accept that Woody is subject to the plight of male pattern baldness? If that's so, take a moment to mourn with me.
Toy Story 5 follows the gang as they grapple with a new world invaded by tech (a tablet named Lily Pad, to be exact). After their owner Bonnie is gifted the snarky device, Jessie, Buzz, Woody and pals attempt to overthrow the evil Lily Pad and reunite Bonnie with the joy of play and imagination.
But on to the part of the trailer that quite literally had me gasping – Woody has a bald patch. I was distraught at the revelation, even more so when the other toys made fun of him (up to 80% of men experience balding over their lifetime; have some empathy). Soon, I found myself in a deep contemplative hole, pondering the fragility of life and the inevitable decay of both man and toy. That bald patch was much more than a cheap gag – to me, it was a symbol of mortality.
Despite my horror, I will inevitably be dragging myself to the cinema on 19 June to witness this sobering allegory about the impermanence of existence. I am but a slave to nostalgia. If you're after more creative news, check out the 10 movies and series that will make 2026 a big year for animation or take a look at why Pixar's rules of storytelling are as relevant today as they were 15 years ago.
