Pixar has lifted the lid on the toy chest to offer a sneak peek of Toy Story 5, including a first look at Conan O’Brien‘s new character, Smarty Pants, but now fans are left wondering whether he is an ally or an antagonist. The beloved comedian joined the cast of the animated saga earlier this year, and expressed joy over being part of the iconic franchise alongside Tom Hanks’ Woody and Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear. He jokingly dubbed Smarty Pants “the best character of them all,” hinting that the Toy Story mainstays might have some competition.
The studio turned the spotlight on Toy Story 5 at Disney’s Destination D23 event, where attendees shared news and announcements coming out of the showcase. X user @BoardwalkTimes posted a never-before-seen image of O’Brien’s character, a potty-training toy named Smarty Pants. The electronic device is shaped like a roll of toilet paper, but boasts an expressive face, screen, and buttons. The idea behind the toy is to encourage a child to use the potty, but he could pose a modern threat to Woody and Buzz in the “toys meets tech” tale.
Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton is directing Toy Story 5 from a script he has written, which will see the franchise’s traditional toys grappling with the takeover of technology in their home (which appears to extend into the bathroom). Eight-year-old Bonnie Anderson, the caretaker of Andy’s toys, is now the proud owner of a frog-like tech tablet named LilyPad. The character’s wide-eyed and friendly exterior might prove deceptive, as it threatens to steal the young girl’s attention away from her toy box, as she finds herself increasingly enamored by screens over playthings. X user @DiscussingFilm shared new images of the kids’ tablet, describing it as “the villain of the film,” with the original gang battling against their new electronic enemies.
‘Toy Story 5’ Preview Teases “Multi Buzz” Opening Scene
The opening scene of Toy Story 5 was screened at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June, offering a closer look at where audiences will find Buzz Lightyear in the forthcoming sequel, bringing to life an earlier piece of concept art. X user @ScottGustin confirmed that the same sequence was shown at Destination D23, revealing “dozens of Buzz action figures stranded on a deserted island after a shipping container washed ashore.” The heroic spacemen will presumably try to reconnect with Star Command to escape their situation, but they might need to call in some reinforcements for the rescue mission.
In addition to Hanks and Allen reprising their roles as Woody and Buzz, Joan Cusack will also be returning as Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl first introduced in Toy Story 2, and is expected to play a more prominent role in the next film. Ghostbusters legend Ernie Hudson has also signed on to take over the role of the G.I. Joe-type action figure Combat Carl from the late Carl Weathers, joining several other fan-favorite characters who are back for the Pixar sequel, including Slinky, Rex, Hamm, Bullseye, and Forky, as shown in concept art for the movie.
Toy Story 5 is scheduled to open in theaters on June 19, 2026.
