A Night of Childhood Magic at the Toy Story 5 Premiere
Words and photography by Anfisa Polyushkevych
Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 brings one of cinema’s most beloved animated worlds back to the big screen this summer, with Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and the rest of the gang facing a very modern question: what happens to toys when childhood is increasingly shaped by screens?
Directed by Academy Award-winner Andrew Stanton, co-directed by Kenna Harris, written by Stanton and Harris from a story by Stanton, and produced by Lindsey Collins, the new film continues the story of Bonnie’s toys as their place in her life is challenged by Lilypad, a brand-new tablet device voiced by Greta Lee. Tom Hanks returns as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Joan Cusack as Jessie, with Tony Hale back as Forky and further voice cast including Conan O’Brien, Craig Robinson, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, Annie Potts, Bonnie Hunt, Keanu Reeves and Alan Cumming.
In the UK version, radio and television personalities Jordan North and Sian Welby also join the film as voice-cameos, playing Garden Gnome and Inflatable Flamingo. It is a neat local touch for a London premiere that felt less like a conventional industry event and more like a celebration of a shared childhood memory.
Toy Meets Tech
The official premise is simple, clever and very 2026: Toy Story 5 is built around the idea of “Toy meets Tech”. Bonnie becomes fascinated by Lilypad, a frog-shaped tablet with disruptive ideas about what is best for her, leaving the toys to wonder whether playtime itself is changing forever.
It is a sharp subject for Pixar to explore. The original Toy Story changed animation in 1995 by turning toys into living, breathing characters. Now, more than 30 years later, the franchise is looking at the way childhood itself has changed. The question is no longer only whether a toy will be loved, lost or replaced — but whether old-fashioned play can compete with the glowing pull of technology.
Disney has not publicly released an official production budget for Toy Story 5. For scale, however, Toy Story 4 carried a reported production budget of around $200 million and went on to become a billion-dollar global box-office success. That gives the fifth film a very large legacy to live up to, both emotionally and commercially.
At the time of publication, full critical reviews had not yet appeared, with Rotten Tomatoes still listing no critic score and no verified audience score before the film’s wider cinema release. That made the London premiere less a verdict on the film and more a first major public celebration — a red-carpet moment built around nostalgia, family and the enduring power of Pixar’s most famous friendship.
A London Premiere Filled With Childhood Magic
The UK launch took place at ODEON LUXE Leicester Square, one of London’s classic red-carpet cinemas, with Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and Greta Lee among the stars attending, alongside writer-director Andrew Stanton and producer Lindsey Collins.
Yesterday’s premiere of Toy Story 5 was more than just another red carpet event — it felt like stepping back into childhood for everyone who attended.
From the very first moments, the atmosphere was absolutely electric. Families arrived together, children were everywhere, and the entire carpet was filled with excitement, laughter, and genuine joy. One of the most heartwarming things to witness was how many kids came dressed in Toy Story costumes. Two children even stood next to the pool photographers with their own colourful toy cameras, proudly photographing celebrities as if they were professionals themselves. Honestly, it was impossible not to smile watching them.
The fan zone felt incredibly special. You could see the pure happiness in the children’s eyes as cast members stopped to take photos with them and interact with families. It reminded everyone why Toy Story means so much to so many generations.
One of the biggest highlights for me personally was photographing Tom Hanks. I have to admit — his presence is something extraordinary. He truly is a legend. The energy he brings feels warm and genuine, and his kindness naturally fills the space around him. You could feel how much people admired and respected him the moment he stepped onto the carpet.
The red carpet itself was unforgettable. Characters from Toy Story were entertaining guests, posing with the cast, making funny movements, and bringing playful energy everywhere they went. They completely lit up the evening and made the event feel magical rather than formal.
But the most emotional moment of the night came when the entire cast gathered together for photos. Suddenly, a huge colourful confetti cannon exploded above them, filling the carpet with bright paper pieces flying through the air. In that moment, it honestly felt like everyone had gone back to childhood.
And the most beautiful thing? I genuinely didn’t notice a single person without a smile. Even the grumpiest photographers were suddenly smiling like children again.
For one evening, everyone forgot about adulthood and simply enjoyed the magic.
Further Reading
Disney and Pixar — Toy Story 5 official film page
Disney UK Press — Disney+ UK red-carpet livestream announcement for Toy Story 5
Disney UK Press — Jordan North and Sian Welby UK voice-cameo announcement
PremiereScene — Toy Story 5 UK Launch Event listing
Rotten Tomatoes — Toy Story 5 film page and pre-release review status
Box Office Mojo — Toy Story 4 box-office and production-budget data
People — Joan Cusack’s return to the red carpet at the Toy Story 5 London premiere