As someone who grew up with the Toy Story movies, I went into Toy Story 5 cautiously optimistic. Not only did it completely win me over, but I'd honestly rank it among the very best films in the franchise. It made me laugh, it made me nostalgic, and, perhaps most importantly, it had me sitting in a movie theater crying over animated toys as a fully grown adult.
After emotionally recovering, I learned there's a lot more going on in Toy Story 5 than you might realize. From how Andrew Stanton almost didn't direct the movie at all to the surprisingly specific Easter eggs hidden throughout the film — including a blink-and-you'll-miss-it Finding Nemo callback — here's a deeper look at the behind-the-scenes facts, Pixar references, and tiny details you probably didn't notice:
Note: There are no major plot spoilers ahead, but if you want to go into the film knowing absolutely nothing, just bookmark this for later!
1. Originally, director/writer Andrew Stanton only agreed to write the script for Toy Story 5, not direct it. The Oscar-winning filmmaker said he was surprised when Pixar approached him about making another Toy Story movie.
2. Even though Stanton has worked on every single Toy Story movie since the original film in 1995, Toy Story 5 is actually the first one he's directed. He ultimately agreed to direct after Pixar responded positively to his script, which already included the technology storyline, Jessie as the emotional center of the movie, and the idea of 50 lost Buzz Lightyears.
3. Co-director Kenna Harris joined the project early in development after a brainstorming session with Stanton. He said her perspective on Bonnie and what Toy Story means to a younger generation complemented his strengths so well that he can't imagine making the movie without her.
4. And, in case you're wondering, Pixar spent nearly four years making Toy Story 5.
5. The filmmakers created a new "visual language" for Bonnie's imagination. And the team ultimately decided it should look handmade, almost like an arts-and-crafts project brought to life. Visual effects supervisor Thomas Jordan said the animators used a pastel chalk drawing technique and leaned into a tactile, handcrafted aesthetic, with the idea being that Bonnie imagines differently than Andy.
6. In fact, you can see some of Bonnie's lovely chalk drawing in the background of her room...which features a cool Easter egg: a cloud pattern that's reminiscent of the wallpaper in Andy's room!
7. Speaking of Easter eggs, during the Forky's wedding imagination scene, Rex changes color into Sully's (from Monsters, Inc.) pattern after he's "poisoned."
8. And when all the Buzz Lightyears, Jessie, et al., are riding the horses back to Blaze's house, you can see the iconic Pizza Planet truck whiz by.
9. By the way, in case you're wondering, there are 50 "Hi-Tech Edition" Buzz Lightyears in the film.
10. When Woody jokes, "Now that's falling with style," he's, of course, making a callback to when Woody and Buzz Lightyear use a rocket to catch up to Andy's moving van in the first Toy Story film.
11. There are some interesting, newer Easter eggs, too. Like this "How deep is the ocean?" image on Lilypad, which is a screenshot of the scene where Marlin first meets Dory from Finding Nemo (also directed and co-written by Andrew Stanton!).
12. There's also this very interesting image that says, "Ducks win prizes!" which is maaaaaybe an Easter egg about the rumored animated musical tentatively titled Ducks, Pixar is supposedly developing...
...or, it's possibly a nod to Ducky (who came from a carnival where you win prizes, like him!) from Toy Story 4.
13. The hilarious new character Pizza with Sunglasses (obsessed LOL), is voiced by none other than Bad Bunny.
14. Meanwhile, Alan Cumming voices Evil Bullseye, Bullseye's villainous alter ego during the imagination sequence where they're all spies.
15. Joan Cusack apparently helped shape some of Jessie's funniest moments. Co-director Harris described her ideas as "chaotic and wonderful" and said several of her suggestions were so true to the character that they ended up making it into the final movie.
16. And, speaking of Jessie, she's wearing Emily's daughter's hair bobble after discovering it in the time capsule.
17. Also, adding insult to injury, when Lilypad talks about Jessie being an old toy, she pulls up an eBid (eBay parody) site where Jessie has NO bids and is just called "Vintage Cowgirl Doll." Sad.
18. Finally, while Lilypad is clearly a parody of LeapFrog's LeapPad tablets, INTERESTINGLY, in real life, one of LeapFrog's original mascots was, in fact, named Lily. 👀
Facts have been sourced from the film's production notes!
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