As Andy’s toys gear up for another return to infinity and beyond, Disney has shared a sneak peek of Toy Story 5 to tide fans over the wait. The sequel was spotlighted at the company’s showcase during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, alongside two of its upcoming major features: Hoppers and a brand-new pic titled Gatto.
Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter took to the stage to showcase early footage of the tentpole release, outlining a story premise involving the challenges faced by the toys in a digital era. “It’s Toy meets Tech,” he described, revealing a new foe in the form of a tablet called Lillypad. The opening scene was also shown at the event, featuring the many Buzz Lightyears who wind up on an isolated island and are unable to connect with “star command” (via The Hollywood Reporter).
To commemorate the franchise’s 30th anniversary, the fresh reveal was accompanied by archival footage from the making of the original 1995 animated classic. Toy Story 5, directed by Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris, will mark the reunion of veterans Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as Buzz and Woody, respectively, with a heavier focus on Jessie the Cowgirl when it bows on 19 June 2026.
Hoppers, an original comedy, got an exclusive first look as well. Helmed by BAFTA Children’s Awards winner Daniel Chong of We Bare Bears fame, it follows the story of Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda), who uses a secret brain-swapping technology to transfer her mind into a robot beaver and convince the animals to stop a highway construction project from destroying her local woodlands.
Rounding out the upcoming announcement slate is Gatto, a brand-new animated adventure to be directed by Luca‘s Enrico Casarosa. Following in the footsteps of the award-winning Latvian film Flow, it’s set to blend a Pixar-first-hand-painted animation style with the usual CG fare, carrying an official logline that reads:
“After years of manoeuvring the canal-ridden, superstitious city, a black cat named Nero begins to question whether he’s lived the right lives. Indebted to a local feline mob boss, Nero finds himself in a quandary and is forced to forge a truly unexpected friendship that may finally lead him to his purpose…. unless Venice gets the better of him first.”
Gatto premieres sometime in Summer 2027.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Ting Wei
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