Toy Story 5 centers on Bonnie Anderson, now 8 years old, as she struggles to make friends in a world increasingly dominated by digital devices like tablets. The film is set a few years after Toy Story 4 during Bonnie’s shift into a new social and play phase influenced by technology [1].
Bonnie is initially the only child in her neighborhood not using the Lilypad tablet. Instead, she prefers imaginative play with her toys Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Forky [1, 2]. Her parents eventually give her a Lilypad to help her connect with peers, but the tablet’s social features bring challenges such as bullying and excessive screen time [1, 2].
The Lilypad tablet is equipped to interface with other smart devices and has an always-on listening feature. This unsettles Bonnie’s toys, who become wary of the device’s presence in their environment [1]. Older toys like Jessie struggle to keep up with modern play styles and face social stigma when trying to adapt to current activities shaped by technology [2].
An Engadget reviewer noted that Toy Story 5 mostly avoids portraying technology as inherently bad. Instead, it shows digital devices as disruptive but not purely negative, stressing the role of parental guidance in managing children’s gadget use and online interactions [2].
The film explores how digital technology affects children's social lives without dismissing the value of imaginative play. It highlights both the promise and pitfalls of tablets in shaping friendships and childhood experiences.
Toy Story 5 opens a few years after the previous film, capturing Bonnie’s evolving world where the balance between screen time and real-world play remains a central tension [1].
