If you thought the Toy Story saga couldn’t get you to cry anymore… Think again, because the beloved franchise is gearing up for its fifth instalment! And one of the best things about Toy Story 5 is that Josh Cooley, the director of Toy Story 4, is approaching it the way we all want to: as a fan, completely in the dark, ready to rediscover the magic for the first time all over again.

I spoke to Cooley, who helped bring Woody, Buzz, and the gang to a new chapter in Toy Story 4, as he shared his excitement for the upcoming sequel.

When asked about Toy Story 5, Cooley’s enthusiasm was clear. He said, “You know, it’s funny – so Andrew Stanton is directing and writing the fifth one, and he wrote all the other Toy Story films, and I love him.”

Now, if anyone’s a Toy Story expert, it’s Andrew Stanton. The mind behind classics like Finding Nemo and WALL-E is back in the director’s chair. For Cooley, though, this is a little different. As someone who’s spent years working at Pixar, he’s used to being involved in every little detail. But with Toy Story 5, he’s taking a step back and embracing the magic of being a fan.

“I’m basically going into it with no expectation,” Cooley said. “Because if you think about it, this is the first time I get to see it as a fan and not knowing anything.”

Cooley, who directed Toy Story 4 to acclaim, is already well-versed in the magic of these characters and their world. But the prospect of seeing Toy Story 5 unfold without any spoilers is an experience he’s truly savoring. “I haven’t asked [Andrew Stanton] about it at all. I want to just experience it as I did when I first saw the original Toy Story. I think Toy Story 2 is the last Toy Story movie I saw when I wasn’t working in Pixar. I don’t wanna know anything or think anything about it.”

Just when fans thought they had said their final goodbyes to Woody and Buzz in Toy Story 4, Toy Story 5 has officially been confirmed! The adventure began in 1995 with the groundbreaking release of the first Toy Story, Pixar’s very first feature film. It was a game-changer for animated cinema, setting a new bar for storytelling and animation. Since then, Pixar has solidified its place as the gold standard of animation, crafting films that resonate emotionally with audiences of all ages.

I had the incredible opportunity to chat with Toy Story legend Tim Allen, the voice behind the beloved Buzz Lightyear. When I asked him what he’d like to see in Toy Story 5, his response was both inventive and heartfelt.

Tim’s idea was surprisingly simple yet deeply emotional. He suggested, “I don’t know where the story is going, but what if the whole story was through Andy as an adult? He has children, and they just happen to be online. The kid goes, ‘Have you seen this toy?’ and Andy sees that Buzz’s got a hand missing, and they’re selling these vintage toys.”

Picture this: Andy, now grown up with kids of his own, stumbles upon his old toys being sold online—Buzz, Woody, and the gang, showing their age. Seeing Buzz with a missing hand sparks something in Andy, and he feels a deep responsibility to reunite with his childhood treasures. “Andy goes and gathers all the toys up,” Tim continued, “He has to go out and find each of them, put them back together, bring them back to his house, and start the whole thing over again with his son.”

What makes Tim’s vision so special is its focus on Andy, the kid who grew up alongside these toys and formed a lasting bond with them. According to Tim, “It’s through Andy’s eyes because we made his life, and now he’s returning that favor.” It’s a touching idea that flips the script, showing how the toys, once central to Andy’s childhood, would now play a pivotal role in his own children’s lives. Not only does it offer a way to pass the torch, but it also builds on the emotional foundation of the entire series.