Toy Story 5’s controversial new villain is a tablet and many parents are torn

"The storyline is about to wreck some parents!"

Whether you're all for a FIFTH installment of Disney Pixar classic, Toy Story, it's coming. 

Fans were given confirmation that Tom Hanks and Tim Allen would be back as our favourites Woody and Buzz Lightyear last year, but a new clip shared recently has given fans a glimpse of the new character about to be introduced into the franchise. 

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

Toy Story 5's villain is a device

While the film is a year off, set to hit cinemas in June 2026, a sneak preview clip of what's to come was recently shared at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. 

The clip features a glimpse of the new villain, Lilypad, a device that is given to main character Bonnie and threatens to take all of her attention away from her favourite toys. 

Lilypad enters Bonnie's life after a shipment of Buzz Lightyear toys are marooned on a desert island and are struggling to construct a raft to return to Star Command. While we're not sure how the two marry up, another clip shows cowgirl Jessie speaking with the frog-like tablet. 

Little details were given about the new character except that she is the latest antagonist of the franchise and is set to challenge Bonnie's way of playing. Sounds familiar, huh? 

"It's similar to an iPad and Leap Frog tablet in real life, and although it looks very friendly, it's said to have a completely different perception on how to play with Bonnie than our toy friends in Toy Story 5," 3C Films shared on TikTok after the big reveal. 

"I didn't think the tablet would have an actual personality or that it would talk, but I think it'll be really fun to see Bonnie develop 'brain rot' - a short attention span, and maybe she will become a misbehaving kid."

RELATED: How is access to social media really affecting our kids?

Lilypad is Bonnie's new device and she is about to cause some problems with her old toys. Image: Supplied

What does this mean for Woody, Buzz and Jessie?

With Bonnie now being at the age where it's common for parents to offer up a tablet for fun, YouTuber DazzReviews says the introduction of a device is a clever and relatable development in the ongoing storyline. 

"It is going to be interesting to see how they specifically are going to represent the technology tablet world in universe," he says in a video. 

"The toys have to navigate the new world of technology that has taken over the attention of this new generation of kids. I will be genuinely interested to see where and how they take this because logically, the toys don't win in this. There isn't really a circumstance I can see of a child putting down their Cocomelon iPad and picking up their old cowboy doll."

It's a sad reality, and when @DiscussingFilm posted the news on X (formerly Twitter), the reaction was understandably varied.

"The tablet has a different perception of what’s best for Bonnie in contrast to the toys," they captioned the post.

Woody, Buzz and the gang have a new 'friend' in Toy Story 5. Image: Supplied

Parents are torn over the animated 'reality check'

Many were applauding Pixar for addressing a legitimate concern parents have these days.

"Brainrot gonna be the final Toy Story villain, let’s goooooo!" someone celebrated. 

"Interesting. This is a battle in real life of what is best for kids. Toys vs technology," another curious Toy Story fan added. 

"I’m sorry but that’s a genius idea for a Toy Story villain," another agreed, and others said seeing iPad kids as villains made for a "great storyline." 

Meanwhile, some criticised the animators for putting more stress on parents who may or may not be giving their children a device to play with.

"I can’t express how much I hate this. @Pixar come up with a better idea," someone slammed. 

"The iPad baby storyline is about to wreck some parents," another anticipated. 

And another chimed in with: "Sounds dreadful. Can't wait for this to be the first Toy Story movie I never see."

Others were just sad that this had to be addressed at all.

"This kinda makes me sad because im realising kids are just addicted to tablets and hardly play with toys or action figures, it's just complete screen addiction everywhere and the worst part is I'm the same - addicted to damn screens. I gotta make a change."

The reactions are mixed online. Image: X

RELATED: Yoto Player: The Safe and Fun Audio Device for Kids

What do the experts say? 

Speaking to Kidspot, Aussie parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson says the introduction of a tablet parallels what is happening in real life - whether we like it or not. 

"I think they're right. If your children have the choice to play with a tablet, or an analog toy, they're going to choose the tablet every time," he says. 

"Studies show that kids who spend more time on tablets have less gray matter. That is, they have fewer brain cells. Their brain actually experienced shrinkage. They are less likely to be able to concentrate unless they've got a screen in front of them.

"They have lower levels of emotion regulation, lower levels of behavioural regulation. They're often going to have less sleep and poorer quality sleep. They get outside and move their bodies a lot less. They have less interpersonal time face-to-face in the analog style. 

"All in all, the outcomes are just poorer for them. So if that's where they're going with it, they're right!"

The new installment will premiere seven years after fans were left sobbing as Woody farewelled his friends to be with his true love, Bo Peep.

Originally published as Toy Story 5’s controversial new villain is a tablet and many parents are torn