The latest installment in the Disney & Pixar animated film series "Toy Story," "Toy Story 5" (directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by Kenna Harris), will be released in Japan on July 3rd (and in the US on June 19th). On June 12th, a clip from the film was released showing a "digital threat" coming before Buzz, Jessie, and the other toys.
LilyPad (Alice Hirose), a cutting-edge tablet, is a hugely popular digital device among children. Its screen on its stomach allows for instant searches, and it can even speak Spanish and rap. The scene, where the toys face a crisis, is a unique and classic "Toy Story" moment.
◇Woody and Buzz, the dynamic duo, take on the threat of "digital technology."
"Toy Story" was Disney & Pixar's first feature film, with the first installment produced in 1995 and released in Japan in 1996. The story of a boy named Andy's toys coming to life and going on adventures when humans aren't looking, and the full CGI that brought toys like Woody and Buzz Lightyear to life, became a worldwide hit. The second installment was released in 1999 (2000 in Japan), the third in 2010, and the fourth in 2019. Throughout the series, actor Toshiaki Karasawa voices Woody in the Japanese version, and entertainer George Tokoro voices Buzz Lightyear.
In the latest film, "Toy Story 5," Woody leaves Bonnie's room and works with his friends to help abandoned toys. Jessie, a cowgirl doll, takes over as the "sheriff" of Bonnie's room and leads the toys, watching over the imaginative and shy Bonnie as she grows up. Bonnie loves playing with toys like Jessie and Buzz, but the other kids have grown out of their toys and are engrossed in tablets, making it difficult for her to connect with them and make friends.
When Bonnie's parents, worried about her, present her with a state-of-the-art tablet, the "LilyPad," her daily life is turned upside down. Seeing Bonnie engrossed in the screen like other children, Jessie worries that the smile that shone in her playtime is fading, and she asks Woody for help. Teaming up again with Woody and Buzz, Jessie rises to the challenge of bringing Bonnie back to life... As Jessie and the other toys begin to question their own existence, wondering, "Are toys no longer needed these days?", the dynamic duo of Woody and Buzz Lightyear join forces once more to confront the threat of "digital."
In the Japanese version, Jesse's voice will be provided by Yumi Kusaka, the new character Smarty Pants will be voiced by Hayato Sano of "M!LK", Forky will be voiced by Ryo Ryusei, and the cutting-edge tablet LilyPad will be voiced by Hirose.
◇Director Stanton: "A theme worth tackling in the new 'Toy Story'"
The newly released footage shows Jessie trying to teach the Lily Pad, a new rival, the "rules of Bonnie's room." Bonnie, the owner of Buzz, Jessie, and the Lily Pad, was a girl with a vivid imagination who loved playing with toys, but her life changed completely after the Lily Pad appeared. Bonnie suppresses her desire to play with toys and becomes engrossed in digital toys like other children...
Alarmed by the situation, Jesse decides to speak with LilyPad as the leader of Bonnie's room. However, LilyPad, completely unfazed by Jesse, says, "I didn't mean to scare you, I was just in sleep mode. Didn't you know?" and "Now, I need to get on the charger and refresh myself a bit," before starting to check social media on the screen on her stomach.
"You weren't even listening to me!" Jessie exclaims angrily, but LilyPad replies, "Not at all, I was listening," mimicking Jessie's words in Spanish and rap, overwhelming her with a high-tech device-like provocation. Buzz, Forky, and the other toys can't help but get into the groove and dance along to LilyPad's rap... How will the toys confront the greatest threat in history: "digital" technology?
In today's world where smartphones and tablets are commonplace, what is the "true role" that toys can play for children? Regarding this film, which can be considered the culmination of the series that has continued to depict the bond between "toys and humans," director Stanton, who has been involved in all the previous films in the series, said, "In this day and age, toys are becoming less significant to children, and there are no longer any children's rooms without electronic devices. What kind of impact will this change in the times have not only on toys, but also on the children themselves? I felt that this was a theme worth tackling in a new 'Toy Story' film. We took this theme seriously, focusing on aspects of childhood that we haven't explored in depth before, while incorporating all the fun, thrills, and humor that you expect from 'Toy Story'."
Can Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the other toys recapture the smile of their beloved Bonnie at the end of their grand adventure? Toy Story 5 opens nationwide on July 3rd.
◇Special event at Lawson United Cinemas
In addition, Lawson United Cinemas, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will be holding a special event in conjunction with "Toy Story," which is also celebrating its 30th anniversary of release in Japan.
Lawson United Cinemas, United Cinemas, and Cineplex will be showing a special 30-second original video commemorating the release of the new film "Toy Story 5" immediately before the main feature film screening at all screens in their 38 theaters nationwide. The campaign is scheduled to run from June 12th to August 6th.
Additionally, customers who purchase a popcorn set or combo at the concession stands of 38 theaters nationwide will receive an original postcard set featuring "Toy Story 5" and "Moana." 500,000 sets will be distributed, starting June 12th and ending when supplies run out.
