On July 3rd, actor Toshiaki Karasawa and others appeared at a special talk show and greeting for the latest installment in the Disney & Pixar animated film series, "Toy Story 5" (directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by Kenna Harris), held at Tokyo Disneyland (Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture). Karasawa greeted the audience in character as Woody, saying, "They're all my partners!", and each of the other cast members responded with a line from their respective characters.
In addition to the Japanese voice actors, Karasawa (Woody) and Tokoro George (Buzz Lightyear), the event was attended by Alice Hirose(Lily Pad), Hayato Sano from the popular group "M!LK" (Smarty Pants), Nagi Inoue from the idol group " Nogizaka46 " (Snappy), Matsui Kemuri from the comedy duo "Reiwa Roman" (Atlas), and Matsuo Shun from "Chocolate Planet" (Ducky) and Shohei Osada from "Bunny".
"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 whose toys come to life and go 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.
In the latest installment, "Toy Story 5," Jessie, a cowgirl doll who has taken over as "sheriff" from Woody and is now the leader of the toys in Bonnie's room, has watched over the growth of the imaginative and shy girl, Bonnie. When Bonnie's parents, worried that she is struggling to make friends because the other kids are moving on from toys and are engrossed in tablets, her life changes drastically when they give her a state-of-the-art tablet, the "LilyPad." Worried that Bonnie's radiant smile, which used to shine when she played, is fading as she becomes absorbed in the screen, Jessie asks Woody for help. Teaming up again with Woody and Buzz, Jessie rises to the challenge of winning back Bonnie's spirit...
