Many moviegoers are wondering what Toy Story 6 could be about now that Toy Story 5 is out and taking the world by storm at the box office. The film’s director, Andrew Stanton, has already provided hints of what he thinks Toy Story 5’s sequel could tackle, and he has stated before that there’s enough material to make two more movies. So while Disney and Pixar has not yet formally announced the existence of Toy Story 6 (and Toy Story 7), it’s pretty much in the cards, as much as the ending of Toy Story 5 would be a suitable finale. This begs the question of where the series could possibly go, given how much ground the Toy Story films have already covered and the very high expectations coming from Tom Hanks. But we’ve got several ideas of where the popular animated franchise could be headed in the future.
Toy Story 5 sequel has plenty of room to work with
Buzz Lightyear vs. Emperor Zerg
First and foremost when it comes to potential ideas for Toy Story 6 is the post-credits scene for Toy Story 5, which features a squad of tech-enhanced Buzz Lightyear figurines who are initially stranded on an island at the beginning of the movie. After realizing their importance as toys for children (and not actual space rangers), they descend on a playground full of kids by floating down with their drone-like wings. However, at the end of the scene another child pulls out an upgraded model of Emperor Zurg, sworn enemy of Buzz Lightyear and the Galactic Alliance, setting up a potential war between the two sides in the sequel. Buzz won the fight against Zurg in an elevator shaft back in 1999’s Toy Story 2, so a rematch is well worth exploring.
Beyond that, while the tech angle was thoroughly explored in Toy Story 5 with the introduction of the Lilypad tablet, it could make a comeback in the sequel since the original Buzz Lightyear did not received a flashy upgrade like the rest of his squadron. This could make him feel less capable as a leader, especially if he is positioned to command the other Buzz figurines in a fight against Zurg. He might feel deficient as both a partner to Jessie and her deputized second-in-command. Buzz, unlike the other toys in the cast, is the only one that has to deal with more advanced versions of himself. This could put him down a treacherous path of wanting to be enhanced with modern technology, though it could come at a heavy price.
Capping off the Bonnie Toy Story trilogy
The emotional core of the film, though, will likely cap off the trilogy for Bonnie, in a similar fashion to how the first three films were a trilogy for Andy. Stanton said in an interview with Screentime, “I would want it to be honest like it has been and follow the lives of the kids. That’s, I think, what really made that feel like a closed in a perfect trilogy for Andy. And hopefully we’ll do the same, if it keeps going, for Bonnie and whoever else comes into their lives.” If this tracks, Toy Story 6 could follow in the footsteps of Toy Story 3 and feature a teenage Bonnie as she navigates adolescence and what looks to be her budding friendship with Blaze.
That said, the sequel will likely want to be distinct from Toy Story 3 where the toys ultimately find a new home with another kid. That shouldn’t be too difficult given that Blaze has her own set of toys and her relationship with Bonnie would provide a fresh angle to a potential farewell for the toys. One fan idea posed on the r/toystory Reddit suggests that the film could flip the plot of Toy Story 3 on its head and explore what happens when a teenager doesn’t stop playing with toys and is seen as not being able to grow up. Since Bonnie is a relatively shy child in Toy Story 5, this potential storyline would not be out of place.
Reuniting with Andy and Emily
Another unexplored thread that Toy Story 6 could tug on is how the toys could reconnect with their older owners. Jessie, who has become the core center of the franchise, is able to push through some of her abandonment issues in Toy Story 5 after discovering that her original owner, Emily, didn’t actually forget about her and named her daughter Jessie in honor of their special connection. In the movie, Emily is estimated to be in her 60s or 70s, which sets up the possibility that Jessie could reunite with Emily (and meet her daughter) before she passes away when Toy Story 6 takes place.
In a similar fashion, Buzz and Woody could reconnect with an older Andy who could be starting his own family by Toy Story 6. Woody himself is one of the leaders of the “lost toys,” alongside Bo Peep who has her own abandonment issues with Andy’s sister Molly, so this theme can connect many of the Toy Story characters together. Perhaps in a hint, Toy Story 5’s post-credits scene shows a balding father on the playground catching one of the Buzz Lightyear figurines, hugging it close, and tucking it behind his back before anyone looks his way. So the idea of what a healthy, not-embarrassing relationship looks like between toys and adults — in contrast to Toy Story 2 where store owner Al McWhiggin pursues Woody as a collectible — would be an interesting avenue for a sequel to play around with.
