Summary

Toy Story 5 is confirmed, and Woody and Buzz will return, with the possibility of Andy making a comeback with his new family. Some fans reject the idea of Andy returning, as they believe Toy Story 3 served as a fitting farewell for the character. Arguments in favor of Andy’s return include the potential for emotional depth and exploring themes of self-discovery, as well as continuing the idea of passing toys down to future generations.

Toy Story 5 is happening, and it is well in the works. It is not yet clear when this fifth installment will premiere, with some talking about a 2024-2026 window, but it is confirmed that Woody and Buzz will come back, a statement backed by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, the voice actors who have given life to these characters in the four previous movies.

The big surprise came in the form of a rumor in the past weeks, with a return that no one was really expecting: Andy, the original owner of the toys. The scoop suggests that the now-adult Andy will be part of this new film accompanied by his new family, hinting at the idea of his little ones becoming the new owners of Woody and the gang.

Opinions on social media didn’t take long. As expected, many instantly rejected the idea of bringing the character that was solidly sent off in Toy Story 3, whereas others who are more critical of the fourth film are happy to see him return. Many fans think that Toy Story 4 was unnecessary, so a subsequent part will not please them. Yet, as Toy Story 5 is confirmed and Disney will hardly cancel it at this point, the true question here is whether Andy should be part of it or not. Here are some arguments in favor and against the idea of this controversial return.

Why Andy Should Be in Toy Story 5
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Fan theories on the side, Andy’s emotional goodbye from Toy Story 3 was truly iconic. Many viewers break to tears to this day as he parts to college, passing on his amazing set of toys to the young Bonnie, who promises them a good time just like Andy did when he was young. The scene was conceived as closure, and it was fair to assume that the Andy era was over, but this didn’t mean he would be absent from Toy Story 4. Although, indeed, the former owner of Woody doesn’t physically appear in the fourth film (aside from flashbacks), his presence floats as a ghost in the memory of a troubled Woody, struggling to leave his days with him behind.

Toy Story 4 meant multiple psychological closures, but Woody letting go of Andy isn’t one. He did become a “lost toy” in the sense of not having an official owner, and this premise will probably set him on many amazing adventures with Bo Beep and his new gang.

However, if the cowboy is faced once more with the boy that made him the happiest toy in the world, he will have to embark on a new journey of self-discovery with deep psychological roots. Leaving Bonnie was easier for him as she grew out of him first, but in Andy’s case, he started a new life while struggling to mourn his old one. The mixed feelings that Woody would confront are enough material to give the movie the complex emotional background that Pixar has fans accustomed to.

Related: Toy Story 5: What We Want to See in the New Movie

Moreover, with the possibility of Andy’s kids being part of Toy Story 5, many might expect them to inherit the toys as a full circle. The message, more obvious but not less important because of it, implies the continuity of toys passing over to each new generation. This makes a good point of repurposing old dolls for younger kids instead of buying them new ones constantly. Connecting these last two ideas, Woody might face the crossroads of trying to relive his happiest days with Andy’s kids versus his new life marching to his drum beat.

Why Andy Shouldn’t Be in Toy Story 5
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The first and most obvious argument against Andy’s return in the fifth film is the risk of undoing the story from Toy Story 3 and 4. Give or take a couple of differences, the Star Wars sequel trilogy suffered from this phenomenon when Palpatine was brought back for Episode IX after previous ones made a point of leaving him behind, resulting in a confusing story. The efforts put in Andy’s final scene and Woody’s personal journey would be at risk of being erased with a couple of forgettable scenes if this happened, and even those who long for Andy’s comeback might find it ridiculous. Needless to say, not every idea made it to films in previous installments.

Another risky consequence of bringing Andy back is offsetting the protagonists’ balance in the film. This refers to how the previous ones give different roles to each character. The first three films did a great job of providing the main toys with an important mission/story/arc in each story, something that was left a bit unbalanced in the fourth one.

Related: Toy Story 5: Could the Story Focus on Buzz Lightyear?

Toy Story 4 is a film mostly about Woody, with Forky having his turn to shine and the others playing a secondary role. Toy Story 5 might need to correct this to make Buzz Lightyear, Jesse, and the gang valuable supporting characters with their agenda. Andy’s comeback might put his relationship with Woody under the spotlight again, something that has already been done to the detriment of characters that deserve a multidimensional treatment.

Behind Andy’s possible return lies the bigger question of whether a fifth Toy Story can spoil the magic of one of Disney Pixar’s greatest classics. The equilibrium between new ideas and nostalgia is a hard one, and the stakes are higher for beloved products. As new details continue to surface about Toy Story 5, fans will continue to be vocal about them, gatekeeping the story about their favorite toys. Still, Disney knows its game, and though mistakes are possible, the new movie also has a chance to become another cult-classic feature.