In Toy Story 5, the problem really is these damn phones (and tablets)

looking angrily at a frog-themed tablet." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Disney / Pixar" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/TOYSTORY5-ONLINE-USE_t110.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> The Toy Story franchise began with a story about a vintage doll feeling threatened by the arrival of an electronic action figure. Woody and Buzz's rivalry embodied a shift that was happening in the '90s as children's toys were becoming more technologically sophisticated , and while toys have gotten even more tech-focused in the years since, there's also an entirely new world of smart gadgets and digital platforms that now shape kids' playtime. Though Toy Story 5 is a continuation of Woody and Buzz's adventures in humanland, it is also a poignant exploration of what it's like for kids to grow up in a world where they're often encouraged to ex … Read the full story at The Verge.