Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 has grossed more than $764 million in its first three weeks and is predicted to reach $1.2 billion, smashing multiple box office records. Taylor Swift co-wrote an original song, I Knew It, I Knew It, with Jack Antonoff for the film, performing it at the premiere and later dueting You've Got a Friend in Me with Randy Newman.
Andrew Stanton's Journey to Directing Toy Story 5
This is the first Toy Story film directed by Andrew Stanton, who co-wrote the previous four. Stanton, 60, was rejected three times by Disney executives before being hired by Pixar, which Disney acquired in 2006. He won Oscars for Finding Nemo (2003) and WALL-E (2008). His acceptance speech for Finding Nemo went viral after he thanked his high school drama teacher and professed his love for his wife.
Stellar Cast and New Character Lilypad
The film features returning voices: Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Bullseye (Alan Cumming), and new characters Lilypad (Greta Lee), Smarty Pants (Conan O'Brien), Bonnie (Scarlett Spears), and Snappy (Shelby Rabara). Lilypad is the first tech device in Toy Story, an iPad-style tablet that disrupts the toys' world.
Tech in Toy Story and Modern Childhood
Stanton says the introduction of Lilypad reflects how children's play has changed with technology. He compares it to the arrival of television, noting, "The jury's out on what that is going to do over time... but it was clearly never going to go away." Greta Lee describes Lilypad's dynamic: "She's not quite a villain, but she is the new threat to the toys... they all want what's best for Bonnie."
Stanton's Creative Process and Personal Life
Diagnosed with ADHD in 2012, Stanton lives in Mill Valley, California, with his wife Julie and two children. He is an Arsenal fan, including references to the club in his 2012 film John Carter. His creative philosophy: "Be wrong as fast as we can... we're gonna screw up, let's just admit that." He studied at California Institute of the Arts and joined Pixar in 1990.
Stanton emphasizes making characters he enjoys: "I have to spend four years with them... I have to enjoy being with them." He sees technology as an opportunity, not a threat, and notes, "The computer wants to do things perfectly, but it's the imperfections of life that make it interesting."
