The latest installment in the Disney & Pixar animated film series, "Toy Story 5" (directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by Kenna Harris), will be released in Japan on July 3rd. A scene from the film showing the long-awaited reunion of the beloved cowboy doll Woody and space ranger Buzz Lightyear was released on June 19th. The scene captures the shocking appearance of Woody when he returns to Bonnie's room, surprising even the other toys, making it a must-see for fans.
◇Woody in a new look wearing a red poncho: How does it change over time?
Woody and Buzz are beloved around the world. Woody was Andy's favorite sheriff cowboy doll, and now he works with Bo Peep and other friends to rescue abandoned toys. The newly released footage shows Woody, sporting a new look with a red poncho, returning to Bonnie's room after receiving an SOS from Jessie.
Woody and the other toys, including Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, Rex, and Forky, are overjoyed to be reunited after so long. However, when Woody takes off his hat, they are shocked to find that the paint on the back of his head is peeling off. Furthermore, his stomach has become quite plump, and the toys are utterly astonished by Woody's drastically changed appearance.
Woody's best friend, Buzz, welcomes him with the same laser beam he had equipped on his arm when they first met. As the intro to the classic song "You've Got a Friend in Me" plays, Woody and Buzz celebrate their reunion with a firm handshake and a warm hug. This scene, full of Toy Story's signature humor and showcasing the unchanging bond between the beloved duo, raises expectations for the main film.
◇Tom Hanks: "Woody had too much fun."
Hollywood star Tom Hanks, who has voiced Woody in the original version for over 30 years, commented on Woody's changes, saying, "Woody was played with too much. It's only natural that parts of the rubber hat would wear out if you put it on his head over and over again." He also revealed about Woody's chubby belly, "Woody isn't made of plastic, he's made of stuffing and fabric. The stuffing settles down over time."
Director Andrew Stanton, who has been involved in all the previous films in the series, spoke about Woody, saying, "I knew that I would need to rewrite the script many times to complete the film. So I tried writing the first script without Woody to see if I would miss him. And I did. So I thought, 'Okay, I need to work harder and not just include him because I want to, but I need to think of a way that will convince fans who love the series to come to the theater.' I spent a long time finding that way, and now I can't imagine it being any other way." He spoke of the love he put into making the film for Woody.
◇Can they win back the heart of the young girl, Bonnie?
"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...
In the Japanese version, actor Toshiaki Karasawa voices Woody throughout the series, and entertainer George Tokoro voices Buzz Lightyear. Yumi Kusaka voices Jessie, Alice Hirose voices the new character Lily Pad the latest tablet, Alice Hirose of "M!LK" voices Smarty Pants, Hayato Sano Nagi Inoue of the idol group " Nogizaka46 " voices Snappy, Kemuri Matsui of the comedy duo "Reiwa Roman" voices Atlas, and Ryo Ryusei voices Forky.
Pixar, which has a belief that it will not make a sequel unless there is a story worth telling that surpasses previous works, is confidently releasing what it claims will be the best story in the series yet, and expectations are soaring. Toy Story 5 will be released nationwide on July 3rd.
