Actor Toshiaki Karasawa appeared at the Japan premiere of the latest Disney & Pixar animated film, "Toy Story 5" (directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by Kenna Harris, released on July 3), held in Tokyo on June 30. Karasawa, who voices Woody in the Japanese version, began his stage appearance with the words, "I'm overwhelmed with emotion." George Tokoro, who has voiced Buzz Lightyear, his longtime partner, revealed that Tokoro had said during the photo shoot earlier that he thought today's work would be easy, leaving Karasawa flustered.
In addition to Karasawa and Tokoro, who voice the characters in the Japanese version, the event was attended by Yumi Kusaka (as Jesse), Alice Hirose(as Lilypad), Hayato Sano from the popular group "M!LK" (as Smarty Pants), Nagi Inoue from the idol group " Nogizaka46 " (as Snappy), Kemuri Matsui from the comedy duo "Reiwa Roman" (as Atlas), and Ryo Ryusei (as Forky).
Also, as fans of "Toy Story," Rihito Ikezaki(INI), Hiromu Takatsuka (INI), Tomomi Itano, KAIRYU (MAZZEL), Masahisa (aoen), Yuki Kashiwagi, comedy duo "Geladon," "Magical Lovely," Shinako, Rion Tada, Nene Tokita, Yuno Nagao, Yu Hamaguchi and his wife Akina Minami, Anna Murashige, Chinatsu Wakatsuki, and MAKI (&TEAM) gave interviews.
"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...
