Toy Story 5 takes aim at creepy AI toys: ‘I’m always listening’

Source: TechCrunch

Image Credits: Pixar

Overview

When the first Toy Story movie came out in 1995, Google didn’t exist yet and Apple was on the verge of bankruptcy. No one could have predicted that, over thirty years later, Pixar would still be making Toy Story movies, nor could anyone have known that the latest installment would pit Buzz Lightyear and a balding Woody against an evil AI tablet called Lilypad.

Toy Story 5 confronts old‑school toys like Mrs. Potato Head, Rex, and Slinky Dog with the sinister threat of technology.

The trailer shows Bonnie—the young girl who inherited Andy’s toys when he left for college in Toy Story 2—playing outside with her toys when a surprise package containing the Lilypad tablet arrives. She becomes completely enraptured by the tablet, not even looking up from the screen when her parents tell her that screen time is over.

The Villain: Lilypad (Lily)

The trailer positions Lilypad— or Lily— as a menacing antagonist. When Jessie confronts the tablet about Bonnie’s wellbeing, Lily appears indifferent, prompting the cowgirl to demand that the tablet listen to her.

“I’m always listening,” Lily says ominously, echoing Jessie’s impassioned speech in a computerized tone… and then translates it into Spanish.

Jessie warns Woody, “Tech’s invaded our house. I’m losing Bonnie to this device.” Woody replies, “Toys are for play, but tech is for everything.”

Potential Impact

Could Toy Story 5 pull at the heartstrings of young children and make them think twice about the consequences of excessive screen time? That may be a stretch, but at least it offers a narrative that isn’t as mind‑numbing as some contemporary children’s programming.