The Toy Story franchise has been a staple of Disney and Pixar’s cinematic legacy for over two decades, creating an emotional bond with fans, young and old. From the groundbreaking technology of the first film in 1995 to the emotional farewell in Toy Story 4 (2019), these films have been cherished as some of the most important in animation history.
But with the announcement of Toy Story 5 in 2023, many fans were left wondering: Is there really more story to tell, or are the characters we love just being squeezed for another movie?
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While some fans were initially excited to see the iconic duo of Woody and Buzz return, concerns began to grow as Disney and Pixar unveiled more details about the new film. The latest image from Toy Story 5 quickly sparked an unexpected debate.
What should have been a celebratory moment for fans turned into a contentious discussion about which beloved characters were—and more importantly, were not—making a return to the big screen.
Fans were shocked to see that some of their favorite toys were missing from the newly released promotional material for Toy Story 5. Characters like Slinky Dog and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head were notably absent from the images, leaving fans questioning whether these key figures had been cut from the movie.
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This prompted a wave of reactions, with many accusing Disney of making politically motivated decisions about which characters to feature in the film.
In the image, the absence of classic characters like Slinky Dog and the Potato Heads was hard to ignore, prompting comments like:
“NO POTATO HEADS THIS IS TERRIBLE”
— Orange Feline (@Paintown67) July 6, 2025
NO POTATO HEADS THIS IS TERRIBLE
— Orange Feline (@Paintown67) July 6, 2025
While some fans jumped to conclusions, accusing Disney of cutting the characters for political or ideological reasons, others were quick to point out that the actors who voiced Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head—Don Rickles and Estelle Harris—had passed away in recent years. As a result, it’s impossible for these characters to return in the same capacity as before.
To provide a little context, Pixar had to use archived voice sessions and deleted scenes to give Mr. Potato Head a role in Toy Story 4, after Rickles' passing in 2017. The absence of Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story 5 isn’t a result of any political decision; rather, it’s a reflection of the natural course of time and the loss of these talented voice actors.
Still, the absence sparked heated debate among fans.
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Many defended Disney’s decision not to recast the characters, pointing out the delicate balance between honoring the original voice actors and moving the story forward. Some pointed out that Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head were not central to the plot, so it's not really essential for Disney to replace them.
However, some felt the omission of beloved characters like Slinky Dog—who voiced by the late Jim Varney, then replaced with Blake Clark when Varney died —was another example of Disney making changes for the wrong reasons.
Despite the backlash, it’s important to note that Disney has already confirmed that other fan favorites like Slinky Dog, Forky, and Bullseye will still appear in Toy Story 5, though they have yet to be featured prominently in the promotional materials.
As Toy Story 5 inches closer to its 2026 release, fans remain divided over what the future holds for the franchise.
Do you think Disney is making the right call by evolving the series to appeal to a new generation of fans, or is it time for the Toy Story franchise to rest? Would you like to see more of the classic characters like Slinky Dog and Mr. Potato Head, or is it time for new faces to take center stage?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and join the conversation as we continue to explore what’s next for Toy Story and the future of Disney storytelling.
