The toys are back in town! Toy Story is returning this year with a brand-new adventure for Buzz, Woody, and friends. Disney and Pixar also brought back everyone they could to make it, including composer Randy Newman for the Toy Story 5 soundtrack score.
Keep reading to learn more about the film and Newman’s involvement with it.
Animation and Pixar fans have a lot to celebrate. We’re heading back to the world of toys with a brand-new Toy Story movie, and we already have a trailer for it.
Buzz about the new Toy Story 5 is everywhere. Everyone wants to know more about the film and who will be in it. Luckily, we have answers to some of those questions.
Fortunately for us fans, Pixar has rehired everyone who worked on the previous films, and I mean everyone. As long as they are still alive, Pixar brought them back. That includes Randy Newman, who will reprise his role in writing the music for the Toy Story 5 soundtrack score.
That’s right. Randy Newman, the legendary composer behind the iconic Toy Story soundtracks, is back to create the music for Toy Story 5. We can now look forward to hearing more unforgettable, heartfelt melodies and witty lyrics from the man himself.
However, Newman isn’t the veteran returning for the new film. For instance, most of the actors are also returning, including:
Conan O’Brien, Greta Lee, Ernie Hudson, and John Hopkins round out the star-studded cast, along with Jeff Bergman, who took over as the voice of Mr. Potato Head.
Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris also returned to write and direct the new Toy Story movie. Together, they created a story about the rise of technology in kids’ spaces.
Taking place years after the previous film, Boonie’s remaining toys must contend with her latest favorite thing, a frog-shaped tablet named Lilypad. With Lilypad consuming all of Bonnie’s attention, the toys must rise to get it back or become obsolete.
What a very relevant, yet modern, story. The impact of tech and AI on toys and children’s media is something we’ve all seen firsthand. For instance, most new toys are now made and marketed for adult collectors rather than traditional child audiences.
Pixar’s solution to this will be interesting to see. Last time, Woody left to guide abandoned toys towards new owners, creating a wholesome solution to outgrowing your old toys and other childhood things. But how do we navigate our new screen-focused world? Is the collector’s market the only place left for toys?
At least, we know it’s in good hands with all the Pixar veterans and new talent joining the film’s crew. We can be assured that Toy Story 5 will continue the franchise’s heartfelt storytelling, technical excellence, and memorable music.
You can watch the trailer below.
While there could be delays, Walt Disney and Pixar will release Toy Story 5 to American theaters in June 19, 2026. Disney is likely to release the Toy Story 5 soundtrack on that same day. No digital streaming release has been announced, but the film will likely end up on Disney+ eventually.
Such an introspective story requires an equally introspective soundtrack, and we know Randy Newman can pull it off.
Newman and Pixar have produced numerous memorable moments over the years, and I expect that will continue with the Toy Story 5 soundtrack. He’s been with the franchise since the beginning. So, he knows these characters and how to express their emotions through song.
While it’s too early to know definitively, we can guess at the soundtrack from the trailer and Newman’s previous work for the franchise. As such, we can expect the soundtrack to have his unique warmth, humor, and emotion while maintaining continuity with the past.
For instance, the film’s trailer used a remix of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”. Therefore, we can expect remixes of other popular Toy Story tracks and anthems. As for new tracks, we can expect a few bittersweet ballads and a new one about friendship. Every one of them will chronicle the toys’ hopes and fears as they face the new play landscape.
However, Newman isn’t the only musician on the Toy Story 5 soundtrack. That’s because the trailer revealed that INXS will be on the soundtrack as well.
While it could just be a trailer thing, INXS had their song “Never Tear Us Apart” mixed into the trailer’s soundtrack. This is hot on the heels of the song’s 35th anniversary, which was last year.
Given that the trailer also used a few of Newman’s songs, we can presume that the Toy Story 5 soundtrack may not be a Randy Newman show. Instead, it will likely include several third-party guest tracks interwoven into the mix.
As mentioned earlier, Randy Newman is the Toy Story soundtrack. He’s been composing music for the franchise since the beginning, defining how we relate and feel about these characters along the way.
Each soundtrack in the franchise is a record-breaking Billboard chart holder and Academy Award nominee.
Newman himself holds multiple award records, including being the composer to receive the most original song nominations from a single franchise in Academy Awards history, for his work on Toy Story. He’s even won an Academy Award for the song “We Belong Together” from Toy Story 3.
We wouldn’t see a soundtrack reach that level of cultural impact until KPop Demon Hunters last year. Only time can tell whether or not lightning will strike again for Toy Story 5. However, Newman’s involvement gives the movie a chance.
This isn’t the first time Newman has worked with Stanton, either. The two have collaborated on 2008’s WALL-E, 2016’s Finding Dory, and 2023’s Elemental. However, Newman’s cousin, Thomas Newman, isn’t working with them this time.
Randy Newman returning to score the Toy Story 5 soundtrack made already good news great. I look forward to hearing what banger of a song he will grace us with this time. Until then, it may be time to watch or rewatch the previous films to get ready for the June premiere.
What are your thoughts on Neman returning to the Toy Story franchise? Post them in the forums or comments below.
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