Toy Story 5 needs to finally explain how death works in its universe. Over the course of four movies, several toys have been put through the winger, with many losing parts and enduring damage that'll never be fixed. However, death has thus far been avoided.
Buzz and Woody have found themselves in perilous situations in every Toy Story movie to date. For that reason, it makes sense that they'll be in danger once more when the franchise continues with a fifth installment. It's been confirmed that Toy Story 5 is currently in development at Disney. Presumably, the upcoming Pixar film will find more shenanigans for Buzz, Woody, Slinky, Rex, Hamm, and all the others to get themselves into when they return to the big screen. But for now, details about the next challenge that awaits them remain under wraps.
Toy Story's Series Length Makes Toy Death A Bigger Toy Story 5 Question
With the franchise adding an extra chapter to Woody and Buzz's story, the question of what happens when a toy doesn't survive a dangerous predicament will loom even larger. The problem has slowly evolved into an elephant in the room. With each installment, it becomes more noticeable that's there's no un-inverse explanation. As noted above, the main characters have been in and out of danger throughout the franchise, plus they've seen other toys thrust into harm's way as well. It's a surprising that after all this time, death still hasn't been properly addressed. After all, it makes sense that it would be a concern shared by every toy.
Interestingly, a revelation from outside the movies has proven that toys can die. Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich revealed in a tweet in 2020 that if a toy gets destroyed, it's "game over." The removal of a head (or even multiple body parts) isn't something a toy can't come back from, but it seems there are accidents so severe that a toy could be killed given the right circumstances.
Toy Story 3 Means The Series Needs To Answer The Death Mystery In-Universe
Toy Story 3 was arguably the most glaring instance where it was implied that toys aren't immune to death. In the movie, the characters almost went into an incinerator. They were obviously fearful of what would even happen, even though they've never openly discussed the concept of death applying to them. This could easily be fixed by the fifth movie and in a way that won't go too far for a Toy Story movie. Death can be put on the table as an option without it actually happening to any of the characters. Instead of showing it, it can be acknowledged as something that could occur if they're not careful, which would justify their desperation in avoiding fatal encounters.