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In the Disney-Pixar animation 'Toy Story 5,' which opens on June 17, 'Woody,' 'Buzz Lightyear' (left), and 'Jessie' lose their footing with the emergence of the smart tablet 'Lily Pad.' / Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea

Bonnie, the guardian of the old-school toy group that includes "Jessie" (Joan Cusack) and "Buzz Lightyear" (Tim Allen), is a young girl who finds it difficult to make new friends due to her shy personality. Heartbroken by her struggle, Bonnie's parents gift her a smart tablet named "Lily Pad" (Greta Lee). Through Lily Pad, Bonnie rapidly grows closer to peers her own age, but she soon becomes deeply hurt by sudden cyberbullying. In the midst of this, Jessie and Buzz—who have been relegated to the cold shoulder—request help from "Woody" (Tom Hanks), who had previously departed on his own path, with the single-minded determination to win back Bonnie's heart and help her find genuine friends. Returning to the fold, Woody musters up the courage expected of the toys' former leader to subdue Lily Pad, but he proves to be no match for the clever tablet.

Returning seven years after the fourth installment released in 2019, 'Toy Story 5' presents a process and outcome of conflict resolution where "you are right, I am right, and we are all right," living up to its reputation as a flagship animation from Disney-Pixar, which values political correctness and the virtue of moderation. The film could easily have shouted "the old ways are best" while heavily criticizing the modern societal trend where the younger generation plays alone and communicates with others through mobile phones or tablet PCs instead of face-to-face contact. Yet, it pleasingly sidesteps such expectations.

As co-director McKenna Harris recently stated during a virtual press conference, "From the very beginning, we approached this by avoiding a binary method that labels electronic devices as bad and traditional ways of playing as good." True to these words, the relationship between the hand-worn dolls and electronic devices like Lily Pad is depicted not as a confrontation, but as a complementary concept where each fills in the other's shortcomings. Furthermore, the film emphasizes that despite differences in their methodologies, both sides share the exact same affection and love for Bonnie.

The proactive roles played by female toy characters add to the film's sense of balance. Jessie, who had been somewhat overshadowed by Woody and Buzz in the past, takes on the lead role, injecting a distinct vitality into the drama and delivering a deeply moving resolution. Even Lily Pad, who could easily come across as unlikable, showcases a clever yet endearing side as the plot progresses. This can be attributed to the multi-dimensional character setup, paired with the expressive voice acting of Korean-American actress Greta Lee, a familiar face from 'Past Lives' and 'Tron: Ares.'

Nevertheless, it is difficult to entirely escape a slight sense of repetition and boredom that comes with the accumulation of installments. As the film approaches its conclusion, it is also hard to shake the feeling that the story is wrapped up in a rush. While it is an undeniable fact that this franchise has long been loved as a series where the quality of the sequels always rivals their predecessors, it feels slightly regrettable that its reputation may now be withering away. Opens on June 17. Rated G.

                                                                                                          Cho Sung-joon