Tom Hanks Learns Woody’s Surname During Toy Story 5 Promotion

During a BBC Radio 1 interview alongside co-star Tim Allen, critic Ali Plumb presented the franchise lore, noting that the cowgirl Jessie also carries the surname Pride. While Plumb suggested the shared name implies the two characters are siblings, Hanks dismissed the idea, insisting they could only be distant cousins. Allen, however, noted he was already aware of the information, having encountered the specific lore online previously.

Beyond the character dynamics, the actor offered a preview of the emotional weight in the franchise’s next chapter. Hanks described a scene centered on eight-year-old Bonnie and her struggle with digital bullying as one of the most heartbreaking moments in the series. Director Andrew Stanton confirmed that the film will introduce Lilypad, a smart tablet device that challenges the toys as Bonnie matures. In a separate discussion, Hanks addressed industry debates regarding animation, maintaining that voice actors should not have a dedicated Oscar category. He argued that vocal performances are already eligible for main acting awards, provided the work is sufficiently moving to the audience.