EMERYVILLE, Calif. — “Toy Story 5” arrived in theaters Friday, delivering the newest chapter in the iconic animated series and shining a fresh spotlight on longtime fan favorite Jessie.
In an interview with ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor Karina Nova, Pixar filmmaker and storyboard artist Kenna Harris explained the thinking behind the film’s direction and why Jessie became the heart of the story.
According to Harris, Jessie was at the center of the project from its earliest version. Harris said director Andrew Stanton, when considering what a new “Toy Story” film could be, was drawn to the idea of making Jessie “the sheriff of the room.” Harris added that her perspective felt especially compelling, with more emotional ground still to cover for the character, while the story also explores tension between toys and modern devices.
For Harris, the movie also has deep personal meaning. They said “Toy Story 2” was the first film they ever saw in a theater, beginning a lasting connection to Jessie.
“Since I was little, I would draw. I’d draw her over and over again. I’d draw her in the window. It’s always been in my DNA, and it’s so surreal now to be a part of the film that really focuses on the character I’ve loved most in the franchise,” Harris said.
Jessie’s journey can also be traced through archival material maintained by Pixar. Juliet Roth, senior manager of Pixar Living Archives, pointed to those records as a reflection of how the character has developed over the years.
“She’s had quite an evolution, even her behavior, mannerisms; she tells her origin story,” Roth said.
Roth added, “Jessie has a badge now, and she has total confidence about her.”
The film introduces new elements alongside returning characters, including a potty-training toy named Smarty Pants. Roth described the development process behind the character’s design and personality.
“This one is a bunch of notes; there are words, there’s scribble scrabble while also being this very specific character we can identify, Conan O’Brien… that’s right, his swoop,” Roth said.
“Toy Story 5” also features a central conflict between traditional toys and modern technology, embodied by a smart tablet antagonist named Lillypad.
Harris said exploring that dynamic proved challenging during development.
“An early discovery we had in the film was that there’s no competition. Tech just wins automatically. There’s no choice for the toys but to lie down in defeat and have Lillypad walk all over them in their lives,” Harris said.
They added that the filmmakers ultimately reframed the conflict around a broader theme.
“And it started to unlock… well, maybe what we’re talking about here is connection. We’re talking about how toys and devices can lead to connection with children. Maybe one is more authentic than the other,” Harris said.
“Toy Story 5” is now playing in theaters.
Disney is the parent company of Pixar and this station.
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