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Over thirty years after Woody and Buzz Lightyear first came to life on screen, Jessie is the new sheriff in charge, a tablet is the newest plaything, and Toy Story is asking the question of our time: what do our devices do to our imaginations?
In this episode, Jena and Michelle unpack how Toy Story 5 explores tech, play, and friendship with nuance and humor. They also revisit why the franchise has endured for three decades – from its themes of loyalty and change to the way Pixar revolutionized animation and storytelling itself.
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Check out our recs:
Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull, 2023.
Pixar’s 22 rules of storytelling, Jeannie Ruesch, 2026.
Inside Pixar, Disney+, 2020.
Audio clip sources:
Toy Story 1995 | 10 Best Quotes, 10 Best Quotes (YouTube), 2024.
CNN (TikTok), 2026.
Why everyone hates the new hydration breaks, The Wall Street Journal (YouTube), 2026.
Bellingham: “My mum told me to watch my language!”, Beanyman Sports (YouTube), 2026.
BBC Radio 4 (TikTok), 2026.
You’re mocking me, aren’t you?, Bosh (YouTube), 2020.
Toy Story! There’s a snake in my boots. OR There’s a snake in my boot., Divine Child_Creative Rebellion (YouTube), 2026.
Learn more about the World Cup
Everyone’s mad at the World Cup’s new “hydration breaks” – except Mr. Moneybags over here, Wired, 2026.
A heavily jeered $250m goldmine - are hydration break ads here to stay?, BBC, 2026.
How long was the 2026 World Cup final halftime break?, USA Today, 2026.
Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, & more take over FIFA’s first-ever World Cup final halftime show, Billboard, 2026.
Why ITV aren’t showing adverts during World Cup hydration breaks, Four Four Two, 2026.
The World Cup half-time show was slick, surreal and entirely unnecessary, The Athletic, 2026.
Learn more about Toy Story 5 and Pixar
Disney lays off hundreds of staffers, Pixar hit hard, The Wrap, 2026.
Disney & Pixar merger: The inside story of a $7.4 billion deal, M&A Community, 2025.
How Toy Story changed Pixar – and animation, The Walt Disney Company, 2026.
Jobs stake in Disney valued at $3.9 billion, NBC News, 2006.
Our Story, Pixar.
Review: Why “Toy Story” is the best franchise ever, The New York Times (YouTube), 2026.
The timeless allure of Toy Story: A deep dive into its enduring popularity, Story Lamp Reviews, 2024.
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About Did You See? with Jena and Michelle
Did you see that? Whether it’s in the news or pop culture, in print or online, we are living in a media overload. It’s a lot to process!
Did You See? is for anyone looking for space to pause and work through the media moments shaping how we see and understand the world. ◾
