Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Allen) and the rest of the toys find themselves on the verge of extinction when technology enters the home. Can they find a way to vie for attention in the face of the new Lilypad (Greta Lee) smart device?

The plot this time focuses on Jessie. Now the leader of the toys, she is initially convinced that technology is nothing but a bad influence. Her owner Bonnie (Scarlett Spears) is becoming increasingly absorbed by her device whilst struggling to make friends. However, when Jessie encounters some old technology in the form of Smarty Pants (Conan O’Brien), Snappy (Shelby Rabara) and Atlas (Craig Robinson), she discovers that technology is not quite as simple as she first believed. Together they set out to help Bonnie find a friend who truly accepts her for who she is.

This would not, of course, be a Toy Story film without Woody joining the adventure, and the returning sheriff slips comfortably back into his familiar dynamic with Buzz. The real comic highlight, however, comes from a group of advanced Buzz Lightyear toys who have become stranded and are desperately trying to find their way back to Star Command. They come with a wonderful theme scored by Randy Newman and, of course, do not know that they are toys, which remains one of the greatest charms of the Toy Story series.

There are some lovely set pieces as well featuring various toys of all shapes and sizes. My favourite is a tea party featuring a Combat Carl (Ernie Hudson taking over from Carl Weathers).

Toy Story 5 manages to tap into the fear of every parent in today’s technological age. Can I allow my child access to technology without rushing them through childhood, stunting their imagination, damaging their social development, or exposing them to the dangers of the online world? Most importantly, it explores these concerns in a way that never feels heavy-handed and might actually mean something to its intended audience.

It would be easy to be cynical and suggest that Pixar are running out of ideas by returning once again to their most popular franchise. The reality, however, is that they have crafted another touching story that feels genuinely relevant to modern family life. So whilst this may not compete with the second or third films, which remain the pinnacle of the series, it is still a wonderful film nevertheless.

What surprised me most was not how much I enjoyed spending time with Woody, Buzz and Jessie again, but how relevant the film’s message felt. Toy Story began as a childhood favourite for me when I was fourteen years old. Thirty years later, my own son is now fifteen and older than I was when I first watched the original film. That is a rather strange thought, but perhaps also explains why this instalment resonated with me so strongly. Toy Story continues to find new ways to speak to different stages of life. The animation remains superb, Randy Newman’s score is as charming as ever, and the voice cast once again delivers across the board. While it never reaches the heights of Toy Story 2 or Toy Story 3, it is still a touching, funny and worthwhile addition to one of Pixar’s greatest series.