Pixar halted production on Toy Story 5 for two weeks after its filmmakers realized the story needed significant changes. Co-director McKenna Harris revealed that the team used the break to rethink Jessie’s mission and strengthen the sequel’s emotional impact. The pause helped the filmmakers find a stronger direction for the fifth installment of the Toy Story franchise.
Speaking at the View Conference in Italy, Harris admitted, “We worked on making that movie, and we had one problem. It wasn’t good.” As reported by Cartoon Brew, Harris explained that the team had to rethink the story rather than continue with an idea that was not working.
Why did Pixar stop production to rethink Jessie’s mission in Toy Story 5?
The original story followed Jessie and the other toys as they competed with Lilypad, a tablet, for Bonnie’s attention. However, McKenna Harris felt the premise was too familiar. She said, “Toys vying for playtime felt a little bit Toy Story 1, been there, done that.” The director also believed that “the stakes of losing playtime felt too soft.”
The filmmakers decided to address the problem rather than hope for a last-minute solution. She said, “You should not wait for a Hail Mary idea.” The team spent one week identifying the problems and another rewriting the script.
The breakthrough came when the team shifted its attention to Bonnie’s personal struggles. Instead of having Jessie fight to regain playtime, the revised story focused on her efforts to help Bonnie make a friend. She described this change as “the rocket fuel” for the film. The revised version received more positive reactions during internal screenings.
Harris recalled that the changes created a “huge improvement” and made audiences more invested in the characters. Reflecting on the decision, Harris said the pause “turned an okay movie into a good one.” She then praised Pixar’s artists for continuing to improve the film, for turning “a good movie into a great one.”
Toy Story 5 was released in theaters on June 19, 2026, and grossed $1.15 billion worldwide.
Originally reported on ComingSoon.
