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History of Toys Timeline
(c. 2500 BCE – Present)The history of toys spans thousands of years, beginning with simple handmade objects like clay dolls and wooden animals in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Over the centuries, toys evolved from handcrafted playthings to mass-produced items during the Industrial Revolution, with iconic creations such as teddy bears, LEGO bricks, Barbie dolls, and video games shaping childhood across generations. Toys reflect cultural values, technological advances, and changing ideas about childhood itself. More Less
Development
John Lasseter departs from Pixar
2018
Toy Story co-creator John Lasseter left Pixar in late 2018 during the development of Toy Story 4. His departure meant that Toy Story 5 would become the first mainline film in the franchise with no involvement from him.
Image source: Toy Story (franchise)
Pixar refocuses on original films after Toy Story 4
May 2019
In May 2019, producer Mark Nielsen said Pixar was returning its focus to making original films instead of sequels after Toy Story 4 for a while, suggesting the franchise might rest.
Tom Hanks calls Toy Story 4 the final film
May 22, 2019
On the May 22, 2019 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Tom Hanks, the voice of Woody, stated that the fourth main film was the final film in the series, though a fifth film had not been entirely ruled out.
Disney confirms Toy Story 5 in development
Feb 2023
In February 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that a fifth main Toy Story film was in active development. It would be the first in the series without any involvement from co-creator John Lasseter.
Pete Docter confirms Woody's return
Jun 2023
In June 2023, Pixar's chief creative officer Pete Docter confirmed Woody's return in the upcoming fifth main installment of the Toy Story franchise.
Andrew Stanton confirmed as director
Jun 2024
Andrew Stanton was confirmed as the director of Toy Story 5 in June 2024, in addition to returning as a writer alongside Kenna Harris. The film is the fifth main installment in the Toy Story film series and the sequel to Toy Story 4 (2019).
Stanton's writing role announced at D23
Aug 2024
At the D23 event in August 2024, Pete Docter announced Andrew Stanton's writing contributions to Toy Story 5 in addition to his directorial effort.
Jessie time capsule plot element revealed
Jun 2026
In the film, Jessie discovers a buried time capsule filled with late-20th-century objects alongside photos of an adult Emily and her daughter, who is named after Jessie, tying the story to the franchise's emotional roots.
A new Bonnie trilogy begins
Jun 2026
At the premiere in June 2026, director Andrew Stanton stated that Toy Story 3 (2010) was the "end of the Andy years", adding that they have "got another trilogy with Bonnie", signaling a new era for the franchise centered on Bonnie's toys.
Key Facts
- Ancient Egyptian children played with dolls, balls, and toy animals as early as 2500 BCE, with some toys featuring movable limbs.
- The yo-yo is one of the oldest known toys, with origins tracing back to ancient Greece around 500 BCE, where it was made of wood or terracotta.
- The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century enabled mass production of toys, making them affordable for middle-class families for the first time.
- LEGO bricks were introduced by Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen in 1958 and became one of the best-selling toys of all time.
- Barbie, launched by Mattel in 1959, revolutionized the doll industry and remains one of the most recognizable toys worldwide.
Source
This History of Toys timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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