Tom Hanks has issued a stark warning about the digital epidemic gripping children as he prepares to reprise his role as Woody in Toy Story 5. The film, which sources say will tackle screen addiction head-on, comes at a time when parents across Britain are wrestling with the cost of keeping their children entertained without resorting to tablets and smartphones.
Hanks, speaking from his home in Los Angeles, told the BBC: “These toys are going to have to compete with the glowing rectangle that never sleeps. It’s a terror, honestly. Kids are glued to screens, and it’s breaking down family time. This movie is about fighting back.”
The plot, leaked by insiders, follows Woody and Buzz Lightyear as they lead a rebellion against a new toy called “Pixel,” a digital assistant that hypnotises children into never looking up. The story is said to mirror real fears about child mental health and the widening gap between playtime and screen time.
For working families in the North, the crisis is twofold. Screen addiction is a worry, but so is the cost of physical toys. “My kids want the latest plastic figure, but with bills going up, I’m lucky if I can afford a second-hand jigsaw,” said mother-of-three Laura Mellor from Bolton. Toy manufacturers have reported a 12 per cent drop in sales of traditional dolls and action figures since 2020, as cheaper digital entertainment fills the gap.
Child psychologists back the film’s message. Dr Amita Sharma of the University of Manchester said: “We are seeing a pandemic of screen dependency among under-10s. It affects sleep, attention, and social skills. A film that promotes physical play could be a powerful counterbalance.”
But critics question whether Disney, which owns Pixar, is the right messenger. The company’s own streaming service, Disney+, now boasts 150 million subscribers. “It’s a bit rich for a mega-corporation to lecture parents about screens when they profit billions from them,” said media analyst James Cooper.
Hanks acknowledged the irony but insisted the film aimed to start a conversation. “We’re not the bad guys. We’re just trying to remind everyone that the best toy is the one you share with a friend, not a pixel on a wall,” he said.
The film is set for a 2026 release, with voice work already underway. For now, parents like Mellor are just hoping it sparks a shift. “If it gets my kids playing with actual things again, I’ll take them to the cinema. Even if it costs an arm and a leg.”
