New Toy Story 5 villain Lilypad gets real-life toy reveal for Roundup Reveal Week
Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 Roundup Reveal Week continued today with one of the campaign’s biggest announcements yet: the film’s new villain Lilypad is becoming a real toy.
TechRadar shared a first look at LeapFrog’s Toy Story 5 Explore & Learn Lilypad, a kid-focused interactive version of the tablet character set to appear in Pixar’s upcoming sequel.
A perfect match for the movie’s story
Lilypad has already been introduced as the tech-driven new threat facing Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Bonnie’s other toys in “Toy Story 5.” Turning that character, and what seems to be the film’s villain, into an educational tablet toy may be one of the interesting tie-ins Disney could have chosen.
Instead of simply making another action figure, Disney licensed the character to LeapFrog, a brand long associated with children’s learning technology, and perhaps the inspiration for the Lilypad character. It blurs the line between villain and real-world product, directly supporting the movie’s “toys vs. tech” premise.
Image from V-Tech
What the Lilypad toy can do
According to the report, the toy features a custom operating system with “Toy Story” elements, character audio, and moving hands that trigger eye movements and sound effects. The product is designed for children ages 3 and up.
The toy is expected to launch on April 26 for $27.99, arriving first at Walmart before expanding to other retailers.
There are other “Toy Story 5” products being revealed as part of the Reveal Roundup Week.
Fans may have mixed reactions
Some fans will likely love the creativity of making the villain into a real product. Others may find it ironic that a movie warning about screens and tech is now selling kids another screen-inspired toy.
That contradiction may actually be the point. And perhaps the movie’s plot is not as obvious as the trailers and marketing material make it seem.
Merchandise reveal
It is also joined by three additional VTech products, including the Buzz Lightyear Learning Watch. While it is not competing with today’s smartwatches, the kid-friendly wearable includes standard clock, timer, and stopwatch functions along with built-in mini games. Its standout feature may be the integrated play laser inspired by Buzz Lightyear’s signature arm gadget.
Also arriving is the Buzz Lightyear Game & Go, which transforms Buzz’s familiar spaceship-style packaging into a handheld educational game system. Rounding out the lineup is a Toy Story 5 Learning Phone, allowing kids to interact through pretend phone calls with favorite characters from the franchise.
This lineup suggests Disney understands exactly what makes “Toy Story 5” relevant in 2026. The franchise is no longer just about playtime. It is about how playtime has changed.
And fans of Buzz, Woody, and Jessie have plenty of Toy Story experiences at Walt Disney World to enjoy too!
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