Conan O’Brien lends his voice to a brand-new figure in Toy Story 5, a cheeky potty-training toy named Smarty Pants that triggers laughter during Jessie’s solo mission. Early word from press screenings suggests the character injects a burst of chaotic energy into the film’s mix of friendship and gadgetry.
Jessie’s path crosses Smarty Pants in Blaze’s rundown playhouse, a space left behind by her owner’s family. The scene also features other new tech toys—Atlas the GPS gadget and Snappy the digital camera—who briefly compete for attention before taking their places in the ensemble.
Design origins and the intern who shaped him
The look and feel of Smarty Pants trace back to a Pixar intern named Naomi, who sketched the original concept in the summer of 2023. The team refined the idea to fit a familiar, family-friendly device, incorporating an LCD display and a nostalgic silhouette, while preserving the diaper- or bathroom-time motif that defines the character.
Production designer Bob Pauley recalled the early draft of the character, noting the challenge of giving personality to a pants-shaped toy and deciding where to place the eyes. A colleague, Deanna Marsigliese, explored decorative ideas that incorporated toilet imagery, but settled on a simpler, more expressive approach.
Offscreen commentary from Pauley teased that Smarty Pants will have a larger presence in the film’s second half, as animation teams brought the toy to life and Conan’s performance pushed the character beyond its gimmick. The result is a moment that critics are buzzing about as Toy Story 5 progresses toward its big reveal.
“Toy Story 5” arrives in theaters on June 19, 2026.
Source: Original article
