Conan O’Brien is stepping into the animated world of Toy Story 5, and fans couldn’t be more excited. Known for his quick wit and long-running career in late-night comedy, O’Brien will be voicing a brand new character in the franchise called Smarty Pants — a high-tech toy who’s clever, quirky, and perfectly suited for the digital age.

The announcement was made by O’Brien himself in a playful video on Instagram, where he jokingly said he wanted to voice either Woody or Buzz. With his signature sarcasm, he said, “They told me Woody was already taken by Tom Hanks. And Buzz? Yep, Tim Allen again.” Eventually, he revealed the real role — Smarty Pants — and called him “the best character of them all,” clearly thrilled to be part of the iconic franchise.

Toy Story 5, set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026, will take a fresh look at how traditional toys survive in a world where children are now more into electronics, tablets, and virtual games. Pixar is going all in to blend the warm nostalgia of old-school toys with the reality of modern playtime. And that’s exactly where Smarty Pants fits in — a tech toy navigating the world of classics like Woody and Jessie.

Directors

The movie is being directed by Andrew Stanton, a long-time Pixar creative behind earlier Toy Story films, and he’ll be joined by co-director McKenna Harris. Jessica Choi will serve as the producer. Together, they plan to reintroduce fans to the toy box while also shaking things up with new faces like O’Brien’s Smarty Pants.

Pixar’s Toy Story franchise has already built a massive legacy, raking in over $3.3 billion worldwide since the first film. Toy Story 4 alone brought in more than $1 billion and even took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Now, with new characters entering the scene and old favorites returning, Toy Story 5 is shaping up to be another huge moment for the series.

This isn’t Conan’s first time lending his voice to animation. He previously appeared in The LEGO Batman Movie and The Mitchells vs. The Machines. But this new role could be one of his most memorable, especially for a new generation of young fans who may be meeting him for the first time through a toy with a lot of brains and a lot of personality.