Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Pixar is heading into one of its biggest theatrical releases in years with Toy Story 5 (2026), but just weeks before the film arrives on June 19, the studio suddenly finds itself dealing with unexpected controversy online.
The newest installment already had fans talking thanks to the return of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and several other longtime favorites. Disney and Pixar have spent months building excitement around the sequel, especially as audiences continue debating whether the franchise should have continued after Toy Story 4 (2019).
Now, though, the conversation has shifted in a completely different direction.
A newly revealed character from the film has sparked accusations of plagiarism after fans noticed major similarities to a popular Cartoon Network character from the 2010s.
The situation likely will not affect the film financially, but it has created an awkward moment for Pixar right before one of its biggest releases of the year.
The Character at the Center of the Debate
The controversy began after Pixar released promotional material tied to the film’s final trailer. Along with new footage, Disney also confirmed that music superstar Bad Bunny would voice a new toy character called “Pizza with Sunglasses.”
Almost immediately, fans online pointed out how similar the design looked to Pizza Steve from the Cartoon Network series Uncle Grandpa (2013).
Pete Browngardt, creator of the animated series, publicly addressed the situation online and accused Pixar of ripping off the character design. The internet quickly ran with the comparison.
And honestly, it is not difficult to understand why people noticed it so quickly.
Both characters feature a slice of pepperoni pizza wearing dark sunglasses. Side-by-side comparisons flooded social media within hours of the reveal, with many viewers arguing the overall design concept felt far too close to be a coincidence.
#GRAMMYs-winning artist Bad Bunny will voice a Pizza with sunglasses in ‘TOY STORY 5.’ pic.twitter.com/SYBZ5PCi9g
— Pixar Expert (@ThePixarExpert) May 26, 2026
There are differences between the characters. Pixar’s version appears more toy-like, while Pizza Steve from Uncle Grandpa had full arms, legs, and facial features. Still, the overall visual immediately reminded many animation fans of the Cartoon Network character.
For longtime viewers who grew up watching Uncle Grandpa, the similarities stood out instantly.
Pixar Has Been Here Before
This is far from the first time Disney or Pixar has faced accusations like this.
Animation fans have spent decades comparing major studio releases to earlier films, shows, anime, and independent projects. Disney famously dealt with controversy surrounding The Lion King (1994), which many believed borrowed ideas from Kimba the White Lion. Later, Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) sparked comparisons to Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water.
Pixar has also faced multiple legal disputes and accusations over the years involving films like Finding Nemo (2003), Cars 2 (2011), Frozen (2013), Zootopia (2016), and Inside Out (2015).
In many of those situations, the accusations never led to major legal consequences. Courts generally require much stronger evidence than simply having similar-looking characters or overlapping concepts.
And that may ultimately be the biggest reason Pixar likely is not too worried right now.
A talking slice of pizza wearing sunglasses is probably not specific enough to create a serious copyright issue on its own. Entertainment law often focuses more heavily on deeper storytelling similarities, copied dialogue, or nearly identical character development.
Still, public perception matters, especially online.
Why Fans Are Paying Attention
The timing makes this situation more interesting than it normally might be.
Toy Story 5 is incredibly important for Pixar. The studio has spent the past several years trying to balance original storytelling with franchise sequels, and there is already pressure surrounding whether another Toy Story movie was necessary in the first place.
Some fans still feel Toy Story 3 (2010) delivered the perfect ending. Others accepted Toy Story 4 as a final goodbye for Woody. Now, Pixar is asking audiences to return for a fifth installment nearly three decades after the original movie changed animation forever.
That means every part of the marketing rollout gets extra attention.
The movie itself appears to focus heavily on nostalgia while introducing modern themes involving kids becoming attached to screens and technology instead of traditional toys. Early footage has teased emotional moments, returning characters, and bigger roles for Jessie and Buzz.
But instead of the conversation staying entirely focused on those elements, social media has now turned part of its attention toward the plagiarism accusations.
Some fans think the criticism is completely fair. Others believe people are overreacting to a fairly simple visual joke character.
Either way, the online debate has become impossible to ignore heading into release week.
Will This Actually Hurt Toy Story 5?
Realistically, probably not.
The Toy Story franchise remains one of Disney and Pixar’s most successful brands ever. Families are still expected to show up in massive numbers when the sequel opens later this month, especially with Tom Hanks and Tim Allen returning once again.
Pixar also knows nostalgia remains one of its biggest strengths.
Even people questioning whether the sequel is necessary will likely still be curious enough to see where Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang go next. That alone gives the film a huge advantage heading into theaters.
Still, the controversy has definitely added an unusual layer to the film’s rollout.
Instead of every headline focusing on returning characters, emotional storytelling, or Pixar’s next chapter, part of the internet is now debating whether one of the movie’s newest characters copied a cult-favorite Cartoon Network creation.
And with Toy Story 5 only weeks away from release, fans probably are not done arguing about it anytime soon.
