Craig Robinson Brings Star Power to Atlanta as ‘Toy Story 5’ Hits Theaters
Craig Robinson brought star power to Atlanta as he introduced "Toy Story 5" to a crowd of children from the area, highlighting the film's themes of screen time and childhood imagination. The post Craig Robinson Brings Star Power to Atlanta as ‘Toy Story 5’ Hits Theaters appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.
Black News 
Before Pixar’s latest blockbuster opened to the general public, actor and comedian Craig Robinson made sure Atlanta’s children got the first look.
On Monday, June 15, Robinson introduced “Toy Story 5” to a crowd of youth from across the metro Atlanta area at Atlantic Station 18. The special screening brought Robinson face-to-face with the young audience he hopes the film will most inspire.
“I would love to see the kids use their imagination more, as opposed to being stuck to the screens,” Robinson told The Atlanta Voice. “It’s so tempting, and it’s right there. All the colors, all the games. But there’s nothing like using your own imagination.”
Directed by Andrew Stanton and produced by Pixar Animation Studios, “Toy Story 5” is the fifth installment in one of animation’s most beloved franchises and the first in the series to carry a PG rating. The film picks up with Jessie now leading Bonnie’s room of toys after Woody departed to help abandoned toys find new owners. The central conflict arrives in the form of Lilypad, a frog-like tablet voiced by Greta Lee, who becomes Bonnie’s new obsession and forces the toys to confront what it means to stay relevant in an age of screens.
Robinson joins a star-studded ensemble that includes returning franchise veterans Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Tony Hale, Annie Potts, and Keanu Reeves, alongside newcomers Conan O’Brien, Bad Bunny, Ernie Hudson, and Alan Cumming.
In the film, Robinson voices Atlas, a talking hippopotamus GPS toy from an earlier era of technology. He describes the character as a bridge between the analog and digital worlds. “He’s old school tech,” Robinson said. “He’s gonna get you there, and you can count on him. He is who he says he is.”
The film’s themes of screen time and childhood imagination resonated deeply with Robinson, who acknowledged the challenge of disconnecting in his own life.
“When I go for a light jog, that’s when I’m mostly away from the world,” he said. “Or if I’m doing comedy, the phone is off. But yeah, I need to get better at just shutting it down and being silent.”
The film wrestles with a tension familiar to parents and educators alike: as tablets and touchscreens compete for children’s attention, traditional toys are losing ground. For Robinson, the project was an easy call. “They wanted to cast me, we did the first reading, and it was a no-brainer to just hop on,” he said.
The film also features an original song, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” contributed by Taylor Swift and produced alongside collaborator Jack Antonoff, released ahead of the film’s debut. Franchise composer Randy Newman returns to score the film, marking his 10th collaboration with Pixar.
“Toy Story 5” had its world premiere in Los Angeles on June 9. Beyond the film, Robinson said he is currently on the road performing stand-up comedy, with additional projects in development.
“Toy Story 5” opens nationwide Friday, June 19.
The post Craig Robinson Brings Star Power to Atlanta as ‘Toy Story 5’ Hits Theaters appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.
