“Toy Story 5” is meta.

Meta describes something that is self-referential.

“Toy Story 5” is nothing if not self-referential.

The computer animation comedy refers to a time when children played with toys rather than electronic devices, computers and cell phones.

Lilypad (voiced engagingly by Greta Lee), a frog-themed touch-screen electronic tablet, is delivered to the home of Bonnie (Scarlett Spears).

Bonnie was ostracized by classmates for still playing with toys.

Looking on with concern are Bonnie’s toys Buzz Lightyear, the astronaut (Tim Allen at his gruff-voiced best), Jessie, the cowgirl (Joan Cusack with wide-eyed wonderment in her voice) and Woody, the cowboy (Tom Hanks, earnest and reliable as ever).

Bonnie is soon spending a lot of screen time with Lilypad and makes a new friend in a girl named Blaze (Mykal-Michelle Harris).

The amount of screen time that children and teens spend on electronic devices, compared to using their own imagination as they play with toys or as they play outdoors with friends, is at the center of “Toy Story 5.” It’s a timely topic.

In “Toy Story 5,” it may not take a village to raise awareness, but it does take a platoon of high-tech Buzz Lightyears. Each of the 50 next-generation Buzz Lightyears pops out rotary propellers. They zoom along like a military squadron of drones to deliver themselves as toys for tots.

“Toy Story 5” is meta because it flies above the concept of the film franchise. It refers to our own memories of the original “Toy Story,” released some 30 years ago in 1995, the first feature film made with Computer Generated Imagery (CGI).

“Toy Story 5” plays on recollections of childhood toys and our playtime with them.

“Toy Story 2” was released in 1999; “Toy Story 3,” in 2010, and “Toy Story 4,” in 2019.

The Pixar Animation Studios’ “Toy Story” movies have a look unlike other CGI feature films.

It is not only the details: the pliable plasticine faces of the dolls (Jessie and Woody), the hard plastic surfaces of the toys (Buzz Lightyear, Lilypad, Smarty Pants (voiced by Conan O’Brien) and the photorealism of automobiles (VW Beetle) and vehicles (trucks and buses).

What sets the “Toy Story” films apart is gravity. Each character has a look and personality of its own. Each is distinctive. The characters have weight. They have buoyancy. Arm, leg and head movements are life-like.

The color palette is uplifting with beautiful painterly vistas, backgrounds and interiors.

“Toy Story 5” has several animation scenes that depart from the Pixar style of CGI with a looser, pastel style in one scene, and a darker more symbolic style in another scene. Each represents Bonnie’s and Blaze’s imaginations as they play “pretend” and make up stories for the toy dolls.

This is the first “Toy Story” directed by Andrew Stanton, who co-wrote the screenplays for “Toy Story,” “Toy Story 2” and “Toy Story 4,” and co-wrote the story for “Toy Story” and 2, 3 and 4.

Stanton has received Two Oscars, animated feature, “WALL-E,” 2009, and “Finding Nemo,” 2004, and five Oscar nominations. Co-director of “Toy Story 5” is McKenna Harris. They keep the character development, dialogue and action moving and involving.

“Toy Story” composer Randy Newman is back to score the film.

Taylor Swift wrote the film’s title song, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” which she sings at the film’s conclusion.

Do we need another “Toy Story” feature film?

At first, I wondered.

After seeing, “Toy Story 5,” I have no doubt.

“Toy Story 5” will be enjoyed by children and the child in us.

“Toy Story 5,“ MPA rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested: Some material may not be suitable for children.) for some thematic elements and rude humor; Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Animation; Run time: 1 hour, 42 minutes. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: There is a mid- end-credits scene in “Toy Story 5,” where the Buzz Lightyear drones greet children at a playground, and a rap-song scene led by Pizza with Sunglasses (voiced by Bad Bunny) at the very end.

At The Movies: “Toy Story 5” was seen in the Dolby Cinema at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, July 3-6: “Minions & Monsters,” the sequel where the little pranksters go back to 1920s’ Hollywood, $36.4 million in 4,243 theaters, $61.4 million since July 1 opening. It’s a franchise low. “Despicable Me 4”’ opened with $120 million two years ago, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

2. “Toy Story 5” dropped one place after two weeks at No. 1, with $31 million in 3,975 theaters, $366.3 million, three weeks. 3. “Young Washington,” starring William Franklyn-Miller, Mary-Louise Parker, Kelsey Grammer, Andy Serkis and Ben Kingsley, $20.8 million in 2,700 theaters, opening. 4. “Supergirl” dropped two places, $9.6 million in 3,602 theaters, $58.5 million, two weeks. 5. “Disclosure Day” stayed in place, $6 million in 2,702 theaters, $105.3 million, four weeks. 6. “Obsession” dropped three places, $5.3 million in 2,640 theaters, $245.3 million, eight weeks. 7. “Backrooms” dropped one place, $3.3 million in 2,079 theaters, $190.4 million, six weeks. 8. “Jackass: Best and Last” dropped four places, $2.7 million in 2,855 theaters, $13.7 million, two weeks. 9. “Scary Movie” dropped two places, $1.1 million in 1,158 theaters, $105.9 million, five weeks. 10. “The Invite,” starring Seth Rogen, Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton and Olivia Wilde, who directs, moved up seven places, $800,708 in 28 theaters, $1.3 million, two weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of July 5 may be subject to change.

Unreel, July 10:

“Moana,” MPA rated PG; 1 hour, 55 mins. Thomas Kail directs Catherine Laga’aia (Moana), Dwayne Johnson (Maui) and John Tui (Chief Tui) in the live-action adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film “Moana.”

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as of July 5 may be subject to change

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes