Tyla takes South Africa to infinity and beyond with Toy Story 5 role

South African global superstar, Tyla, has made history once again, adding another major milestone to her fast growing international career after landing a role in Disney and Pixar’s highly anticipated Toy Story 5.

The Grammy-winning singer announced on Tuesday that she will voice the “inflatable flamingo” in the Sub-Saharan African version of the beloved animated franchise, joining iconic characters Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and Jessie (Joan Cusack).

For many young South Africans who grew up watching the Toy Story films, Tyla’s latest move marks another breakthrough moment as local talent continues to gain ground on the global stage.

“I’m incredibly excited for audiences to experience it, and it means so much to know that African viewers will hear an African voice bringing one of these beloved characters to life,” Tyla said.

While she previously contributed music to the 2025 Smurfs movie soundtrack, Toy Story 5 marks her official acting debut in animation, making her the first African to breathe life into one of Woody’s supporting characters in the franchise.

The fifth instalment of the much-loved series will premiere in South African cinemas on 19 June and is expected to tackle a theme many young people and families can relate to: the growing influence of technology and screen time on children’s lives.

The film explores how traditional toys compete with modern digital distractions, including a tablet-like character known as Lilypad.

“The story behind Toy Story is very relevant right now because of technology. So many kids are spending time on phones and tablets. It’ll be exciting to see how the film encourages imagination and how children view toys,” Tyla explained.

Tyla is part of the voice cast for the Sub-Saharan African version of Toy Story 5.

in theaters on June 19 pic.twitter.com/q9v42kgJI8

— Zac🐅 (@zacisontime) June 9, 2026

Her casting also places her among a select group of South African stars to feature in Disney productions, including acclaimed actor ,John Kani, who voiced Rafiki in Disney’s The Lion King remake and Mufasa: The Lion King.

Meanwhile, excitement around the film’s soundtrack is also building globally. 

Taylor Swift’s song ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ has reportedly been breaking records, with Spotify noting that it became the “most-streamed country song in a single day by a female artist in Spotify history”.

Swift also shared her long-running connection to the franchise with a video of her in true Jessie style.

“Writing this song felt like a musical departure and coming home at the same time. Creating something for Jessie was a new challenge and also felt like second nature all at once.”

Writing this song felt like a musical departure and coming home at the same time. Creating something for Jessie was a new challenge and also felt like second nature all at once. And being a @toystory kid from the age of 5 til now… is an adventure I plan to be on, to infinity and… pic.twitter.com/gewjzSS0qg

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 5, 2026