Tyla is adding another major milestone to her rapidly growing résumé. Just over a week before Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 lands in cinemas on June 19, the Grammy-winning South African superstar has been announced as part of the beloved franchise’s all-star cast, making her Disney voice acting debut in the Sub-Saharan African version of the film.
The global hitmaker will voice a playful new character named Inflatable Flamingo, joining an impressive ensemble that includes Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie, Greta Lee as newcomer Lilypad, Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants and Tony Hale as Forky.
For Tyla, the opportunity marks a full-circle moment. “Toy Story has been such a special part of my childhood, so being part of this film is a full-circle moment for me,” she said in a statement. “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.”
The announcement adds yet another chapter to Tyla’s remarkable rise. Since breaking onto the global stage, the Johannesburg-born star has become one of South Africa’s biggest international exports, collecting a Grammy Award and dominating charts around the world.
In Toy Story 5, Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the gang face perhaps their biggest challenge yet as the world of toys collides with technology. The latest instalment introduces Lilypad, a tablet device voiced by Greta Lee, whose ideas about playtime threaten to disrupt life as the toys know it.
The film is directed by Academy Award winner Andrew Stanton, with Kenna Harris serving as co-director. Stanton and Harris also penned the screenplay, while legendary composer Randy Newman returns to score his fifth Toy Story film.
Nearly 31 years after the original Toy Story changed animation forever, the franchise continues to evolve — and now, it has a South African voice along for the ride.
Toy Story 5 opens exclusively in cinemas across South Africa on June 19.
