Buzz Lightyear

Voiced byIn-universe informationSpecies

Buzz Lightyear is a main character in the Disney–Pixar Toy Story franchise. He is a superhero toy action figure from an in-universe media franchise. Buzz is recognizable by his lime green, purple, and white space suit. He is a recurring character in all of the Toy Story franchise's animated films, including spin-offs. In the animated feature films he is voiced by Tim Allen.

Although Woody serves as the main protagonist in the Toy Story filmography, Buzz is a prominent character. In Toy Story (1995), unlike most of the other toys, Buzz initially believes himself to be the "real" Buzz Lightyear and comes to terms with being just a toy. In Toy Story 2 (1999), he encounters other Buzz Lightyear action figures from the toyline who similarly believe themselves to be "real", including his in-universe archenemy and father Emperor Zurg. In Toy Story 3 (2010), Buzz explores a romance with cowgirl figure Jessie, while uncovering his Spanish mode. In Toy Story 4 (2019), he finds his inner voice and bids farewell to Woody, who leaves to be with Bo Peep.

The fictional character, Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger, on which the toy Buzz is based, also appears in the 2000 direct-to-video film Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins and its subsequent spin-off television series, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. In these productions, he is voiced by Tim Allen and Patrick Warburton, respectively. Chris Evans voiced a version of the character in the 2022 spin-off film Lightyear, an in-universe film the characters in Toy Story would watch exploring their origin story, with James Brolin additionally voicing an elderly, nihilistic version of Buzz from an alternate future, known as Zurg.

Conception and creation

Buzz Lightyear was named in honor of Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon. The film producers thought that Aldrin had "the coolest astronaut name". Aldrin acknowledged the tribute when he pulled a Buzz Lightyear toy out during a speech at NASA.^[4] Aldrin did not receive any endorsement fees for the use of his nickname.^[5] The character was given other names during early development as his design evolved, including Tempus of Morph and Lunar Larry.^[6]

Regarding the design of Lightyear, Toy Story director John Lasseter said he wanted to create an action figure in the line of G.I. Joe for the film and decided upon a spaceman figure.^[7] Lasseter attributes his design to the influence of Apollo astronauts, in particular, their clear helmets, skullcaps, communication devices, and white suits.^[8]

The lime green and purple color scheme in Buzz's design was created by Lasseter while sketching the character and was chosen as an apology to his wife for working late; lime green was the favorite color of Lasseter and purple was his wife's favorite.^[9] The appearance of television actor Ed Kemmer was also an inspiration for Lightyear. Kemmer played Commander Buzz Corry in Space Patrol, one of the first science-fiction series on American television.^[10][11]

Voices

Originally, when a screen test was being made, Lasseter wanted Buzz to be voiced by Billy Crystal and used audio from the film When Harry Met Sally.... Crystal turned the role down being of the opinion that he was the wrong voice for the character, but later said that the decision was the biggest regret of his career.^[12] Several other actors were considered for the role, including Bill Murray who turned it down and Jim Carrey.^[13][14] Chevy Chase also passed on the role, leaving it open for Tim Allen, who cited Chase as his idol and the reason he chose to accept the role.^[15] Allen was cast due to Lasseter enjoying his standup comedy, as he wanted the character to be funny. The honesty in Allen's first reading for Buzz influenced Pixar to change him to a character who is unaware that he is a toy.^[16] For both Allen and Tom Hanks, the voice of Woody, it was their first time working on an animated film. Allen admitted that he was initially sceptical that the film would be successful as he thought it "too high tech" and too similar to a video game.^[17]

Allen continued to voice Buzz in all of the Toy Story feature films and also voiced the character for Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, a spin-off released for direct-to-video in 2000. In addition, Allen also voiced the character in the animated short film series Toy Story Toons and in Ralph Breaks the Internet. Other actors have also voiced Buzz, including Pat Fraley who took on the role in the mid-1990s for various productions including Toy Story Treats, Toy Story: The Video Game, Toy Story: Animated Storybook, and Toy Story: Activity. Patrick Warburton also voiced the character in 2000 for Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, a 2D animated TV series based on the direct-to-video film. From 2008 to 2016, a show titled Toy Story: The Musical on board Disney Cruise Line featured Buzz portrayed by Noel Orput. In Toy Story 3, the Spanish version of Buzz was voiced by Javier Fernandez-Peña, who returned for Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation. From 2010, Mike MacRae voiced Buzz in various video games, including Toy Story 3: The Video Game, three instances of Toy Story for Disney Infinity, and Kingdom Hearts III. Corey Burton portrayed Buzz in performances of Disney on Ice in 2010. Teddy Newton voiced a small Buzz character in the short film Toy Story Toons: Small Fry (2011). Additionally, James Brolin voices an older version of Buzz in Lightyear.^[18]

Chris Evans was cast as the voice of Buzz for the 2022 animated spin-off film Lightyear. After being initially intimidated by the role, Evans said that he used Allen as his inspiration but did not want to do a "shameless impression". Instead, he tried to create his own interpretation of the character by lowering his voice tone while also making it a homage to Allen. Director Angus MacLane explained that his casting was intended to separate the more serious action hero version of the character from Allen's comedic toy version in the Toy Story films, which he described as "a little goofier" and "a little dumber".^[19] Lightyear was Evans' first voice acting role.^[20] He admitted that speaking Buzz's catchphrase "To infinity and beyond" was like "wearing someone else's clothes" and felt that the line belonged to Allen.^[21] The casting announcement caused confusion in the media and prompted Hanks, who had remained friends with Allen since the first Toy Story film, to question why he had not been recast in the role.^[22] Allen responded to the casting in June 2022, stating that he had not commented earlier as he felt that Lightyear had no connection to the original Buzz.^[23] He criticised the film for not having a closer connection to toy Buzz and commented, "There’s really no Toy Story Buzz without Woody".^[24] In February 2023, Allen was confirmed to be returning to the role for Toy Story 5.^[25]

Appearances

Toy Story films

Toy Story (1995)

Buzz Lightyear, an action figure, is given to a boy named Andy Davis from his mother as a birthday present. He quickly impresses the other toys with his skills, flashy accessories and wings, and soon becomes Andy's favorite toy. Sheriff Woody, the former favorite toy, quickly becomes jealous. It soon becomes apparent that Buzz is unaware he is a toy, genuinely believing that he is a space ranger sent to stop the Evil Emperor Zurg. He further believes that his red light bulb "laser" is a deadly weapon, his wings are functional aircraft-grade steel, and that he cannot breathe with his helmet open.

After Woody unintentionally knocks Buzz out of Andy's bedroom window, Buzz follows and confronts Woody in Andy's car. The two become separated from Andy while fighting, and Woody tries to convince Buzz he is a toy but fails. The two are soon captured by Andy's sadistic neighbor, Sid Phillips. Buzz sees a commercial on a TV in Sid's house which reveals he is a toy. In denial, Buzz tries to fly and ends up breaking his arm. He falls into despair.

Sid's toys fix Buzz's arm, and Sid tapes him to a rocket with the intention to blow him up. Woody convinces Buzz his purpose is to make Andy happy; eventually causing Buzz to regain his resolve. He teams up with Woody to escape Sid and return to Andy. As the two pursue Andy's van, Woody is attacked by Sid's dog Scud. Buzz fights off the dog to rescue Woody, and Woody uses RC to rescue Buzz. When the two are still unable to catch up to Andy, Woody is forced to light the rocket and launch them into the air; Buzz opens his wings to sever the tape holding him to the rocket, saving them from exploding and flying solo for the first time, albeit, while carrying Woody. After they are reunited with Andy, Buzz and Woody remain close friends.

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Woody is kidnapped by a greedy toy collector named Al McWhiggin, who is intent on selling him and other "Woody's Roundup" toys to a toy museum in Japan. Buzz leads Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, Rex, and Hamm on a daring rescue mission. They travel to Al's Toy Barn store, to find Woody. Buzz uses traffic cones to help the group cross a busy road. In the store, the toys get separated. Buzz discovers an aisle full of his fellow Buzz Lightyear toys, one of which has a fancy Utility Belt. The Utility Belt Buzz comes to life and "arrests" Andy's Buzz and imprisons him in an empty Buzz Lightyear case. The other toys mistake Utility Belt Buzz for Andy's Buzz, who is forced to escape the box on his own. He pursues them to Al's apartment, but inadvertently frees an Evil Emperor Zurg action figure that is intent on destroying him.

Andy's Buzz rejoins the group, and convinces Woody to come home. Woody invites the other Roundup toys to come with them; Jessie and Bullseye agree, but Stinky Pete refuses and locks them in (and Buzz out) when they try to escape. Al reappears and takes Woody and the Roundup toys to the airport. Andy's Buzz and Utility Belt Buzz pursue Al into the elevator shaft with the other toys. Zurg confronts them, and reveals he is Utility Belt Buzz's father. Rex accidentally knocks him down the elevator shaft.

Utility Belt Buzz stays behind with Zurg, while Andy's Buzz and the other toys steal a Pizza Planet truck and drive to the airport. There they subdue Stinky Pete and rescue Woody and Bullseye in the baggage handling system. Buzz and Woody ride Bullseye onto the runway to rescue Jessie from the airplane before it takes off for Japan. The toys all return home in a stolen baggage cart. Buzz develops a crush on Jessie. He and Woody decide not to worry about Andy growing up, as they will always have each other as friends for "infinity and beyond".

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Woody, Buzz, and the other toys accidentally end up in a daycare center after Andy's mother mistakes them for trash while Andy is packing for college. Buzz decides that the best thing the toys can do is to stay together at the daycare, causing Woody to strike out on his own in search of Andy. Andy's toys are greeted by Lots-o’-Huggin' Bear who is seemingly the leader of the daycare toys. He assigns them to the Caterpillar Room, where they are subjected to a rough playtime by young children. Buzz approaches Lotso and requests a transfer to the Butterfly Room but rejects Lotso's offer to join his gang, resulting in Lotso ordering his henchmen to switch Buzz to "demo" mode.

Buzz's memories and personality appear to be erased; his space ranger delusions from the first film return. Lotso takes the opportunity to make Buzz think Andy's toys are minions of Emperor Zurg. Buzz angrily imprisons his friends and is tasked to watch over the "prisoners" every night, while Woody returns to Sunnyside. Attempting to restore Buzz’s memories, Andy's toys subdue him, but accidentally reset him to his "Spanish Mode". Woody manages to convince him that Andy's toys are his "amigos". Spanish Buzz helps the toys escape Sunnyside; making no secret of his love for Jessie. Lotso confronts them as they reach the dumpster outside the daycare. In the ensuing altercation, Lotso and all of Andy's toys are dumped into a garbage truck. Buzz rescues Jessie from the trash, but is crushed by a broken TV. Jessie breaks down in tears over Buzz's "dead" body, only for Buzz to awaken unharmed with his usual personality and memories restored.

At the landfill, the toys are pushed onto a conveyor belt. Buzz and Woody rescue Lotso from a shredder and help him reach an emergency stop button. Lotso abandons them and they fall into an incinerator. The three toy aliens operating a claw rescue them and they make their way home. Andy donates them all to Bonnie, a little girl Woody met at the daycare. When introducing her to Buzz, Andy describes him as "the coolest toy ever". As the toys settle in at Bonnie's house, Buzz performs a rumba with Jessie to the Spanish version of "You've Got a Friend in Me", to the amusement of the other toys.

Toy Story 4 (2019)

When Woody and Bonnie's new favorite toy, Forky, are separated from the group during an RV trip, Buzz, guided by his "inner voice", pursues them into a carnival. He is captured by a vendor and placed with other toys as a prize, where he encounters conjoined plushies Bunny and Ducky. They are initially antagonistic, as they believe Buzz has come to lower their chances of ever being won and owned by a child. The two refuse to listen to his explanations and become further enraged when Buzz frees them and himself from the game. Thinking they will now never be owned, they pursue and attack Buzz, until Woody offers to take the two plushies to Bonnie after Forky is rescued.

Buzz, Bunny, and Ducky join forces and are tasked with retrieving keys from an antique store owner to free Forky, who is trapped inside the store. They succeed, but the mission to rescue Forky fails due to the antique store owner's cat. After Woody and Bo Peep have a falling-out, Buzz's inner voice guides him to rejoin Andy's toys. Later, Forky is freed by Woody and reports that Woody and several other toys need rescuing. Buzz, Jessie and the others take over the controls of the RV and force Bonnie's dad to drive it back to the carnival.

Woody and Buzz meet up at a carousel and Buzz notices that Woody is heartbroken about having to part with Bo again. Buzz suggests that Woody stay behind to be with Bo, knowing that Bonnie will be okay even without him. They share a final goodbye hug, part ways, and exchange their last words of dialogue from afar. Buzz says "to infinity...", and Woody completes the sentence with "...and beyond."

Toy Story 5 (2026)

Buzz is set to appear in Toy Story 5 and will once again be voiced by Tim Allen.^[26]

Buzz Lightyear spin-offs

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000)

In the television series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Buzz Lightyear is a Space Ranger working for Star Command, protecting the universe from Evil Emperor Zurg. He works in a team alongside Mira Nova, a princess; Booster, a janitor; and XR, a robot. This version of Buzz Lightyear has a different personality from the one in Toy Story. Buzz Lightyear also has had many love interests on the show. He once had a friend and partner named Warp Darkmatter, however, he later joined Evil Emperor Zurg and became his primary agent. Buzz Lightyear also seems to never take off the purple headwear that he has with his Space Ranger uniform. Aside from his regular catchphrase, he has a habit of telling villains that "Evil never wins!"

Lightyear (2022)

In the Toy Story universe, the 2022 animated film Lightyear is the origin of the character on which the Buzz Lightyear of Star Command toy line was based. The film, which was directed by Angus MacLane, tells the story of young astronaut Buzz Lightyear, who, after being marooned on a hostile planet with his commander and crew, tries to find a way back home while confronting a threat to the universe's safety.^[27] Buzz was confirmed to be voiced by Chris Evans and the film was released on June 17, 2022.^[28]

Other appearances

Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Pat Fraley, appears in the computer games Disney's Animated Storybook: Toy Story and Disney's Activity Center: Toy Story, both released in 1996.^[1] A Buzz Lightyear toy also appears in Pixar's 2003 film Finding Nemo.^[29] He also appeared as a car in Pixar's 2006 movie, Cars, along with Woody and Hamm. He is also seen in the Toy Story Treats realised in 1996 and all three Toy Story Toons episodes Hawaiian Vacation, Small Fry, and Partysaurus Rex, and the two specials: Toy Story of Terror! and Toy Story That Time Forgot.

Buzz was also in the 2008 Disney film Bedtime Stories and the 2010 Disney film The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Buzz Lightyear and Woody appear as piñatas in Pixar's 2017 film Coco. Woody and Buzz appeared in the 2019 video game Kingdom Hearts III as guest party members, where Buzz gains the ability to use his laser. He is also able to fly as his fictional counterpart without knowing during a Keyblade war crisis across dimensions. Woody eventually recalls him back to normal reality.

Buzz Lightyear is a meetable character at all of the Disney Parks and Resorts, located in Tomorrowland and in Toy Story Land. He is often accompanied by the Aliens. Tim Allen reprised his role using one of his archival recordings in the 2018 Walt Disney Animation Studios film Ralph Breaks the Internet, where he repeated his famous catchphrase.

Merchandise

Prior to the release of Toy Story, Disney offered a deal to various toy manufacturers, including Mattel and Hasbro, but they failed to foresee the success of the film. By April 1995, only five months before the film's release, Thinkway Toys, a small Canadian manufacturer, took on the licensing deal within the tight timeframe.^[30] Albert Chan, president and CEO of Thinkway Toys said he saw the deal as an opportunity while many manufacturers considered it a risk to produce toys for the first CGI film. Lasseter explained that in the film, Buzz Lightyear was designed as a 12-inch action figure and therefore he wanted the same size for the real Buzz Lightyear toy. This differed from the standard 5 and a half inch action figures produced in North America. Chan had reservations about the size and price but was convinced to trust Lasseter's judgement.^[31] Anne Osberg, the president of Disney Consumer Products admitted that she had underestimated the merchandising potential of the Toy Story characters when compared to Mickey Mouse: "I saw Buzz as not competitive with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Due to the enormous success of Toy Story upon its release, Thinkway Toys was unable to meet the demand for Buzz Lightyear figures in the holiday season of 1996. With the assumption that Woody would be the most popular character, only 50,000 Buzz Lightyear toys were manufactured compared to 200,000 Woody toys.^[32] The supply deficit resulted in hundreds of shoppers queuing in the hope of purchasing a Buzz Lightyear toy and required the delivery of emergency supplies, with the BBC describing Buzz as "the year's most sought-after Christmas present".^[33][34] Although character sales from the film resulted in £100 million in revenue, Marketing Week described it as a "toy fiasco" for Disney, due to the estimated loss of £300 million in unrealised sales as a result of the "Buzz Lightyear drought".^[30] This was later referenced as an in-joke in Toy Story 2, in a scene involving Barbie giving the toys a tour of a toy store and commenting on the unforeseen demand for Buzz Lightyear toys.^[35] In subsequent years, sales of Buzz Lightyear figures remained strong. In 2010, with the release of Toy Story 3, over a million Buzz Lightyear action figures were sold. In 2019, Disney reported that the Buzz figure was the Disney Store's best selling toy of all time in the UK.^[36]

In May 2008, NASA and Disney announced that an original Thinkway Toys Buzz Lightyear action figure would fly aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-124. The 12-inch toy was to remain on the International Space Station (ISS) for six months, where it would take part in an experiment and appear in a video downlink from space whilst the Space Shuttle delivers the largest module of the space station – Kibō, the Japanese Experiment Module pressurized section. The flight was arranged as part of the Toys in Space program that began in 1985.^[38] The mission launched with Buzz Lightyear aboard on May 31, 2008, to celebrate the opening of Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure Park theme parks, with the ultimate destination of the ISS. The action figure "ate" dinner with the 10 astronauts and cosmonauts and was seen peering out a window aboard the ISS. The action figure stayed aboard the space station for a period of six months as part of the toys-in-space educational program.^[39] The action figure returned from the space station on September 11, 2009, aboard mission STS-128, as it carried the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo as its primary payload.^[40] Its return was celebrated in a parade led by Buzz Aldrin at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.^[41] The Buzz Lightyear figure was named by NASA as the "longest-serving astronaut in space".^[42] In 2012, it was donated to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.^[43]

In 2009, Disney announced new merchandise for the Toy Story franchise, including an Ultimate Buzz Lightyear robot and the Lego Toy Story product line, which was introduced with the construction of a five foot model of Buzz Lightyear built from 40,000 Lego bricks shown at the Licensing International Expo in June 2009.^[44] In July 2010, to coincide with the release of Toy Story 3, Lego released a buildable Construct-a-Buzz set and other playsets featuring a Buzz Lightyear minifigure.^[45] Buzz was also included as a minifigure in the 2016 Lego Disney minifigures product line.^[46] In April 2022, a series of Lego sets was announced to coincide with the release of Lightyear, including a buildable playset of Buzz's XL-15 spaceship.^[47] Buzz Lightyear has also been featured in numerous other licensed merchandise produced by various brands, including action figures by Mattel, costumes, clothing and accessories.^[48]

Reception and legacy

Buzz was well received by critics upon his debut in Toy Story. Roger Ebert described him as "the most endearing toy in the movie" due to him being under the illusion that he is a space ranger, while noting the "poignancy" of the moment when he discovers that he is just a toy.^[49] In a review of the film for The New York Times, Janet Maslin considered the rivalry between Woody and Buzz as a highlight and praised Allen for "posturing manfully" in the role of Buzz.^[50] Leonard Klady of Variety also appreciated the emotional impact of Buzz facing up to his true identity.^[51] The Los Angeles Times considered Buzz to be "one of 'Toy Story's' pleasant surprises" citing his "self-absorbed and delusional" personality and his inability to realize that he is a toy.^[52] Owen Gleiberman writing for Entertainment Weekly found Buzz to be both "hilarious and touching", noting his egotistical and macho character and commenting, "His belief in his own superpowers, notably the ability to fly, is so complete that the very innocence of his self-delusion becomes oddly charming."^[53]

Buzz Lightyear has been described as a pop culture icon.^[54] He has been listed by critics as one of the greatest Pixar characters.^[55] IGN stated that he "may be the most iconic of all Pixar characters".^[56] Charlie Green writing for The Guardian considered his entrance in Toy Story as one of the five greatest character introductions in film.^[57] Richard Fink of MovieWeb ranked him as the best Pixar character and cited his catchphrase "To infinity and beyond" as one of the "most iconic film quotes of all time".^[58] Yardbarker writer Chris Morgan also listed it as one of the most memorable catchphrases in film.^[59] In November 2014, the catchphrase ranked in top position in a Radio Times poll as the best film quote of all time.^[60] Time named Buzz Lightyear as one of the most influential toys of the 1990s, highlighting his cultural impact as a persistently popular toy and his involvement with NASA in promoting aerospace science to children.^[61]

The 2008 song "Single Ladies" by Beyoncé includes the lyric "...and delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond."^[62] Astronauts used the phrase while sending the Buzz Lightyear figure into space. The action figure was used for experiments in zero-g.^[38] Buzz Lightyear is mentioned in the 2012 song "Boyfriend" by Canadian pop star Justin Bieber in the lyric "I can be your Buzz Lightyear, fly across the globe."^[63]

See also

• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• List of Toy Story characters

References

External links

• Official website