Buzz Lightyear
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Buzz Lightyear | |
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Toy Story character | |
First appearance | Toy Story (1995) |
Created by | |
Voiced by |
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In-universe information | |
Alias | Zurg (elderly Larry Lightyear / Emperor Zurg (father; in-universe backstory) |
Significant other | Jessie |
Buzz Lightyear is a main character in Disney–Pixar's
In the Disney–Pixar Toy Story franchise, Buzz wears a green, purple, and white space suit. Buzz Lightyear is a recurring character in all of the Toy Story franchise's
The fictional character, Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger, on which the toy Buzz is based, also appears in the 2000
Conception and creation
Buzz Lightyear was named in honor of Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon. According to Pixar producers, the character was provisionally named Lunar Larry, but it sounded "too wacky".[4] Aldrin acknowledged the tribute when he pulled a Buzz Lightyear toy out during a speech at NASA.[citation needed] A clip of this can be found on the Toy Story 10th Anniversary DVD. Aldrin did not receive any endorsement fees for the use of his nickname.[5]
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.[6] Lasseter attributes his design to the influence of Apollo astronauts, in particular, their clear helmets, skullcaps, communication devices, and white suits.[7]
The purple and fluorescent green color scheme were the favorite colors of Lasseter and his wife's respectively. The looks of television actor Ed Kemmer are also believed[by whom?] to be a prototype for Lightyear. Kemmer played Commander Buzz Corry in Space Patrol, one of the first science-fiction series on American television.[8]
Originally, when a screen test was being made, producers wanted Buzz to be voiced by Billy Crystal, and used audio from the film When Harry Met Sally.... He turned the role down, and after seeing the first film, he said that turning it down was "the biggest mistake of his career".
Appearances
1995 | Pixar Popcorn |
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2022 | Lightyear |
2023 | |
2024 | |
2025 | |
2026 | Toy Story 5 |
This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2021) |
Buzz Lightyear, toy
Toy Story (1995)
In the animated film
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'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
In the animated film on a daring rescue mission. They travel to the Al's Toy Barn store, which they believe Woody was taken to. The trip involves crossing a busy road. Buzz uses traffic cones to help the group avoid being crushed by cars.
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. When Buzz tries to touch the belt, the Utility Belt Buzz comes to life; also believing he is a real space ranger. He quickly "arrests" Andy's Buzz as a rogue space ranger. Andy's Buzz mocks himself and earlier delusions while Utility Belt Buzz berates him for "backtalk" and imprisons him for "court martial" in an empty Buzz Lightyear case. Andy's Buzz unsuccessfully tries to explain that he and Utility Belt Buzz are both toys.
Soon, the other toys find Utility Belt Buzz and mistake him for Andy's Buzz. Andy's Buzz fails to get their attention and is forced to escape the box on his own. He pursues them out of the store and across the road to Al's apartment. Buzz inadvertently frees an
Andy's Buzz rejoins the group, and convinces Woody, who had been worried about Andy growing up and had considered going to Japan, that it would be better to come home. Woody invites the other Roundup toys to come with them;
Utility Belt Buzz stays behind with a reformed Zurg, while Andy's Buzz and the other toys steal a Pizza Planet truck and drive to the airport. Andy's Buzz stands on a pizza box and operating the steering wheel. At the airport, 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.
By the end of the film, Buzz has developed 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
In the animated film Toy Story 3, 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. Woody unsuccessfully tries to convince the other toys it was a mistake. Buzz, who was going to be put in the attic with most of Andy's other toys, decides the best thing the toys can do is to stay together at the daycare. This causes Woody to strike out on his own in search of Andy, who had earlier faced a difficult decision as to whether to take Woody or Buzz with him to college.
Meanwhile, Andy's toys are greeted by
In the state, Buzz's memories and original 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. The brainwashed Buzz angrily imprisons his friends when they attempt to escape and he is tasked to watch over the "prisoners" every night. Woody, now aware of the true Lotso, returns to Sunnyside. Attempting to restore Buzz’s memories, Andy's toys subdue him, but accidentally reset him to his "Spanish Mode", confusing many of the characters and resulting in comedic character changes for the audience.
Buzz does not get his memories back and still believes he is a real space ranger. Woody manages to convince him that Andy's toys are his "amigos". The 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 heroically rescues Jessie from getting buried in trash, but ends up 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, albeit with no recollection of either the events that occurred during his brainwashing or Spanish Mode.
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, however, and they fall into an
Toy Story 4
In the animated film Toy Story 4, Buzz plays a significantly smaller role since the film is centered on Woody, Bo, and a host of new characters. He still acts as Woody's moral support, and tries to comfort Woody when he begins to sense Bonnie is no longer interested in Woody. Buzz also learns about the "inner voice", but mistakenly believes the term refers to his button-activated voice box and catchphrases. He spends much of the film using said voice box to guide him as to what he must do next.
When Woody and Bonnie's new favorite toy,
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 because of the antique store owner's cat. After Woody and Bo have a falling-out, Buzz's inner voice guides him to rejoin Andy's toys, which he does. 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 feeling heartbroken about having to part ways with Bo Peep again. Buzz suggests that Woody stay behind to be with Bo, knowing that Bonnie will be okay even without him. Knowing that this might be the last time they will see each other, 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
Buzz is set to appear in Toy Story 5 and will once again be voiced by Tim Allen.[9]
Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
In the television series
Lightyear
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.[10] Buzz was confirmed to be voiced by Chris Evans and the film was released on June 17, 2022.[11]
Other appearances
Buzz Lightyear, voiced by
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
Merchandise
In 1995, Thinkway Toys introduced a 12-inch-tall Buzz Lightyear figure.[13]
The figure was subject to mass sales in the Christmas after the film's release, mainly in the United States and the United Kingdom. In 1995, Thinkway did not think that Toy Story would be that popular and hence did not make enough dolls to meet demand, as referenced in Toy Story 2. Originally, Tim Allen's voice was on the action figure, but later models feature a voice actor who sounds similar to Allen.
In October 2009 and 2010, to coincide with Toy Story's 3-D re-release and the release of Toy Story 3 respectively, Thinkway Toys released a replica Buzz Lightyear figure based on the figure in the Toy Story movies as part of their Toy Story Collection series of toys and Disney released their own version of a replica Buzz Lightyear figure. Both Buzz Lightyears were much more accurately detailed than the other Buzz Lightyear figures and both had features similar to the figure seen in the movie with similar pop-out wings complete with blinking lights at the wingtips, laser, wrist communicator and the two figures had over 65 and 30 phrases with an original voice respectively.
However, the Thinkway Toys figure lacks the karate chop action, while the Disney Store version has it. Only the Thinkway Toys figure comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and both come packaged in the spaceship packaging as seen in the movies. Another 2009 Buzz Lightyear figure by Thinkway Toys included the utility belt from Toy Story 2.[citation needed]
In May 2008, NASA and Disney announced that an original Thinkway Toys Buzz Lightyear action figure would fly aboard the
The mission launched with Buzz Lightyear aboard on May 31, 2008, to celebrate the opening of
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.[17]
In 2009,
Reception and legacy
Buzz can be considered a
Buzz Lightyear's classic line "To Infinity... and Beyond!" has seen usage not only on T-shirts but among philosophers and mathematical theorists as well.[24] A book about the history of infinity from 1991 (4 years before Toy Story), by Eli Maor, uses the phrase for its title.[25] Lucia Hall of The Humanist linked the film's plot to an interpretation of humanism. She compared the phrase to "All this and heaven, too!", indicating one who is happy with a life on Earth as well as having an afterlife.[26] The 2008 quadruple platinum song "Single Ladies" by Beyoncé includes the lyric "...and delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond." Astronauts used the phrase while sending the Buzz Lightyear figure into space. The action figure was used for experiments in zero-g.[15] Also in 2008, the phrase made international news when it was reported that a father and son had continually repeated the phrase to help them keep track of each other while treading water for 15 hours in the Atlantic Ocean.[27][28]
Buzz Lightyear himself was mentioned in the 2012 song "Boyfriend" by Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, for instance, in the lyric "I can be your Buzz Lightyear, fly across the globe." The first stable public release of the Debian project used the name "Buzz" as the codename for the version 1.1.[29]
See also
References
- ^ a b Price, David A. (June 22, 2008). "The Pixar Touch". The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ "Trick or "Treats": Remembering when "Toy Story" invaded ABC Saturday Mornings". October 16, 2013.
- ^ Brently, Heilborn (May 26, 2017). "Six comedy shows that will have you in stitches in June". Statesman. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ "Toy Story 3 Featurette – Buzz Lightyear". Trailer Addict. June 18, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
- ^ Solomon, Deborah; Oth, Christian (June 15, 2009). "Questions for Buzz Aldrin: The Man on the Moon". The New York Times. Retrieved June 15, 2009. Note: nytimes.com print-view software lists the article date as June 21, 2009; main article webpage shows June 15.
- ^ Tyler, Josh (September 30, 2009). "Watch John Lasseter Explain The Origins of Buzz Lightyear". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
- ^ Disney's Buzz Lightyear and Wall-E explore space for NASA June 24, 2008, collectspace.com
- ^ Brian Pendreigh Ed Kemmer TV star and inspiration for the character of Buzz Lightyear November 19, 2004, The Herald Scotland
- ^ Dick, Jeremy (February 9, 2023). "Tim Allen Confirms His Return as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5". movieweb.com. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ MacLane, Angus (June 17, 2022), Lightyear (Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi), Chris Evans, Pixar Animation Studios, Pixar, Walt Disney Pictures, retrieved April 9, 2021
- ^ Jackson, Angelique (December 11, 2020). "Chris Evans to Voice Buzz Lightyear in Pixar's 'Lightyear,' Disney Announces 'Encanto' With Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda". Variety. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Stopera, Dave (August 30, 2012). "23 Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Movie "Finding Nemo"". BuzzFeed. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ "Hero Complex". Los Angeles Times. December 30, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010.
- ^ "Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Receives Buzz Lightyear Flown in Space" (Press release). Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. March 29, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ^ a b Pearlman, Robert Z. (May 29, 2008). "Buzz Lightyear Becomes Real Space Ranger". Space.com. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- ^ Dunn, Marcia (June 6, 2008). "Japan's space lab just got bigger". NBC News. Associated Press. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
- ^ "The Return of Buzz Lightyear". NASA. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
- ^ "7592 Construct-a-Buzz". The LEGO Group. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ "OFFICIAL REVEAL OF THE LEGO DISNEY MINIFIGURES". March 30, 2016.
- ^ "LEGO Toy Story 4 Official Box Art and Set Images Revealed". April 22, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO reveals Disney Pixar's Lightyear sets with Buzz Lightyear's 76832 XL-15 Spaceship and more [News]". March 28, 2022.
- ^ "Empire Features". Empire. December 5, 2006. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
- ^ "94. Buzz Lightyear". Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ISBN 1-4051-1163-1.
- ISBN 978-0-691-02511-7.
- ^ Hall, Lucia K.B. (March 1, 2000). "Toy Stories for Humanists?". The Humanist. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- ^ "Buzz Lightyear got us through". Star Tribune. Associated Press. September 10, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2009. [dead link]
- Fox News Channel. Associated Press. September 10, 2008. Archived from the originalon July 30, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- ^ "Chapter3. Debian Releases". www.debian.org. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- Buzz Lightyear at Don Markstein's Toonopedia (former)