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Buzz Lightyear

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Buzz Lightyear
Toy Story character
File:Buzz-lightyear-toy-story-3-wallpaper.jpg
First appearanceToy Story (1995)
Created byJohn Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, and Joe Ranft
Voiced byTim Allen (films, most video games, and commercials.)
Patrick Warburton (TV series)
In-universe information
SpeciesHumanoid Action figure
GenderMale
TitleSpace Ranger
OccupationToy
FamilyWoody, Jessie, Rex, Hamm, Slinky Dog, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Bo Peep, Wheezy Sarge and the Bucket O' Soldiers, Bullseye, Buttercup, Dolly, Trixie, Totoro, Mr. Pricklepants, Chuckles, the Peas-in-a-Pod and the Aliens

Buzz Lightyear is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists of the Toy Story franchise (alongside Woody). Buzz is a space ranger hero according to the movies and action figure in the Toy Story series. Along with Woody, he is the co-leader of Andy's Room. He also appeared in the movie Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins and the television series spin-off Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, as well as the two film sequels. His often repeated catchphrase is "To infinity ... and beyond!" Tim Allen voiced the character in the Toy Story film trilogy and the Buzz Lightyear movie, while Patrick Warburton provided Buzz's voice for the TV series, and Pat Fraley voiced him for the video games and the attractions in Disney Parks.

Concept and creation

Buzz Lightyear's name was inspired by Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin.[1] Aldrin acknowledged the tribute when he pulled a Buzz Lightyear doll out during a speech at NASA, to rapturous cheers; a clip of this can be found on the Toy Story 10th Anniversary DVD. Aldrin did not, however, receive any endorsement fees for the use of his first name.[2]

Regarding the design of Lightyear, his creator, John Lasseter, is on record as saying he wanted to create an action figure in the line of G.I. Joe for Toy Story and decided upon a spaceman figure.[3] He attributes his design to the influence of Apollo astronauts, in particular their clear helmets, skullcaps, communication devices and white suits[4]

The purple and lime green colour scheme were his wife's and his own favourite colours respectively.[5] The wholesome good looks of television actor Ed Kemmer are also believed to be a prototype for Lightyear. Kemmer played Commander Buzz Corry in Space Patrol, one of the first science-fiction series on US TV.[6]

Appearances

Films

In the first film, Buzz Lightyear is first seen when given as a gift to Andy at his birthday party. Buzz is the most popular toy in the media at that time, and Andy's toys are quickly amazed at the impressive features that he has. He first believes that he is a space ranger, but after he sees a commercial in Sid's house about him, he realizes he's just a toy. However, Woody, the leader of Andy's toys, immediately grows jealous of the attention Buzz gets. The friction between the two is soon put aside when they save themselves and each other from a "toy murderer", Sid. In the sequel, Buzz Lightyear appears as the main protagonist and must assume the leadership of the gang in order to rescue Woody, who was captured by a toy collector named Al. Things get complicated when a toy named Stinky Pete tries to force Woody to get shipped to Japan with him, a pull-string doll named Jessie, and her horse, Bullseye. Even worse, Buzz comes into cahoots with another Buzz Lightyear action figure, who is deluded like Buzz was in the first film, and is pursued by a deluded Emperor Zurg action figure. Buzz and the toys eventually rescue Woody, Jessie and Bullseye, who come to live in Andy's room with everyone. In Toy Story 3, Woody, Buzz, and the gang end up in a daycare center, where the leader of the toys is evil Lots-O-Huggin' Bear. Buzz is caught spying, and turned back to "demo mode". Therefore, he thinks he is a real space ranger again, and turns on his friends. Buzz turns back to his normal self, after he nearly gets crushed by a television set in a garbage truck. After facing many dangers, Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the other toys are given by Andy to a little girl named Bonnie. The end credits show the toys embracing their new life with Bonnie.

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

In Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Buzz is a space ranger working for Star Command, protecting the universe from Evil Emperor Zurg. He works in a team alongside Mira Nova, a Tangean princess with phasing powers, Booster, a janitor from the planet Jo-Ad, and XR, a robot created by the Little Green Men (the aliens from the movies, LGM for short). This version of Buzz is completely different from the one in Toy Story, in looks and personality. Buzz also has had many love interests on the show. He once had a friend and partner named Warp Darkmatter, however, he later joined Zurg and became his No. 1 agent. Buzz also seems to never take off the purple headwear that he has with his Space Ranger uniform. To compare this animation and the Toy Story films, the button between the red and blue ones is green in the Toy Story films and yellow in this animation with the releasing of strings when pressed. Aside from his regular catch phrase, he has a habit of telling villains that "Evil never wins!" The show received mixed-positive reception.

In other media

Buzz has been mentioned twice in the sitcom Home Improvement, which starred Tim Allen. In the season 6 episode "I Was a Teenage Taylor", a small child comes trick or treating at the Taylor house dressed up as Buzz Lightyear. In the outtakes of the season 7 episode "Say Goodnight, Gracie", Tim Taylor (Tim Allen's character) is seen arguing with a Buzz Lightyear action figure.

In the Super Bowl on February 3, 2008 during the 3rd quarter, Buzz and Woody are watching the Super Bowl and then watch a promo for WALL-E, who is playing with a vacuum.

Buzz Lightyear can be seen as meet-and-greet characters in the various Disneyland theme parks around the world. He also has a cameo appearance in Bedtime Stories as part of the audience (hence reasoning why he is Bugsy).

During the third season of the legal dramedy series "Boston Legal," the characters Brad Chase and Jeffrey Coho (played by Mark Valley and Craig Bierko respectively) are both shown in Buzz Lightyear costumes in multiple episodes.

In Finding Nemo, a Buzz toy can be found in a toy box in the dentist's office. In The Simpsons episode "Loan-a Lisa" he is seen as a cloud in a parody of Up called P.U. and in The Color Yellow, he appears in a drawing by Ralphie and Toy Story being mentioned as well then him being played by Tim Allen is mentioned in the episode The Italian Bob by Lisa. In The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Buzz Lightyear can be seen on an alarm clock (hence when Toy Story 3 was in theaters four weeks before).

Buzz returns in the theatrical short films Hawaiian Vacation and Small Fry, will return in Partysaurus Rex.

The saying "to infinity and beyond!" has also been used as a response during the "To Kill a Raven" quest when asked if you are ready to fly on the Enterprise to fight Nael van Darnus.

Characteristics

Tim Allen

Buzz is a space ranger from the Intergalactic Alliance and is stationed in the Gamma Quadrant of Sector 4.[7] He is the captain of the Alliance's Team. Lightyear is known for his bravery and courage. Buzz believes that following rules is the way people should live their life. Though a great leader, at times he can be rather unemotional, one of his biggest character flaws. Buzz is said to be Emperor Zurg's son (à la Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back) as mentioned in Toy Story 2, but in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, this is revealed to be a taunt intended to catch Buzz off guard.[episode needed] Either way, this shows that Buzz does not know his father (although as mentioned in Toy Story 2, he was indeed killed, possibly by Zurg, as neither of these facts have been refuted). Buzz is trained in several forms of martial arts and is a highly skilled warrior in hand to hand combat. Being in peak physical condition, Buzz makes a perfect space ranger and is an example to many. Perhaps unexpectedly, Buzz Lightyear the space ranger toy enjoys his closest personal relationships with two cowboy dolls: his best friend in the trilogy is Sheriff Woody Pride, who along with Buzz is the main protagonist of the three films, and by the end of Toy Story 2, he has developed a crush on Jessie the Cowgirl, which is consummated with their romance in Toy Story 3.

Buzz wears a high-tech space suit, similar to those of modern-day astronauts though more streamlined and iconic. The suit chest features a control panel. On the left hand side of the suit, a large red button activates the suit's flight system. The buttons on the right of the suit have numerous functions such as contacting Star Command, shooting grappling hooks, and activating full throttle. On the toy Buzz of movies however, all they do is make Buzz say different catch phrases. Buzz's suit also protects against the vacuum and cold of space. It can also translate all he says into any language even an outer space dialect. A retractable helmet, when activated, covers Buzz's head and allows him to breathe in space or on planets lacking a sufficient supply of oxygen. The left arm of the suit has a panel that flips open to reveal a display that contains a mission log in the wrist area to record history and provide records. The right arm contains the weapon system which projects an unusually strong and powerful red-colored laser out of the small cannon on the back of the wrist. Buzz has a utility belt as an upgrade to suit. It has various things such as anti-gravity servos, magnets for climbing purposes, and a grappling hook.

Action figure

Toy figure, Buzz Lightyear, with packaging, licensed from the film Toy Story, plastic / cardboard, made for Thinkway Toys[8] in China, 1995-1999. The Buzz Lightyear figure was manufactured by Thinkway Toys, New York between 1995-1999. An enhanced, newer model was released in 2009 to coincide with the Toy Story 3-D Double Feature. Originally, Tim Allen's voice was on the action figure. The newer models feature a voice actor who sounds similar to Allen.

The Toy Story Action Figure, Buzz Lightyear was subject to mass sales in the Christmas after the film's release, mainly in the United States and United Kingdom. Additional parts could be purchased, e.g. wings etc... It was the number 1 toy sold in the UK and has remained a sought-after collectible since. [citation needed] In 1995, Thinkway didn't think that Toy Story would be that popular hence didn't make enough dolls to meet demand, as referenced in Toy Story 2. When Toy Story 3 came out they made 2 more Buzz Lightyear action figures for the Toy Story Collection, one normal one and a extra one with the utility belt from Toy Story 2. Produced by Thinkway Toys also with the spaceship box from the movies.

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 for six months, where it would take part in an experiment and appear in a video downlink from space. The flight was arranged as part of the Toys In Space program that began in 1985.[9]

The mission launched with Buzz aboard the NASA space shuttle Discovery (STS-124) 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 International Space Station (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 a NASA toys-in-space educational program.[10]

The Buzz Lightyear action figure returned from the space station on Sep 11, 2009 aboard mission STS-128.[11]

In October 2009, 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. This Buzz Lightyear was much more accurately detailed than the other Buzz Lightyear figures and it has features similar to the figure seen in the movie with similar pop-out wings complete with blinking lights at the wing tips, laser, wrist communicator and the figure has over 65 phrases with original voice. However, the figure lacks the karate chop action. The figure also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and comes packaged in the spaceship packaging as seen in the movies.

In 2010 Lego created a Buzz Lightyear Action figure. The Lego set is number 7592 and has 205 pieces. When the figure is completely built it has articulating head, arms, hands, torso, legs, feet, wings and visor.[12]

Cultural impact

On October 2007, readers of Empire voted him No. 1 of the Top 20 Greatest Pixar Characters.[13] They also rated him the 94th greatest movie character of all time.[14]

Buzz's classic line "To infinity... and beyond!" has seen usage not only on T-shirts, but among philosophers and mathematical theorists as well.[15] 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.[16] The 2008 quadruple platinum song Single Ladies by Beyoncé Knowles includes the lyric "...and delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond," a reference which was pointed out by alt-country singer Jeff Tweedy of the band Wilco during a 2010 solo performance in Chicago.[17] Also in 2008, astronauts took an action figure of Buzz Lightyear into space on the Discovery Space Shuttle as part of an educational experience for students while stressing the catchphrase. The action figure was used for experiments in zero-g.[18] 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.[19][20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Toy Story 3 Featurette - Buzz Lightyear". Trailer Addict. June 18, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  2. ^ Solomon, Deborah (June 15, 2009 and June 21, 2009). "Questions for Buzz Aldrin: The Man on the Moon". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-06-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Note: nytimes.com print-view software lists the article date as June 21, 2009; main article webpage shows June 15.
  3. ^ Tyler, Josh (September 30, 2009). "Watch John Lasseter Explain The Origins of Buzz Lightyear". Cinema Blend. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  4. ^ [Disney's Buzz Lightyear and Wall-E explore space for NASA http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-062408a.html] June 24, 2008, collectspace.com
  5. ^ cinemablend.com
  6. ^ Brian Pendreigh Ed Kemmer TV star and inspiration for the character of Buzz Lightyear Nov 19, 2004, The Herald Scotland
  7. ^ Toy Story. Disney-Pixar. 1995.
  8. ^ "Hero Complex". The Los Angeles Times. December 30, 2009.
  9. ^ "Buzz Lightyear becomes real space ranger". collectSPACE. May 29, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2008.
  10. ^ Dunn, Marcia (June 6, 2008). "Japan's space lab just got bigger". MSNBC.com. Associated Press. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
  11. ^ "The Return of Buzz Lightyear". NASA. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  12. ^ "7592 Construct-a-Buzz". The LEGO Group. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  13. ^ "Empire Features". Empire. December 5, 2006. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  14. ^ "94. Buzz Lightyear". Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  15. ^ Dusek, Val (2006). Philosophy of Technology: An Introduction. Blackwell Publishing. p. 59. ISBN 1-4051-1163-1.
  16. ^ Hall, Lucia K.B. (March 1, 2000). "Toy Stories for Humanists?". The Humanist. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  17. ^ “” (March 13, 2010). "Jeff Tweedy - Single Ladies". YouTube. Retrieved August 29, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Pearlman, Robert Z. (May 29, 2008). "Buzz Lightyear Becomes Real Space Ranger". Space.com. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  19. ^ "Buzz Lightyear got us through". Star Tribune. Associated Press. September 10, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2009. [dead link]
  20. ^ "'Toy Story' Line Helped Father, Son Survive in Water for 15 Hours". Fox News. Associated Press. September 10, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
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