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What’s in Store Next for Buzz Lightyear?
Back at the start of 1995 few of us would have heard of Buzz Lightyear, but in the 15 years since the action figure has gone on to become a household name. First introduced to audiences as a threat to the harmony that Andy’s toys had established in the original Toy Story film, Buzz soon builds up a friendship with Woody and the rest of the gang. The result is that the space ranger becomes one of our favourite characters in the Disney Pixar animated film franchise, and we get to renew our acquaintance with him this summer as Toy Story 3 hits our cinema screens.
Buzz Lightyear is a central figure in the first couple of Toy Story films and his role in the third will be as large as ever. Voiced by Tim Allen, Buzz has become a familiar face for cinema audiences and his phrases such as “to infinity and beyond” have become renowned across the world. Like the rest of Andy’s toys, Buzz has developed a lot as a character in the story so far, but it wasn’t all rosy for the action figure at the start.
A gift for Andy, the owner of the toys that come to life in the franchise of films, Buzz actually thinks he’s a real space ranger and not a toy. This and the fact that he’s challenging Woody’s place as Andy’s favourite toy results in the two of them clashing and a storyline developing between old and new. Woody the cowboy takes on the role of the old toy, someone who’s established his position as the leader of the gang, while the arrival of the shiny new action figure of Buzz leads to Woody feeling tired and unwanted.
This plot forms the centre of the story at the start of the film, until Woody pushes Buzz out of the window and puts the space ranger in danger. The storyline then develops as Woody realises that he’s in the wrong and attempts to put it right, while Buzz himself has the realisation that he is in fact a toy and not an actual space ranger. Consequently, Buzz and Woody figure out that it’s best to work together rather than be enemies and as a result the audience becomes fond of both of them.
The theme of working together ran throughout Toy Story 2 as Buzz called on the help of Mr Potato Head, Rex and Slinky to rescue Woody. They track down the cowboy toy in Al’s Toy Barn and reunite him with Andy after much difficulty, gaining the friendship of Jessie and Bullseye in the process. Ending on a feel good note, the toys sing “You’ve got a friend in me” as the credits roll.
Toy Story 3 will once again disrupt the status quo though and it’ll be up to the toys to restore it. With Andy growing up, going to college and seemingly now too old to play with his toys, Woody and the rest of the gang will have to embark on another adventure and work together to ensure that all ends well for a Spanish Buzz!
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