Lightyear

[Farerb]

Now I'm wondering if Disney initially wanted to do this as live action (like the live action remakes or "origin" stories stories like Maleficent or Cruella), and Pixar, being protective of their IP, told the executives that they'd do it. It just feels like this idea originated from the same minds that thought of the remakes.

[D82]

I prefer the idea that Lightyear is a gritty reboot of the successful kids TV show Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, it's actually what this movie is, but I mean in the perspective of the Toy Story universe.

That's a good way to see it. The "modern sensibilities" make sense from that point of view.

Pete Docter said at last year's Disney Investor Day that "Lightyear" is meant to be a blockbuster movie in the "Toy Story" universe and that this fictional astronaut led to the creation of the toy and other merchandise. I think some wires may have gotten crossed with the initial announcement, hence the confusion. Pixar didn't backtrack and change their story.

I think what created the confusion was Chris Evans's Tweet last year where he wrote "And just to be clear, this isn’t Buzz Lightyear the toy. This is the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on." And everyone assumed he was talking about a real person and not a character in a fictional movie.

You're right, it was clear what the movie was from Pete's presentation. I guess we got confused by the synopsis and Chris Evans' tweet, as you said.

And, of course, Patrick Warburton voiced Buzz in the "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command" television series and I remember Pat Fraley (the voice of Krang from the '80s Ninja Turtles cartoon) voiced Buzz in computer games.

At first, I thought this was the first time Buzz wasn't voiced by Tim Allen, but I see there have been several precedents of that. Although, the previous times it was for less important productions, so it's understandable that people are surprised by the recast.

Now I'm wondering if Disney initially wanted to do this as live action (like the live action remakes or "origin" stories stories like Maleficent or Cruella), and Pixar, being protective of their IP, told the executives that they'd do it. It just feels like this idea originated from the same minds that thought of the remakes.

I think it reminds of the remakes because it looks a bit like a live action movie and features a human version of Buzz, but it's true that in a way this could be seen as a remake of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. I don't know if it's the Disney executives who suggested this to Pixar or if it was their own idea, but the fact that the director worked on Buzz Lightyear of Star Command makes me think he's probably telling the truth that he had this idea and pitched it to Pixar.

[Farerb]

Oh I didn't know the director worked on Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, then I agree, it's more likely that he came up with this.

[Sotiris]

‘Lightyear’ Teaser Rockets To 83 Million Views In First 24 Hours, Ahead Of ‘Eternals’ & Second Best Ever For Pixar Movie
https://deadline.com/2021/10/lightyear- ... 234864920/

[D82]

Angus MacLane is surprisingly candid about why Chris Evans was cast in a new interview. He and Disney, because the interview was released by them. It seems the main reason is that they wanted a big star for the film.

It’s been announced that Chris Evans will be the voice of Buzz. What was it about him as an actor that makes him the perfect voice for this new iteration of the character?

Chris was our first choice and the reason why he was the first choice is because [the idea behind Lightyear was that] it was meant to be unabashedly a blockbuster in the kind of corny sense of like, “This is a big movie,” and we wanted a big star. Pixar doesn’t usually put an emphasis on finding the “biggest star,” but in this case, this character comes with such a huge expectation. [Evans] plays it pretty straight, but he’s funny and he understands the character. When we pitched the movie, he totally got it. He’s been such a great creative partner and [has] been so excited about the project. His contributions are really coming from a place of wanting to get it right for the reverence of the character and figuring out who this character is as we’ve built him out in this universe.

Source: https://news.disney.com/angus-maclane-lightyear-trailer (via Pixar Post Forum)

Oh I didn't know the director worked on Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, then I agree, it's more likely that he came up with this.

I didn't know it before either; I read it in one of the articles about Lightyear. He directed the CG portion of that show. And before that, he worked on Toy Story 2 helping to design Zurg and animating the Buzz from Al's Toy Barn. By the way, Angus MacLane also said his pitch was approved five and a half years ago, so at the beginning of 2016. Anyway, even if it was his idea, I guess it's possible the studio was looking for ways to continue with the Toy Story franchise and that's why he came up with it. Or that he came up with it totally by himself and the studio liked it due to its box office potential. Personally, though I do find it a bit cash grabby, I love the Toy Story franchise and its characters, so I don't mind it. Plus, the focus in the films has always been more on Woody, and even though he's my favorite Toy Story (and Pixar) character, I like that Buzz (or a version of him) will get to be the protagonist for once.

‘Lightyear’ Teaser Rockets To 83 Million Views In First 24 Hours, Ahead Of ‘Eternals’ & Second Best Ever For Pixar Movie
https://deadline.com/2021/10/lightyear- ... 234864920/

That's incredible. There's no doubt it's going to be a big hit.

[Kyle]

What you see as being surprinsingly candid, I just see as having the audience be in on the gag in a sense. You saw something similar to peoples reactions to the upcoming cast of the Mario movie that's coming out. This unspoken thing where its like, of course you would cast these guys. It makes no real sense to the character, but if you want mainstream appeal this is what you do. They think that acknowledging this (both in interviews and eventually in the narrative in subtle ways) that fans will come full circle and actually appreciate it for what its doing, which is almost parodying the big hollyhood action movie.

[D82]

^I guess you're right, but I still find it surprising because it's not the strategy they usually use.

By the way, here are a couple of trailer breakdowns I personally found interesting:

Pixar Lightyear Trailer Breakdown + TOY STORY Easter Eggs & ALL Disney References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUOnofe0FA8

Lightyear Trailer Breakdown: 21 Story Reveals & Pixar Easter Eggs
https://screenrant.com/buzz-lightyear-m ... y-reveals/

[Kyle]

The more I think about it, the more it kinda feels like it could be something like this.

Buzz Lightyear is this figure (not sure yet if its "fiction" or not in the toy story universe) that has possibly been given the big hollywood reboot treatment. like, we could even have andy show up to see this reboot, as its a franchise he's been a fan of since he was a kid. that's why Chris Evans is playing him, because even in thy toy story universe, they have characters like batman that will always be recast and redone.

I kinda hope there's a movie within the movie, because oddly toy story isn't hard for me to suspend disbelief when you think about its world from the adults perspective. They're just going about their normal boring lives, its not really any different from our own.

I would take issue with this being the same universe as an actual buzz lightyear that was more than just their "buzz aldrin". Like, all the sudden this universe has time travel in it? its too much of a jump for me to take, personally. I hope they strike the right balance here.

[D82]

It has been revealed that it'll be like a movie in the Toy Story universe (the Buzz we know would be part of the merch based on that movie), so Buzz Lightyear wouldn't be a real person in that world, but a character from a Hollywood blockbuster. However, the director said that "the movie doesn't end and then you see Andy eating popcorn," so I don't think they'll treat it like a movie within the movie in the actual film. I mean, though that's what it is, I think they don't want to remind audiences what they're watching is actors from the Toy Story world performing, so they don't have to suspend disbelief twice while seeing it.

[Kyle]

yeah, I wasn't exactly expecting a scene with Andy in the theater, though I could see that sort of thing happening in a (canon) short. A part of me thought it be a bit of a "Bolt" situation though, you have the real guy and the character he plays in it. Probably wouldn't go as far to to have him actually think he's the fictional character, its too on the nose. but it would be in keeping with the theme of the buzz we know before he was enlightened. Its harder to do that with a human than a toy, but you could say he got hit in the head in an on set injury or something if you wanted to go that route. But I'm guessing they wouldnt do this.

[estefan]

The way I interpret it is the Buzz Lightyear franchise within the "Toy Story" universe is similar to "Star Wars" in ours. The character and his world first appeared in a big blockbuster movie, which then inspires merchandise like toys, a Saturday morning cartoon, comic books, theme park rides, maybe even a holiday tv special. It's a massive media franchise...which the creator then sells to Disney years later.

[Sotiris]

I mean, though that's what it is, I think they don't want to remind audiences what they're watching is actors from the Toy Story world performing, so they don't have to suspend disbelief twice while seeing it.

They don't need to do that within the film itself, but they could produce animated interviews with the "actor" portraying Buzz Lightyear to promote the film. I think that would be fun and would harken back to Pixar's early days with the animated bloopers.

[D82]

yeah, I wasn't exactly expecting a scene with Andy in the theater, though I could see that sort of thing happening in a (canon) short.

Yes, perhaps they would do that in a short.

A part of me thought it be a bit of a "Bolt" situation though, you have the real guy and the character he plays in it. Probably wouldn't go as far to to have him actually think he's the fictional character, its too on the nose. but it would be in keeping with the theme of the buzz we know before he was enlightened. Its harder to do that with a human than a toy, but you could say he got hit in the head in an on set injury or something if you wanted to go that route. But I'm guessing they wouldnt do this.

Maybe that would feel too similar to Bolt, even though I've always thought Bolt copied a bit from Buzz in that aspect. According to the director, though, that element about Buzz you mentioned will actually be in the film, but he didn't explain exactly how it'll be included:

The commonality he found through all the films is that "Buzz has a disagreement over the nature of reality." In the first Toy Story, Buzz believes himself to be a space ranger, while Woody (Tom Hanks) knows he's a toy. MacLane had previously directed the 2011 short Toy Story Toons: Small Fry, which introduced a miniature Buzz "that had the same kind of affliction," he says. "So, for us, the core idea that we wanted to build upon was, how do you have a character out of step with the world around them?"

Source: https://ew.com/movies/chris-evans-pixar ... r-trailer/

It's a massive media franchise...which the creator then sells to Disney years later.

They don't need to do that within the film itself, but they could produce animated interviews with the "actor" portraying Buzz Lightyear to promote the film. I think that would be fun and would harken back to Pixar's early days with the animated bloopers.

I like that idea. It would be cool if they did something like that.

[unprincess]

you know those uncanny "what if cartoon characters were real flesh and blood beings?" photoshops of Mario and Homer Simpson? this is like that except its a whole movie. Um yeah, I guess it looks...ok? I think i would have just preferred an actual Buzz Lightyear the toy adventure in space movie. I can only think of two reasons why they went with such a convoluted route for a Buzz movie: They didn't know how to actually get toy Buzz into space which is understandable considering the mostly grounded world the franchise is set in. Or ...they really really wanted to make a straight animated sci-fi film, but Disney wouldn't let them thinking it wouldn't be a popular premise for kids(thanks Treasure Planet.) So they re-pitched it with Buzz as the lead.

I like that so far the trailer suggests it seems to be playing the story as straight sci-fi (no pop culture refs or lowbrow comedy bits every 5 seconds... and if you have to use pop songs at least its Bowie.) I do hope Woody gets his own movie eventually, Id love a Woody in the actual west movie!

Oh, really? Interesting. That makes sense to me. There are a lot of touches of horror in that film, even though it's ultimately a family film. The beginning with all the creatures in the dark, their chests glowing sort of creeped me out as a child. Then the shots of the family house in the dark and they think something is outside. Or later when E.T. is found dead or the way they portray the quarantine takeover of the house. Makes sense that an alien film would've began its start that way. And explains the actress for the mother, since I primarily associate her with horror films.

I didn't know this either. Saw this in the theater with my cousin the year of its release and the walking hazmat suits breaking into the house while mom is running around screaming her head off while clutching her little girl scared the everluvin crap outta little ol sensitive me back in the day.

[Sotiris]

you know those uncanny "what if cartoon characters were real flesh and blood beings?" photoshops of Mario and Homer Simpson? this is like that except its a whole movie.

It's true! He does look like that.

I think i would have just preferred an actual Buzz Lightyear the toy adventure in space movie. I can only think of two reasons why they went with such a convoluted route for a Buzz movie: They didn't know how to actually get toy Buzz into space which is understandable considering the mostly grounded world the franchise is set in.

They could have still done that, if that's what they wanted. It would be like the video game sequence in Toy Story 2 but an entire movie out of it. A reboot of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command would have allowed them to keep Buzz as a toy as well as create a new canon, Pixar-approved mythology of Buzz's fictional world.

Or ...they really really wanted to make a straight animated sci-fi film, but Disney wouldn't let them thinking it wouldn't be a popular premise for kids (thanks Treasure Planet.) So they re-pitched it with Buzz as the lead.

That seems more plausible to me. It's also a way to keep exploiting the Toy Story franchise after Toy Story 4 brought them to a narrative dead end.

I do hope Woody gets his own movie eventually, I'd love a Woody in the actual west movie!

I would like that too, but it's unlikely to happen. Westerns are considered box office poison. It would be far riskier to do that than a sci-fi space movie. While we're at it, I would also like a Barbie movie with Jodie Benson reprising her role.

[Kyle]

you know those uncanny "what if cartoon characters were real flesh and blood beings?" photoshops of Mario and Homer Simpson? this is like that except its a whole movie. Um yeah, I guess it looks...ok? I think i would have just preferred an actual Buzz Lightyear the toy adventure in space movie. I can only think of two reasons why they went with such a convoluted route for a Buzz movie: They didn't know how to actually get toy Buzz into space which is understandable considering the mostly grounded world the franchise is set in.

Well if this can happen maybe they could write that in.

http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-031912a.html

[unprincess]

They could have still done that, if that's what they wanted. It would be like the video game sequence in Toy Story 2 but an entire movie out of it. A reboot of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command would have allowed them to keep Buzz as a toy as well as create a new canon, Pixar-approved mythology of Buzz's fictional world.

yeah, though I read that Pixar hated that Disney did BLOSC, but dont know how true that is though.


Maybe they could have had Buzz, Woody and some of the other toys accidentally "beamed up" into a spaceship while some aliens were doing Earth research and then while trying to figure out a way to get back home they run into toys that are owned by some of the space alien's kids.

I would like that too, but it's unlikely to happen. Westerns are considered box office poison. It would be far riskier to do that than a sci-fi space movie.

yeah I know...

unless, maybe they make a sequel where Buzz gets sucked into a time portal while exploring space and....guess where he ends up! and then Woody tries to help him get back and he ends up sucked into the future along with Buzz(so that the whole movie wont be set in the west.) There we go!

[Sotiris]

Taika Waititi to Voice a Character in Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’
https://thedisinsider.com/2021/11/11/ex ... lightyear/

[D82]

The only new image from the film we got today was this new Buzz pose in a banner on Disney+:

[Sotiris]

Human Buzz looks better in that angle.