to infinity and beyond. when buzz lightyear--he of the retractable wings, laser beams, purple and lime green space armor--pops into toy story, he is on a mission to save the galaxy. he has been chosen to save the universe from the evil nerf gun toting bad guy. in his mind and behind his plastic breathing bubble, buzz is sure that a grand adventure awaits him. and his own success is never in doubt.



only when he tries to fly out the window, does buzz realize that pragmatic and realistic woody was right all along. we're just toys. all of us. and you are too. as buzz comes to grips with the shattering of his imaginary world, he has to construct a new identity. from one of a kind, super powered space savior to millions of a kind, gimmicky child marketing.



this new buzz emerged at the end of toy story but is more clearly defined in toy story 2. he is now a mature toy, one who has come to grips with the fact that his world is much smaller and less important than initially conceptualized. the world doesn't need saving. or if it did, he isn't the one equipped to do it. with his fake lasers and his sturdy, yet ultimately, unfunctional wings. he even mocks the "new" buzz lightyear action figure, who comes bursting out of the shrink wrap, ready for intergalactic battle. at this point, buzz has realized that the only important thing for him in life are his friends. and he runs off to his save his best one. buzz is no longer caught up in high and lofty ideals but rather, has been tethered to the ground by facts.



is this what we all become as we go from twenty to infinity? as we're faced with reality things and useless wings? are we doomed to go from buzz lightyear space ranger to just buzz lightyear? everyone wants to matter in the big scheme of things. to have a glorious destiny. and we come flying out of our teens thinking this way. but in the end, who actually gets it? isn't that what this subversive cartoon is really saying? "know your limitations and live by them" i need another movie dammit, to see what happens when toy story stops. i demand disney stop putting ideas into kids' heads. from fairy tales for girls, who then turn into "idealistic" impossible to satisfy women. to "this is your future kids, and it sucks. so make some interesting sidekick friends" tales for everyone. fuck you toy story! keep the three eyed aliens though. those are nice.