Although Pixar hasn’t revealed everything aboutToy Story 5’s plot, there is a specific detail that will continue an interesting streak that has formed across the franchise.Toy Story 5’s release dateis confirmed as August 04, 2025, so the day slowly approaches when the series will unleash another sequel. Pixar revealed some tantalizingToy Story 5details at D23, specifically about Bonnie’s shifting interest to that of smart devices rather than toys, but also concerning who the movie’s bad guy(s) will be. Although the villain has never technically appeared in the franchise before, he’ll still be strangely familiar.
TheToy Storymoviesaren’t the only installments that make up the larger franchise. As well as the various Pixar shorts,2022’sLightyearspinoff is technically also within the main canon. Additionally, there are also TV shows and video games that augment the more popular branches of the franchise. At almost every corner of the property, there is one character who has been bent and twisted far more than any other, but it always seems to be in the same way.
Toy Story 5 Won’t Be The First Toy Story Movie With An “Evil Buzz Lightyear”
Other Buzz Lightyears have been villains before
Pixar is introducing 50 Buzz Lightyears stuck in toy mode inToy Story 5, and although it hasn’t yet been confirmed whether they’ll be the main antagonists, it’s a pretty good bet they’ll cause some chaos for the franchise’s main Buzz and all the other established characters. Although “evil” Buzzes have been featured before, they’ve never flooded the story en masse like this before. So, although it’s not entirely original,Toy Story 5is at least using the trope in a new way.
Toy Story 5 Just Made Andy’s Return Even More Likely
Andy has appeared in the first four Toy Story movies, and Toy Story 5’s premise gives him the perfect chance to keep his franchise steak going.
The trend began in 1995’sToy Storywhen Tim Allen’s original character was originally presented as a sort of quasi-antagonist, but was then convinced by Woody that he was actually a toy. In 1999’sToy Story 2, Buzz is replaced by a belt-wearing counterpart who also thinks he’s a toy, imprisoning the movie’s main Buzz in the process.Toy Story 3had Buzz reset by Lotso and serving as a prison guardto the trapped toys. EvenLightyearmade use of the storytelling device, with Emperor Zurg turning out to be a version of Buzz from the future.
Toy Story 4focused far more on Woody, so there wasn’t really much room in the narrative for an Evil Buzz.
However,Toy Story 4focused far more on Woody, so there wasn’t really much room in the narrative for an Evil Buzz. Deviating from the trend may also have been part of the fallout ofLightyeardoing so poorly. As such,Toy Story 5’s horde of Buzz Lightyears is set to restore a trendthat has only really skipped one movie. It remains to be seen ifToy Story 6will eventually happen, and how/if Buzz Lightyear will factor into another sequel.
Why Toy Story Keeps Doing The “Evil Buzz Lightyear” Twist
Buzz’s original as a fictional authority figure makes him a good fit as a pseudo-villain
Every Buzz Lightyear action figure introduced to the series so far has believed they are the real Buzz - who, in the world of the movies, doesn’t actually exist. The toy is based on a fictional character from theLightyearmovie, although Tim Allen’s character doesn’t behave in quite the same way as Chris Evans' iteration in the 2022 spinoff. Instead,the Buzz toys are much more impulsive, dramatic, and over-the-top. Although they’re not trying to act like bad guys, their interactions with the other toys certainly paint them in that light.
Buzz initially thinks he’s every inch the Space Ranger he’s been made to resemble, and as such, he seems to believe he has absolute authority over everyone he encounters. While the arc of Andy’s Buzz takes him away from this belief, it would make sense that a new or reset Buzz would display the traits that make them seem like villains. It’s simply part of Buzz’s character and backstory, so it’s only going to keep happening.
The Best “Evil Buzz” Came From The Most Underrated Toy Story Project
A Buzz Lightyear cartoon introduced a truly nefarious version of the character
Buzz Lightyear of Star Commandwas a 2D-animated show that ran for 65 episodesbetween 2000 and 2001. In the show, Buzz was a serving Space Ranger voiced by Patrick Warburton rather than being a toy like Allen’s version of the character, and so the project was something of a spiritual predecessor to 2022’sLightyear. It engaged in some surprisingly complex sci-fi storylines, including a multiverse arc - which allowed a truly evil Buzz Lightyear to enter the fray.
Toy Story 5 Will Win Me Over If It Is Brave Enough To Do What All Other Sequels Avoided
As the fourth sequel in the franchise, Toy Story 5 needs to take a huge step that all its predecessors failed to carry out, even if it is risky.
Star Command’s evil Buzz came from a reality where he became the Emperorrather than Zurg. He is actively villainous in the traditional sense, rather than the other “evil” Buzz Lightyears in the franchise coming down to a matter of perspective. In other words, he reveled in his abominable actions. The show was released during a fallow period in the Pixar series, withToy Story 3still years from conception. So, although it’s largely forgotten by now, the animated project undeniably held up the evil Buzz trend that will come back with a vengeance inToy Story 5.
Toy Story
Toy Storyis a beloved animated franchise created by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The series centers on the secret life of toys, primarily focusing on the friendship between Woody, a cowboy doll, and Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger action figure. The films explore themes of friendship, loyalty, and growing up, resonating with audiences of all ages.Toy Storyis widely credited with revolutionizing animation, as the first film was the first fully computer-animated feature. The franchise is not only a critical success but also a cultural icon, influencing a generation of films and storytelling in animation.
