Whether or not you enjoyed the Lightyear movie in 2022, you can be sure kids love the best Buzz Lightyear toys. Whether you’re talking about the original Toy Story or the new Lightyear adaptation, Buzz is always a popular toy.
While Buzz Lightyear isn’t the most complex of toys, there are many to choose from and all of them are fun. In this piece, we’ll explore some of our favorite Buzz Lightyear toys and why we think they’re so great.
I also have a FAQ at the end that explains more about Buzz Lightyear, including a brief word on the controversy surrounding the new Lightyear movie.
Best Buzz Lightyear Toys in 2022
Here’s my look at the very best Buzz Lightyear toys in 2022. If you’re a fan of Toy Story or Lightyear (the new movie), you’re gonna like what I found.
Classic Buzz Lightyear (Talking)
Recommended Ages: 3+ years old
This toy is a great version of the classic. When you press Lightyear’s chest, he says over 30 phrases (and sounds). When you press his helmet, it opens up. You can also push the button on his chest to open up his wings. The button on his back makes his arm shoot.
I bought this for my son, who is a big fan of Buzz Lightyear. I looked at some of the reviews and decided to buy it. Beyond the controversy of the new movie (which we’ll get into below), I think this is a great model of the classic Buzz.
The figure is fully articulated. The wing opens up, which is fun to play with. He says plenty of phrases and sounds. He is pretty cool. Overall, it makes a great gift for the little guy or girl in your life. It’s a great toy, as long as you’re not expecting it to be just like the new movie!
New Buzz Lightyear (Disney)
Recommended Ages: 4+ years old
This is the toy for the latest Lightyear movie – NOT the original Toy Story series. This figure is much more stylized than the original. It stands just under 12 inches and is one of the bigger figures I’ve come across. As mentioned, it’s based on the new Lightyear movie, not the original Toy Story.
The figure is articulated at the shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles, so you have plenty of freedom on how to pose the character. He comes with a gun and laser that attach to his hands. He’s also got a clip on light on his chest that is only really useful if you have him in flight mode.
Overall, this is a great toy for fans of the Lightyear movie and a great collector’s item for fans of the original series. Whichever is your favorite, when you’re buying toys for your children, it’s important to know what you’re getting. This is not an original Toy Story figure – and for some, that’s okay.
LEGO Disney Lightyear XL-15 Spaceship
Recommended Ages: 8+ years old
This LEGO building set (#76832) is for the latest Lightyear movie – NOT the original Toy Story series. This model is much more stylized than I’d expect in a LEGO set. It’s a little over 6″ high, 10″ wide, and 10″ deep – with the stand. It’s quite substantial once it’s all completed.
There are 3 LEGO minifigures, including Buzz Lightyear, a LEGO robot cat figure, and 3 weapons. The craft features an opening cockpit and a removable fuel cell, which can hold the gun. There’s also a repair robot, who’s actually taller than any of the figures.
For fans of the Lightyear movie, or a gift for someone who is, this is a nice build. It’s not the most exciting LEGO set I’ve seen, but the fact that it’s Lightyear is a big draw for this set. The set also features a display stand, which can be separate from the craft itself. Overall, a high quality set, as you would expect from LEGO.
The quality of the pieces and the model itself are above average. It doesn’t come with any accessory pieces – which isn’t a huge surprise considering the price on this set. The space ship looks great without any extra decoration, but if you have extra pieces, it can make for a great display. It’s also a bit bigger than I’d expect, which was a pleasant surprise.
All in all, this is a good LEGO set, especially for the price. If you’re a fan of the new Lightyear movie, check it out.
Buzz Lightyear Toys FAQ
Here’s some frequently asked questions (and answers) about Buzz Lightyear toys – and the new movie. It’s confusing!
What are Buzz Lightyear toys worth?
It depends! Collectible Buzz Lightyear toys can go for a lot of money, but new toys are worth about as much as you would pay for them. In all seriousness, there are a lot of different Buzz Lightyear toys out there with different values.
The older the toy, the more expensive it’s likely to be. If you have a very old Buzz Lightyear toy, it can be worth a lot of money.
Why was Tim Allen replaced as Buzz Lightyear?
I can’t speak for the people behind the Lightyear movie, but from what I’ve heard, they wanted a more serious portrayal of the character, so they went with Chris Evans. Tim Allen played Lightyear (the toy) a bit goofier and more childlike, which may not be what they wanted.
They were also worried about the original Toy Story actor conflict. I’ve heard that Pixar and Disney decided to prevent this issue by eliminating the original actor altogether. This was probably a wise move because I don’t see how they would’ve been able to do both the original Buzz and the new, serious version of him at the same time.
Instead, they went with Chris Evans, who is best known for playing Captain America.
Is a Lightyear a toy?
It’s a movie that came out in 2022, but there are toys based on the movie, so… yes? I suppose one could argue that a movie is a set of toys that appear on screen, so a movie itself is a toy, right?
I have to admit, I’m not even sure what the difference between a movie and a toy is, but I’m pretty sure both a movie and a toy can be considered toys, right? Okay, okay, enough joking around. Lightyear is a movie and a toy.
Was Buzz Lightyear a real toy?
According to the Toy Story universe, Buzz Lightyear was just a toy, but in the new Lightyear movie, they imagine what he would’ve been like as a real person. It can get a bit confusing because it’s a completely different movie and character, but they’re both Buzz Lightyear so they’ll always be connected.
The only difference is that one was a toy and the other is a human… or is the other way around?
What is the controversy with Lightyear?
The Lightyear movie was controversial because it changed the story of the original Toy Story. The original Lightyear was not a real person, just a toy who wanted to be a real person.
In the new movie, they imagined him as if he was a real person – the person they based a toy off in another universe. I’m getting confused now too. The real controversy was a short same-sex kiss in the movie.
What toy is Buzz Lightyear based on?
In the original Toy Story movie, the character of Lightyear was based on action figures made by a toy company. They did a toy called Space Ranger, which was the toy that Andy purchased and brought home.
The new Lightyear movie is about what would happen if the toy Buzz Lightyear was based on a real person. Here we go again. They really messed with the continuity of the Toy Story movies, didn’t they?
How much did Chris Evans get paid for Buzz Lightyear?
Ten million dollars. Quite a lot of money for a few months of work. The salary is significantly higher than most teachers make their entire lives. And teachers work a lot harder. I’m just saying!
