The Toy Story franchise of films is beloved by fans far and wide. Many people experience a sense of nostalgia and happiness when viewing these animated movies. The first Toy Story was released in 1995, and told the tale of a group of toys owned by a boy named Andy. When Andy's parents give him a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure, Woody (Tom Hanks), a kind-hearted cowboy doll, fears for his status as Andy's favorite toy. Worse yet, the haughty Buzz believes he is a real spaceman on a quest to return to his planet of origin. Woody and Buzz must flee the grasp of their troubled neighbor Sid Phillips (Erik von Detten) in order to rejoin Andy before his family moves into a new home.
Three Toy Story sequels followed, all chronicling the adventures of Buzz, Woody, and the other toys that belonged to Andy. There have also been multiple spin-offs, television series, and short films attached to Toy Story in some way, including a Buzz Lightyear television show, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, which had a different voice actor portraying Buzz.
2022’s Lightyear is one of those such projects, which tells the in-universe origin tale of the real Buzz Lightyear, an astronaut and spaceman that the eponymous toy from Toy Story is based on. Controversy ensued when fans realized the new film would have Chris Evans, known for his portrayal of Captain America in the MCU, voicing Buzz instead of Allen. While some were ecstatic to see Evans branch into voiceover work, others — those more attached to Allen's portrayal across the Toy Story franchise — were less enthused. Between Evans and Allen, let's see who played the better Buzz Lightyear.
The Voice Actors Weigh In
In an interview with Extra, Allen had this to say about Lightyear: “The short answer is I’ve stayed out of this ’cause it has nothing to do with my Buzz Lightyear...” The actor went on to elaborate, saying, “It’s a wonderful story. It just doesn’t seem to have any connection to the toy, and it’s a little…I don’t know. It just has no relationship to Buzz. It’s just no connection. I wish there was a better connection.” Ironically enough, the connection is actually really simple. Allen’s version of Buzz is the toy based on the legendary astronaut Buzz, who ends up risking himself to save an entire colony of space rangers in Lightyear.
Conversely, Evans, when asked about taking on the role, said, “You can’t exclude the fact that there are built-in fans who have a deep connection with an idea already,” and that “Tim Allen obviously did phenomenal work. I mean, he’s Buzz Lightyear in my eyes,” according to an interview with Datebook. This leads to the idea that most people will relate Buzz Lightyear to Allen in the future as they have previously. Evans' role doesn’t take away from what Toy Story has accomplished, but rather enhances it.
Uzo Abuda, who voices Buzz’s best friend and commanding officer, Alisha Hawthorne, told Variety prior to Lightyear's premiere, “I think a lot of us had questions about who Buzz was and now we get a lot of those answers through this film.” Lightyear gives us that origin story without taking away from the original Toy Story films.
The Best Buzz is About Perspective
Lightyear director Angus MacLane tweeted about the various voice actors saying, “Tim Allen is, and shall always be, Buzz Lightyear the toy from Toy Story. Patrick Warburton is, and shall always be, Buzz Lightyear from Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. Chris Evans is, and shall always be, Buzz Lightyear from Lightyear.” He seems to be making a distinction that each person who has voiced Buzz has brought unique depth and storytelling to the character. The origin story of Buzz told in Lightyear can connect to Toy Story and gives fans more information on why Buzz is the way he is as the toy compared to the real Buzz astronaut.
There is no right or wrong answer on whom the better Buzz Lightyear voice actor is because it’s all about how you view the films. If you like Buzz as the person behind the toy, you might favor Evans’ portrayal in Lightyear. If you prefer the nostalgia of the Buzz toy on an adventure, you might favor Allen’s portrayal across the Toy Story movies. Either way, Buzz Lightyear is an iconic part of movie history and should be honored as such, no matter whose voice is behind the animation.