To Infinity and Beyond

This year, despite only being eight months in, has been a rather big year in terms of pop culture. Sure, we have a lot of old favorites returning to light- or at least getting news of such, but 2015 is also the year anniversaries.

If you are a fan of the mega hit series that make Pixar a household name than you already know that before too long the Toy Story franchise will be turning a jaw-dropping, it could not have been that long, twenty-years-old in the coming months. And naturally there will be some type of grand celebration for it all as after all Toy Story is not only a classic tale, but something that led to a change in the world of animation.

Everyone knows Toy Story- the characters, their adventures and never mind it make an entire generation of children ever so certain that their toys where very much so alive. But there is more to Toy Story’s legacy that has become more forgotten; Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.

Within Toy Story fans recall Buzz often found himself believe that he was indeed the one and only Buzz Lightyear. Famous and beloved Space Ranger sworn to protect the universe from evil. From what we seen within the film we alone we got a fairly basic depiction of what that specific Buzz was like. But it was not until August eighth of 2000 where fans get to see the true origins with an OVA known as Buzz Lightyear of Start Command: The Adventure Begins.

As one can guess based on the title alone, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command focused on Buzz Lightyear. However this incarnation was different from that fans knew, Captain Buzz Lightyear is very much so a man who lives by the rule book- but that might have something to do with the fact he actually wrote about half of it himself. Buzz has a very deep passion for what he does as ranger, even to the point you can safely say that he is indeed married to his job. At that same not be can often have blunders when it comes to relationships as his people skills leave something to be improved upon.

Even though we get to see more sides of the legendary hero, we are also introduced to a sea of additional characters that are fixtures in Buzz’s life- for better or worse. After all you have to have a great cast. From the incredibly flawed and quick-witted XR, a robot with a preference for the finer things in life. Booster, a kind hearted fanboy who is able to achieve his dream of being a Space Ranger along-side his idol. And the heir to the throne of Tangea, Princess Mira Nova, a strong-willed and independent woman who goes against her father’s wishes and becomes a ranger. The three are not only great characters, but simply good for Buzz and one another.

And the early dynamics and relationships are rather critical in The Adventure Begins.  The direct-to-home-release acts as the origin story to what would be known as Team Lightyear as their paths cross for the first time and they embark on their first mission together. Full of highs, and lows. The Adventure Begins also acts a pilot to the series as it established a base-line for not only the characters, themes and general plot, but for that of their world.

Which is a very good thing considering the series when on for two seasons and for a grand total of sixty-five episodes that chronicled the lives of the characters as they triumphed over evil- or at least tried to do so.

I recall first watching the OVA fifteen-years ago and finding myself very entranced with the series and the premise, the characters and their world. It probably was miracle that my VHS did not in fact break from the constant viewing. Once the series starting airing I recall getting excited on Saturday morning to watch it on ABC’s Disney’s One Saturday Morning block. Clearly I was really into Buzz Lightyear of Star Command even to the point I preferred Buzz’s persona in this series over that of Toy Story. Somehow even in my then five-year-old mind I had a head-canon that was how Buzz was supposed to be. I have no idea why that logic was applied but it has stuck.

Of course looking back at any series from youth as an adult is a very interesting experience, more so as time cannot always be kind to some. However I have to admit that, at least for me, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command holds up rather well. Watching it now I have come to realize just how smart this series was. Even though there is some tongue- in-cheek humor there is heart and brilliance. Some heavier concepts where not only done, not in a way it was too dark or heavy nor so watered down, but in a way that stroke the perfect balance to be enjoyable and  left an impression after the credits rolled.  And not in a very moral of the say light either.

We saw characters in some really awkward situations that even kind of made us cringe and be even a bit embarrassed for that person.  A great example of this was when Booster fell for a dignitaries daughter and confessed his feeling for her or when Buzz attempt to flirt with Gravatina. It is the meaning of painstaking awkward.

Even though Buzz Lightyear of Star Command was a series very centric to that of Team Lightyear, we even got to see the good guys make mistakes and even do things that were wrong. Times when things just fell apart and things did in fact look bleak. Not everything was always great and wonderful and because of that we saw such well-rounded and complex characters.

And yes, there was plenty of light-hearted times.

Over-all Buzz Lightyear of Star Command has proven itself over the years and even with the flaws that ever single work has, it holds up after fifteen-years. To be able to go back and see things you might have missed or not noticed before really gets you thinking. And that is a great thing. If you have never seen the series, or even the OVA before I would encourage you to watch it if you have a chance.

Happy fifteenth anniversary and as Buzz would say, to infinity and beyond.

Join the conversation; if you have ever seen Buzz Lightyear of Star Command what are your thoughts?