General Thoughts: In 1995, a little animation studio named Pixar, perhaps you’ve heard of it, released its very first feature film, which was also the first 3D animation film released as well. This film was Toy Story. This is the film that captured my imagination as a child, and never let it go. I must’ve watched it a hundred times when I was little, and I loved every minute of it. It was only natural that I would want the toys from the film in my own toy box as well, but as was the case back then, none of the toys really looked like their on-screen counterparts, which made me upset. It wasn’t until this last year, during the build-up of Toy Story 3, which is an absolutely fantastic movie by the way, that they finally released a line of toys that were almost exactly like the movie. This Toy Story Collection line used the digital data files from Toy Story 3 and used that to create the characters so they appeared as though they had just stepped off the screen. In addition, they were packaged in the same kind of packaging used in the film, like Buzz in his Spaceship Box for example. These toys have been such an incredible part of my childhood, and I couldn’t have been more excited to finally get the chance to purchase these. Seeing them in the store made me feel like I was 4 years old again and I was seeing them for the very first time.
Detail: 10/10
Thinkway Toys really pulled out all the stops when they made the decision to produce these toys. Not a single detail is overlooked on this figure, everything is spot on to the Buzz Lightyear character that appears on the screen. The rocket ship box that he comes in is so accurate to the movie one that it’s unbelievable. My only gripe would be that they put their logos on the front of the box, which only slightly detracts from the overall feel, but not enough to dock it any points.
Accuracy: 9/10
I would love to say that this Buzz Lightyear is the absolute, 100% most accurate toy ever created of his film character, but that is not the case. They came very, very close with this version, and I give them extreme kudos for that. He includes the pop-out wings like in the movie, the tips light up in red and green, his laser functions, his communicator locks into place, his waist is rubber, and his green trim even glows in the dark. To quote Bo Peep, “He’s got more gadgets than a Swiss Army Knife.” The only things missing are the Karate Chop action feature, which is something that I’ve craved since I first saw the scene in the movie, the “whoosh” helmet feature, and a few key sound clips. They did release another Buzz toy with only the Karate Chop feature, which I have as well, but given the way the wings pop out on this guy, there just wasn’t any good way to add this feature, so I understand. As far as the helmet is concerned, I understand the inability for it to completely retract into the body due to all of the electronics, but why couldn’t they include the feature where you push the side buttons and it retracts the top half of the helmet? That was a missed opportunity in my opinion. The laser sound clip is only the charging sound, and I would’ve liked the actual sound from the movie when Andy uses it to fire at Woody. Finally, there are a few pieces of dialogue missing, like “It’s a secret mission in uncharted space”, but that’s a minor detail.
Playability: 10/10
This toy is good for hours of playtime, as he has two modes. Toy Mode allows you to do all of the features that a toy Buzz Lightyear would be able to do, including all of those listed above, but when you change him to Space Ranger Mode, it’s just like you’ve left the room and he comes to life, reciting bits of dialogue from his conversations with the other toys in the movie. He talks just like he’s alive, and he responds when you talk to him. His head moves, he reacts to the environment, and is overall a really neat playtime pal.
Overall Design: 9.5/10
This toy is an absolutely brilliant product produced by Thinkway Toys. It meets all of the major checks on the list and gives us the most screen-accurate Buzz Lightyear to date. It only took us 15 years to get it, but we finally have him in his Spaceship Box, and he is worth every penny. A great item for fans of the series that grew up with Andy but aren’t quite ready to part with their lifelong companions just yet.
Final Thoughts: This entire line is an absolute dream for me, as I’ve waited my whole life for these guys. I’m not ashamed to go the store and purchase them, as they are a huge part of my life, and I could not live without them. They make for an excellent display piece when they are all assembled, but this great craftsmanship comes with a price. Each one of these puppies is going to set you back $50, unless you can get them on sale, with the exception of RC, which was $60-80 depending on your store of choice, and the Bucket O’ Soldiers, which was anywhere from $9.99 to $15 and up. As a result, I find myself having a hard time wanting to play with them, as I’m too terrified about breaking them and ruining them, which somewhat defeats the purpose of having these awesome toys. If you are a collector with the intention of purchasing these for light play or display, I would highly recommend them, as you aren’t going to find more accurate versions of them anywhere, but if you are a parent buying this for your young children, my advice would be to hold off and buy the cheaper versions. They don’t have as many bells and whistles, but they are more durable and won’t be quite as expensive to replace. I’ve read lots of reviews by disgruntled parents who bought it for their 3 year old and he decided to have Buzz fly off his bunk bed, only to have him break his arm, and they’re mad at the toy company for “making it cheaply”. The problem is that they aren’t thinking about what the product is intended for, and they just see the box and pick it up because it looks cool.
Grade: 38.5/40 A+
Verdict: Definitely Get This
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