LIGHTYEAR. Another Beautiful Pixar Story About Friendship

In recent years, Pixar has been aiming its films not only at children but also at adults. A great example of this was Turning Red, which carried a valuable lesson about parenting. Lightyear goes even further in targeting the tastes of a more mature audience. Interestingly, this isn’t even about playing on the nostalgia of viewers who grew up with Andy’s living-toys series from Toy Story.

We meet Buzz Lightyear as the main hero of Andy’s favorite movie. He was the original inspiration for the toy that once caused quite a stir in Woody’s life. In Angus MacLane’s film—MacLane has been associated with the Toy Story franchise since 1999—references to the beloved series naturally appear. Fans of the humorous tales about the plastic residents of a child’s bedroom may, however, be deeply disappointed with Pixar’s new production. They won’t find here the familiar tone of Woody and Buzz’s adventures. The film about a brave Space Ranger who is determined to complete his mission at all costs is entertainment aimed primarily at science-fiction enthusiasts and action-movie fans.

Lightyear is crafted in the mold of live-action cinema. The creators consulted their ideas with NASA and designed spacecraft as if actors were actually going to sit inside them. To that end, they even hired one of the concept artists who had worked on the Star Wars prequels. This isn’t the only connection between Buzz and the galaxy far, far away. The film’s director and screenwriter, Angus MacLane, has openly said that he drew heavily from the legacy of George Lucas and other representatives of New Adventure Cinema. It’s visible in almost every scene of Lightyear.

Pixar’s new film is therefore hard to describe as a typical family production. Yes, there are moments for laughter and emotion, and the plot isn’t overly complicated—but it isn’t the simplest either. The introduction of time dilation, the thriller-like formula, the accumulation of action sequences, and a message more likely to resonate with adults than with children are all surprising. Buzz feels much closer to films like Interstellar or Top Gun: Maverick than to Pixar’s previous animations.

Much like the character played by Tom Cruise, Buzz is an exceptional pilot in whom a mix of bravado, self-admiration, guilt, and ambition outweighs obedience to superiors. He believes that only he can complete the impossible mission—and most of his commanders agree. Also like Maverick, he doesn’t want to babysit rookies, yet ultimately takes under his wing a relative of a lost friend. Perhaps this is the freshness brought on by the recent release of the Top Gun sequel, but it’s easy to spot many more parallels between MacLane’s film and Joseph Kosinski’s work, including in the visual layer of both movies.

The casting choices are also significant. Bringing in Chris Evans as Buzz seemed like a bullseye from the start, but after getting to know the story, it deserves even more praise. Buzz’s character resonates strongly with Captain America, whom Evans portrayed for eight years, and his decisions in the third act serve as a brilliant commentary on Steve Rogers’s fate in Avengers: Endgame.

In the original language version, you can also hear Taika Waititi, Keke Palmer, Uzo Aduba, and Dale Soules. Unfortunately, the supporting characters they portray aren’t among the film’s strongest points. Izzy, Mo, and Darby are likable, but not compelling enough to form a deep attachment. Not even Waititi’s distinctive voice helps here—the same voice that turned the rocky Korg into one of Thor’s most delightful companions in the Thor films.

The one clear exception is the ginger robot cat. It may be far from sidekicks like Donkey from Shrek or Olaf from Frozen, but it will undoubtedly steal the audience’s hearts. Alisha Hawthorne also stands out—Buzz’s friend and commanding officer—who starts a family with a woman at the space base. Alisha and her wife don’t get much screen time, yet their storyline is deeply moving, unforced, and very naturally woven into the plot. It’s worth appreciating that Disney once again chooses not to lecture about inclusivity, but simply to put it into practice.

So, is Lightyear worth watching? Without a doubt. Is it worth seeing with children? If they’re raised on science fiction and superhero movies, they’ll surely be thrilled. Still, it’s worth keeping in mind that very young kids may be frightened by laser-shooting robots and might not fully grasp the plot. Older children, on the other hand, will have the chance not only to marvel at cosmic flights but also to experience another beautiful Pixar story about friendship and cooperation. It may not be as deep as Turning Red or as disarmingly charming as Toy Story, but it reminds us to focus on the here and now and to make the most of the life we’ve been given—after all, we only get one.