We were given the distinct pleasure of attending a special press event in honor of Pixar’s upcoming film, Lightyear, and let me say, it was a blast! We got to screen some of the film and hear from the team making the movie.
In the newest trailer, released by Pixar, you get to see what I’ve known for a while now and have been bursting at the seams to let everyone else know: Lightyear is a journey through both space and time!
“It’s gonna have everything you’d want in a Buzz Lightyear film,” Angus MacLane said in a briefing. “It’s gonna have Buzz, it’s gonna have Star Command, it’s gonna have spaceships, there’s gonna be lots of robots. There’ll be robots trying to kill ya. There’ll be cyclops robots. We’ve even got the robot cat. We’re gonna have so many robots, you’re gonna get sick of robots. And just when you get sick of robots, we’re gonna give you one more. We’re gonna give you Zurg. Lightyear is a celebration of movies and sci-fi epics in general but also inspired by the dark side of nostalgia, and the dangers of living in the past. As a director, it’s the movie I’ve always wanted to make. And as a filmgoer, it’s the movie I’ve always wanted to see.”
That’s right! Zurg is a robot. But then how can he be Buzz’s father? The answer is simple; he isn’t. “In Toy Story, Andy had a birthday party. His favorite gift was a character that he loved, Buzz Lightyear the Space Ranger. And it was a toy that would redefine playtime for Andy. I’ve always wondered what movie was Buzz from? Why couldn’t we just make that movie? So that’s what we did. Presenting Lightyear, the movie that Andy saw that changed his life. Andy’s Star Wars. A sci-fi epic designed to inspire a new generation … I imagined this was a movie that then later there was a spinoff cartoon,” Angus explained. “And then the Toy Story toy was made off of that cartoon design.”
Regardless of the continuity of the Lightyear-verse (?), what we got to see of the film was really a romp and it’s definitely going to be your kid’s (and your) favorite film of the summer.
Pixar’s Lightyear premieres only in theaters on June 17th, including on IMAX screens, Pixar’s first film framed in the full IMAX ratio.
What wonderful news. So exciting and can’t wait to see it in June.