U.S. #5709-12
2022 60¢ Go Beyond – Buzz Lightyear
Issue Date: August 3, 2022
First Day City: Los Angeles, CA
Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Pane of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 45,000,000
Buzz Lightyear is one of the most recognized and beloved animated characters of all time. He's been in all four Toy Story movies, and in 2022, received his own spin-off motino picture titled Lightyear (though the movie was about the astronaut character who inspired the Buzz Lightyear toys). To commemorate the release of the film, the United States Postal Service issued four new Forever stamps. Each design pictured Buzz Lightyear in different poses from the movie.
In Lightyear, Buzz's design is slightly different from that of the Toy Story series. His spacesuit is a little more sleek and high-tech, his facial features are more realistic, and, of course, he appears without his spacesuit as well. (Who knew there was a head of hair underneath that purple snood – sometimes called a skullcap – he always wears?!)
Despite the changes, the animation team kept Buzz's iconic green, white, and purple color scheme. It is said these colors were chosen as they were the favorites of Toy Story director John Lasseter and his wife. While Lightyear animators thought about changing it up, they eventually decided to stick with the classic colors.
Lightyear boasts a memorable cast of new characters, including Buzz's best friend, Alisha Hawthorne, a robotic cat named Sox, a recruit named Featheringhamstan, and, of course, the return of Toy Story villain, Zurg. Buzz's relationships with his friends and enemies gave added depth to this beloved, classic Pixar character and gave Lightyear a little something different from what audiences expected. It's all part of what makes Disney and Pixar one of the biggest names in animation today.