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~ Zurg's last words and redemption in Toy Story 2.noicon
Evil Emperor Zurg, is the secondary antagonist of Pixar's 3rd full-length animated feature film, Toy Story 2, the second installment in the Toy Story franchise.
In the franchise's lore, he is an evil emperor who serves as the main antagonist of the fictious Buzz Lightyear franchise.
He is the former arch-nemesis of Buzz Lightyear. And in Toy Story 2, he is revealed to be the father of his other former arch-nemesis, Utility Belt Buzz.
In Toy Story 2, and other media, he is voiced by the Pixar employee, Andrew Stanton, who also played Hopper in the A Bug's Life video game and the short film, It's Tough to be a Bug. In the Disney Park attraction, "Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin", he was voiced by Ken Mitchroney.
Zurg is a tall, thin-built but broad-chested humanoid of unknown species dressed in royal purple armor and robes. His head is invariably encased in a massive helmet crested with grey horns, through which a pair of piercing red eyes and a grille of yellow teeth that light up. His chest is covered with a grey and purple chassis, probably made of steel, and has a rubber waist (just like Buzz's) and his hands are covered by steel gauntlets capped with sharp fingers. His feet are encased in long, royal purple robes, and he wears a dramatic black cloak lined with scarlet, with raised lapels in vampiric manner. The clasp on his cape is inscribed with "Z" standing for his name. He carries his signature Ion Blaster on his right hand with a hose connected to a round cage storing his ammo with a neon red light on top that is attached on the back of his cape.
As a toy, he is made of plastic, and he has a hole at the back of his head that goes under the name, Zurg Vision, which the user can see through (fun fact: making it look like the latter is wearing the helmet, but seeing everything in red).
Personality[]
As shown in the film, Zurg was known to be the most evil and destructive villain in his galaxy, dedicated to ruling it with an iron fist by all means necessary. He is shown to be manipulative, intelligent and ruthless, as he was willing to take down anyone that serves as an obstacle to himself or his plans.
Biography[]
Toy Story[]
“
I protect the galaxy from the threat of invasion from the evil Emperor Zurg, sworn enemy of the Galactic Alliance.
„
~ Buzz telling Andy's toys about his fight against Zurg.noicon
Zurg was originally set to appear in the first Toy Story film but was cut out from the final version. However, he makes a cameo on a partially covered drawing by Andy in Strange Things. He is also mentioned three times in the film. First by Andy Davis after Buzz Lightyear arrives, then Buzz during his introduction to Woody and the rest of Andy's toys, being described as the "sworn enemy of the Galactic Alliance", and finally once more by Buzz when he and Woody are lost at the gas station during their argument.
Toy Story Treats[]
Zurg does not physically appear in Toy Story Treats, but he was mentioned by name.
Toy Story 2[]
“
Zurg: Surrender, Buzz Lightyear! I have won! Utility Belt Buzz: I'll never give in! You killed my father! Zurg: No, Buzz... I am your father! Utility Belt Buzz: NOOOOO!!!
„
~ Zurg parodying a very famous scene from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.noicon
Zurg made his first appearance in the Toy Story franchise as the secondary antagonist of its second film Toy Story 2.
He is first seen in the videogame that Rex is playing. He fights Buzz, but since Rex's arms are small, he cannot execute the combos needed to defeat Zurg, and so Zurg defeats Buzz in the game, much to Rex's distraught.
Later on, when the real Buzz, Rex, Slinky Dog, Hamm, and Mr. Potato Head head over to Al's Toy Barn to rescue Woody from Al McWhiggin, Buzz gets accidentally swapped with another Buzz Lightyear action figure with a utility belt (an action figure version of the video game). When Andy's Buzz spots Al leaving with Andy's toys and the other Buzz Lightyear - whom anyone will call Utility Belt Buzz - in his bag, he follows them, but knocks down a few boxes in the process. As he leaves, a box is being wedged between the doors, and a Zurg action figure is inside. Zurg breaks out from his box, spots Buzz, and being unaware that he is just a toy (similar to Buzz from the first Toy Story movie and Utility Belt Buzz), follows Buzz to Al's apartment to destroy him.
Eventually, Zurg reaches Al's apartment through the top of the elevator shaft, where he confronts the Buzzes and the other toys. A fight takes place on top of the elevator between Utility Belt Buzz and Zurg while the original Buzz and the others open the emergency hatch to save Woody. At first, Utility Belt Buzz had the upper hand, but Zurg grabs him and defeats him, demanding he surrenders. Utility Belt Buzz says that he will never give up because Zurg killed his father, but Zurg tells him that he is his father, much to Utility Belt Buzz's distraught. Zurg then prepares to finish off Utility Belt Buzz, but Rex turns away in fear, which causes his large tail to accidentally hit Zurg, sending him screaming in defeat as he falls down the elevator shaft, much to Rex's great delight.
However, Zurg somehow survived his fall, but has forgotten that Utility Belt Buzz is his archenemy, due to the impact. As such, Utility Belt Buzz decides to have spent some fun with Zurg with a game of catch (while also declining Buzz's invitation to save Woody from Al and Stinky Pete), and Zurg seems to enjoy it, telling Utility Belt Buzz to go long as he fires a ball for Utility Belt Buzz to catch. Buzz then bids farewell to Utility Belt Buzz using the same Vulcan salute that he used at Woody while they were still stranded at the gas station from the first film and proceeds to follow Al to the airport with the other toys by driving the Pizza Planet truck (which is similar to Woody and Buzz chasing the moving truck from the first film).
Toy Story 3[]
“
Jessie: Buzz, what are you doing? Buzz: Silence, minions of Zurg! You're in the custody of the Galactic Alliance!
„
~ Demo Mode Buzz mentions Zurg.
Zurg was mentioned in the third film Toy Story 3 a few times by Buzz after Lotso switches him to "Demo Mode". He is later mentioned again by Andy when he gives Buzz to his new owner Bonnie Anderson. Zurg eventually appears during the credits of the film, arriving at Sunnyside Daycare Center with a giraffe and a small dinosaur, where he is greeted by Stretch. It was revealed by Lee Unkrich, the director of Toy Story 3, that this was a different Zurg from the one in Toy Story 2. He appears to be missing his ion blaster, but it's unknown what happened to it.
The Evil Emperor Zurg flying above Buzz Lightyear.
Zurg is also a boss in the Toy Story 2 video game, Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue. He is the titular boss of the game's twelfth level, The Evil Emperor Zurg, and the fourth main boss encountered by Buzz Lightyear. Several of his toy minions also appear frequently as enemies throughout the game and the game's eight level, Al's Space Land, features several hallways lined with Buzz Lightyear and Emperor Zurg toys shooting lasers at each other from their packages.
Gameplay[]
Zurg is fought on top of an elevator within the Elevator Hop, and Buzz must be careful not to fall off the edge during the battle. Zurg will constantly hover above Buzz firing spheres at him that will damage him on contact, although Buzz can deflect these by spinning. The yellow spheres travel towards him and then disappear, whereas the green ones will come back at Buzz and home in on him. Buzz must shoot Zurg with his laser while he's in range to damage him, and once his health has been fully diminished, the boss will topple over the side of the elevator and disappear into the darkness below. Buzz will then be allowed to proceed to the following level.
Zurg Kite[]
The Zurg Kite battling Buzz Lightyear.
The Zurg Kite is the boss of the game's second level Andy’s Neighborhood. As the name suggests, this boss is a kite inspired by the Evil Emperor Zurg. It is fought on a wooden platform at the very top of the tall garden tree, and its only attack is spinning into Buzz. He can hurt the Zurg Kite with his laser while it floats in the air, but it's invulnerable while it's spinning. Upon its defeat, Buzz will obtain a Pizza Planet Token, but he must be careful not to fall out of the tree during the battle.
Toy Story 3 The Video Game[]
Zurg is also in every version of the Toy Story 3 video game, except the Nintendo DS version. He is a boss in the Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3, and PC versions. A PlayStation 3 exclusive allows the player to play as Zurg.
Disney INFINITY[]
Zurg is also the main antagonist of the Toy Story playset in Disney INFINITY.
Disney Speedstorm[]
Zurg is a playable character in the Disney videogame Disney Speedstorm. He was added to the game in 2025 along with Lotso and Forky.
Theme Parks[]
Zurg is a prominent character in the Buzz Lightyear Dark Rides at the Disney Parks, where he serves as the main antagonist. He assembles a robotic army to steal Crystallic Fusion Battery Cells, the batteries used to power both the vehicles and home of the Little Green Men, Green Planet, as well as Star Command itself. In desperation, Buzz Lightyear assembles a group of rookie Space Rangers to go after Zurg, battling his forces, and retrieving the battery cells with the help of both Buzz himself and the Little Green Men.
In the Walt Disney World version of the ride, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Zurg prominently utilizes his Spiderbot, a space vessel armed with deadly weaponry used for galactic conquest. The rookie Space Rangers face Zurg in his laboratory on Planet Z, and in the vacuum of space before Buzz and the Little Green Men intervene and tear his weapon apart and arrest the tyrant.
In the Disneyland version of the ride (as well as the Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris versions), Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Zurg uses his army of giant robots to attack Space Rangers stationed in Sector Nine, presumably neutralizing them before stealing the Crystallic Fusion Cells, and verbally threatening Star Command in a recorded message, promising galactic conquest. Once the rookie Space Rangers storm his Dreadnought, he furiously fights back, infuriated at their presence, their loyalty to Star Command, and the Dreadnought itself crash landing on Planet Z. Zurg eventually escapes with the help of a reenergized secret weapon, gloating to the rookie Space Rangers that he will use his secret weapon to conquer Green Planet, and later Star Command. Eventually, Buzz Lightyear intervenes alongside an army of Little Green Men, and, with the help of the rookie Space Rangers, destroy Zurg's secret weapon, defeating him once again. He's eventually put in a box, and sent back to Al's Toy Barn by the Little Green Men, promising he will return.
Zurg at the Walt Disney World version of the ride.
Zurg at Disneyland (as well as Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Paris versions of the ride).
Zurg at the Shanghai Disneyland version of the ride, the only time he makes a physical appearance.
In the Shanghai Disneyland version of the ride, Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue, Zurg threatens to use a laser cannon to destroy the homeworld of the Little Green Men on his home turf of Xrgthung. Buzz, alongside the rookie Space Rangers, travel to the planet to not only destroy the robotic army, but thwart Zurg's efforts. They are successful, leaving Zurg angered and swearing revenge.
Quotes[]
“
(Chuckles Evilly) Come to me, my prey.
„
~ Zurg's first words
“
(Growls Angrily) Destroy Buzz Lightyear!
„
~ Zurg chasing after Andy's Buzz Lightyear, unaware that he's only a toy
“
Rex: Buzz, you could've defeated Zurg all along, you just need to believe in yourself! [shrieks] Zurg: Prepare to die! Rex: (Screams) I can't look! Zurg: [got knocked away by Rex's tail] Oof! Whoa-whoa-who-oh-who-o-oa... [falls off the elevator] AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! Rex: I did it! I'VE FINALLY DEFEATED ZURG!!! Utility Belt Buzz: Father...
„
~ Zurg accidentally defeated by Rex when he tried to kill Ultra Buzz Lightyear
Trivia[]
Emperor Zurg is a parody of Darth Vader of the Star Wars franchise. In fact, in Toy Story 2, during his battle with Bonus Belt Buzz Lightyear, Zurg tells Bonus Belt Buzz that he's his father, and parodies the scene in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the second film in the original Star Wars trilogy, where Darth Vader tells Luke Skywalker that he is his father. Coincidentally, Toy Story 2 was released in theatres in 1999, the same year as Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, the first film in the Star Wars prequel trilogy which explains Darth Vader's backstory. Additionally, the moment when Zurg's supposed demise was pitied by the Utility Belt Buzz mirrors Vader's death in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, where his son Luke Skywalker mourned over it.
He made his very first physical appearance in the ride under the name Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, which opened in October 1998 at Walt Disney World which was of course one year before the sequel was released.
Zurg's species is an issue of much debate. The four predominant theories are that he is either a human, a robot, an alien (as hinted on some concept arts), or a cyborg. To this day, there is no concrete answer, but there is theoretically enough evidence to rule out Zurg being a robot due to his eating and sleeping habits.
Apparently, Zurg was meant to die from his fall according to John Lasseter on the Toy Story 2 DVD commentary; when Andy's Buzz and the rest of the toys were making their way to the Pizza Planet truck, Ultra Buzz was carrying Zurg and said he was going to be burying his "father". This scene was however scrapped and changed to have Ultra Buzz playing catch with Zurg due to the fact that they felt Zurg perishing would be too morbid. This is also seen on an early sketch for the film (see here).
After cheating his death in the final version, one can see that he has received some damage from the fall off the elevator: one of his horns is slightly bent backwards, one of his mouth lights is not working anymore, a side of the scope on his ion blaster appears to have bent a little up from its place, and his rubber cape is mangled in several spots.
During Woody's nightmare earlier in Toy Story 2, some of the mismatched toy arms in the trash can Woody was discarded in belonged to Zurg (although there were a couple of color variations).
Toy Story 4 is the only film where Zurg wasn't seen or mentioned.
Because of his amnesia in Toy Story 2, Zurg might be the first Toy Story villain who redeems himself.
Zurg made a cameo appearance in the 2015 Disney live-action film, Tomorrowland.
A small toy version of Zurg appeared in the 2011 Toy Story Toons short film Small Fry.
According to the original script of Toy Story 3, he was originally going to have a bigger role in the film, being one of the recalled toys along with Buzz Lightyear. A quite insane Zurg was the first one to introduce Buzz to his ultimate fate of not being repaired but sent to the toy crusher.
In the early concept art, Zurg was originally going to be a small toy alien with a robot body.
In the scene with Rex in the car in Al's Toy Barn holding the How to Defeat Zurg book, there is one frame where a clear glimpse of the bottom corner of the book is seen. As a lighthearted jab at Canadians, the cover price is shown as $4.95 and $50 in Canada. It should be about $6.95. In the waiting area for the Disney's Hollywood Studios attraction Toy Story Midway Mania! in Orlando, Florida, there is a large replica of the book's cover that also reflects this joke.
According to the front of Zurg's box seen when Buzz runs over it before waking him in Toy Story 2, the company he (along with Buzz) is produced by is named Wacka Wacka Toys.
Zurg's villainy may have been due to the fact that Zurg (the toy) actually thinks that he is the real Zurg and not just a toy. Ironically, this is contradictory to Stinky Pete's case, where he's more of a genuine villain (despite his supposed ideals for the Roundup Gang) than Zurg himself was.
In 2012, Disney Store released a Zurg figure in movie size that is marked the closest one in accuracy. One of the biggest notable inaccuracies are that the said figure cannot fire the balls located inside the ammo cage out of his ion blaster.
As the real-life toy release of Zurg by Disney Store hints, it's possible that he (the toy) talks (when not alive) by pushing his Z button on his chest.
The deleted scene of Zurg from Toy Story 2 hints his Ion Blaster is powered by a battery.
If the opening scene of Zurg for the original film hadn't been scrapped, he would've been the first character to appear in the Toy Story franchise as opposed to Mr. Potato Head. As a bonus, Zurg would've made his first appearance in the original Toy Story film instead of the sequel.
In said deleted opening scene, he has a different design and more of a maniacal persona (similar to his portrayal in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command) as opposed to being more serious and less expressive in his debut in Toy Story 2.
Early concept arts show that Zurg was originally going to be black-colored instead of purple.
Zurg is depicted as a train in the now defunct World of Cars Online.
Through his many incarnations, Zurg has had more appearances in the Toy Story franchise than any of its other villains.
Sid Phillips from the first Toy Story film made cameo appearances in Toy Story Treats and Toy Story 3.
Ken from Toy Story 3 appeared in Hawaiian Vacation.
Reptillus Maximus from Toy Story That Time Forgot made a cameo in Toy Story 4.
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