Danielle's Corner: The Virtue of Being Andy's Toy

"Say there Lizard and Stretchy Dog. Let me show you something. It looks as though I've been accepted into your culture," says Buzz Lightyear. Wood, Andy's ultimate favorite toy before Buzz showed up, looks over in paranoia and disgust. Buzz lifts his foot and reveals a familiar marking. "Your Chief, Andy, inscribed his name on me." Indeed the name "Andy" is written in permanent ink on the bottom of Buzz's foot.
When Buzz first is given the mark of acceptance, he is still living under the belief that he is a space ranger who must fix his ship and save the galaxy from the evil Emperor Zurg. After a line of unintended events leads Buzz and Woody into the neighbor Sid's house, Buzz learns that his life has been a meaningless lie. A commercial airs on the TV just as Buzz enters the room which shows a million Buzz Lightyear's on Al's You Barn shelves and announces that Buzz Lightyear is this years hottest toy.
Ashamed, and lost, Buzz gives himself one last chance to prove he is a space ranger by attempting to fly out an open window. He climbs up the railing with new-found agility, spreads his wings and leaps forward only to submit himself to gravity's pull and falls to the floor.
Once reunited with Woody, Buzz is a wreck from the realization that he is just a toy like Woody insisted. He becomes immobile and quiet. All hope is lost. Not only is he not a space ranger but tomorrow he will be shot up on a rocket by Sid and blown to pieces.
Woody, realizing his agonizing tone toward Buzz born out of frustration isn't waking Buzz up, tries another tactic. "Oh Buzz," he says. "You must not be thinking clearly."
"No, Woody, for the first time I am thinking clearly," Buzz responds. "You were right all along. I'm not a space ranger. I'm just a toy. A stupid little insignificant toy."
"Whoa, hey -- wait a minute!" Woody cries. "Being a toy is a lot better than being a space ranger."
"Yeah, right," Buzz says sarcastically.
"No, it is," Woody insists. "Look, over in that house is a kid who thinks you are the greatest, and it's not toy! You are his toy."

because you're a space ranger, pal, it's because you're a
After a bit more dialogue, Buzz lifts his foot where Andy's name is written. A sudden surge of realization runs through him.
Throughout all three Toy Story movies, there is a heavy emphasis on Andy's devotion to his toys. There is a virtue that goes with belonging to Andy. He loves his toys, takes care of his toys, and accepts his toys. He marks them with his name to show they belong to him. Religiously this compares to God marking his children as his own. Andy is the ultimate kid, or God for the toys. He loves them and accepts them and marks them as his own.
Woody sparks a revelation in Buzz -- that being a space ranger was great, but having the unfailing love of a child is even better. And there is virtue in that identity.