This page is about a villain from the Toy Story series of films and television series. For the fictional extraterrestrial race from the Starcraft series, see Zerg. Evil Emperor Zurg, Sworn Enemy of the Galactic Alliance is a minor antagonist in the 1999 Disney-Pixar film Toy Story 2 and the main villain in the 2000 TV series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. He is voiced by Andrew Stanton in the film and by Wayne Knight in the cartoon series. Zurg also appears as a villain in the attraction Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (and the variations of this attraction) at the five Disneyland-type parks in the United States, Japan, France, and Hong Kong.
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Toy Story 1
In the first Toy Story, Zurg is a referenced character, and does not appear at all. He is simply a character mentioned by Buzz Lightyear, his sworn enemy. Buzz claims that Zurg is building a powerful weapon that could destroy an entire planet and that he is the only one that could possibly stop him. Throughout the movie, it is Buzz's only concern to contact Star Command and stop Zurg from his evil doings before he discovers that he is a toy. In early story boarding for Toy Story, Zurg was originally going to be in the opening sequence to the film. The sequence was then removed and revised and placed in the beginning of the second film.
Toy Story 2
Zurg is first seen in the opening sequence when Buzz is trying to take all of his power away from him (Zurg's power is from a AA battery). The sequence then cuts showing that the opening sequence was only a video game played by the toy Rex. As the story progresses, a Zurg toy in Al's Toy Barn bursts out from his box and follows Andy's Buzz Lightyear, who is on the way to rescue Woody from Al McWhiggin. Zurg is deluded in the way the world works similar to Andy's Buzz Lightyear in the first film. In the second film, another copy of Buzz Lightyear escapes from Al's Toy Barn, and battles with Zurg using toy components (pin balls and lights). In a reference to the relationship of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, the principal hero and villain respectively of the original Star Wars Trilogy, Evil Emperor Zurg claims he is in fact the father of Buzz. As Zurg attempts to kill Buzz, Rex accidentally hits Zurg with his large tail, sending him falling down the elevator shaft. Near the end of the film, Zurg is seen playing catch with the other deluded copy of Buzz. Henceforth, they made up and became friends. Deluded Buzz Lightyear then says "wow, you're a great dad! Yipee!" as he is playing catch.
Cartoon Series
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and its direct-to-video movie Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, Zurg says he is Lightyear's father during a fight in order to shock Lightyear, before regaining the advantage during the fight and then denying the truth of that previous claim. This version of Zurg is also severely lightened up, going from the movie's Darth Vader-esque version to a far less intimidating one. Despite being just as fearsome and ruthless as his movie counterpart, in the TV series Zurg is a flamboyantly evil villain who is just as much a comic relief character as he is a formidable opponent, similar to Skeletor. This Zurg is known for videotaping Buzz's speeches, maintaining a troll doll collection, and various other comedic habits. In the cartoon series, he is voiced by Wayne Knight, who voiced Al McWhiggin in Toy Story 2. It was revealed in the first episode that there was a Mrs. Zurg, but she is never seen at all. Zurg would appear to be a cyborg of some description. He frequently mentions various members of his family but as of yet no other members of his species have been revealed. In the TV series he is the warlord like ruler of an evil empire the seat of which is the hellish Planet Z (standing for Zrgthrung). In various media surrounding the film his planet is said to be called Xrgthung but seeing as this is unpronounceable in the TV series it is changed to simply "Z." It is unknown whether Zurg rules over any other worlds but if he does they have not been revealed. Planet Z evidently possesses vast resources and forces enabling Zurg to be a serious threat to the Galactic Alliance. Despite being frequently gullible and bungling Zurg is evidently highly intelligent, able to concoct sound military tactics and Machiavellian evil schemes. Zurg is frequently mentioned to be the most evil villain in the galaxy and appears to possess authority over all other villains. In fact he would appear to be a physical manifestation of pure evil. He is particularly proud of this and frequently brags of how "evil" he is. Zurg's face is never seen.
Trivia
- In the movie Toy Story 2, Zurg says "No Buzz, I am your father". An obvious parody of Star Wars where Darth Vader (also a villain) tells Luke Skywalker that he is his father in a very similar fashion.
- As seen during the battle atop the elevator, in Toy Story 2, Zurg's arm cannon goes to 11. This is an obvious reference to This is Spinal Tap and the famous amps.
- When he is foiled, Zurg always utters the line "Curse you, Buzz Lightyear!" This has since become his trademark on Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.
- Zurg possesses the ability to project beams of energy from his eyes, similar to the Omega Effect possessed by the DC Comics villain Darkseid. Whether these are mystical or scientific in origin or an ability possessed by most members of his species is never explained.
- Evil appears to run in Zurg's family as the Emperor frequently references members of his family when speaking. Examples include his mother and grandmother. He frequently speaks of how equally evil they were and in his most evil moments has a tendency to enter a dreamy reverie and speak of how proud they would be of him.
- The weapon Buzz mentions in the first film may relate to the Galactic Empire's Death Star.
