Lightyear’s final post-credits scene, and a possible sequel to come

New Pixar movie LightyearThis is a strange choice for the studio. It’s a tie-in to the Toy Story film series, even though it doesn’t take place in the same universe or continuity, and doesn’t feature characters who are toys. No, Sox the robot cat isn’t considered to be a toy. But, it can still be bought toy versions. The film is intended as adult science fiction more than as a kids’ movie, though it’s kid-safe and full of humor alongside the serious issues of loss, grief, and moving on. Maybe the oddest thing about it is that it’s full of opportunities for the kinds of big emotions that are Pixar’s stock in trade, but it doesn’t lean into them the way longtime Pixar fans might expect.

But another oddity about it is that it seems perfectly primed to set up any number of sequels or spinoffs, in a way that isn’t typically true for Pixar movies. That comes more from the movie’s ending than from the post-credits teasers, but one moment after the credits does seem like the kind of “sequel to come” announcement that’s far more typical for other film studios, whether they’re working in animation or live-action.

[Ed. note: Major spoilers ahead for Lightyear, including end spoilers.]

What post-credit scene does Lightyear feature?

Image: Pixar Animation Studios

You know it does, or we wouldn’t be publishing this article. Don’t get us wrong, “Does this movie have a post-credits scene?” pieces (along with “End of movie, explained” recaps) These are so insanely popular and well-trafficked that we wouldn’t be surprised if there are outlets out there posting “Does Maverick: Top Gun have a post-credits scene?” articles when the answer is “Nope!” and there isn’t much to say after that.

But that isn’t true in this case. LightyearHas Three post-credits scenes — two quick gags, and then the shortest possible teaser for the future. The last teaser is here All the way at the end, even after Pixar’s familiar animated logo with the bouncing baby lamp, so don’t be fooled into heading for the door before it’s all over.

The first two credits scenes are just brief, light callback jokes: In a mid-credits scene, Buzz Lightyear’s new superior officer, Commander Burnside (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) sits at his desk as behind him, one of the giant alien beetle-creatures that attack Buzz and his friends throughout the movie gets zapped by their colony’s giant new defense system, a dome made out of lasers. Burnside, who talked up the laser-shield a couple of times in previous scenes, just chuckles and repeats “Laser shield!” to himself, clearly feeling vindicated.

And after the credits, the film returns to the boxy robot Deric (or as his chassis says, “E.R.I.C.,” with a scrawled “D” in front of the acronym), who was last seen trying to give Buzz and his new junior-ranger friends Izzy, Mo, and Darby directions to an offsite outpost. It isn’t clear what Deric’s function is on the team, but they clearly don’t think much of him, since they walk off and leave him still looking at a map and advising them on distances and turns. At the end of the movie, he’s still there, now waxing rhapsodic about scenic vistas they might see along their route.

Then he finally turns around and notices they’re all long gone, and he’s disappointed. Kind of a bummer, especially after the movie’s triumphant ending, with its emphasis on bonding and friendship. It’s pretty sad to be Deric, thinking he’s part of a team when that team couldn’t even be bothered to tell him they were leaving. Treat your artificial intelligences better, people!

But after the credits, after the animated Pixar Animation Studios logo, after it really seems like everything is over and done with, there’s a split-second shot of the movie’s villain, Zurg, floating lifeless in space… until his red LED eyes suddenly light back up, indicating that he’s still alive, kicking, and ready to come back for the sequel.

What about a Lightyear 2?

Image: Pixar Animation Studios

Good question! It’s early to ask that — it may depend on how the film does at the box office — but it sure seems like LightyearIt’s setting yourself up for one. Not because Zurg is still out there, but because the ending is so clearly framed as “Now that all the main characters have learned their lessons about confidence, teamwork, and living in the moment, the real adventures can begin!” When Buzz, Izzy, Mo, and Darby blast off for their first mission as newly empowered Space Rangers, there’s a sense that their real story is just beginning.

Asked whether Pixar is planning a follow-up, producer Galyn Susman told Polygon, “We haven’t closed the door on it. And yeah, after a few weeks of sleep, we’ll discuss it further.” Director Angus MacLane implied there’s a lot more of Buzz Lightyear’s story to be told: “We don’t go into his academy years so much, and we don’t go into the adventures after it. But it’s certainly open-ended enough [for spinoffs].”

Are you referring to Lightyear as a prequel or sequel to Buzz Lightyear: Star Command?

Image: Walt Disney Television Animation

Polygon hears from MacLane about the animated 2000 series Buzz Lightyear, Star CommandThe movie that started it all is not related to the film. Lightyear. He compares them to Star Wars’ animated Star Wars series from 1980. Ewoks And Droids, non-canon series that draw on the same mythos as the Star Wars films, but don’t take place in the same continuity. So he and others at Disney don’t need to tie any potential Lightyear This story has many more details about the battle against Zurg and its spinoffs. He’s free to chart his own course for future Lightyear sequels, which could potentially head to infinity… and beyond.

LightyearPrequels and sequels could come in many forms. Disney Plus was launched in 2012, and Disney is now doing more TV spinoffs for Pixar projects. UpSeries of -related Shorts Days of DiggingTo the micro-shorts Collection Pixar PopcornAll-on Monsters, Inc. sequel series Monsters at Work. There’s a Autos TV series, and an original Pixar TV show are in production. Lightyear’s ending seems particularly well suited for a space-series approach, with Buzz and his Rangers traveling from planet to planet, encountering new life and new civilizations, boldly going where etc., etc., you know the drill.

But given Pixar’s tendency to franchise its more successful outings — four Toy Story movies and three Cars movies so far, with The Amazings, Finding NemoAnd Monsters, Inc. all getting spinoff movies as well — Lightyear It could also be a stage play. You have the option of a single clash with Zurg or several.

Buzz does not have the power source Zurg is looking for, so it’s unclear what Zurg might want from Buzz. Maybe the story just becomes “Zurg tries to get his perfect power source from a bunch of different colonies and alien civilizations, and the Space Rangers try to stop him.” Or maybe, like Buzz, Zurg decides to start living in the present, and just focus on becoming the kind of tyrannical warlord — and emperor! — he was in the animated series.

Is there a scene in Top Gun: Maverick’s post-credits?

Nope!