"To infinity and beyond" transcends Buzz Lightyear. It even transcends "Toy Story." The phrase has practically leapt off the screen to become an unofficial motto for Pixar. "Lightyear" was obviously going to make use of it — but the writers did find a nice way to subvert expectations.
Throughout the film, Buzz doesn't say the entire line on his own. Rather, it becomes part of a call-and-response ritual between teammates. Buzz or Hawthorne will say one half of the line and hold out a finger, and the other person will complete the phrase with "...and beyond." They then touch fingers, metaphorically joining the two halves of the catchphrase.
When Buzz teams up with Hawthorne's granddaughter, Izzy, he makes an attempt to perform the same ritual with her, but the gesture doesn't land. It isn't until the end of the film that Izzy and Buzz complete the line together. That's right, Pixar found a new way to give us chills with a line that's now old enough to drink.
We're not crying — you're crying!
