The series is a spin-off of Pixar's Toy Story franchise, expanding on the toy character Buzz Lightyear into a Star Wars-style science fiction setting with the Galactic Alliance and Star Command.

Although Tim Allen originated the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story films, Patrick Warburton took over the role for the television series, while Allen only voiced Buzz in the direct-to-video pilot film.

The show was preceded by the direct-to-video film Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, which was later split up and aired as three separate episodes of the series.

Although the series itself is 2D animated, Pixar was brought in specifically to animate the CGI opening title sequence.

In May 2000, Walt Disney Television Animation announced 65 episodes for that fall, with 52 airing on UPN's Disney's One Too block and 13 airing on ABC's Disney's One Saturday Morning.

Animation for the series was outsourced to multiple international studios, including Tama Productions, Sunwoo Entertainment, Sunmin Image Pictures, Sae Hahn Productions, Hana Animation, Jade Animation, Wang Film Productions and Toon City.

Two episodes, 'Conspiracy' and 'Inside Job', were rarely aired after the September 11 attacks due to their subject matter.

The series won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2001 for Outstanding Sound Editing - Special Class.

The villain NOS-4-A2, a robotic vampire who can drain electricity, has a name that is a parody of Nosferatu.