Emperor Zurg Costume
Conquer the galaxy in the ultimate Toy Story villain look.
Emperor Zurg is the iconic, purple-armored arch-nemesis of Buzz Lightyear from Pixar's Toy Story franchise. This costume is a popular choice for Disney fans, villains-themed parties, and group cosplays. The look consists of a long purple robe, a dramatic black and red cape, flared silver cuffs, and his signature horned helmet with glowing red eyes.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $60–150
Try it on
See yourself as Emperor Zurg
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Emperor Zurg costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Emperor Zurg costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Purple robe
A floor-length, long-sleeved deep purple robe or tunic made of jersey or polyester fabric.
DIY: Dye a long-sleeved white maxi dress or oversized robe deep purple.
Black and red cape
A satin cape that is black on the outside and lined with vibrant red fabric on the inside, featuring a high collar.
DIY: Sew red satin lining inside a standard black costume cape.
Zurg helmet mask
A full-head purple and silver helmet with neon yellow mouth detailing and silver horns.
DIY: Modify a purple bucket or construction helmet using EVA foam for the silver horns and yellow mesh for the mouth.
Flared silver gloves
Grey or silver gauntlet-style gloves with wide, flared cuffs.
DIY: Attach flared silver craft foam cuffs to the wrists of grey fabric gloves.
Silver chest plate with Z emblem
A silver chest overlay featuring Zurg's signature red 'Z' logo in the center.
DIY: Cut a chest plate shape out of silver metallic poster board and paint a red 'Z' in the center.
Balaclava hood
A lightweight black balaclava to cover the neck and hair beneath the helmet.
DIY: Use a black fabric tube scarf or neck gaiter pulled up over the head.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Emperor Zurg costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black balaclava hood to completely cover your hair and neck.
- 2
Slip on the long purple robe, ensuring it falls close to the floor.
- 3
Attach the silver chest plate over the chest area of the robe.
- 4
Fasten the black and red satin cape securely around your shoulders.
- 5
Pull on the flared silver gauntlet gloves over your forearms.
- 6
Place the Zurg helmet mask over your head, adjusting it for visibility.
- 7
Optionally, carry a toy green and purple ion blaster to complete the look.
Makeup & hair
No makeup or hair styling is required, as the black balaclava and full-face Zurg helmet completely conceal your head and neck.
Emperor Zurg for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Buzz Lightyear as his ultimate rival (or father, depending on which movie you ask).
- group
- Create a Toy Story group with Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, and a few green Aliens.
- kids
- Available as a padded deluxe jumpsuit with a lightweight plastic half-mask.
- Plus size
- Look for a loose-fitting purple tunic or robe, which offers a comfortable, adjustable fit for all body types.
- pet
- Dress a pet as a green Toy Story Alien or a mini Buzz Lightyear to accompany you.
Tips
- Ensure the mask has adequate ventilation and eye slits before wearing it to crowded nighttime events.
- Wear comfortable black shoes or boots underneath, as the long robe will cover most of your feet.
- If DIYing, use lightweight EVA foam to construct the shoulder armor and helmet horns to keep the costume comfortable.
Emperor Zurg costume FAQ
- What are the main colors of Emperor Zurg's costume?
- The costume is primarily deep purple, accented with a black cape lined in red, silver/grey gauntlets, and a silver chest emblem with a red 'Z'.
- How do you make a DIY Zurg helmet?
- You can build a DIY helmet using a purple bucket or EVA foam, adding silver craft foam for the horns, yellow mesh for the mouth grill, and red LEDs for the eyes.
- Is Emperor Zurg's cape attached to the robe?
- In official costume sets, the cape usually detaches via hook-and-loop fasteners at the shoulders, but you can also use a standalone black cape with a red lining.
Did you know? Zurg's design was heavily inspired by Darth Vader, which makes his famous 'I am your father' line to Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 2 a direct parody of Star Wars.