The Christmas Toy
The Christmas Toy is a 1986 television film, directed by Eric Till and produced by The Jim Henson Company, featuring Jim Henson's Muppets, including Rugby the Tiger who remembers how he was the Christmas Toy last year, and thinks he's going to be unwrapped again this year. The film, which originally aired on December 6, 1986 on ABC, was sponsored by Kraft Foods.[1]
| The Christmas Toy | |
|---|---|
 The Christmas Toy VHS cover | |
| Genre | Family Fantasy Musical |
| Written by | Laura Phillips |
| Directed by | Eric Till |
| Starring | Dave Goelz Steve Whitmire Kathryn Mullen Jerry Nelson Richard Hunt Camille Bonora Steve Nallon |
| Music by | Jeff Moss Dick Lieb |
| Country of origin | United States United kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Diana Birkenfield |
| Producer(s) | Jim Henson Martin G. Baker |
| Production location(s) | Toronto |
| Editor(s) | Geoff Craigen |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Henson Associates |
| Distributor | ABC ITV |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC ITV |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release |
|
Originally introduced by Kermit The Frog, it was released on VHS format in 1993. In 2008, HIT Entertainment (distributed by Lionsgate) released the special on DVD, but edited out Kermit's opening introduction due to legal issues with Disney.
The film later inspired a spin-off television series called Secret Life of Toys.[2]
Plot
When no people are around, the toys still play in the playroom. But since a toy will be frozen forever if a person catches it out of position, they have to be very careful. It's Christmas Eve, and Rugby the Tiger remembers how he was the favorite Christmas toy last year and wants to be the favorite again this year, not be replaced by another toy. However, he does not realize that if Jamie unwrapped him again this year, she would see him out of his normal place that she usually puts him and he'd be frozen forever. Mew, the cat's toy mouse, follows him out of the playroom to help him after informing the other toys that Rugby left.
Meanwhile, Apple the Doll, whom Rugby supplanted as favorite toy, leads a group of toys out of the playroom to rescue Rugby. Once they meet up with him in the living room, Apple tries to tell him what Christmas is really about. But Rugby refuses to believe her, and tries to get into the Christmas package and lets loose Meteora, Queen of the Asteroids, who does not know she is a toy, and thinks she has landed among aliens. The other toys must get Rugby out of the box and Meteora back in it before they are found and frozen forever.
But Mew is caught, and frozen. Only then does Rugby realize what a good friend Mew has been to him, and how selfishly he has been acting. Rugby sings, telling Mew how much he cares for him. This brings Mew back to life, and then the other toys also know how to revive their other frozen friends.[3]
On the morning of Christmas Day, Jamie and Jessie enjoy their new toys alongside their current toys. While the kids are away, the toys sing "Together at Christmas." Kermit joins in at the end of the special.
Featured cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Marsha Moreau | Jamie |
| Zachary Bennett | Jesse |
| Jane Fisher and Susan Hart | Natalie the Cowgirl Doll |
| Diana Birkenfield | Mom |
Muppet performers
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Dave Goelz and Ian Allen | Rugby Tiger, Ditz (played by John Thirtle) |
| Steve Whitmire and Nigel Plaskitt | Mew (played by Heather Tobias), Dauntless Dragon |
| Kathryn Mullen and Louise Gold | Apple |
| Jerry Nelson and Steve Nallon | Balthazar |
| Richard Hunt and John Thirtle | Belmont |
| Camille Bonora and Heather Tobias | Meteora, Molly (voice) |
| Brian Henson and Francis Wright | Cruiser |
| Rob Mills | Bleep |
| Nikki Tilroe and Sue Dacre | Ding-a-ling |
| Jim Henson | Jack-in-the-Box (played by John Thirtle), Kermit the Frog (uncredited) |
References
- "A Sleighful Of Christmas Specials". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- "TV REVIEWS : Muppets Come to Life in 'Toys'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- The Christmas Toy presents the darkest holiday of Jim Henson's career The AV Club retrieved 2014-11-15