Der tapfere kleine Toaster

I saw this for the first time when I was four or five, and I've loved every second since. It's more than a kids' movie; it's actually incredibly funny and insightful. (My mom started cracking up when she heard the 'They couldn't. I lied' part when I was watching it last week.) Great work from the entire cast, great animation, great script, great, well, great everything.

Having seemingly been abandoned in their country cottage by their owner, five small household appliances (radio, lamp, blanket, vacuum cleaner, and toaster) set out cross-country on a journey to find their master, a young boy. Along the way, the five appliances encounter various adventures and trials, like a waterfall, a pond with frogs, and a fat little repairman.

In the transference of human emotion to everyday objects, the story's theme is the yearning to be included, to be relevant, to be needed and loved. The five adventurers display varying human traits. Radio is the most verbal, and something of a comic. Blanket is a tad snugly and sentimental. Kirby the vacuum cleaner is proud and brave. Lamp is "light"-hearted and upbeat. Toaster seems the most ... "grounded" with common sense.

The film makes these low-tech appliances sympathetic and heroic. But contrast, the "cutting-edge" electronics are portrayed as mean and possibly deceptive. I wouldn't disagree with that.

Color visuals are fine. Animation is acceptable. Even though the lyrics to some of the songs are hard to understand, I like the soundtrack, especially "Trutti-Frutti", "B-Movie Show", and "Mammy". I don't quite understand the rationale for including multiple references to Roosevelt. And radio is forever referring to past historical events. I'm not sure why.

Entirely appropriate for kids, "The Brave Little Toaster" works for adults too, mostly through its all-too-human emotional themes, and as a pleasant change from real-life actors, their dramas, and their careers.

I have not watched this movie in over ten years but I still remember almost every scene with great accuracy. This movie entertained me till no end. It's hard to find one person who did not watch this movie as a child and even harder to find one that disliked it.

This is a wonderful movie.

I still get the song "Tooty Fruity" stuck in my head and think of the little toaster sliding down the rail. I hope to find my old copy and watch it again. Its movies like this one that make my childhood seem so fun and innocent.

This movie gets a ten out of ten for originality and for its obvious impact. If I were to name my favorite movie from my childhood this would be it.

Really a good, underappreciated gem to be honest, I liked its quest, its dark side, the 'Incredible Journey' of Household appliances could Not have been done better, I think. My nephews have watched this and love it. Gotta like the vacuum cleaner and the scenes in the woods.

*** outta ****

I remember early one morning as an eight-year-old, I caught this film on ITV and thought it was really good, and guess what? More than ten years later, I still do.

Shown on Channel 4 this morning on half-term week, it's more than meets the eye. Toaster, Lamp, Blankie, Hoover and Radio(I think) all go on an adventure to find their master, who appears to have abandoned them in his old childhood cottage.

It seems like this is like an 80s Toy Story or something, only with the appliances coming to life, and having their own personalities. Like Toy Story, it has a good plot and likable characters.

Sure, it has it's dark moments, so parents of young children should take note and check beforehand, but honestly, it only adds to the excitement of the film, and makes you actually care about the characters.

The animation may seem quite dated now, but the story in itself is timeless. This is definitely one to keep for generations to come.