The Great Toy Robbery

The library ran this movie every Christmas. Such a wonderful childhood memory. I bought the movie when my kids were little to continue the tradition. If I ever get grandkids I will continue the Christmas morning tradition to a 3rd generation.

I first saw this cartoon in 3rd grade in 1973 as part of a Christmas assembly in the school gymnasium, and I have been fascinated with it ever since. It would also get played on TV on Christmas mornings by one of the local affiliates for a few years, and I would study the film, completely transfixed with the story of the Wild West robbers who steal Santa Claus' sack. And then, one Christmas, "The Great Toy Robbery" disappeared from my life...

This is one of the funniest, most lovable and satisfying cartoons I have ever seen (and my animated experience is considerable). From the perspective of the American "sensibility", there is something decidedly off-kilter about a lot of Canadian animated films. The pace and timing can often seem too ponderous, too slow for American eyes, and this film is no exception. It could be the reason it has never really caught on here. But it is the pace of this film that makes it so delightful. Although under seven minutes long, it never hurries, and takes its time with its characters.

I heard that this came out on a Christmas tape a few years back, but by the time I tried to order it, the film seemed to have mysteriously vanished again. Maybe the Film Board of Canada will package it on DVD, not necessarily with other Christmas-related films, but on a set of neglected classics. I know Cartoon Network had their "O, Canada!" show a few years back, and it was a noble effort to promote the country and its animated output, but the network seemed to promote the show as though the title were a back-handed swipe, making it seem like "Look what those crazy Canucks are doing now!", though 90% of the films were far superior to the Seth MacFarlane tripe that they've been pushing on their audience for years.

All in all, a movie ripe for rediscovery...

My family discovered this nugget ten years ago at our local library of all places, and we've played it every year since.

Short and sweet, "The Great Toy Robbery" has all the charms of a great cartoon: it's funny, well-written, well-animated, and just looks plain ridiculous – and that's what works! The animation flows smoothly across the screen, almost mechanically, and adds that extra element of humor in execution alone. The lines are spare, to the point, and the voice actors sound as if they're having a ball.

Now that I've found this film's listing here, I was a little surprised it dates as far back as '63 ... WHERE HAS IT BEEN ALL MY LIFE?

Cheers: Everything.

Caveats: Can't be found anywhere, except me local library!

This is a film sponsored by the National Film Board of Canada, a government agency that gives grants to film makers. While many wonderful cartoons have come out of this organization, there are always some lesser films--this is natural and unavoidable. I would place THE GREAT TOY ROBBERY in this lesser films category. The animation style is very simple, the frame-rate is low and the cartoon is very much a product of the times--the 1960s was an era of very cheaply made cartoons and the glory days of MGM, Disney and Warner Brothers were over--at least for now.

The film is about a gang in the old west that kidnap Santa and take all his toys. Later, a hero rides into town, beats up the gang and frees Santa. None of it is spectacular and I was left feeling very indifferent to the film.

Just discovered this quite funny animated short from Warren Leonhardt on his blog as linked from The National Film Board of Canada site. It takes place in the Old West with a cowboy, some robbers, and Santa Claus. Oh, and some toys. It takes a while but the way the gags are timed, you just can't help double up with laughter at how sudden some movements are and the way the whole thing is executed. Kudos go to director/co-animator Jeffrey Hale, Derek Lamb who did the storyboard and design, Don Douglas for the cool music, and Richard Gilbert for the voices. Oh, and I loved the way that horse doesn't always listen to the cowboy's commands! So on that note, I highly recommend The Great Toy Robbery.