The Christmas Toy

A stuffed tiger named Rugby was a little girl's Christmas toy last year. Wanting to relive that experience, he intends to sneak into the box of this year's Christmas toy and replace it. His toy friends try to stop him before he's seen by a person. If people see the toys when they're moving around, the toys will be frozen forever.

This is a delightful Christmas special from Jim Henson with Kermit appearing at the beginning and end. Some good songs (and one not so good near the beginning) with absolutely charming characters and a lovely story. As other reviewers have mentioned, there's an obvious similarity between this and Toy Story. This is something Muppets fans or fans of great old Christmas TV specials will certainly appreciate.

Fans of Jim Henson, like me, will simply love The Christmas Toy. I love Christmas, toys and Jim Henson's work so The Christmas Toy was a perfect treat.

The visuals are splendid, right from the camera work, the toys themselves, the set design and the colours. The music delights too, with hummable melodies and lyrics that really sparkle with wit, freshness and poignancy.

Story-wise, The Christmas Toy has lots of charm and heart, and succeeds in appealing to children and adults. The writing has a perfect balance of humour and sentiment without overdoing either.

Might I also mention how adorable the characters are and how consistently good the voice work is from everybody? Overall, a jewel that anybody would love, albeit sadly underrated. 10/10 Bethany Cox

On Xmas Eve 1986 I saw the first 10 minutes of this special but I had to go out and I missed the rest of it. The idea of toys coming alive might not seem like such a new idea in post-Toy Story world, but since this is live-action, and uses the talents of Jim Henson, I'd prefer this over the Pixar behemoth.

The story is virtually identical to Toy Story, with toy boss Rugby (a stuffed lion) not too keen on his rule being usurped by the imminent unwrapping of this year's present. The Christmas Toy has a new edge though in that if the humans catch them out of their reset position they remain frozen forever.

It's shot and lit in a magical way though it goes on just a bit too long. I am still glad I finally managed to figure out what exactly it was, it only took me 27 years.

This is a great movie I always enjoyed as a kid watching every Christmas. I was only four when the movie came out but my parents taped it and we watched it every year after that point. My sister now has my parents copy and she watches it with her children. My niece loves it. It is a great Christmas movie for all ages. I wish they would re-release it on DVD. I love the movie and want a new copy of it. I looked for it on amazon and someone was trying to sell a used VHS copy for $100. I could not believe it. I would prefer it on DVD due to VHS tape not working after time. I would even enjoy seeing it on TV again. This is a movie to share with generations to come. Animation of the past shared with the future.

Two reviewers have already mentioned 'Toy Story'. I can't help but wonder if John Lassetter had seen this special before he made that movie. This isn't in any way to take away from the genius of either Henson or Lassetter, both of whom have been named as latter day Disneys, a sentiment I agree with.

There are some intriguing similarities:

1 - The overall idea of toys coming alive.

2 - The theme of a toy being replaced in a child's affections and how the toy might feel.

3 - Toys to the rescue!

4 - A science-fictional toy believing they are real. Can't you just see Meteora and Buzz Lightyear hooking up?!