Nostalgia Alert! Back in 1987, Jim Henson studios made The Christmas Toy, a live action Muppet TV feature starring new Muppets with very recognizable voice actors. The best part of re-watching the special was trying to identify which Muppets shared voices. Hint: Rugby the Tiger is voiced by Dave Goelz, who also brought Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew & Zoot to life. The next best game is identifying similarities with the plotline of Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story. The premise to The Christmas Toy is that Rugby the Tiger doesn’t like the idea of being replaced as the favorite toy by a shiny new toy who thinks he’s an action hero. This leads the toys to go on an adventure, with a few song breaks in between. While this is strikingly similar to Toy Story (even though it’s 1987 release date makes this film perhaps a source of inspiration for Pixar) it still has plenty of its own charms for kids to enjoy. Also, due to legal issues, scenes featuring the famous Kermit the Frog have been edited out of this DVD release.

The Christmas Toy was a staple on TV in the 80’s and 90’s and if you remember watching this on Christmas eve back then, grab the DVD which has finally become available for home viewing. You may also remember the TV series that was launched from this film called “The Secret Lives of Toys” and aired from 1994-1996. I remember enjoying the special as a child and it was really interesting to see it again as an adult. In typical Henson style, it is full of timeless moments that aged well. Now I have to re-watch The Muppet Christmas Carol along with my favorite Muppet film, The Muppets Take Manhattan, which is appropriate for all seasons.

The transfer of The Christmas Toy is surprisingly pretty crisp considering that it was made for television twenty years ago and would hold up well against some of today’s puppet-based kids entertainment. The DVD itself was made for kids so there are no features or menus. I guess this is a good thing, considering that if your kid puts the DVD in the tray it will play immediately without pressing any buttons. The film will also replay when it finishes, satisfying those kids who enjoy repetition. The casing has a nice slip cover, although the classic cover has been changed since it originally had Kermit featured prominently and he has since been edited from this version of the film.

DVD Specifics
Aspect Ratio: Full Screen
Running Time: 48 minutes
Audio: 2.0 Dolby Digital
Closed Captioned: English
Target Age: 2 through 8

Awards: 1987 Golden Hugo Award for Children’s Programming, Nominated for the Outstanding Children’s Program Emmy