YMMV / The Christmas Toy

• Fridge Brilliance: We can presume that the toys get their names from their owners, right? Cats say "Mew", so maybe that's how Mew got his name. It would also explain why the second cat toy that the cat receives at the end is named "Mew" as well.
• Heartwarming Moments:
  • When Mew is brought back to life after being frozen, thanks to the song Rugby was singing. You'll never be happier for a Deus ex Machina in your life.
  • Likewise, when Ditz and the other frozen toys are brought back to life as well.
  • Kermit joining the toys in singing "Together at Christmas" at the end.
  • "I love you Meterora, forever and forever. Just like I love all my toys. I love you Apple. I love you Rugby."
  • The whole ending ends up being incredibly touching and moving due to the above examples and the song being sung by the whole group. Especially with Meteroa joining in first thing and being immediately accepted in and seeming perfectly happy despite her behavior and attitude earlier, as well as how stylistically different she is from all the other toys.
• He Really Can Act: Dave Goelz, who at this point mainly did comedic characters like Gonzo (and would eventually be able to show off his acting skills as THAT character, too!), delivers a genuinely heartfelt performance as Rugby when he's talking to the frozen Mew.
• Hilarious in Hindsight:
  • The mouse toy is named Mew. On Christmas, the cat gets another mouse toy, and she says "I'm Mew too." Even more amusing since the younger children are named Jamie and Jesse, quite similar to Team Rocket's James and Jessie.
  • Mew is eerily similar to Tutter.
• Ho Yay: Rugby brings Mew back to life by telling him, in song, that he loves him. Rugby's actions towards Mew up until this point can be interpreted as him being a Tsundere or Loving Bully of sorts.
• Moe: Apple and Mew are precious.
• Moment of Awesome: Mew's imitation of the cat.
  Apple: Mew, that was fantastic!
  Rugby: That was pretty good.
  Mew: (timidly) For a cat toy?
  Rugby: For any toy.
• Nightmare Fuel:
  • The frozen forever concept and Ditz's death in particular.
  • The scene where Rugby, Apple, Mew, and a few other toys are about to be discovered by the children's father is extremely tense. Thank goodness for Mew's quick thinking!
• Older Than They Think: You may think many of the main plot points are ripoffs of Toy Story until you realize this predates Toy Story by nearly a decade.
• Padding: The scene where Jamie unwraps Rugby, spins him around, and gives him a hug is cute and all, but did we really need to see it three times??
• Retroactive Recognition: Little Jamie's actress Marsha Moreau went on to become the first voice of Madeline and the voice of Flora in Babar: The Movie.
• Tear Jerker:
  • Apple's version of last Christmas.
  • Rugby's conversation with the frozen Mew. And when he starts singing "Old Friends"... we're not crying, you're crying!
  • The "Old Friends, New Friends" ending song is so beautiful and heartwarming, it can move one to tears. Believe us, it can.
• The Woobie: Poor little Mew. You just want to hug him... if he didn't smell so weird. He even gets frozen for his troubles, though thankfully Rugby is able to bring the little guy back to life.

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