Toy OTD: Enesco Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Figurine: "Jingle, Jingle, Jingle, You Will Hear My Sleigh Bells Ring" (2000)

Since it's Christmas today, I thought I'd write about one of Enesco's adorable Rankin-Bass figurines. Of course, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the most famous (and arguably the most popular) of the R-B specials, so there's been plenty of Rudolph merchandise available over the last ten years or so!

Here's another great piece from the line, depicting young Rudolph playing with a halter of sleigh bells as Santa watches. It's a really wonderful sculpt - there's a nice sense of texture, from the felt-like quality to Rudolph's coat, to the fluffy look of Santa's beard, to the grainy snow that makes up the base. The poses can't get too dynamic without becoming very fragile, but there's an effort made here to keep the characters alive. Nothing feels stiff or mechanical, despite the fact the source figures are stop-motion puppets. Heads are slightly tilted, knees are bent, arms are raised to different heights. It captures the feeling of the scene really well without being too literal (actually, this moment took place in the reindeer family's cave).

The paint work is also very good, duplicating the original colors accurately. While the paint apps aren't all that tight, they're executed well enough to keep from feeling sloppy. I could probably do without the glitter mixed into the snow base, but it's only a minor detraction.

Articulation is a non-issue here, since we're talking about a resin figurine, and the 'snow' base strengthens the overall piece while eliminating any balance issues. It's also great that there's no titling or branding on a visible part of the base - all of that is printed on the underside, completely out of view. Nice!

The biggest minus about this line is the packaging. It's a nice concept for the box design - an old-fashioned television set - but the execution is not very strong at all. The artwork is poor, the layout feels uninspired and unfocused, and there's no way to see the figure without opening the package. Many items in this line were available primarily through mail order, so to a degree this makes sense. Still, I think the box designs could've been a bit stronger - after all, it's the first thing you see after opening the shipping box. Plus, collectors often keep the packaging to preserve the piece's value, so it's smart to make it as attractive as possible!

Even though this line has been out for ten years, it's still not difficult or expensive to get some of the pieces. You can get this figurine right now at ecrater.com for $45 + shipping. Happy Holidays!

Toy OTD: Enesco Here Comes Peter Cottontail Figurine: Peter With Colonel Bunny (2000)

Based on the success of their Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer figurines, Enesco ventured deeper into Rankin-Bass territory, producing a line of Here Comes Peter Cottontail merchandise. Whoever is sculpting these characters for the company, it's clear that there's deep love for these specials, as the design accuracy and posing are very strong. Peter's even got the ear droop that happens when he's caught in a lie!

Another great plus is that a matte finish is used in the paint work, which helps to keep the figures looking like the stop-motion puppets. The detailing is very nice, with the occasional wobbliness here and there. The base is worked into the scene well, with no logos or branding. The mono-filament whiskers are a cool touch, too!

The packaging for this line was not very exciting - an Easter grass motif with eggs and the logo. Since I usually wind up recycling most of my toy boxes, it's not a big deal, but these figurines would need to be unpacked to have good shelf presence.

I'm assuming that this line didn't sell well, as I don't think there's been any more Peter merchandise since these were released. In spite of the eight years since its production, you can still buy this item at goantiques.com for $20.50, or from eBay for $13.84. Easter will be here before you know it, so get your decorations today... good luck!

By Popular Demand

A couple more pictures of the Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer mall display. Enjoy!

Photos by Ken Mitchroney, at the Eastridge Mall.

Happy Holidays!

Best wishes to you and yours for a happy holiday season!
From Jeff, Anita, Figaro & Piccolo

Toy OTD: Gemmy Industries Hocus Pocus Plush

Here's a simple beanie-plush from Gemmy's Frosty The Snowman line, I'm assuming that there's two reasons why plastic 'beans' are added to the majority of small plushes - 1) it helps them stay upright; and 2) it lumps them into the Beanie Baby category, which I'm sure helps them sell better. Maybe, anyway - I'm not sure there's any heat left to the beanie craze.

This is a pretty basic toy, but it's a good likeness of the character. The embroidered eyes help preserve some of the original 2-D design. The shapes and texture are nice and straightforward, and there's no gratuitous branding or labeling to clutter it up - a really nice job for the price point.

I can't find this toy for sale online right now, so you'll have to cast your net on eBay and see what turns up. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Memory Lane Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Figure: Boss Elf

Memory Lane has been making our holidays happier for the last few years by making lots of Christmas characters! The Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer line is one of their best, featuring plenty of the Rankin-Bass players.

The boss elf is one of my favorite figures, mainly because he's a secondary character that might not make the cut in other toy lines. I've never figured out why he sports a sixties-jazz goatee, but I think it's amusing.

The sculpt and paint job aren't dazzling, but they're on-model, and quite good for the price point. The hat is removable (I think it's magnetic), and he comes with a misfit toy (the train with the square-wheeled caboose), a baton to conduct the Christmas chorus, and toy-making blueprints. The biggest minuses are that his eyes look a bit glazed over, and the loose hip joints can make standing the figure tricky.

Being the holidays, you can get this figure pretty easily - it's $9.50 + shipping at cosmicclutter.com. If they're out of stock, a Google search should provide you with a ton of other options!

Santa And Rudolph, Good As New!

A while ago, a whole bunch of Rankin-Bass stop motion figures were unwittingly discarded in a company move. These two puppets, kept at (an employee's?) home and used as Christmas decorations for decades, may be the only two left.

The new owner's just had them restored. Bask in their holiday goodness! This almost looks like Santa went to Sears and had their picture taken! Either that, or the yearbook photo place.