Before TOY STORY, Jim Henson Made a Toy Story Christmas Spiecal That Brought Toys To Life
Years before Toy Story convinced audiences that toys had secret lives, Jim Henson was already telling that story in his own weird, heartfelt way.
Back in 1986, Henson produced a Christmas television special called The Christmas Toy, and it leaned hard into the idea that toys absolutely spring to life the moment humans leave the room.
Set almost entirely inside a child’s bedroom, the special follows a group of toys on Christmas Eve as they sing, bicker, model their outfits, and wrestle with the existential weight of being played with or forgotten.
The story centers on Rugby the Tiger, performed by Dave Goelz, a plush hero who’s very aware that Christmas morning could change everything. With a new toy on the way, Rugby becomes determined to hold onto his place as the favorite, even if that means making some questionable choices along the way.
The story feels familiar now, and Toy Story was clearly inspired by it, but at the time it was pure Henson magic, mixing humor, anxiety, and charm into something that felt oddly profound for a kids’ holiday special.
The video comes with a note that sums up the story: “If they can't play with girls and boys, then it only makes sense for toys to play with toys.
“The toys in the playroom of the Jones household magically come to life when their owners aren't looking. On Christmas Eve, as the toys eagerly await the arrival of a new toy, Rugby the tiger plots to make sure he remains the favorite toy.”
If you ‘ve never seen this, you can watch a clip and the full special below.