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#REDIRECT [[List of VeggieTales videos#The Toy That Saved Christmas .281996.29]]
{{no footnotes|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox film
| name = The Toy That Saved Christmas
| image = veggietales_dvd_toy2.jpg
| caption = The 2002 ''[[VeggieTales]] Classics'' DVD.
| writer = Phil Vischer
| director = [[Phil Vischer]]<br />Chris Olsen
| producer = Chris Olsen
| studio = [[Big Idea Productions|Big Idea, Inc.]]
| distributor = [[Word Entertainment|Word]] (with the new animation)<br />[[Warner Home Video]]<br />[[Lyrick Studios]] (with the old animation)
| starring = Phil Vischer<br>[[Mike Nawrocki]]<br>Lisa Vischer<br>Kristin Blegen<br>[[Dan Anderson (voice actor)|Dan Anderson]]<br>Ken Cavanagh<br>Shelby Vischer<br>Bridget Miller
| editing = Mike Nawrocki
| music = [[Kurt Heinecke]]<br />Phil Vischer<br />Mike Nawrocki<br />Alan Moore<br />Jason Moore
| released = {{start date|1996|10|29}} (Old Animation Version)<br>{{start date|1998|10|6}} (New Animation Version
| runtime = 33 minutes 26 seconds
| language = English
⚫
}}
'''''The Toy That Saved Christmas''''' is the sixth episode of the ''[[VeggieTales]]'' animated series and the first holiday special in that series. This video has been released in 1996 on VHS and distributed by Word. In 1998, Lyrick Studios has re-released the program on VHS with the old animation and the new animation. Unlike its predecessors it does not feature an opening/closing countertop. Like the other holiday episodes, it also has no "A Lesson In…" subtitle.


== Plot ==
The opening sequence features the Veggies at a theater filming "The VeggieTales Christmas Spectacular" in their "first ever" network broadcast. Entertainment includes [[Junior Asparagus]] in the [[Holy Land]] singing "While By My Sheep" and [[Archibald Asparagus]] singing "[[Kling Glöckchen|Ring, Little Bell]]" (with help from [[Larry the Cucumber]]) while [[Bob the Tomato]], [[Pa Grape]], and others search for the feature film that the Veggies had planned on showing. Just when the network is about to cancel them in favor of ''[[Bonanza]]'', the film can is finally located by [[List of VeggieTales characters#Jimmy and Jerry Gourd|Jimmy and Jerry Gourd]] (who mistook it for a pizza) and the episode begins.


The main story opens with [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Green Onions|Grandpa George]] (this time parodying the role of S. D. Kluger from ''[[Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (film)|Santa Claus is Comin' to Town]]'') telling a bedtime story to his granddaughter [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Green Onions|Annie]] about Wally P. Nezzer ([[List of VeggieTales characters#Mr. Nezzer|Mr. Nezzer]]), the owner of a toy company, who is spreading the word via television commercial about his newest toyline, “[[List of VeggieTales characters#Buzz-Saw Louie|Buzz-Saw Louie]]”, the only toy featuring an actual working buzz saw built into his right arm and a trigger in his nose that makes him tell kids to get more toys. After seeing the commercial, the previously content kids of Dinkletown begin whining to their parents about wanting more toys. Mr. Nezzer explains to his assistant ([[List of VeggieTales characters#Mr. Lunt|Mr. Lunt]]) that this is a strategy to create demand for his toys, which will result in him making lots of money. As many Buzz-Saw Louie dolls roll off the production line, one of them inexplicibly comes to life. That night, Louie wonders if there's more to Christmas than materialistic greed and escapes the factory to find [[the true meaning of Christmas]].


{{Redirect category shell|
The story is interrupted by a [[Silly Songs with Larry|Silly Song]] entitled "Oh Santa!" Larry is staying up late awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, eager to give him some home-made cookies. Instead of Santa, however, he is visited first by a bank robber ([[List of VeggieTales characters#Scallion #1|Scallion #1]]), then by a Viking (Pa Grape), and finally by an agent of the IRS (played by [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Peach|The Peach]]). All the visitors are invited into Larry's house and get a cookie (except for the IRS agent). Santa (Bob) finally shows up, but rather than being jolly, he angrily chases after the bank robber and the Viking for stealing his belt and hat.
{{R from television episode|VeggieTales}}

{{R to section}}
On Christmas Eve, while most of the kids are filled with a mad desire for the new toy, Larry, Bob, and Junior go sledding. They happen upon the escaped Louie, who explains his story and asks the Veggies for help. Bob suggests that they go see Grandpa George who reads the [[Nativity of Jesus]] from [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] Chapter 2: verses 8-14. In this, George explains to the group that the true meaning of Christmas is not to get, but to give, the way God gave us Jesus, the greatest gift of all. The kids are heartened by the news, but puzzle about how to tell the rest of the Veggies before Christmas Day.
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}}

Bob, Larry, Junior and Louie decide to sneak into Mr. Nezzer’s toy factory and use his television studio to broadcast a message of the true meaning of Christmas to all the surrounding towns. The plan is a huge success, except that Mr. Nezzer discovers the group and decides to get rid of them by tying them to a sled and sending into a deep ravine when the families of Dinkletown intervene. [[List of VeggieTales characters#Laura and the Carrots|Laura Carrot]] shows Mr. Nezzer kindness by giving him a gift and he quickly repents the errors of his ways. However, the sled with Bob, Larry, Junior, and Louie is accidentally sent on its fateful course. A chase soon ensues in which Mr. Nezzer and a half dozen of his penguin workers attempt to save the doomed Veggies. The tables turn, however, when Louie is able to divert the sled’s course, leaving Mr. Nezzer alone racing toward the ravine. Louie again springs into action and the penguins and Veggies are able to save Mr. Nezzer just as he is about to plummet to certain death. The story concludes with everybody in Dinkletown, including Mr. Nezzer, getting together to celebrate a Christmas party. Next-door to the party, Buzz-Saw Louie is hard at work in his new house, putting the buzz-saw for good use making furniture.

Back in the theatre, Bob learns from Pa Grape that the network apparently didn't watch their special (Pa hints that they were watching [[Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special)|the Rudolph special]] instead). Regardless, he closes out with his usual line, "God made you special and he loves you very much".

== Cast of Characters ==

===VeggieTales Christmas Spectacular===
* Mr. Nezzer as the announcer
* Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber as the hosts
* Pa Grape as the director
* Junior Asparagus singing "While By My Sheep"
* Jimmy and Jerry Gourd as stage crew
* Archibald Asparagus singing "Ring, Little Bells"

=== Oh, Santa! ===
* [[Larry the Cucumber]] as himself
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Scallions|Scallion #1]] as a bank robber
* [[Pa Grape]] as a Viking
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Peach|The Peach]] as an IRS agent
* [[Bob the Tomato]] as Santa Claus

===The Toy that Saved Christmas===
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Green Onions|Grandpa George]] as the narrator and mailman
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Green Onions|Annie]] as George's granddaughter (debut)
* [[Bob the Tomato]] as himself
* [[Larry the Cucumber]] as himself
* [[Junior Asparagus]] as himself
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#Dad and Mom Asparagus|Dad Asparagus]] as himself
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#Dad and Mom Asparagus|Mom Asparagus]] as herself
* [[Mr. Nezzer]] as Wally P. Nezzer
* [[Mr. Lunt]] as Mr. Nezzer's assistant
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#Buzz Saw Louie|Buzz Saw Louie]] as himself (debut)
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Carrots|Laura Carrot]] as herself
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Carrots|Lenny Carrot]] as himself
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Carrots|Dad Carrot]] as himself
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Carrots|Mom Carrot]] as herself (debut Cameo)
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Carrots|Baby Lou]] as himself (debut Cameo)
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Peas|Dad Pea]] as himself (debut)
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Peas|Mom Pea]] as herself (debut Cameo)
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Peas|Percy Pea]] as himself (debut)
* [[List of VeggieTales characters#The Peas|Li'l Pea]] as himself (debut)
* The Penguins as themselves

== Songs ==
Due to the format of the show, this episode does not contain the usual "VeggieTales Theme Song" and "What We Have Learned", although the "VeggieTales Theme" is still present. It also contains the following songs:

* ''Can't Believe It's Christmas'', sung by Junior, Laura, Lenny, Percy, and Li'l Pea
* ''Grumpy Kids'', sung by Buzz-Saw Louie
* ''Oh, Santa!'' (Silly Song), sung by Larry, Bob, Scallion #1, and Pa Grape

===In the VeggieTales Christmas Spectacular special===

*''While By My Sheep'', Sung by Junior Asparagus (Lisa Vischer)
*''[[Kling Glöckchen|Kling Glöckchen/Ring Little Bells!]]'' Archibald Asparagus (Phil Vischer) and Larry the Cucumber (Mike Nawrocki)

==External links==
*[http://bigidea.com/products/shows/shows_content.aspx?pid=28 Official Website]
*[http://www.tbn.org/index.php/2/4/p/412.html Airtime Listing on TBN]
*[http://www.qubo.com/veggie_show.asp Veggietales at Qubo.com]
*[http://www.darrenandchristy.com/veggie/classic/index.html Ultimate Veggie] {{dead link|date=October 2012}}
* {{IMDb title|0284614|The Toy that Saved Christmas}}

{{VeggieTales}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toy That Saved Christmas, The}}
[[Category:VeggieTales episodes]]
[[Category:Christmas television episodes]]
[[Category:1996 films]]
[[Category:1998 in American television]]

Latest revision as of 02:58, 25 July 2023

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