Common Questions

Q What happened to the puppets?
A Shortly after Rudolph was completed, the puppets were taken home by a Rankin-Bass employee. She gave them to her children, who fed Rudolph crayons and red Play-Doh. Over time, his glowing red nose was lost and his felt fur deteriorated. Santa’s fluffy white eyebrows and half his mustache vanished. In 2005, the nephew of the original rescuer found the puppets in a family attic. Santa and Rudolph were intact, but other characters (like Sam the Snowman and Yukon Cornelius) were melted together and discarded. After Santa and Rudolph being sold to Kevin A. Kriess, the president of TimeandSpaceToys.com, they were restored by another stop-motion studio, Screen Novelties. They have since traveled to museums, puppet shows, and local news stations to be shared.

Q Why is the misfit doll a misfit?
A The original script never explained why the misfit doll is a misfit. Arthur Rankin of Rankin-Bass says that her problem is psychological. In fact, the misfit doll isn't even mentioned in the first draft of the movie script.

Q Is it Herbie or Hermey?
A Although "Herbie" is used a few times in the movie, HERMEY is the official spelling.

Q Why does the chief elf's voice change just before the elves sing for Santa?
A It has not been determined why that was done, but it is assumed that the Canadian voice talent that was used for the special was not available for last minute changes when it was redubbed in the US.

Q Why doesn't the "Bird that Doesn't Fly" get an umbrella to float down like the other toys in the end credits?
A If you look hard, the misfit bird appears to be making a flying motion which leads the viewer to believe that the bird always could fly.