The Good: Sculpt, Accurate coloring, Surprisingly light, Good balance
The Bad: Paint job
The Basics: More average than exceptional, the 2015 Misfit Friends Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer ornament is cool, but not overly collectible.
Since getting married, I have had more reason to buy and review a number of Hallmark ornaments that are not genre-related than before. My wife is a fan of a number of Christmas movies and television shows, like Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Following on the heels of the 75th Anniversary tribute ornament (reviewed here!), Hallmark released a Misfit Friends ornament from the popular television special.
For those unfamiliar with The Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, the abominable snowman known as the Bumble befriends Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer while Rudolph is on his journey to save Christmas. It is the Bumble holding Rudolph protectively above the snow that is the subject of the 2015 Misfit Friends ornament.
The Misfit Friends Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer ornament was originally issued at $14.95 and is not in the same scale as the prior year's ornament.
Basics
The "Misfit Friends" ornament recreates the Bumble with Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer as they appeared in the stop-motion animation special The Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. The ornament, released in 2015, is an accurate sculpt of both the Bumble and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. The subjects of the ornament were animated and Nello Williams captured the contours of the characters very well. Measuring just over three inches tall and over two inches wide, the "Misfit Friends" ornament does not play to any specific scale and it does not capture the idea of how massive the Bumble is supposed to be.
The Hallmark "Misfit Friends" ornament is made of durable plastic and has the Bumble carrying Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer in the crook of his left arm. The Bumble has his toothless mouth open and the ornament features such details as Rudolph's scarf and the mats of hair that help define the shaggy look of the abominable snowman creature. The sculpt of the Bumble includes such impressive details as the character's toe- and finger-nails.
The Misfit Friends is colored in simplistic, but solid colors, which are entirely accurate for the characters. The character's fur is white over a gray base that makes it appear deep and shaded. However, on most of the ornaments I found, there were noticeable painting issues; black dots in random places that do not fit the character. As well, the nails are not colored. That said, the eyes on both the Bumble and Rudolph are accurately detailed and painted.
Features
As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, "Misfit Friends" could have a light or sound function, but it does not. The ornament does not have any special function, which makes it troubling that it bears the same price as the prior year's ornament - which had a light function.
Balance
As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake "Misfit Friends" ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Christmas Tree, the "Misfit Friends" ornament is a good addition. The ornament has the standard steel hook loop embedded into the top of the Bumble's head. From that position, the Misfit Friends ornament hangs nicely level. Unfortunately, the hook loop is in a pretty obvious and obtrusive position, but the result is a perfectly-balanced ornament and there is no better spot for the hook loop to be placed, so it is hard to complain!
Collectibility
Hallmark Keepsake began delving into the collectibles market in 1991 with Star Trek when it introduced the exceptionally limited edition original U.S.S. Enterprise ornament (reviewed here!). Within a few years, every major franchise from Star Wars to A Nightmare Before Christmas to Indiana Jones started making Hallmark ornaments. "Misfit Friends" is part of the The Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer ornament line and the only one from that franchise in 2015. As with many of the ornaments based on Christmas specials, the Misfit Friends Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer ornament has not retained its value; after the holidays, many of these were clearanced and the price has not bounced back to even the initial release price yet.
Overview
Fans of the stop-motion animation special Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hallmark ornaments and Christmas in general might enjoy the Misfit Friends ornament, but most are going to be happy that it is available less-expensively now.
For other Christmas ornaments, please check out my reviews of:
2015 Heat Miser The Year Without Santa Claus ornament
2015 Big Box Of 64 Crayola Crayons ornament
2015 Building Buddies Snoopy ornament
6/10
For other ornament reviews, please visit my Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!
© 2016 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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