History YMMV / RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer1964

* JerksAreWorseThanVillains: Bumbles, despite being the BigBad of the special, is quite memorable among viewers, even putting aside his HeelFaceTurn. Even the {{Jerkass}} Head Elf is [[LoveToHate entertaining]] for his LargeHam tendencies. By contrast, most of the North Pole citizens (Comet and Fireball in particular) are deeply unlikable for their realistically mean-spirited abuse of Rudolph.

* JerksAreWorseThanVillains: Bumbles, despite being the BigBad of the special, is quite memorable among viewers, even putting aside his HeelFaceTurn. Even the {{Jerkass}} Head Elf is [[LoveToHate entertaining]] for LargeHam tendencies. By contrast, most of the North Pole citizens (Comet and Fireball in particular) are deeply unlikable for their mean-spirited abuse of Rudolph.

* MisaimedMarketing: Most merchandise for the special portrays Bumble as a GentleGiant and one of Rudolph's friends, which has caused many modern viewers to forget that for most of the runtime, he was portrayed as a terrifying monster with intent to harm the main characters, and he only made his HeelFaceTurn in the last ten minutes of the special, after Hermey [[TheToothHurts rips out all his teeth]].

* The plot itself involves a RagtagBunchOfMisfits who band together, a concept that has become increasingly relatable since the advent of the internet, and social media especially, that allows individuals with niche interests and lifestyles to join together.

** There were a few sexist lines in the original that were cut in later broadcasts. Among them was Donner telling his wife that finding Rudolph was "man's work" and "the best thing to do is get the women back to Christmas Town." When Donner's wife and Clarice ignore the first line and try to help find Rudolph, they only get captured by the Abominable, along with Donner, who needs to be rescued. However, in recent times, female audience members have praised Mrs. Donner and Clarice for at least trying to find Rudolph. It should also be noted that Donner needs to be rescued too, making it feel less sexist to some than it otherwise might.
** In 1964, the squirt gun from the Island of Misfit Toys was a misfit because it squirted jelly rather than water. Now it's a misfit because it's a toy gun that ''looks like a real gun'', which is no longer legal or acceptable, due to incidents where children have been shot by police because they were carrying toy guns that were mistaken for real guns.

* ValuesResonance: The plot itself involves a RagtagBunchOfMisfits who band together, a concept that has become increasingly relatable since the advent of the internet, and social media especially, that allows individuals with niche interests and lifestyles to join together.

* FanonDiscontinuity:
** Fans of both the originals and of the traditionally animated 1998 film agree that the computer animated ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys'' never should have happened. A song or two and using the original designs the other sequels altered are the only saving graces, if even that.
** Most fans also approve of Clarice's subplot as it gives her more agency, though.
%%** The sequel, ''WesternAnimation/RudolphsShinyNewYear'', has a completely different Rudolph puppet, despite starring the same character and taking place immediately after this special. He's also young again in all the sequels.%%None of this explains how it's an example.

%%** The entire ''Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys'' movie can be seen as one big special effects failure, with really bad CGI animation throughout (not as bad as ''WesternAnimation/RapsittieStreetKidsBelieveInSanta'', but still pretty bad, looking more like animation from a UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 game). Special mention goes to an iceberg collapse during the storm scene, which is VERY poorly done.
* TheProblemWithLicensedGames: The Wii version of the video game adaptation is horrendous. It’s advertised as a party minigame collection but there are only four of them that are piss-easy, revolve around motion controls, and can often feel the same in places.

* ViewerNameConfusion: Is the name of the would-be dentist elf Hermey, Hermie, or Herbie? ("Hermey" seems to be the official spelling.)

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic As beautiful as the song is]], the insertion of "Silver and Gold" into the special is rather messy. Sam uses Yukon Cornelius' motive of prospecting for gold as [[ThatRemindsMeOfASong an excuse to sing the song]], but the lyrics themselves don't relate to Yukon, Sam himself has no direct involvement in the story, and unlike the other songs in the special, it doesn't advance the plot.

* AngstAversion: The scenes of Rudolph being verbally abused by nearly every adult from [[AbusiveParents his own father]] to freaking ''SantaClaus'' has caused this special to fall into this in the modern day, resulting in it becoming very controversial due to ValuesDissonance.

* CommonKnowledge: Many people argue that the special carries the implication of "differences should only be tolerated if they prove useful or can be exploited" since Rudolph is only accepted after Santa realizes his nose can be used to see through the storm. However, while that may apply in the original song, in the actual show, Rudolph is accepted back in Christmas town ''before'' he saves Christmas with his nose, and his friends and family realize that it was to mistreat him even earlier, upon seeing his bravery and survival skills.

* CrossesTheLineTwice: Rudolph scaring a fellow buck that he just befriended when the cover comes off his nose. The fact that said buck has WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises and pleading "Get away from me!" as he was looking at an abomination when it's just a glowing red nose is just as funny as it is depressing.

** The Boss Elf, thanks to being a hilariously hammy {{Jerkass}}. There's also his {{memetic|Mutation}} "WHY WEREN'T YOU AT ELF PRACTICE?!" line.
** Clarice is considered to be one of the most fondly remembered characters of the special from the general public. While she doesn't have as much screen time as Hermey and Yukon Cornelius, she's one of the few characters from the original special that isn't rude or cold-hearted with Rudolph. Not to mention the beautifully performed musical number "There's Always Tomorrow" which is considered by fans to be one of the most underappreciated Christmas songs. In recent years, Clarice has been featured in tons of Rudolph related merchandise, makes meetable appearances at theme parks (such as Ride/SeaWorld, Ride/BuschGardens, Sesame Place, and Dollywood) and non-theme parks events during the Christmas season alongside Rudolph, Bumble, and Yukon, and was given a major role in the 2001 sequel. Helps that Janis Orenstein's beautiful singing performance for Clarice's song "There's Always Tomorrow" really made the character extra endearing and lovable.

* FanonDiscontinuity: Fans of both the originals and of the traditionally animated 1998 film agree that the computer animated ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys'' never should have happened. A song or two and using the original designs the other sequels altered are the only saving graces, if even that.

* HypeBacklash: While the special's still regarded as one of the big Christmas classics, it has endured plenty of criticism over the years for featuring what many deem to be an unpleasant, bully-infested North Pole, which hurts its attempts at portraying Christmas cheer. There is also criticism leveled at the [[StayInTheKitchen sexist]] language used in the special [[ValuesDissonance that was unfortunately prevalent during its time]].

* NarmCharm: The special isn't the best written or animated and the handling of its message has seen its share of critique. However, the overall presentation is agreed to be quite endearing. And while the message's execution may leave a bit to be desired, the theme of acceptance is still appreciated nonetheless.

** There were a few sexist lines in the original that were cut in later broadcasts. Among them Donner telling his wife that finding Rudolph was "man's work" and "The best thing to do is get the women back to Christmas Town." When Donner's wife and Clarice ignore the first line and try to help find Rudolph, they only get captured by the Abominable along with Donner need to be rescued. However, in recent times, female audience members have praised Mrs. Donner and Clarice for at least trying to find Rudolph. It should also be noted that Donner needs to be rescued too, making it feel less sexist to some than it otherwise might.

* HypeBacklash: While the special's still regarded as one of the big Christmas classics, it has endured plenty of criticism over the years for featuring what many deem to be an unpleasant, bully-infested North Pole, which hurts its attempts at portraying Christmas cheer. There is also criticism leveled at the [[StayInTheKitchen sexist]] language used in the special [[ValuesDissonance that was unfortunately prevalent during its time.]]

* LoveToHate: The Head Elf is as mean to Hermey as the reindeer are to Rudolph but avoids full-on HateSink by being so over-the-top hilarious with his temper that you can't help but adore his scenes.

* NightmareRetardant: If you don't find the Bumble to be NightmareFuel, you'll probably see him as a big, white Muppet, complete with permanently crossed eyes. Once Bumble has been touched with the Spirit of Christmas, he becomes the cutest thing ever.

** Donner's forcing Rudolph to wear an uncomfortable false nose instead of supporting and defending him from AllOfTheOtherReindeer is probably this. By 1964 parenting standards, he's just a [[ParentsAreWrong misguided]] but well-meaning father being strict with his son for what he thinks is [[ToughLove his own good]], but to many modern viewers, it comes across as more [[AbusiveParents abusive]] and has become a NeverLiveItDown moment.

* FanonDiscontinuity: Fans of both the originals and of the traditionally animated 1998 film agree that the computer animated ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys'' never should have happened. Arguably a song or two and using the original designs the other sequels altered are the only saving graces, if even that.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: This incarnation of Santa, while not a full-on BadSanta, is jarringly short-tempered and egotistical. His voice actor [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness pre-dates]] the more traditionally jolly and wise Creator/MickeyRooney Santa seen in later Rankin-Bass specials, and here he's a useless authority figure in the face of the bullying Rudolph suffers. Some fans are understandably put off by this, but others find the contrast ''hilarious'', or appreciate the message that authority figures - even ''Santa'' - can be in the wrong sometimes.

* JerksAreWorseThanVillains: Bumbles, despite being the BigBad of the special, is considered to be quite memorable among viewers, even before his HeelFaceTurn. Even {{Jerkass}} Head Elf is entertaining for LargeHam tendencies. By contrast, most of the North Pole citizens (Comet and Fireball in particular) are deeply unlikable for their mean-spirited abuse of Rudolph.

* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: Rudolph has clearly taken King Moonracer's advice to heart, because the next time he's confronted by all of the other reindeer, he simply ignores them and continues on his way home.

** While the other reindeer and Santa himself were unquestionably jerks to Rudolph, there's a conception that they learned nothing and only accepted Rudolph because his unique trait could be used for their own ends. [[CommonKnowledge However]] this isn't the case in the special itself, as they apologized and accepted Rudolph back ''before'' learning his red nose can navigate through the snowstorm.
** Rudolph's father Donner will [[NeverLiveItDown never live down]] the fact that at first he's ashamed of his son's red nose and makes him wear a false black one, then doesn't defend him from AllOfTheOtherReindeer's bullying. Some pages on this very wiki label him an [[AbusiveParents abusive parent.]] But the special makes it clear that despite his mistakes, he does love his son and just wants Santa to accept him, and when Rudolph runs away, he [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realizes how wrong he was]], sets out on a dangerous journey to find him, and apologizes to him when they reunite.

* TheScrappy: As expected, "all of the other reindeer" for how they treat poor Rudolph. Special mention goes to Fireball, Rudolph's first friend who completely turns on him after seeing his nose; Comet, an authority figure who encourages his exclusion; and Donner to a lesser extent, for trying to look out for his son but doing so in an extremely misguided way. Unlike the Head Elf, who's also a mean jackass to a misfit, they aren't [[LargeHam funny]] or [[LoveToHate over-the-top]] enough to make their scenes enjoyable, as necessary as they may be for the plot.

* LoveToHate: The Head Elf is as mean to Hermey as the reindeer are to Rudolph, but avoids full-on HateSink by being so over-the-top hilarious with his temper that you can't help but adore his scenes.

** While not having as much screen time as Hermey and Yukon Cornelius. Clarice has became very beloved by the public in recent years due to her kindhearted personality and soft-spoken nature. While Clarice doesn't have that many lines, Janis Orenstein's memorable and charming vocal performance as her really made her very charming. She appears in tons of Rudolph related merchandise alongside Rudolph himself and even gotten a bigger role in the 2001 unofficial sequel by Creator/GoodTimesEntertainment. Older fans of the special were notably upset [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome when she didn't show up or mentioned by any of the characters (notably Santa and Rudolph)]] in the 1976 special ''Rudolph's Shiny New Year''.

* HypeBacklash: While the special's still regarded as one of the big Christmas classics, it has endured plenty of criticism over the years for featuring what many deem to be an unpleasant, bully infested North Pole, which hurts its attempts at portraying Christmas cheer. There is also criticism leveled at the [[StayInTheKitchen sexist]] language used in the special [[ValuesDissonance that was unfortunately prevalent during its time.]]
* LoveToHate: The Head Elf is as mean to Hermey as the reindeer are to Rudolph, but avoids full-on HateSink by being so over-the-top hilarious with his temper that you can't help but adore his scenes.

** While Billie Mae Richards' performance as Rudolph is already charming. Rudolph's voice as an infant has to be one of the cutest moments in the special. Mainly when his first words being "Papa", "Mama", "Santa", and saying "Bye, bye" to Santa as he leaves his home.

** Almost thirty years later, [[WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas another stop-motion animated production featured a prominent location with the name of Christmas Town.]]

** While not having as much screen time as Hermey and Yukon Cornelius. Clarice has became very beloved by the public in recent years due to her kindhearted personality and soft-spoken nature. While Clarice doesn't have that much lines, Janis Orenstein's memorable and charming vocal performance as her really made her very charming. She appears in tons of Rudolph related merchandise alongside Rudolph himself and even gotten a bigger role in the 2001 unofficial sequel by Creator/GoodTimesEntertainment. Older fans of the special were notably upset [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome when she didn't show up or mentioned by any of the characters (notably Santa and Rudolph)]] in the 1976 special ''Rudolph's Shiny New Year''.

* MandelaEffect: Many viewers claim there is a version where instead of Hermey ripping out the Bumble's teeth, the Bumble had a toothache that Hermey fixed. While the special ''has'' seen many edits over the years, there is no evidence of this version existing.