Dreamworks Christmas Magic!

Dreamworks Christmas Magic was a toy franchise developed by Dreamworks, Classic Media and Mattel. The toyline specialised in figures and fashion doll based material (As well as other toys such as playsets) based off the Rankin Bass Christmas TV specials. It first sold releases in 1999, but was no longer active by 2005.

SYNOPSIS
"Christmas is magical every day! No matter rain, shine, snow, wind or storm, Christmas brings the world together in many ways. And it's all thanks to the legends who made Christmas happen in the first place! From Santa Claus, to Frosty, to Jack Frost, they all made it possible! Now you can meet and spend time with all of your favourites in person for the very first time in forever! From the timeless TV classics from Rankin/Bass Productions comes a whole new world of fun, joy and fantasy!"

- The official description from Mattel.

The Christmas Magic toyline was made to continue the legacy of Rankin Bass Christmas movies with the exception of continuing the line of TV specials after the company shut down in 1987, and Dreamworks was sold the rights to the films. Though the toys had different designs and gimmicks, the main category was fashion doll like figures and dolls of different sets of characters from the specials. Specials used to create toys for the series would be Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (1964), Cricket On The Hearth (1967), The Frosty The Snowman series (1969 - 1979), Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (1970), Twas The Night Before Christmas (1974), The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974), Jack Frost (1979), Pinocchio's Christmas (1980) and The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold (1981).

YEAR 0 (1997-1998)

 * Classic Media and Dreamworks currently hold the rights to the Rankin Bass films after they shut down in 1987. Mattel would eventually approach Dreamworks in 1997 to discuss propositions for a toy line based off the Rankin Bass line up. This proposition was brought forward after executives would revisit the specials to try and "Revive the legacy" as well as an attempt to garner increasing sales, since at the time Mattel's sales were declining. Dreamworks would bring forward Classic Media for further discussion, and the idea was eventually green lit. Through 1998 to 1999, designers and toymakers would put together the basis and thesis for the brand and start working on designs and concepts for the products. Plans to promote the toyline by adding in an interactive website were also put in place. The toyline was set to release in February of 1999, but was soon delayed to August of 1999.

YEAR 1 (1999)

 * The first two years of the toyline would focus on only two different sets each year. Each set would cover an equal number of movies and their characters, covering them in their toys. Set 1 would cover the Rudolph, Cricket On The Hearth, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Jack Frost and Leprechaun's Christmas Gold characters and settings.

TOYS

 * Set 1 of the Christmas Magic fashion doll based figures are released in Target and Toys R Us stores in August of 1999. These dolls were fully articulated and could also change into 3 different expressions with snap on faces. Each of the dolls all had one gimmick to them (Eg: Light up, colour changing, glitter, etc) and would also come with 2 different outfits to change into. They would also come with a stand and a card explaining facts about the movie they are from. Characters released would include:

Hermey - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer/1964 (Hermey's hair and clothing were covered with glitter.)

Bertha - Cricket On The Hearth/1967 (Bertha's eyes could light up and had sparkles in them).

Kris Kringle - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town/1970 (Kris's belt could make him sing from pre-recorded audio).

Jessica - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town/1970 (Jessica's hair could grow on it's own to a certain length).

Jack Frost - Jack Frost/1979 (Jack's hair and skin could light up giving the illusion that he is transforming from human to sprite).

Dinty Doyle - The Leprechaun's Christmas/1981 (Dinty's outfit he wears in the package can change colour in water).


 * New play sets are released at Toys R Us for the toy line, and are all based off set 1 of the line. The play sets would come with one set of smaller figures to use for playing with the sets.

The North Pole with Santa's Workshop (Based off Rudolph and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. The playsets features a small variety of accessories)
 * Christmas Magic would release a separate toy called "Fly With Me Rudolph!", based off the titular character from Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and would be sold at Target. The toy came with a large sized Rudolph figure with brushable fur. Not only was he remote controlled, but also had a light up nose and could sing. He also came with a few dress up accessories and a brush.