Household appliances going on a fantastic journey is not the most usual kind of fare for most animated films, but The Brave Little Toaster is quite the unusual film in itself. How many children’s films have Jack Nicholson air conditioners and Peter Lorre lampshades. I first caught the film when it shown once on television years ago, I think it was during a Christmas period and I somewhat enjoyed it. Years later I saw it on DVD and decided to buy it.

Somewhat abandoned by their 'master' in an isolated summer cabin, Toaster and the other appliances keep out a faint hope that he will return to reclaim them while keeping the place neat and tidy. After a “For Sale” sign is stuck outside the cabin it becomes apparent that he might not be seeking them out, Toaster decides enough is enough and talks the others into risking their collective cords in an expedition to the unknown dangers of the outside world.

Joining Toaster are: Lampy, a none-too-bright desk lamp who has a bit of a short fuse, at least when it comes to Radio’s jives and taunts. Radio is, as another reviewer put it, a compulsive liar with some sort of complex along the lines of 1930 and 40’s radio personalities. Kirby is a grumpy, cantankerous sort, who complaints a lot but goes with the flow of things anyway. Last of all is Blankie, who is a wet blanket through and through, with an one-dimensional personality, mostly along the lines of whining and crying, to the point were you’d think that he’s the one who is really in need of a security blanket himself. Toaster him/herself (it never made clear which, but nevermind) is a near too nice goody two-shoes who if not for a slightly repressed temper and the fact that he’s both the sanest and in-sanest of the bunch if his dreams are anything to go bye (mind you, if I were an anthropomorphic Toaster, demonic clown firemen and killer forks would probably scare me a bit too). Of course, like Kermit from the Muppets, Toaster is effectively the group’s straight-man (or is that Straight-Toaster?).

Quest films – which this is one – either get by with the protagonists doing interesting things or else meeting interesting characters, or with large, breath stealing action scenes, or having the character/s grow in someway. Packed action scenes are a bit beyond the film's budget, although it does have a few moments of dramatic tension and mild action, so it goes with the others and it works, if in a roundabout sort of way. The characters do grow, as a group if not maybe as complete individuals, one could say that the one who grows the most from the experience is Lampy, whose mild selfishness dissipates. The whole thing is a good fun film, at least to me, partly because of the overall sombre mood, but also because it is unlike any other film that you expect it be following. It has enough bizarre moments of animated whimsy and faux horror, that it belies any preconceptions you might have at the premise of cute appliances having adventure. And yet these strange whimsical events somehow work, though in some instances they have little to do with the rest of the film.

The whole notion of inanimate objects coming to life when humans aren’t around is not really a new one, but it had rarely been handled with the degree of earnestness that Toaster enjoys. The rules that bind the appliances seem to be similar to those which bind other such stories, only without the 12 o’clock curfew that happens on some earlier works, from The Mouse and His Child, to a few shorts of Warner’s and Disney.

Toaster is a musical, albeit one whose songs are unlikely to find favour with everyone’s taste. Let say it depends on how much you like electrically symphonised eighties music, as well as songs about metaphoric death. Personally I didn’t mind any of the songs of the film and even liked two: “Movie Show” and “The Edge” (or whatever they’re called). For some reason the journey song at the start of the film was cut out of one version of the film I’ve seen (as well as Toaster’s dream, but that is somewhat less surprising).

The premise of the film works fine, as does the not-quite theatrical but better than most TV animation that it utilises. Its music and themes are two things that might divide viewers, yet if you’re looking for a nice simple quest story with quite dark metaphors and strange concepts, then Brave Little Toaster does fit the bill.

In the end it is a fun film to sit through and watch, but, for me, not quite a good solid three star one.

I finally rented this film again and I remembered the movie as better than it really is. Mainly because as a kid I loved this film and I hadn't seen it since I was nine or so. It definitely isn't a bad film, better than it's title makes it sound, but it's not great either.

The story is entertaining and keeps the viewer interested. Most of the characters are decent, however I always remember disliking Blanket...even as a little kid. He just came off as annoying. My favorites in the film were Lampy the bright light, and Kirby the curmudgeon vacuum. The main character, Toaster, was ok, but not that interesting, and the other characters were fair.

The animation is ok. It's TV quality at least. The music is mediocre at best, and some songs just downright bad in my opinion, but then again I don't really care for heavily synthesized 80's music. The score is ok, but nothing stellar.

Overall this film is ok. I wouldn't buy it, even though I really loved it as a kid. Might be a good Friday night rental.

Although better than its sequel, "Brave Little Toaster" definetly has some problems like being too dark/serious when it comes to the fact that it was intended to be a kids movie. But if You are in your 20s or more you will probably like it for what it is: a decent film from the 80s.

The film's heroes - a toaster, desk lamp, electric blanket, vacuum cleaner and radio - live in a cottage that was once home to Rob, a little boy who they knew affectionately as "the Master". But when Rob and his family moved out, the appliances were left in the house on their own; years later, with the cottage for sale and Rob about to enter collage, the sexually ambiguous Toaster and his/her friends decide to set out to find him. Along the way they tangle with natural hazzards and malicious appliances before finally being reunited with their Master.

Despite having the appearence of an above-average TV cartoon - this is a really quite charming film. The characterisation is very pleasing; Radio, Blankie and Kirby the vacuum cleaner all have well-realised personalities that are broad and cartoony without turning them into one-joke characters; the plainer Toaster and Lampy, meanwhile, are spot-on partners for the other three. There are some relatively subtle character arcs in there too, such as when the selfish Lampy risks his life to charge the group's flat battery after seeing Toaster's newfound compassion for Blanky.

In some ways, namely the road movie structure and anthropomorphic characterisations, The Brave Little Toaster is very Pixar-esque. In particular it resembles Toy Story, right down to the sequence in an electronics shop that is strongly reminiscent of Sid's house. This may have something to do with writer Joe Ranft, who worked on both films. Toy Story's director John Lasseter must also be familiar with this picture - he worked as an animator on it.

As you'd expect, there are a number of songs. Aside from "Worthless", which is performed by the cars in the scrapyard and works surprisingly well, they're all rather unnecessary. Still, they're at least memorable, which is more than can be said for other productions.

All in all, this is an imaginitive, endearing film that has rightfully become a minor classic amongst animation fans. You could do worse than to give it a look.

One of the best animated movies ever, in my opinion, the Brave Little Toaster is a beloved classic that has everything you could ask for. It's a perfect family movie in every way, except for the fact that there are creepy moments. But I turned out ok! From the very beginning the movie is captivating and imaginative. I read the books behind two of the Toaster movies, and have a fuller appreciation for the films from having done so. I recommend that you experience the Toaster movies as a trilogy- it is most satisfying that way. Please give the sequels a chance- when I first saw them, I too was turned off, but I have come to love them each almost as much as the first.

I LOVED this movie when I was a kid. Another repeat tape I would watch over and over again. I suppose it seemed strange that I enjoyed watching...appliances moving across the screen, but they had so much character and personality, I still got thrilled watching supposedly inanimate objects surviving through peril and various landscape adventures. It's sad to know that when anyone randomly picks up the cover to see 'The Brave Little Toaster' kids, and probably even adults would think, "Yeah.....roight..." but the movie is strangely unique with the old vs. new themes that are surprisingly well told, with some very dark, almost disturbing elements and images used to portray these themes during some of the awesome (particularly if you're a kid) songs. Overall, this movie is recommended to kids 5-8 years old, so long as they can handle the dark, scaryish type moods. But anyone with an open mind and animation on the brain can enjoy this film.

This film does not receive three stars for the reason I would normally rate a movie at 75%. This film is quite unnerving on a very base level for me. I watched it when I was younger and watched it again with some friends recently. I am shaken.

The presentation is very much like a standard Disney movie, except not quite as annoying. The toaster and friends are amusing characters, not quite as stock as most childrens' programming, and have amusing scripts. The storyline, however, is another matter.

Firstly, the five main characters have serious issues to work out. The vacuum has an overconfidence problem and is terrified of enjoying life. The lamp is probably the most sane of them all, being simply a bit of a dimwit and not realizing it. The blanket is the most co-dependent thing I've ever seen while the radio is a compulsive liar. Finally, the toaster is hydrophobic, represses uncomfortable emotions, and has nightmares about evil clowns.

The storyline involves a lot of suicide imagery. At one point, in a pleasant woodland field (in which the blanket is nearly eaten by field mice), a flower is reflected in the toaster's shiny metal body. The flower shows adoration for the toaster, for it believes it sees another flower. After the toaster leaves, it looks back - the flower is wilting, appearing to die from rejection. The toaster's nightmare (the one with the evil fireman clown, remember?) also involves it falling into a bathtub and being electrocuted. Later, as well, the appliances are in a junkyard and various cars, as they are being smashed, sing songs about their lives, being discarded by their previous owners, and how they don't want to die. One car goes quite willingly into the smasher, saying that it doesn't care because no one loves it anymore.

Really, it's quite delightful. I was laughing in horror (humor response to the unexpected, you understand) when the toaster nearly got itself and all of its friends killed due to its vertigo and hydrophobia. There's a lovely scene in the pawn shop as well, where a blender is gutted for parts and the main characters stare on in horror as oil drips from the workbench in the aftermath. It's quite charming. Just don't show it to children. Especially not the vulnerable ones.

As it is late, I must be off to bed. I get the impression I have some terrific dreams in store for me, so I guess it's good that I don't have that much to do tomorrow. )

Cheers!

I remember picking this off the shelf one night, and going "The brave little WHAT?" A quick read of the back cover convinced me that, however it might turn out to be, this wasn't going to be a 'normal' kid's film, and when I noticed that the songs were by Van Dyke Parks - celebrated nutcase and occasional musical genius, that was enough for me to take it home.

Some background first: BLT is based on the novella of the same name by the SF writer Thomas M Disch. It appeared in a 1980 SF mag which I came across by accident some time later. The story's original full title was actually 'The Brave Little Toaster: A Bedtime Story for Small Appliances'. This should give you some clue as to where the weirdness comes from. It started life as a satire written for adults, and ended up as a movie for kids. But in many ways a pleasingly bent movie.

What gets this movie a solid 3 stars from me is that it made that transition without losing all of its original adult sensibility, but while remaining a perfectly viable kids movie.

I won't go into the plot. Inkwolf has covered that well in the review below this one, so have a squiz at that. What I liked about BLT was the sheer eccentricity of the concept, and delightfully bizarre characters. The radio's dialog is all in the form of radio shows, which all sound about 40 years old. I just love Lampy for some reason. The electric blanket is a sook, and at the time I lived in a house which had a vacuum cleaner exactly like the grumpy Kirby. If not for this collection of weirdos, the BLT himself would have been infuriatingly innocent and nice. In fact the film would probably have had to have been titled 'The annoying, stupid, nice little toaster'. But with this ensemble cast everything works fine.

Oh, and it's a quest movie. A well done-quest story will always suck me in. Try and imagine, if you will, how a slightly antique electric blanket, toaster, vacuum cleaner, radio, and bedside lamp are going to do an 'Incredible Journey' and journey through the woods into the city looking for their master. It's so preposterous it works, and Van Dyke Parks music is... well it fits.

The animation is pretty ordinary, but the film has enough going for it in terms of uniqueness and general bentness that I can live with that.

This might not be a classic, but it's a whole lot better than you might think. I imagine I'll give it a second viewing one day.

I haven't watched any of the sequels. I get the ominous feeling they might be very bad indeed. But don't let them put you off the original. You're probably either going to decide it's ridiculous, or kinda cool, but give it a go.

If you haven't seen this film...it's probably better than you think. (And darker.) Just grit your teeth through the first ten minutes or so...it improves. I promise.

In a vacation cabin in the mountains, a toaster, an electric blanket, a lamp, a vaccuum cleaner, and a radio all wait for the return of their master--a little boy who likes to tinker with electronics. He's been gone for a very long time, though. And then, one day, a For Sale sign goes up in front of the cabin. The appliances decide to leave the house and search for the little boy. On the way they pass through the horrors of being lost in the woods, running on a dying battery, and escaping the Used Parts shop. And just when they seem to have reached their goal...well, you know.

The Brave Little Toaster is very uneven--parts are very simple and basic and Saturday-morningish. Others are beautiful and moving or frightening. But the story of hopes, dreams, love and loyalty, oddly expressed through the eyes of housewares, makes this movie well worth seeing.

Underlying the story is a message about the tragedy of a throwaway consumer society, and the value of taking care of and valuing what you have.

And don't bother seeing any of the sequels...they're just baaaad.