Is Moonracer (from the Rudolph special) a toy or a real lion-bird thing?

On the Christmas episode of the Middle this year this discussion came up. One character thought King Moonracer was himself a misfit toy, another strongly felt otherwise, and a third character had to watch the special to break the tie. But how do WE feel about this important issue?
Spoilerboxing my own thoughts on the matter, just so if you’d like you can vote without being influenced by my opinion.

I’d never even considered before that Moonracer was a toy, despite his ruling over the Island of Misfit toys. To me, just because he lives there and is the king doesn’t mean he’s one of them. He flies around the world saving the defective toys, after all, seems to me that makes him more of a magical being, like Santa, than a toy. Besides, what kid wouldn’t have liked a toy like that? Why would he be a misfit? Axel was totally right, screw the rest of BossCo., no way is Moonracer a toy (though I’m sure there have been toys made in his image!)

Clearly he’s St Mark The Evangelist (just like Santa is another Christian saint) The crown is just a substitute halo…

I’d always assumed he was a real lion who could fly. Now I’m not so sure.

He’s an imp of Satan who tricks all the really coolest toys into believing themselves misfits. Then he takes them back to his island pervopalace where only he gets to play with them. What kid, for example, would not want a squirtgun that shoots jelly?

He’s a misfit toy.

Why would he rescue, shelter, and rule over misfit toys if he were not himself one of them? And the fact that he’s a hybrid bird/cat creature just serves to punctuate the point.

I’d never considered the question before. I imagine the theology of Rankin-Bass specials is pretty fluid.

Moonracer doesn’t have to be limited by your small concepts! He’s a toy and a god, maybe?

I’d always heard his name as King Moonrazor. Which I like a little bit better than Moonracer, even if it makes no damn sense.

My first response would be that he IS a toy, but on second thought it is not so clear cut.

They DID make a toy of him, but I assume you mean within the Rudolph universe.

Here some IMDB quotes
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0290109/quotes

“This Island is for toys alone” - does he include himself?

Brian

Yeah, come to think of it, he does limit them (Rudolph, Hermey and Cornelius) to a one-night stay in the guest hovel because they’re living creatures. So how the hell does the bird in the goldfish bowl qualify to stay?

This dodges the real question: what was wrong with the doll?!

The post-modern theory I’ve heard is… the doll is trans.

I like the idea of Moonracer being a toy. He’s a flying lion…which seems to fit in pretty well with the other misfits.

She has poor self-esteem.

The girl who owned her out grew her. She says so herself, “There’s no one to love her” They didn’t make it too clear,because they didn’t want to be such a downer. But its real, little girls out grow their dolls. They only keep the latest ones out of sentimentality, it that. If toys actually had feelings, this would be horrific. Hence, Toy Story 2, which actually showed us a montage of a little girl growing up around Jessie as she sits on a self before she’s given away.

I’ve never thought he was anything but a toy, but now I’ll have to watch with “super flying lion being” in mind.

I always assumed he was another toy.

I think I assumed he was a toy way back then.

Huh… in looking up ‘winged lion’, I just found out where Silenus’ username comes from.

(sorry for the hijack… it seemed appropriate).

I’m very surprised “toy” isn’t winning. He’s on the Island of Misfit Toys. The island is for toys alone. And he’s not being portrayed as the type who would say “but the rules don’t apply to me!” And he’d be the only creature in the movie that was not a proper winter/Christmas mythical creature.

I never once thought he was anything but a toy.

If he’s a toy, what’s his deal? A flying lion would be awesome! He still shouldn’t be there on the island.

Major depression