Forbidden
Planet
One Hallmark ornament for one of the most important science fiction films ever made — and one of the most influential robot designs in history. Press the button and hear Robby the Robot speak lines from the 1956 classic. His eyes glow. His voice plays. He's 4.4 inches tall and he is on the Christmas tree. Noted rare. First available at the October 2009 Keepsake Ornament Debut.
Forbidden Planet — Shakespeare in Space, and the Robot Who Defined the Future
Forbidden Planet was released by MGM on March 15, 1956 — directed by Fred M. Wilcox, starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, and Leslie Nielsen. It was the first science fiction film set entirely in outer space, away from Earth, and remains one of the most influential works in the genre's history. The story is Shakespeare's The Tempest transplanted to a distant planet: the isolated scientist Morbius (Pidgeon) lives alone on Altair IV with his daughter Altaira (Francis), served by a robot he built named Robby, and haunted by a powerful, invisible force — the Id Monster, the manifestation of his own subconscious — that threatens the crew of the spaceship United Planets Cruiser C-57D sent to investigate. Leslie Nielsen, in his pre-comedy career, played the ship's commander.
Robby the Robot — designed by Robert Kinoshita for the film — became one of the most recognizable robot designs in the history of science fiction. The dome-shaped head with rotating illuminated mechanisms, the articulated body, the translucent sections, the distinctive proportions: Robby's design was so visually compelling and so clearly articulated what a "friendly robot" should look like that he appeared in dozens of subsequent films and television series after Forbidden Planet, becoming one of the most widely referenced robot designs in pop culture. He appeared in The Invisible Boy (1957), The Twilight Zone, Lost in Space, The Addams Family, Mork & Mindy, and countless others. In 2004, the original Robby the Robot prop sold at auction for $5.375 million.
"Perfect little replica of the famous Robby the Robot from the film Forbidden Planet. Excellent detail and it lights up as it plays Robby's voice clips! One of Hallmark's best ornaments ever!"
— eBay collector review, 2009 Robby the Robot Forbidden Planet Hallmark Magic Keepsake Ornament · QXI1295 · 5-star · "always a Robby the Robot fan... great addition to my tree"🤖 Robby the Robot — The Ornament in Detail
Robby the Robot — Forbidden Planet · 2009
Hallmark's Robby the Robot is a 4.4-inch faithful replica of the 1956 robot whose design Robert Kinoshita created for MGM — dome-headed, articulated, the proportions and silhouette immediately recognizable to anyone who knows the history of science fiction cinema. Press the button: Robby's eyes glow with internal lighting and he speaks lines from the film in Robby's distinctive processed voice. The ornament was first available at the October 2009 Keepsake Ornament Debut — a member-event release that produced smaller initial quantities — and is noted as rare by Hallmark collectors. On the secondary market it regularly sells for $60–$90 or more, a significant premium over its original retail price.
Collectors describe it as "one of Hallmark's best ornaments ever" and "a companion piece to another ornament" — likely a reference to the broader Hallmark sci-fi Keepsake universe that pairs Robby with other classic film robots and vehicles. For anyone building a sci-fi or classic Hollywood Keepsake collection, this is the entry that covers the 1950s — the decade that invented the language of science fiction film.
Shop Robby the Robot — Noted Rare →Tips for This Ornament
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01Position Robby at eye level where the glowing eyes and Magic Sound can both be experienced. The ornament's Magic features — glowing eyes and Robby's film voice — are the reason to display it at a height where visitors can reach the button and see the illumination clearly. At 4.4 inches tall he is substantial enough to read from across the room, but close-up is where the detail earns its reputation. Position him on an accessible outer branch where the button is easy to find in the dark.
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02Replace the LR44 batteries before the holidays — they may need refreshing if stored since 2009. As one original owner notes, the LR44 batteries that originally shipped with the ornament can corrode over time in storage. Check the battery compartment before the season and replace with fresh LR44s if needed. Three fresh batteries and Robby speaks and glows exactly as designed.
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03This is noted rare and priced accordingly — if it is available, it is worth acting on. The 2009 Robby the Robot Forbidden Planet Keepsake is noted rare on collector sites and sells on the secondary market for $60–$90 when available. The October 2009 Debut Event release and the ongoing demand from classic sci-fi collectors have made this one of the more sought-after Hallmark sci-fi entries. At Already Christmas it is available at its price. Noted rare ornaments do not always stay available.
The Robby the Robot Keepsake
Magic Sound & Light. Eyes glow. Film lines play. Click to shop.
Robert Kinoshita designed Robby the Robot for MGM in 1956 — and the design was so precisely right that it has never stopped appearing in science fiction ever since. The 1956 film that put Shakespeare on another planet, that starred Leslie Nielsen before anyone knew he was funny, that invented the language of the friendly robot. And in 2009, Hallmark made a 4.4-inch replica of Robby — eyes that glow, voice that speaks film lines, October Debut Event release, noted rare. Press the button. Robby speaks. The 1950s are on the Christmas tree. Here he is.
✦ Part of our Collection: Classic Sci-Fi Film Hallmark Series, Explored ✦