Mr. John Peter Spotty (aka The Spotted Elephant) is a lovable toy pachyderm who originated as a character in the 1964 Rankin/Bass television special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Appearances in Christmas specials
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
John P. Spotty is introduced as a resident of the Island of Misfit Toys, a place where unwanted toys live until they can find a good home. After Rudolph, Hermey, and Yukon Cornelius arrive there, Mr. Spotty is later seen as the toy footman who brings them to their cabin after their meeting with King Moonracer at his castle. In the special's extended ending, after Santa Claus shows up and picks up the Misfit Toys, Mr. Spotty is the second toy that he drops from his sleigh as a gift to children on Christmas Eve.
Mr. Spotty reappeared in the 2001 Goodtimes Entertainment-produced sequel, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys, where he is abducted from his new home by the Toy Taker. Curiously, unlike in the original special, he is depicted as walking on all four feet like an actual elephant, as opposed to standing on two feet.
Other Christmas productions
Mr. Spotty makes a brief cameo in The Simpsons episode "'Tis the Fifteenth Season". In one scene, Homer sees a fictional stop-motion television special titled The Year Santa Got Lost, in which Mr. Spotty and a few other Misfit Toys are shown listening to a story told by a mailman voiced by Jimmy Stewart.
Merchandise
In 1998, CVS Pharmacy introduced the popular Beanie stuffed Toys created by Stuffins selling for $5.99. Today, the 6" Mr. Spotty sells for an average of $50 on eBay, while the 12" version sells for as much as $170.
There are many theories as to why Mr. Spotty is the most popular of all the Misfit Toys, and why it is so highly sought after by collectors. Some say that the Mr. Spotty is the most easily recognizable by small children who watch the special for the very first time, and end up asking for the "white elephant with polka dots" for their second or third Christmas. Whatever the reason may be, its value continues to increase over time.