In the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special, the doll on the Island of Misfit Toys (often called “Dolly for Sue”) is there because of an emotional or psychological problem, not a physical defect. One of the producers, Arthur Rankin Jr., later explained that her “misfit” issue was that she felt abandoned and suffered from depression and low self-esteem after being cast off by her previous owner.
Unlike the other toys, whose flaws are obvious (like a train with square wheels), Dolly looks normal on the outside, so her misfitness represents an inner struggle rather than a visible problem. Over time, many viewers and commentators have come to see her as a symbol of mental health issues and how feeling unloved or rejected can make someone feel like they do not belong, even when nothing seems “wrong” on the surface.
