The unprecedented buzz (well, for Verizon) surrounding the Motorola Droid over the past couple of weeks resulted in, among other things, renewed rumors about the release of the iPhone on that carrier. Verizon, for its part, has spent a good amount of time attacking AT&T's network: an act that the nation's largest wireless carrier isn't taking lying down (or without a lawsuit).

As it gears up for the holidays, Verizon is taking a more tongue-in-cheek approach to the whole fight with a series of ads including the above Rankin/Bass holiday throwback, which casts the iPhone on the "Island of Misfit Toys." A new holiday classic? Probably not, but the carrier certainly gets points for creativity, humor, and the use of stop-motion clay figurines.

Check out two more holiday spots from the company, after the jump.