On the list of things that could conceivably be turned into a Netflix TV series, or movies, live-action or animated, 'Elf on The Shelf' has a way to go before it becomes necessary.

For one, it's... a creepy-looking doll that's supposed to keep watch over you, and small children, to make sure you've been good. How does that go from that to a Netflix series, then? What's next, 'Catholic Guilt' as a reality TV show?

Anyway, it's been announced that Netflix is now set to begin turning the 'Elf on the Shelf' phenomenon into viewable content, with TV shows, movies, Christmas specials, and so on planned. The toys began life in 2005 as part of a rhyming children's book of the same name, written by Carol Aebersold and her daughters Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts.

So far, it's not clear when these shows will reach Netflix, but it is known that two animated shorts - 'Elf Pets: Santa's Reindeer Rescue', and 'Elf Pets: A Fox Cub's Christmas Tale' - are both headed to the streaming service this very Christmas, so that's something to... look out for.