Rugrats

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"Rugrat" is also a pejorative term used for "toddler"
For the 1980s Canadian children's band, see The Rugrats.
Rugrats

"Rugrats" Title card
Genre Animation / Comedy / Family / Fantasy
Format Animated TV series
Created by Arlene Klasky
Gabor Csupo
Paul Germain
Written by Joe Ansolabehere
Craig Bartlett
Kate Boutilier
Michael Ferris
Peter Gaffney
Paul Germain
Jonathan Greenberg
Rachel Lipman
Jeffrey Townsend
Steve Viksten
Tom Mason
Dan Danko
Jeff Wynne
Melody Fox
Directed by Howard Baker
Rick Bugental
Jim Duffy
Steve Moore
Steve Socki
Dan Thompson
Norton Virgien
Creative director(s) Paul Germain
Voices of E.G. Daily
Christine Cavanaugh
Nancy Cartwright
Kath Soucie
Cheryl Chase
Tara Strong
Cree Summer
Dionne Quan
Melanie Chartoff
Jack Riley
Michael Bell
Tress MacNeille
David Doyle
Philip Proctor
Joe Alaskey
Julia Kato
Theme music composer Denis Hannigan
Opening theme The Rugrats Theme
Ending theme The Rugrats Theme (Speed Up and Remixed)
Composer(s) Mark Mothersbaugh
Robert Mothersbaugh
Denis Hannigan
Rusty Andrews
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 12 seasons
No. of episodes 172 episodes (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Vanessa Coffey
Gabor Csupo
Arlene Klasky
Producer(s) Cella Nichols Harris
Geraldine Clarke
David Blum
Paul Germain
Kate Boutilier
Editor(s) Karl Garabedian
Location(s) Universal Studios Florida
Cinematography Animation
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time 30 min
Production company(s) Klasky Csupo
Distributor Paramount Home Entertainment
Broadcast
Original channel Nickelodeon
Picture format NTSC
Audio format Surround
Original run August 11, 1991 – May 29, 1994, & December 6, 1996 - June 8, 2004
Status (Ended) June 8, 2004
Chronology
Followed by All Grown Up!
(2003-2008)
External links
Official website
Production website

Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The series premiered on Sunday August 11, 1991 and aired its last episode on Tuesday June 8, 2004. The show centers around four babies and their adventurous lives, most of which are common aspects of regular lifestyle, heavily exaggerated by the babies' naivety. It was one of the first three Nicktoons and also aired on Nick Jr. in 1996.

Contents

Premise

The show originally revolved around a group of toddlers, Thomas "Tommy" Pickles, Charles "Chuckie" Finster, and the twins Phillip "Phil" and Lillian "Lil" DeVille. The toddlers are able to communicate with each other through baby speak, although viewers can understand them, because it is 'translated'. Often, they mispronounce words or use poor grammar and their speaking is full of malapropisms. An example of this is using the word "poopetrator" instead of "perpetrator." The group is often reluctantly joined by Tommy's cousin, Angelica Pickles. At age three years old, Angelica is able to communicate and understand language from both the toddlers and the adults, which she often uses as an advantage when she wants to manipulate either party. She is usually very mean to the babies. Susie Carmichael, who lives across the street from the Pickles, is also able to communicate on the same level as Angelica, though she isn't manipulative. As a result, Angelica and Susie often clash.[1]

In 1998, a new character was introduced. After The Rugrats Movie, in which Tommy's baby brother Dylan "Dil" Pickles is born, he was soon added as a character on the show. As a four month old baby, Dil is not able to communicate with anyone. Later in 2000, after Rugrats in Paris: The Movie was released, Kimi Finster was added as a character. She is Chuckie's stepsister.[1]

Characters

Main article: List of Rugrats characters
The main babies. Clockwise from top: Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Lil, Phil, Dil, Kimi, and Susie.

The Pickles are a mixed Jewish-Christian family. There are two episodes that reflect the Pickles' Jewish heritage, one episode deals with the Passover holiday and the other with Hanukkah (in addition to episodes about Christmas, Easter, Kwanzaa, etc.). These episodes have been praised by Jewish groups and are re-run every year on Nick at the appropriate holiday times and can also be purchased on VHS or DVD.

Production

Rugrats was Nickelodeon's second Nicktoon. The series was in production from 1991 to 1994, and again from 1996 to 2004. It aired in Nickelodeon's Snick block from 1997-2000. It is the longest lasting Nicktoon to date, at over fourteen years longevity. The Rugrats received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony on June 28, 2001.

The show airs in the UK on CBBC, CITV, Nicktoons, Nickelodeon UK and Nicktoonsters as well as in Canada on YTV. In Australia, it can be seen on Nickelodeon Australia (and, for a period, ABC Television).

On August 11, 2001, Rugrats celebrated its 10 year anniversary. The special/TV movie, "Rugrats: All Growed Up" was produced for the occasion. After the show, a special retrospective lookback aired, entitled Rugrats: Still Babies After All These Years. It was narrated by Amanda Bynes.

The show ended in 2004 then afterwards, two fairy tale themed direct-to-video films based on the original series under the title, "Rugrats: Tales from the Crib" were planned and then released separately in 2005 and in 2006.


Theatrical films

In 1998, the first Rugrats film was released, entitled The Rugrats Movie, which introduced baby Dil, Tommy's little brother, onto the show. In 2000 the second movie, Rugrats in Paris, was released, with two new characters introduced, Kimi and Kira. Kimi would become Chuckie's sister and Kira would become his new mother, after marrying his father. In 2003, the third movie, Rugrats Go Wild, was released. It was a crossover between the Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys.

Reception

In a 1995 interview Steven Spielberg referred to Rugrats as one of several shows that are the best children's programming at the time. Spielberg described Rugrats as "sort of a TV Peanuts of our time."[2] It was named the 92nd best animated series by IGN.[3]

Episodes

Main article: List of Rugrats episodes

Other projects

Main article: All Grown Up!
Main article: Angelica and Susie's Pre-School Daze

DVD Release

Nickelodeon and Amazon.com have struck a deal to produce DVDs of new and old Nickelodeon shows, through the CreateSpace service. Using a concept similar to print on demand, Amazon will be making the discs, cover art, and disc art itself. The first and second seasons of Rugrats are on sale.[4]

Broadcast history

  • Flag of Argentina Argentina
    • The Big Channel
    • Magic Kids
    • Nickelodeon
    • Canal 9

Awards

Year Association Award Category Result
1993 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Children's Program Won
1995 Annie Award Best Individual Achievement for Writing in the Field of Animation Nominated
1996 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Cartoon Won
1997 Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Program Nominated
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Cartoon Won
1998 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Cartoon Won
1999 Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Program Nominated
Genesis Award Television - Children's Programming Won
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Cartoon Won
World Animation Celebration Best Director of Animation for a Daytime Series Won
2000 Artios Award Best Casting for Animated Voice Over - Television Nominated
Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Program Nominated
2001 Artios Award Best Casting for Animated Voice Over - Television Nominated
Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Program Nominated
2002 Artios Award Best Casting for Animated Voice Over - Television Nominated
Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Program Nominated
2003 Artios Award Best Casting for Animated Voice Over - Television Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Children's Program Won
2004 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Children's Program Nominated

Video games

See also

Nickelodeon portal

References

  1. ^ a b TV.com
  2. ^ "Spielberg Toons in." TV Guide. October 28, 1995. 33.
  3. ^ "92, Rugrats". IGN. 2009-01-23. http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/92.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-23. 
  4. ^ "Rugrats DVD news: Pre-order - Season 1 from Amazon". TV Shows on DVD. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Season-1/11806. 

External links

Search Wikiquote Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Rugrats
v • d • e
Rugrats and All Grown Up!
Characters
Movies
Episodes
Klasky Csupo  · Wang Film Productions  · Anivision  · Nickelodeon
v • d • e
SNICK and TEENick television series
1989–1994
1996–2003
2004–2009
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