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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
File:Rugrats-logo.jpg
Title card
GenreAnimation / Comedy / Family / Fantasy
Created byArlene Klasky
Gabor Csupo
Paul Germain
Written byJoe 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 byHoward Baker
Rick Bugental
Jim Duffy
Steve Moore
Steve Socki
Dan Thompson
Norton Virgien
Dave Fontana
Tony Vian
Louie del Carmen
Chris Hermans
Anthony Bell
Bob Fuentes III
Carol Millican
Creative directorPaul Germain
Voices ofE.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 composerMark Mothersbaugh
Opening themeThe Rugrats Theme
Ending themeThe Rugrats Theme (Speed Up and Remixed)
ComposersMark Mothersbaugh
Bob Mothersbaugh
Denis Hannigan
Rusty Andrews
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons9 seasons
No. of episodes351 episodes
(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersVanessa Coffey
Gabor Csupo
Arlene Klasky
ProducersCella Nichols Harris
Geraldine Clarke
David Blum
Paul Germain
Kate Boutilier
Production locationUniversal Studios Florida
CinematographyAnimation
EditorsKarl Garabedian
John Bryant
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time22-24 minutes
Production companyKlasky Csupo
Original release
NetworkNickelodeon
ReleaseAugust 11, 1991 (1991-08-11) –
June 8, 2004 (2004-06-08)
Related
Angelica and Susie's Pre-School Daze
(2005-2008)

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 focuses on four babies and their day-to-day lives, usually involving common life experiences that become adventures in the babies' imaginations. It was one of the first three Nicktoons and also aired on Nick Jr. in 1995.

Premise

The show originally revolved around a group of children, including infant Thomas "Tommy" Pickles (whose family moved from Akron, Ohio to their current location in California[1]), toddler Charles "Chuckie" Finster, and the twin-infants 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.[2]

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.[2]

Characters

Main article: List of Rugrats characters
File:Rugrats.JPG
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 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. 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. On August 11, 2011 the Rugrats will be celebrating its 20 year anniversary to celebrate its 20th birthday.

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."[3] It was named the 92nd best animated series by IGN.[4]

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

Nick DVD name Release date Discs Episodes
Season 1 (1991–92) June 2, 2009 3 13
Season 2 (1992–93) June 2, 2009 3 13

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.[5]

Broadcast history

Awards

The Rugrats' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Year Association Award Category Result
1992 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Program Won
1993 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Children's Program Won
1994 CableAce Animated Programming Special or Series Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Children's Program Won
1995 Annie Award Best Individual Achievement for Writing in the Field of Animation Nominated
Humanitas Prize Children's Animation Category 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
Humanitas Prize Children's Animation Category Won
Humanitas Prize Children's Animation Category Nominated
TV Guide Award Favorite Children's Show Nominated
World Animation Celebration Best Director of Animation for a Daytime Series Won
2000 Artios Award Best Casting for Animated Voice Over - Television Nominated
Kid's Choice Awards Favorite Cartoon Won
Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Program Nominated
TV Guide Award Favorite Children's Show Won
2001 Artios Award Best Casting for Animated Voice Over - Television Nominated
Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Program Nominated
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Cartoon Won
Television Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming Nominated
2002 Artios Award Best Casting for Animated Voice Over - Television Nominated
Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Program Nominated
Kid's Choice Awards Favorite Cartoon Won
2003 Artios Award Best Casting for Animated Voice Over - Television Nominated
Kid's Choice Awards Favorite Cartoon Won
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Children's Program Won
2004 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Children's Program Nominated

Video games

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rugrats Episode Guide (1993)". Rugratonline.com. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  2. ^ a b TV.com
  3. ^ "Spielberg Toons in." TV Guide. October 28, 1995. 33.
  4. ^ "92, Rugrats". IGN. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  5. ^ "Rugrats DVD news: Pre-order - Season 1 from Amazon". TV Shows on DVD. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Rugrats.

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