Rugrats
Rugrats | |
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File:Rugrats-logo.jpg Title card | |
Genre | Animation / Comedy / Family / Fantasy |
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 Dave Fontana Tony Vian Louie del Carmen Chris Hermans Anthony Bell Bob Fuentes III Carol Millican |
Creative director | 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 | Mark Mothersbaugh |
Opening theme | The Rugrats Theme |
Ending theme | The Rugrats Theme (Speed Up and Remixed) |
Composers | Mark Mothersbaugh Bob Mothersbaugh Denis Hannigan Rusty Andrews |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 9 seasons |
No. of episodes | 351 episodes (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Vanessa Coffey Gabor Csupo Arlene Klasky |
Producers | Cella Nichols Harris Geraldine Clarke David Blum Paul Germain Kate Boutilier |
Production location | Universal Studios Florida |
Cinematography | Animation |
Editors | Karl Garabedian John Bryant |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 22-24 minutes |
Production company | Klasky Csupo |
Original release | |
Network | Nickelodeon |
Release | August 11, 1991 June 8, 2004 | –
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
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
Other projects
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
USA
- Nickelodeon (1991–2007)
- Nicktoons Network (2002–present)
- Fox Kids (1991-2002)
Canada
- Nickelodeon (2009–present)
- YTV
UK
- Children's BBC (Including Live & Kicking and Smile) (1993–2004)
- Nickelodeon (1994–2009)
- Nicktoons (2002–2008, September 2009–present)
- CITV (2005–2006)
- Nicktoonsters (August 2008-July 2009)
- Fox Kids (November 1996-December 2004)
Spain
Turkey
- CNBC-E
- Nickelodeon Turkey
- TRT
- Fox Kids (1996-2005)
Argentina
- The Big Channel
- Magic Kids
- Nickelodeon
- Canal 9
Australia
- Nickelodeon Australia (1995–present)
- ABC Television
- Network Ten
New Zealand
- Nickelodeon NZ (199?-present)
- TV2 (2003–present)
Ireland
- RTÉ Two (199?-present)
Malaysia
- Nickelodeon South East Asia
- TV3 (1992–1994)
- MetroVision (1996–1998)
- NTV7 (2001–2004)
Netherlands
- Nickelodeon
- Fox Kids (1997-2005)
Ukraine
Italy
Mexico
- Nickelodeon Latin America 1996 - 2006
- XHGC-TV Canal 5 (1997–2001), repeats episodes sometimes.
- Fox Kids (2000-2004)
Awards
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Rugrats_on_the_Hollywood_Walk_of_Fame.jpg/220px-Rugrats_on_the_Hollywood_Walk_of_Fame.jpg)
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
- Rugrats: Search for Reptar (PlayStation)
- Rugrats: Studio Tour (PlayStation)
- Rugrats: Scavenger Hunt (Nintendo 64)
- Rugrats in Paris - The Movie (Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, PC CD Rom, PlayStation)
- Rugrats: Totally Angelica (PlayStation, Game Boy Advance)
- Rugrats: Totally Angelica Boredom Busters (PC CD Rom)
- Rugrats: Go Wild (PC CD Rom, Game Boy Advance)
- Rugrats: All Growed Up - Older and Bolder (PC CD Rom)
- Rugrats: Castle Capers (Game Boy Advance)
- Rugrats: Royal Ransom (PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube)
- Rugrats: I Gotta Go Party (Game Boy Advance)
- Rugrats: The Movie (Game Boy Color)
- Rugrats: Time Travelers (Game Boy Color)
- Rugrats Activity Challenge (PC CD Rom)
- Rugrats Adventure Game (PC CD Rom)
- Rugrats Food Fight (Mobile Phone)
- Rugrats Muchin Land (PC CD Rom)
- The Rugrats Mystery Adventures (PC CD Rom)
- Rocket Power: Team Rocket Rescue (PlayStation) (Tommy & Angelica appear as guest characters)
- Nicktoons Racing (PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, Arcade) (Tommy and Angelica playable)
- Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots (Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance) (Tommy and Angelica are seen, but are not playable characters.)
- Nicktoons: The Videogame (possibly)
See also
References
- ^ "Rugrats Episode Guide (1993)". Rugratonline.com. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ^ a b TV.com
- ^ "Spielberg Toons in." TV Guide. October 28, 1995. 33.
- ^ "92, Rugrats". IGN. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
- ^ "Rugrats DVD news: Pre-order - Season 1 from Amazon". TV Shows on DVD. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- 1990s American animated television series
- 2000s American television series
- 1991 television series debuts
- 2004 American television series endings
- American children's television series
- YTV shows
- Rugrats and All Grown Up!
- Television shows set in California
- Nickelodeon shows
- Nick Jr. shows
- English-language television series
- 1990s Nickelodeon shows