List of VeggieTales characters
![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
No issues specified. Please specify issues, or remove this template. |
This is a list of characters that appear in the animated series VeggieTales.
Primary characters
Bob the Tomato
Bob the Tomato (introduced 1993) is usually the "straight man" in his partnership with Larry the Cucumber (the "Costello" of the pair), as they introduce many of the stories at the beginning and wrap-up the Biblical lesson at the end of most of the shows. He also plays many character roles in the story segments, some of which are in contrast to his more mature persona, which Phil Vischer called "my inner Mr. Rogers".[1] He first appeared in 1993 in Big Idea's first video, Where's God When I'm S-Scared?. In it, he and Larry set the opening format which has largely become a VeggieTales standard, where a letter is read from a viewer by the duo on a kitchen counter (which serves as a sort of stage). In this show, Bob played himself in the first of the two 15-minute segment titled "Tales from the Crisper", comforting a frightened Junior Asparagus with the cheerful song, "God is Bigger." The end of this episode started a running gag in which Bob is annoyed by the "What Have We Learned" end-of-episode song, impatiently waiting until it is over so that he can ask Qwerty what they've learned today.
Though a convincing and easily identifiable anthropomorphic tomato from the start, his animation evolved over time to make him first more tomato-like, and later more cartoony. While in the first episodes Bob was very elastic in his animation, distorting himself significantly, this tendency was toned down greatly, giving him a more of a fruit-like consistency. Artistic changes were made as well: Bob's body became smaller in proportion to his face and more round, his skin became less shiny and more brightly red, eventually developing a smooth glow which was more stylistic. With improving technology at the disposal of Big Idea's artists, such as Maya, Bob's skin became gradually less angular, and the polygons that made his shell essentially disappeared. Phil Vischer's voice acting for Bob has taken a slightly higher pitch, although not nearly as significantly as Mike Nawrocki's changes in voice acting for Larry.
Bob is voiced by VeggieTales co-creator Phil Vischer.
Larry the Cucumber
Larry the Cucumber (introduced 1993) partners with his best friend Bob as the wacky sidekick hosting the videos. Larry also plays numerous and varied roles throughout the series and becomes the central character in the series in later episodes. Larry also stars in a spinoff role as the comical superhero Larry-Boy in computer-animated and traditionally animated adventures. His most notable role, however, is the host of a short, recurring musical segment entitled Silly Songs with Larry, in which Larry performs humorous musical numbers of various style and content. He also has a major recurring role as "Elliot", one of the The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, appearing in as the character in several episodes as well as both VeggieTales movies.
Larry was first used by Vischer to make a short film called "Mr. Cuke's Screen Test" in 1989 and this film inspired Vischer and Mike Nawrocki to create VeggieTales. Larry's onscreen debut was in Big Idea's first video, called Where's God When I'm S-Scared? In this first episode, he was the source of most of the jokes, including physical gags and silly dialogue. The video also introduced "Silly Songs with Larry", in which he wore an oversized cowboy hat and sang "The Water Buffalo Song." The Silly Song segment, placed between halves of the traditionally half-hour long story, became a very popular staple of VeggieTales entertainment. Larry is the only character to have appeared in every single VeggieTales episode (to date).
One of the most notable differences between the Larry of Where's God When I'm S-Scared? and more recent videos is the range of his voice. While Nawrocki has always performed Larry's voice, early shows were voiced with a broad vocal range, from Nawrocki's natural tenor to well above. Starting with Are You My Neighbor?, that range was limited in scope to the upper range and included a slight lisp, giving Larry a more youthful and sillier sound. Gradually, Larry's speech became more normal, at about the time of the making of the film King George and the Ducky. Like Bob, Larry's appearance has also changed over the years. In the first twelve episodes, his skin was a shiny, darker green color meant to imitate realistic cucumber skin. However, since the episode Esther...The Girl Who Became Queen, Larry's skin has become a much brighter and lighter shade of green. In significant part, the improvements to Larry's appearance are due to the animator's use of Maya software.
Larry is one of the only Veggies to have spoken about, and seen with, his family. He talks about his Aunt Ruth in Dave and the Giant Pickle's Silly Song, "I Love My Lips," in Josh and the Big Wall's Silly Song, "Song of the Cebu". In Duke and the Great Pie War, he says that he has three brothers named Bob, Mark, and Steve, with Bob being the oldest. At the end of the show, the brothers join Bob and Larry and perform the "What Have We Learned" song. Larry has said that his father is an astronaut.
Larry is voiced by VeggieTales co-creator Mike Nawrocki.
Junior Asparagus
Junior Asparagus (introduced 1993) is one of the most active co-stars of the VeggieTales series and is a typical child. Junior has taken a lead or title role in several videos, including Where's God When I'm S-Scared?, Dave and the Giant Pickle, King George and the Ducky, Lyle the Kindly Viking, Larry-Boy! And the Fib from Outer Space!, and Lord of the Beans. He is also a member of the boy band "Boyz in the Sink", along with Larry, Mr. Lunt, and Jimmy Gourd, which have appeared in several Silly Songs. Junior can also frequently seen in videos with his parents, named simply "Dad and Mom Asparagus".
In the initial episodes, Junior was as much a main character as Bob or Larry, having a starring role in at least one segment in every episode - even appearing alongside Bob in Josh and the Big Wall and Abe and the Amazing Promise where he replaced Larry on the sink counter and interacted with the story's characters. Although as the series has evolved, his role has become less pronounced (such that Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen would become the first episode in which Junior did not make an appearance), Junior continues to be featured prominently with leading roles in such movies as Lyle the Kindly Viking, The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's, and Lord of the Beans.
Junior is voiced by Lisa Vischer, wife of Phil Vischer.
Archibald Asparagus
Archibald Asparagus (introduced 1993) appears in the stereotypical role of a stuffy, classically-educated "adult" contrasting with the rest of his co-stars. Archibald has a pronounced British accent and a monocle, with a demeanor similar to Graham Chapman's sergeant-major character from Monty Python's Flying Circus or Sam the Eagle from The Muppet Show. In earlier shows, Archibald had a more pronounced British accent with a side-mouth and no glass in his monocle, but the glass was added when the VeggieTales animators started using Maya software. Archibald first appeared in Where's God When I'm S-Scared?, where he played King Darius in the Daniel and the Lion's Den segment and interrupted the Silly Song, The Water Buffalo Song. Archibald has a reoccurring role as Larry-Boy's butler, Alfred. He also sang the Silly Song, The Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo and was the title character in Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie. Contrasting with some of the other Veggies, Archie's 3D-animated depiction has remained generally the same over the years, except that the vectors have become less sharp with rising CG technology.
Archibald is voiced by VeggieTales co-creator Phil Vischer.
Mr. Lunt
Mr. Lunt (introduced 1995) is a decorative gourd[2] who grew up in New Jersey and speaks with an Italian or Hispanic accent. He often appears as Mr. Nezzer's assistant, and they debuted together in Rack, Shack, and Benny. Mr. Lunt appears as one of "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" as well as the "Boyz in the Sink". In addition to his "Boyz" songs, Mr. Lunt has gotten two of his own Silly Songs ("His Cheeseburger" & "Doughnuts for Benny"). A notable feature is his lack of eyes and often wears a hat and uses the brim of the hat or his eyebrows for expression.
Mr. Lunt is voiced by Phil Vischer.
Jimmy and Jerry Gourd
Jimmy and Jerry Gourd (introduced 1995) are brothers and appear as a secondary comic duo. While Bob and Larry can be considered animated versions of Abbott and Costello, Jimmy (the orange gourd) and Jerry (the yellow gourd) might more closely resemble Tweedledee and Tweedledum. The pair debuted together in Are You My Neighbor? which established that they love to eat. Jimmy is a member and of the boy band "Boyz in the Sink" while Jerry appears with Mr. Lunt in the Silly Song "His Cheeseburger" (furthering his reputation as loving to eat). Together the pair did musical commentary in Sweetpea Beauty: A Girl After God's Own Heart.
Jimmy and Jerry are voiced respectively by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki.
Laura and The Carrot Family
Laura and the Carrot Family (introduced 1995) are baby carrots. Laura, the primary family member seen in VeggieTales episodes, debuted in The Story of Flibber-o-loo from "Are You My Neighbor?" and is usually shown as Junior's best friend. While Laura is seen alone in several episodes, the other members of the Carrot family, including older brother Lenny and younger brother Baby Lou, never appear without Laura. Laura's family (alongside Laura) also debuted briefly in the Are You My Neighbor? video "The Story of Flibber-o-loo" (as citizens of Jibberty Lot) and returned in larger roles in The Toy That Saved Christmas.
Laura Carrot has been voiced by Kristin Blegen, Jackie Ritz and Keri Pisapia and Lenny Carrot has been voiced by both Natalia Lozano and Briget Miller.
Madame Blueberry
As her name implies, Madame Blueberry (introduced 1998) is a blueberry with a French accent and first appeared as the title character in Madame Blueberry. Both her name and the theme of this video are obvious allusions to the tale of Madame Bovary, who also seeks to spend beyond her means in order to find happiness. Although a blueberry, she is similar in size to Bob the Tomato and much larger than the similarly-sized-in-real-life French Peas. Madame Blueberry has a reoccurring role as the Mayor of Bumblyburg in the Larry-Boy videos.
Madame Blueberry has been voiced by Megan Moore Burns and Giselle Bock, but is currently voiced by Megan Murphy.
Petunia Rhubarb
Petunia Rhubarb (introduced 2005) is a red-headed rhubarb, but looks little like her namesake. Petunia is often seen with Larry as his love interest and first appeared in Duke and the Great Pie War in playing the part of Princess Petunia, the scorned "Ruth" figure waiting to be redeemed by Larry's "Boaz". Petunia has also sang alongside Larry in the Silly Song, "SUV", and was featured in her own Silly Song "Where Have All The Staplers Gone?" on the video Pistachio - The Little Boy That Woodn't.
Petunia Rhubarb is voiced by Cydney Trent.
Pa Grape
Pa Grape (introduced 1994) is, as his name suggests, an elderly-looking grape with glasses who has a Yiddish accent. Pa made his first appearance in God Wants Me to Forgive Them!?! as is the father of Tom and Rosie Grape and husband of Ma Grape. Although "son" Tom has made two more appearances (in Dave and the Giant Pickle and Josh and the Big Wall), Rosie has not appeared in any further videos. It is believed that Sarah is played by Ma in "Abe and the Amazing Promise". Pa has a reoccurring role as the captain of the "Pirates Who Don't Do Anything", along with Larry and Mr. Lunt. Pa Grape typically appears as a wise, father figure such as Jesse in Dave and the Giant Pickle, Little Joe's father in The Ballad of Little Joe, cousin Mordecai in Esther… The Girl Who Became Queen and the angel sent to guide Gideon in Gideon: Tuba Warrior.
Pa Grape is voiced by Phil Vischer
Mr. Nezzer
Mr. Nezzer (introduced 1995) is a zucchini who frequently takes the villain roles in the VeggieTales videos. Mr. Nezzer made his debut in Rack, Shack, and Benny as "Nebby K. Nezzer" (an allusion to Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon) the owner of a chocolate bunny factory who creates an idol that he wants everyone to worship. In The Toy That Saved Christmas, Mr. Nezzer plays Nebby's brother "Wally P. Nezzer", again with side-kick and chief trouble-maker Mr. Lunt. In The Star of Christmas and An Easter Carol, he is "Ebenezer Nezzer" (an allusion to Ebenezer Scrooge) who owns a theatre and an Easter egg factory respectively. In addition to his roles as the villain, Mr. Nezzer usually appears as the leader in VeggieTales videos such as his role as the King Xerxes of Persia character in Esther… The Girl Who Became Queen, Olaf the lead Viking in Lyle the Kindly Viking, and the Mayor of Dodgeball City in The Ballad of Little Joe and Moe and the Big Exit.
Mr. Nezzer is voiced by Phil Vischer.
The French Peas
Headed by Philippe and Jean-Claude, the French Peas (introduced 1996) are a group of Monty Python-esque green peas with similar broken French accents (that seem to also harken back to Maurice Chevalier). The Peas are often portrayed as villains, albeit agitating ones as opposed to menacing. Like the French soldiers in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the French Peas often taunt passersby with strange, nonsensical threats which fits their overall "yapping little dog" personas. The French Peas first appeared playing the Philistines in Dave and the Giant Pickle. In this episode we also learn the name of a third brother, Christophe. The French Peas should not be confused with the more ordinary peas who frequently appear as background characters or children such as their role alongside monk Pa Grape in Lyle the Kindly Viking.
Philippe and Jean-Claude are voiced respectively by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki. Christophe is voiced by Chris Olsen, a former narrator. Numerous voice actors have played other French Peas, including animator Brian K. Roberts.
Qwerty
Qwerty (introduced 1993) is the desktop computer seen on the kitchen counter which Bob and Larry use to read the Bible verse at the end of each show. Though Qwerty is not alive per se, it does have certain anthropomorphic characteristics, including responsory noises and voice activation. Qwerty's name comes from the first six letters on a standard English keyboard. In every episode, Bob says "We're over here by Qwerty to talk about what we learned today..." to which voices start to sing the "What We Learned Today" song. Qwerty is not always perfect, as you expect from a computer. In the first episode "Where's God When I'm S-Scared?", he accidentally posted a meatloaf recipe instead of a verse, after which his screen drooped into a frown shape. According to Phil Vischer, the original design for Qwerty was an Intel 80386 model computer. Qwerty was slightly updated in Abe and the Amazing Promise, giving two verses instead of one, and got a more "life-changing" update in the episode Pistachio - The Little Boy That Woodn't and now has his own voice. The design of the new update is reminiscent of an Apple iMac, and even has a similar-looking interface to Mac OS X.
Qwerty is voiced by Mike Nawrocki.
Secondary characters
The Scallions
The Scallions (introduced 1993) are a trio of often devious green scallions who are led by the tallest member. They debuted as the wisemen opposite Larry's "Daniel" in the second act of the video Where's God When I'm S-Scared? and are often cast as antagonists when seen either separately or together. In the Silly Songs "The Yodeling Veterinarian Of The Alps", "Listen", and "A Helping Hand", they appear as 3/4 of the barbershop quartet (along with Frankencelery) that narrates the songs.
Scallion #1 is voiced by Phil Vischer, Scallion #2 is voiced by Mike Nawrocki, and Scallion #3 has been voiced by Mike Sage and Brian Roberts.
Scallion #1
Scallion #1 (introduced 1993) is the British-accented leader of The Scallions. Along with Mr. Nezzer and Mr. Lunt, Scallion #1 is one of the most consistent villains in VeggieTales. He first appeared apart from the other scallions in "The Forgive-o-Matic" as a devious salesman. In the Silly Song Larry's High Silk Hat from Lyle the Kindly Viking, he complains that he has never been given a name despite being in the first episode, saying, "They've never given me a name. I've been around since show one and I still don't have a name!"
Scallion #1 is voiced by Phil Vischer.
Dad and Mom Asparagus
Junior's father, Dad Asparagus, (introduced 1993) first appeared in Where's God When I'm S-Scared?. He often appears opposite Junior whenever a video requires a father figure. Seen less often, Junior's Mother, Mom Asparagus (introduced 1993), appears in the traditional mother role supporting Junior and also debuted in Where's God When I'm S-Scared?.
Dad Asparagus is voiced by Dan Anderson and Mom Asparagus has been voiced by Gail Bock, Lisa Vischer and Keri Pisapia.
Scooter
Scooter (introduced 1995), a carrot with a Scottish accent, first appeared as the engineer of the "USS Applepies" in "The Gourds Must Be Crazy" section of Are You My Neighbor? (a spoof of Scotty from the original Star Trek television series). Scooter also has a reoccurring role as a police officer in the three LarryBoy episodes. No matter which character he plays, Scooter maintains his original Scottish accent.
Scooter is voiced by Jim Poole.
Mabel and Penelope
Mabel and Penelope (introduced 1993) are a pear and an asparagus, respectively. Like Archibald, they have British accents, though unlike Archibald, theirs are cockney. The pair's first appearance was in Where's God When I'm S-Scared? as King Darius's maidservants. The pair are frequently seen together as secondary female characters such as wives to Mr. Nezzar and Jerry Gourd in Lyle The Kindly Viking.
Mabel and Penelope are voiced respectively by Pamela Thomas and Gail Bock.
Frankencelery
Frankencelery (introduced 1993) first appears in Where's God When I'm S-Scared? as Phil Winklestein, the star of the veggie horror film Frankencelery. Hailing from Toledo, Ohio, Frankencelery is a mild-mannered, high-voiced celery stalk who resembles the classic Frankenstein's monster but behaves more like Herman Munster. Frankencelery also sings the bass part of the barbershop quartet with The Scallions in The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps, "Listen" from "Larry Learns to Listen", and "A Helping Hand" from "Bob Lends a Helping Hand". Apparently Winkelstein actually sports purple eyelids, cervical electrodes, black hair, and a unibrow outside of his acting career, since in all of his appearances he is bedecked to resemble the classic Frankenstein's monster but behaves more like Herman Munster. He also appeared as a background citizen of Bumblyburg in Larry-Boy and the Fib from Outer Space!.
Frankencelery is voiced by Phil Vischer.
The Green Onions
The Green Onions (introduced 1996) consist of daughter Annie, her two parents, and Grandpa George. Grandpa George was the first Green Onion to be seen and made his debut in Rack, Shack, and Benny as the postman/episode narrator and has similar reoccurring roles as a narrator of VeggieTales episodes. Annie first appeared in The Toy That Saved Christmas, alongside Grandpa George who reprises his postman role, where it is revealed that they are related. Annie's parents first appeared, alongside Annie, in Madame Blueberry playing poor French green onions.
Annie Onion has been voiced by: Shelby Vischer, Phil Vischer's daughter; Allie Nawrocki, Mike Nawrocki's daughter; and is currently voiced by Maggie Roberts, Brian Roberts's daughter. Annie's parents are voiced by Phil and Lisa Vischer. Grandpa George is voiced by Phil Vischer.
Miss Achmetha
Miss Achmetha (introduced 2000) is a green onion who made her first appearance singing the song Lost Puppies in Esther… The Girl Who Became Queen. Miss Achmetha is known for her constantly twitching eye, her somewhat confused or annoyed demeanor, and her accordion, which she sometimes plays during her singing roles. She also sang the SUV song with Larry.
Miss Achmetha is voiced by Charlotte Jackson.
Khalil
Khalil (introduced 2001) is a half worm, half caterpillar who speaks with an Indian accent. Khalil first appeared in Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie as a rug salesman. He has a somewhat reoccurring role in the "Boyz in the Sink" Silly Songs.
Khalil is voiced by Tim Hodge.
Minor Characters
Archibald's Wife
Archibald's Wife (introduced 1994) is also an asparagus and first appeared in Larry's Lagoon as "Lovey". She is always cast alongside Archibald in a supporting role.
Archibald's Wife is voiced by G. Bock.
Tom Grape
Tom Grape (introduced 1993) is a grape and is Pa Grape's son. Tom made his first appearance in God Wants Me to Forgive Them!?!, along with the rest of his family. His only other appearances have been in Dave and the Giant Pickle and Josh and the Big Wall, both times alongside Pa Grape.
Tom Grape was voiced by Phil Vischer.
Charlie Pincher
Charlie Pincher (introduced 2002) is a young scallion who first appeared in The Star of Christmas and is usually cast as a secondary villain/bully opposite Laura Carrot or Junior Asparagus.
Charlie Pincher is voiced by Tim Hodge
The Peach
The Peach (introduced 1994) first appears in the Silly Song Where is My Hairbrush? and is only ever referred to by the rest of the cast as "the peach". He later appeared in the Oh, Santa! Silly Song in which he played an IRS agent. The running joke about The Peach is that he, unlike all the other characters, has hair. He was thus the obvious choice to play Samson in Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush, however he is seen only in still pictures throughout the show.
The Peach is voiced by Mike Nawrocki.
Don Gourdon
Don Gourdon (introduced 2005) (also called either Bobby or Chester) is one of the schoolyard bullies who is around Junior Asparagus' age. He first appeared in Bully Trouble, had a cameo in LarryBoy and the Bad Apple, and later appeared in The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's.
Don Gourdon is voiced by Brian K. Roberts.
Henry
Henry (introduced 1994) is a potato and first appeared in The Forgive-O-Matic. He also appears in The Forgive-O-Matic as a miner from West Virginia and as Po-Ta-To (a spoof of Mr T's character Clubber Lang from Rocky III) in the Sumo of the Opera.
Henry is voiced by Greg Whalen.
Art Bigotti
Asparagus by nature, Art Bigotti (introduced 1997) is a bowling champion. Although he has yet to have an individual speaking part and has only appeared in one VeggieTales episode, the Silly Song High Silk Hat, Art Bigotti has been mentioned in other episodes such as when Junior Asparagus unintentionally breaks his dad's rare "Art Bigotti limited edition collector's plate" in Larry-Boy and the Fib from Outer Space!.
Apollo Gourd
Apollo Gourd (introduced in 2001) is a massive yellow gourd who first appears in a non-speaking part in the Silly Song Larry's High Silk Hat wearing a "Gourd's Gym" tank top shirt. His next appearances were as King Twistomer of Ninevah in Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie and as himself in Sumo of the Opera where he plays the champion wrestler who goes up against the Itallion Scallion (Larry).
Apollo Gourd is voiced by Phil Vischer.
Goliath
Goliath (introduced 1996) is a gigantic pickle who is much larger than any other vegetable in the show. He first appeared as the "Goliath" figure alongside the French Peas in Dave and the Giant Pickle looking for an Israelite to fight. He also appeared in Madame Blueberry, on a background poster in which he is fighting the Fib from Larry-Boy and the Fib From Outer Space in a wrestling match, and in Josh and the Big Wall as the dad of a giant-pickle family that scared the Israelites out of the Promised Land.
Goliath is voiced by Phil Vischer.
The Ducks
A flock of three intelligent ducklings first appeared in Pistachio - The Little Boy That Woodn't as Gelato's pets. They also appear in Sweetpea Beauty as fashion designers working with the Blueberry Godmother to make Snooderella beautiful.
Buzz-Saw Louie
Buzz-Saw Louie (introduced 1996) is a wooden toy that looks like a little boy with a working buzzsaw on its right arm and is the main character in the The Toy That Saved Christmas. In Madame Blueberry, Louie can also seen in the background at the Stuff Mart store sitting on the rack of rubber balls near Junior Asperagus and his Dad.
Buzz-Saw Louie is voiced by Ken Cavanagh
Ellen
Ellen (introduced 2008), debuted in The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie, as Mr Lunt's girlfriend, and returned in "It's a Meaningful Life".
Ellen is voiced by Keri Pisapia.
Libby Asparagus
Libby Asparagus (introduced 2012) is Junior Asparagus's little sister and debuted as a character in the opening story, "Lenny and the Lost Birthday", of the Robin Good and The Not-So-Merry Men video. She the returned in the The Penniless Princess as Ermengarde.
Libby Asparagus is voiced by Megan Murphy.
Nicky
Nicky (introduced in 2009) is an orange pepper and first appeared as young Saint Nicholas (aka Little Nicky) in the Veggietales Christmas movie Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving.
Nicky is voiced by Gigi Abraham.
Esther
Esther (introduced 2000) has only appeared as the title character in Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen. Word has it that her hair was deemed too difficult to animate, requiring the introduction of another female lead which eventually became Petunia Rhubarb.
Esther was voiced by Jessica Kaplan (speaking voice) and Pamela Thomas (singing voice).
Notes
- ^ From Veggie to Jelly: A Interview with Phil Vischer - Idol Chatter, Interview, March 30, 2009
- ^ http://www.philvischer.com/ask-phil/