Rugrats

"Rugrats" redirects here. For other uses, see Rugrats (disambiguation).

Rugrats
File:Rugrats Cartoon Title Card.jpg Rugrats logo (1991-2000)
Created by	Arlene Klasky Gabor Csupo Paul Germain
Voices of	Elizabeth Daily Christine Cavanaugh Kath Soucie Cheryl Chase Tara Strong Cree Summer Dionne Quan Candi Milo Melanie Chartoff Jack Riley Michael Bell Tress MacNeille David Doyle Joe Alaskey Philip Proctor Julia Kato
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	12
No. of episodes	167 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time	22 minutes approx
Original release
Network	Nickelodeon
Release	August 11, 1991 – September 9, 2005

Rugrats is an Emmy- award winning American animated television series that ran on Nickelodeon for over 12 seasons starting in 1991, and was one of the first three Nicktoons.

Premise

The show revolves around four toddlers: Tommy Pickles; Chuckie Finster; and twins Phillip (Phil) and Lillian (Lil) DeVille, who are able to communicate to each other in baby-speak (although viewers can understand them because it is supposedly 'translated'). Often, they mispronounce words or use poor grammar. Despite the toddlers' inability and lack of desire to communicate with adults, they can understand their parents' speaking, although they often misunderstand what they hear, usually by taking metaphors literally and speaking in malapropisms. Angelica Pickles and Susie Carmichael are able to communicate with and understand language from both the toddlers and the adults, which Angelica often uses to her advantage when she wants to manipulate either party.

File:Rugrats Babies.jpg

The main characters of Rugrats. Clockwise from top: Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica (on chair), Lil, Phil, Dil, Kimi, and Susie.

Setting

The Rugrats is set in a seemingly everyday American community. However, it is never specifically stated which state they live in, probably due to the fact that the show is seen through the eyes of naive toddlers. In the early episodes Stu's brother Drew mentions Stu and Didi having just moved from Akron, Ohio to their present home somewhere in California

Several instances do, however, point out that the show is set somewhere in California. In one episode, Grandpa is seen driving the children to the museum in his car, which we see has California plates. Another episode shows the children at the library, which has the state of California's flag outside. Grandpa also has a bad dream, in which he says he isn't moving to California because of the Dust Bowl. Another episode shows two "valley dude" teenagers wanting to paint the Pickles' house "silver and black - Raiders Colors!" In one of the Rugrats comic books, Didi states that she talked to Mrs. Stimpleton (of another Nicktoons series, Rocket Power) and was convinced that Reggie Rocket would make a good babysitter. Rocket Power made no attempt to hide that it took place in California, so this could be further evidence of Rugrats' setting, though the comics may not be canon.

This is contradicted during "The Rugrats Movie" when Mr. Finster states, "I just saw the kids heading north on I-99." That is because I-99 is a route mainly in central Pennsylvania, with some exits in New York and Maryland. Another contradiction features the fathers getting excited, and choosing sides, for a Dallas vs. Houston football game, suggesting a Texas setting (although artistic license may be a factor here).

In one episode, Stu and Didi attempt to take Tommy and Angelica on a roadtrip to the Grand Canyon but end up at the "Clam Canyon" instead. The roadtrip through the desert suggests a California location or possibly Texas or other southwestern state. In another roadtrip episode, they accidentally leave Lou at a gas station causing Lou to get on the wrong family van and being dropped off at a fake "North of the Border" tourist site except with warm weather, another suggestion of a California location.

Production

File:Klasky Csupo logo.png

Klasky Csupo logo

It was the network's second Nicktoon. Klasky-Csupo was still working on The Simpsons when they started this show. 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, and it also aired on Nick Jr.'s block. It is the longest lasting Nicktoon to date, at thirteen years of longevity. Rugrats received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 28, 2001. Rugrats and Hey Arnold! also hold the record of longest Nicktoons, having its own movie and at least 100 episodes. Rugrats is currently brodcasted on "Nicktoons Network" Everyday Monday- Friday 7:00am and 7:30am, and Saturday and Sunday 5:00am and 5:30am.

The show airs in the UK on CITV and Nickelodeon UK as well as in Canada on YTV. In Australia, it can be seen on Nickelodeon Australia.

Episodes

Main article: List of Rugrats episodes

Season	Episodes	First Airdate	Last Airdate
Season 1	13	August 11, 1991	December 24, 1991
Season 2	12	????	??????
Season 3	13	??????	??????
Season 4	15	??????	??????
Season 5	15	??????	??????
Season 6	14	??????	??????
Season 7	12	??????	??????
Season 8	13	??????	??????
Season 9	19	??????	??????
Season 10	15	??????	??????
Season 11	17	??????	??????
Season 12	10	??????	??????

Characters

File:Carlitos Finster.JPG

Chuckie as seen in the Rugrats

Main article: List of Rugrats characters

The Babies:

• Tommy Pickles is the leader of the babies. He is a courageous baby, and always ready to have crazy adventures and explore new experiences.
• Chuckie Finster is Tommy's best friend, who is afraid of virtually everything.
• Phil and Lil DeVille are fraternal twins. They will eat just about anything, especially worms and insects.
• Angelica Pickles is Tommy's bossy and spoiled cousin. She loves fabricating elaborate lies that the babies and adults typically believe without a moment's hesitation. Her favorite pastime seems to be terrorizing the babies. She is violently passionate about sweets, especially chocolate and cookies. Acquiring these treats is the goal of many of her schemes.
• Susie Carmichael is Angelica's rival. She is African-American, and helps the babies in many of their quests, such as "defeating" Angelica.
• Dil Pickles is Tommy's younger brother. He always drools, breaks toys, and poops in his diaper. He can't walk or talk, but the babies still often take him on their adventures to keep him from feeling left out.
• Kimi Finster is Chuckie's step-sister, who is just as adventurous as Tommy. She loves her new big brother, and she is always ready to play with him.

Movies

File:TheRugratsMovieposter.jpg

The Rugrats 1st Movie

Theaters

• The Rugrats Movie (1998)
• Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000)
• Rugrats Go Wild (2003)

TV

• Runaway Reptar (2000)
• All Growed Up (2001)
• Acorn Nuts and Dipey Butts (2001)
• A Rugrats Kwanzaa (2001)
• Babies in Toyland!! (2002)

Spin-offs

• All Growned Up!
• Angelica and Susie's Pre-School Daze
• The Carmichaels was a spin-off planned to see Susie move away from California to Atlanta, where she apparently has relatives. However, it never made it beyond the pre-production stage.

Games

• Rugrats - Search for Reptar
• Rugrats - Studio Tour
• Rugrats in Paris the Movie - The Game
• Rugrats - Totally Angelica

See also

• List of Rugrats characters
• List of Rugrats episodes
• Klasky-Csupo

External links

• Official site
• Rugrats at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• Rugrats at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com show