Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain. The show focuses on a group of toddlers, most prominently Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, twins Phil and Lil, Susie, then later Dil and Kimi and their day-to-day lives, usually involving common life experiences that become adventures in the babies' imaginations.[1] [2] Adults in the series are almost always unaware of what the children are up to.
The series premiered on August 11, 1991, as the second Nicktoon after Doug and preceding The Ren & Stimpy Show. Production initially halted in 1993 after 65 episodes and Germain left the series,[3] with the last episode airing on November 12, 1994. In 1995 and 1996, two Jewish-themed specials premiered; "A Rugrats Passover" and "A Rugrats Chanukah", respectively, both of which received critical acclaim. During this time, well after the end of the show's production run, Rugrats began to receive a boost in ratings and popularity with constant reruns on Nickelodeon and the Nick Jr block. In 1996, Klasky Csupo Animation began producing new episodes with a new writing staff,[4] and the show's fourth season began airing in 1997. As a result of the show's popularity, a series of theatrical films were released. The final episode aired on August 1, 2004,[5] bringing the series to a total of 172 episodes and 9 seasons during a 13-year run.
On July 21, 2001, Nickelodeon broadcast the made-for-TV special "All Growed Up" in celebration of the series' 10th anniversary. Though initially intended as a one-time special, it was popular enough that it acted as a pilot for the Rugrats spin-off series All Grown Up!, which chronicles the lives of the characters after they age 10 years. Another spin-off series, Rugrats Pre-School Daze, was considered, with four episodes produced. Two direct-to-video specials were released in 2005 and 2006, under the title Rugrats Tales from the Crib. Tie-in media for the series include video games, comics, toys, and various other merchandise.
Rugrats gained over 20 awards during its 13-year run, including 4 Daytime Emmy Awards, 6 Kids' Choice Awards, and its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The series was Nickelodeon's longest-running Nicktoon until 2012 when SpongeBob SquarePants aired its 173rd episode, and is currently Nickelodeon's third longest-running Nicktoon, behind SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly OddParents.
On July 16, 2018, it was announced that Nickelodeon had given a series order to a 26-episode revival of the series, executive produced by Klasky, Csupo, and Germain.[6] [7]
This is the final season of which Sherry Gunther was executive in charge of production.
After Sherry Gunther left Klasky-Csupo, Terry Thoren takes over as executive in charge of production in 1994.
In the United States, episodes 127 to 130 were held over from this season and ended up airing during Season 7.
During season 7, Rugrats made a change with a different format that consisted of three segments per episode. Additionally, all half-hour stories from this point on had two ad breaks instead of one.
The original two-segment format for Rugrats was brought back in season 8. However, the half-hour episodes retain having two commercial breaks.
From 1993 to 1996, Nickelodeon Home Video and Sony Wonder released six VHS tapes of the series.
Nickelodeon and Amazon.com produce DVDs of new and old Nickelodeon shows through the CreateSpace service. Using a concept similar to print on demand, Amazon manufactures the discs, cover art, and disc art., Seasons 1-9 were available., the Amazon.com releases have been discontinued.[8]
In Australia, Beyond Home Entertainment has released all 9 seasons on DVD.
In May 2017, Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution released Seasons 1 and 2 on DVD.[9] In February 2018, Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution released Seasons 3 and 4 on DVD.[10] On May 18, 2021, Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment released Rugrats: The Complete Series on DVD.[11]
+Rugrats home media releases | Season | Title | Format | Release dates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Region 4 | ||||||
1 | Road Trip | VHS | June 13, 1995 | |||
Tommy Troubles | VHS | October 15, 1996 February 25, 1997 October 7, 1997 September 8, 1998 | ||||
Tales from the Crib | VHS | August 31, 1993 October 15, 1996 October 7, 1997 | ||||
A Baby's Gotta Do What a Baby's Gotta Do | VHS | August 31, 1993 October 15, 1996 October 7, 1997 | ||||
Season 1 | DVD | June 2, 2009 | December 4, 2013 | |||
May 2, 2017 | ||||||
Outdoor Shenanigans! | DVD | July 8, 2014 | ||||
The Complete Series | DVD | May 18, 2021 | October 31, 2017 | |||
2 | Mushfest | VHS | January 18, 1994 | |||
Tommy Troubles | VHS | October 15, 1996 February 25, 1997 October 7, 1997 | ||||
Tales from the Crib | VHS | August 31, 1993 October 15, 1996 October 7, 1997 | ||||
A Baby's Gotta Do What a Baby's Gotta Do | VHS | August 31, 1993 October 15, 1996 October 7, 1997 | ||||
Chuckie the Brave | VHS | April 12, 1994 October 15, 1996 October 7, 1997 September 8, 1998 | ||||
The Santa Experience | VHS | August 30, 1994 October 15, 1996 October 7, 1997 September 8, 1998 August 29, 2000 (English/French/Spanish) | ||||
Angelica the Divine | VHS | April 12, 1994 October 15, 1996 October 7, 1997 September 8, 1998 | ||||
Grandpa's Favorite Stories | VHS | February 25, 1997 October 7, 1997 | ||||
Diapered Duo | VHS | January 13, 1998 | ||||
Mommy Mania | VHS | April 7, 1998 | ||||
Decade in Diapers: Volume 1 | VHS | August 7, 2001 | ||||
Decade in Diapers | DVD | September 24, 2002 | ||||
Nick Picks Holiday | DVD | September 26, 2006 | ||||
Season 2 | DVD | May 9, 2014 | December 4, 2013 | |||
May 2, 2017 | ||||||
The Complete Series | DVD | May 18, 2021 | October 31, 2017 | |||
3 | Phil and Lil, Double Trouble | VHS | October 15, 1996 February 25, 1997 October 7, 1997 | |||
Passover | VHS | February 20, 1996 October 15, 1996 | ||||
Grandpa's Favorite Stories | VHS | February 25, 1997 October 7, 1997 | ||||
Bedtime Bash | VHS | October 7, 1997 | ||||
Thanksgiving | VHS | October 21, 1997 September 8, 1998 | ||||
Season 3 | DVD | September 23, 2011 | April 2, 2014 | |||
February 6, 2018 | ||||||
The Complete Series | DVD | May 18, 2021 | October 31, 2017 | |||
4 | Vacation | VHS | July 8, 1997 August 29, 2000 (English/French/Spanish) | |||
Thanksgiving | VHS | October 21, 1997 | ||||
Chanukah | VHS | October 7, 1997 | ||||
Mommy Mania | VHS | April 7, 1998 | ||||
Angelica Knows Best | VHS | June 9, 1998 | ||||
Decade in Diapers | DVD | September 24, 2002 | ||||
Holiday Celebration | DVD | August 31, 2004 | ||||
Season 4 | DVD | September 23, 2011 | June 4, 2014 | |||
February 6, 2018 | ||||||
The Complete Series | DVD | May 18, 2021 | October 31, 2017 | |||
5 | Dr. Tommy Pickles | VHS | January 13, 1998 August 29, 2000 (English/French/Spanish) | |||
Season 5 | DVD | October 4, 2011 | June 4, 2014 | |||
The Complete Series | DVD | May 18, 2021 | October 31, 2017 | |||
6 | Runaway Reptar | VHS | August 3, 1999 | |||
Make Room for Dil | VHS | October 5, 1999 | ||||
I Think I Like You | VHS | January 11, 2000 | ||||
Discover America | VHS | May 5, 2000 | ||||
Decade in Diapers: Volume 1 | VHS | August 7, 2001 | ||||
Decade in Diapers | DVD | September 24, 2002 | ||||
The Show Must Go On | DVD | September 27, 2004 | ||||
VHS | ||||||
Season 6 | DVD | October 6, 2011 | June 4, 2014 | |||
The Complete Series | DVD | May 18, 2021 | October 31, 2017 | |||
Outdoor Shenanigans! | DVD | July 8, 2014 | ||||
Reptar Returns! | DVD | |||||
7 | Decade in Diapers: Volume 2 | VHS | August 7, 2001 | |||
Kwanzaa | VHS | September 25, 2001 | ||||
Decade in Diapers | DVD | September 24, 2002 | ||||
Nick Picks #1 | DVD | May 5, 2005 | ||||
Season 7 | DVD | October 6, 2011 | December 3, 2014 | |||
The Complete Series | DVD | May 18, 2021 | October 31, 2017 | |||
8 | All Growed Up | VHS | August 7, 2001 | |||
Easter | VHS | February 5, 2002 | ||||
Halloween | VHS | August 27, 2002 | ||||
DVD | September 20, 2011 | |||||
Mysteries | DVD | January 28, 2003 | ||||
VHS | ||||||
Nicktoons Halloween | DVD | August 26, 2003 | ||||
Halloween Spooky Stories | DVD | October 17, 2005 | ||||
Nick Picks #2 | DVD | October 18, 2005 | ||||
Season 8 | DVD | October 6, 2011 | December 3, 2014 | |||
The Complete Series | DVD | May 18, 2021 | October 31, 2017 | |||
9 | Christmas | VHS | September 24, 2002 | |||
Nicktoons Christmas | DVD | September 30, 2003 | ||||
Holiday Celebration | DVD | August 31, 2004 | ||||
Season 9 | DVD | May 9, 2014 | December 3, 2014 | |||
The Complete Series | DVD | May 18, 2021 | October 31, 2017 |
These movies are direct-to-DVD movies that are part of the Rugrats series.
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
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See main article: Rugrats (film series).