Rugrats History

RUGRATS HISTORY
Rugrats was created by Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo, owners of the animation company, Klasky Csupo. Csupo grew up in Hungary where he attended art school and studied animation. He met and married his wife, Arlene Klasky in Sweden in 1975. Klasky was also an artist and together they formed the company, Klasky Csupo, in 1982. The company’s first popular cartoon was “The Simpsons”, which they animated for FOX Television Network’s first three seasons of the series. The Simpsons was such a hit that Nickelodeon asked Klasky Csupo to suggest some original ideas for cartoons in 1990.

A TV writer named Paul Germain, was hired by Klasky Csupo to help create new shows. One night Arlene Klasky called Germain about an idea she had for a show. Klasky’s idea was to create a show about a baby’s view of life, and Rugrats was born. Germain added the concept that the babies could talk, but only to each other.

The first Rugrats character was Tommy, named after Germain’s son. He was also inspired by Klasky and Csupo’s own son, Brandon Csupo, since Csupo drew Tommy to look like Brandon. Klasky drew Phil, Lil and grandparents Boris and Minka. It is said that these Rugrats characters were based on Klasky’s Russian relatives. An artist by the name of Peter Chung drew Angelica and Spike the dog. Csupo drew the rest of the Rugrat’s main characters. The background music for the Rugrats was produced by Mark Motherbaugh, a former group member of the 1980’s group, “Devo”.

Rugrats first premiered on Nickelodeon in 1991 and has become one of the most popular cartoon programs on television. “The Rugrats Movie” was released in 1998, which introduced the Rugrat, “Baby Dil”. The next Rugrats movie, “Rugrats in Paris” was introduced in 2000. Rugrats has also received several awards for its excellence in animation, including two Emmys and one Cable Ace Award. The 2000-2001 television season is the sixth year for Rugrats.

Main Rugrats Characters:
  • Tommy is the leader of the Rugrats and also the big brother of the Rugrat, Baby Dil. Tommy is one year old and wears a diaper and a blue shirt. His best friends are Spike and Chuckie. Tommy is not afraid of anything and likes to go on adventures, taking along an unwilling Chuckie, Phil and Lil.
  • Chuckie is the “fraidy cat” Rugrat and is afraid of almost everything. He is two years old, has bright red hair, and square glasses. Chuckie is constantly worried about the bad things that might happen to him and his friends and never stops complaining.
  • Angelica is Tommy’s cousin. She is three years old, bossy, spoiled and mean. She spends most of her time trying to bully the other Rugrats while trying to convince grown ups that she is sweet and innocent. Her parents spoil her and she always finds a way to get what she wants. Angelica is three years old.
  • Other Rugrats include three month old Baby Dil, the little brother of Tommy; the Rugrats fraternal twins, Phil and Lil, who are one and a quarter years old; Susie, the three year old Rugrat who stands up for the babies; and Spike, the Rugrats dog.

Other interesting Rugrats trivia:

  • Rugrats first movie, “The Rugrats Movie”, grossed 140 million dollars in 1999.
  • As of April 2001, “Rugrats in Paris: The Movie” had earned more than $60 million.
  • According to an April 2001 press release, Rugrats finished its fourth straight year as the Number One rated kids program on broadcast and cable. In addition, Rugrats has been the highest rated kids show on cable television for seven straight years and is the highest rated property among all kids programs for both Boys 2-11 and Girls 2-11. Rugrats is the most watched program on Nickelodeon and reaches a total of 26.7 million viewers each week. This includes 14.7 million Kids 2-11, 3.2 million teens 12-17, and 8.8 million Adults 18+.
  • During 2001, Nichelodeon will celebrate Rugrats’ 10 year anniversary.
  • A home video titled "Decade in Diapers", Rugrats' 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition featuring kids' 10 favorite episodes, will become available in summer of 2001.
  • Embassy Suites Hotels contracted with Nickelodeon for a three-year $20 million dollar advertising promotion in 2001. The first co-branded initiative to kick off in the summer of 2001 is Embassy Suites Hotels' summer retail promotion geared towards families, will feature a Nickelodeon theme, including Rugrats games and merchandise. To help celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Rugrats television show, each family will receive a Nickelodeon premium offering upon check-in at an Embassy Suites Hotel. Embassy Suites Hotels' Nickelodeon-themed Rugrats promotion will be supported on air on Nickelodeon as well as other print cable and broadcast outlets targeted to adults.

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