Rugratsis returning to film with a new movie, though with live-action mixed with CGI to bring the toddlers to life – and that’s exactly what I’m scared to see in this movie. Back in 1991, Nickelodeon presented the animated TV seriesRugrats, created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain.Rugratswas the second show in the group of original Nicktoons, right afterDougand beforeThe Ren & Stimpy Show(yes, it’s a Nicktoon).Rugratsfollowed a group of toddlers led by one-year-old Tommy Pickles as they turned their day-to-day lives into extraordinary adventures.
Rugratswas a hit with critics and general audiences, and its success led to a media franchise with a sequel series, a spinoff show, comic books, and a lot more. In 1998,Rugratsmade the jump to the big screen withThe Rugrats Movie,in which Tommy’s baby brother, Dil, was introduced. Two years later, the toddlers returned inRugrats in Paris: The Movie, which introduced Kimi, Chuckie’s step-sister. In 2003,Rugratscrossed over withThe Wild ThornberrysinRugrats Go Wild, and the kids are now ready for another movie, but it already sounds like nightmare fuel.
Why A Live-Action Rugrats Movie Needs CGI For The Toddlers
A Rugrats Live-Action Movie Has An Inevitable Obstacle
Two decades have passed since Tommy and company’s last adventure on the big screen, and while I’m all up for a nostalgia trip with a newRugratsmovie, the one currently in development is definitely not what I expected (or wanted). According toDeadline,a live-action/CGIRugratsmovie is in development, with Jason Moore on board as director. There has naturally and understandably been confusion about the hybrid style for the newRugratsmovie, butit has been confirmed that the babies will be CGI.
Every TV show and movie so far has been animated, as it’s not a premise that can be brought into live-action.
At the time of writing, it’s unknown which characters from the original show will make it to this movie, but it’s expected that the five main characters – Tommy, Chuckie, twins Phil and Lil, and Angelica – will appear. Given thatRugratsis all about toddlers who talk to each other but adults can’t understand them and who go on adventures that come from their unbelievable imagination, every TV show and movie so far has been animated, as it’s not a premise that can be brought into live-action.
The world ofRugratshas experimented with different styles of animation over the years, most recently in the 2021 reboot, which opted for a 3D style. This live-action/CGI hybrid style will be a first in the history of theRugratsfranchise, and while using CGI to bring the toddlers to life is really the only option, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea (like Chuckie Finster would wisely say).
Rugrats' CGI Toddlers Could Be Horrifying
There’s A Huge Risk In The Rugrats Toddlers Being CGI
Mixing live-action and CGI is not new, with a recent example being theSonic the Hedgehogmovies, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the best style for any project. The problem with the newRugratsmovie mixing live-action with CGI to make the babies animated but the adults human is thatthe toddlers will look unnatural no matter what. Tommy and friends have very unique designs that are very cartoonish, so bringing them to life in a live-action/CGI project risks falling into uncanny valley territory.
How Old The Rugrats Parents Are
The Rugrats had some of the most iconic TV parents of the 90s. Here’s how old they all are— 90s kids might be closer to their age than they think.
If the movie decided to change the design of the main characters ofRugratsto better fit with their very real and very human parents, that would also be horrifying and controversial, as they would be losing a big part of their essence. However,bringing them to life in their original designs would be very strange and look unnaturalnext to the human characters, so either way, the CGIRugratscould be the stuff of nightmares, especially for young viewers.
How Rugrats' Live-Action Movie Could Still Use The Toddlers
There Are Other Creative Ways To Make A Rugrats Live-Action Movie
It’s hard to imagine the newRugratsmovie right now as almost nothing about it has been revealed, but that also gives some hope that it won’t be as horrifying as it sounds. The live-action/CGIRugratsmoviecould surprise the audience with CGI toddlers and a live-action movie but no real, human actors, thus focusing only on the adventures of the babies. Another option would be making the babies animated instead of realistic versions and mixing that with live-action – the contrast of styles would be a lot more visually pleasant and their adventures could be more interesting.
Surely, animation has evolved and I like to think the film industry learned a big lesson with the Sonic backlash.
The style of the newRugratsmovies inevitably takes me back to the first look at theSonic the Hedgehogmovie and the original design of Sonic, as well as to other movies that tried to make talking babies that were the stuff of nightmares. Surely, animation has evolved and I like to think the film industry learned a big lesson with the Sonic backlash, but right now, the newRugratsmovie sounds horrifying.
Rugrats
Told from the perspective of a group of toddlers, Nickelodeon’s Rugrats follows Tommy Pickles and his friends as they navigate the often confusing world of infancy. Tommy lives with his inventor father, Stu, and his mother Didi. He is often joined by his best friend Chucky, twins Phil and Lil, and older cousin Angelica, who is often antagonistic towards the babies.
