Chuckie and Tommy tells us what it's like to be toddlers (Rugrats)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Rugrats
Date:	12/11/08 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good show, clever creativity

Disadvantages: Not for everyone

Rugrats is a US cartoon first aired in 1991, and aimed at young children. Rugrats is a term generally used in the States to describe toddlers and babies, and this is exactly what the show is about.

It features a small number of kids whose parents are all friends, or they are related. The main character is Tommy, a baby who is just learning to walk, and his best friend Chuckie. There are also the twins, Phil and Lil, and then there is Angelica, who is portrayed as older, wiser, bossier, and more spoilt than the other kids, with her mum being a high powered businesswoman whereas the parents of the other kids seem very regular.

The babies and toddlers are shown to us, the viewers, as being able to converse fully with each other, and with vivid imaginations that are clear to us. However, we see when they talk to the adults that their speech is limited and very typical for kids of that age. Thus it's more of an insight as to what the creators of the show suppose the kids might say to each other if they could talk, and each episode features this.

The episodes generally involved one or more of the kids wanting to do something, or seeing something they want or worrying they are going to be replaced, or that their parents are going away. They see or hear something minor or innocent and their imaginations make up these wild situations as a result. What we get from this is some very clever scriptwriting and good entertainment. I enjoyed watching this in my teens, and my son enjoys watching it now. They have made a coupld of TV movies based on the cartoon as well, the most successful being Rugrats in Paris, introducing new characters and taking the kids on a big adventure!

If you get a chance to let your kids watch this, then let them have a go. I don't think it'll be every kid's cup of tea - the animation and plots will not be liked by all kids, but I enjoyed it and so does my son, so it's a thumbs up from me.

Summary: Rugrats - a well execeuted tale of toddlers!