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Babies go adventuring in this Nick favorite. Read Common Sense Media's Rugrats review, age rating, and parents guide.
Reviews 93% Avg. Audience Score 100+ Ratings "Rugrats" reveals the world from a baby's point of view. Everything looks bigger, more mysterious and uncontrollable.
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- Tommy Pickles and his gang are back with a CG reboot on Paramount+.
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- Rugrats Reboot: Series Premiere Review
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By Kristy Puchko
Updated: May 27, 2021 8:35 pm
Posted: May 27, 2021 6:55 pm
This is a review of the first two episodes of the Rugrats reboot, titled "Second Time Around" and "Lady De-Clutter" / "New Puppy." There are currently five episodes available to watch on the Paramount+ streaming service.
Thirty years ago, after they first debuted in diapers, Rugrats is back with a reboot that plunks its plucky pint-sized protagonists into big, imaginative adventures. The original Nickelodeon cartoon series included nine seasons, three movies, and a pair of short-lived spinoffs. Now, Paramount+ is giving Tommy and the gang a fresh start with a few modern tweaks.
The most eye-catching change from the original series is that Rugrats has gone from a hand-drawn aesthetic to 3-D computer animation. It basically looks like the old characters were inflated like balloons. The hard lines of the design are all softened, much like the new SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years. Maybe this change is meant to cater to kids who watch a plethora of cuddly CG cartoon shows like Miraculous Lady Bug, Vampirina, and Puppy Dog Pals. Perhaps the classic look was deemed too old-fashioned. Regardless, this design choice makes Rugrats look like an imitator instead of an innovator.
Tommy Pickles
Chuckie Finster
Grandpa Lou
Angelica Pickles
Phil DeVille / Lil DeVille
Susie Carmichael
While the form and the function are familiar, Rugrats makes mindful changes to the cast of characters. First off, Susie Carmichael is on the scene from the start. She even appears in the opening credits chaos, which re-enacts the original with some flashy revisions. While the kids play, Chuckie rides a Roomba instead of an old-school vacuum, and Grandpa Lou practices yoga instead of snoring on a recliner. Yep, this second time around, Grandpa is a tie-dye-wearing, ponytail-swinging holdover hippie, voiced by beloved character actor Michael McKean.
Another minor change is the elimination of Howard Deville, the father of Phil and Lil. The sheepish character doesn’t appear in any of the preview episodes and is not listed in press materials. Betty DeVille is a single mom in this version. And—as she casually mentions an ex-girlfriend—she’s queer, officially turning an LGBTQIA+ fan theory into Rugrats canon.
This reboot’s CG approach softens the oddness of the original designs, which was always part of Rugrats' appeal.
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Beyond that, the grown-ups are familiar, even though all the adult characters have been recast. You might not notice the swaps, as some are imitating those formers voices, including Tommy Dewey and Ashley Rae Spillers as Stu and Didi Pickles. Still, comedy nerds may relish picking out the voices of McKean, Nailed It!’s Nicole Byer, Arrested Development’s Tony Hale, and Veep’s Timothy Simons and Anna Chlumsky (who are cheekily teamed as Angelica’s parents, the smug Drew and the workaholic Charlotte).
As for the Rugrats, E.G. Daily, Cheryl Chase, Nancy Cartwright, Cree Summer, and Kath Soucie have all return to reprise their roles as Tommy, Angelica, Chuckie, Susie, Phil, and Lil respectively. To their credit, none of the bunch have lost a step in all these years away. Their performances are spirited as you’d expect. These are the quirky calamitous kiddos you remember--even if they look different.
The Rugrats reboot on Paramount+ will likely warm the hearts of die-hard fans, especially those who now have rugrats of their own. Filled with fantastical adventures, low-brow silliness, and a sprinkling of observational wit, this cartoon makes for suitable family-friendly viewing. It’s the kind of thing that’ll make kids giggle and that parents wo...
Review scoring
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While the endearing aspects of mud pies and diaper humor remain in the Rugrats reboot on Paramount+, the series has lost its creative edge with this 3D animation update.
Kristy Puchko
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Rugrats: Created by Gabor Csupo. With Nancy Cartwright, Elizabeth Daily, Cree Summer, Kath Soucie. Tommy, Chuckie, and the Rugrats crew return for all-new adventures.
- (1.5K)
- 2021-05-27
- Animation, Short, Adventure
- 23
May 27, 2021 · Rugrats: Season 1 Reviews. All Critics. Top Critics. All Audience. Jason Flatt But Why Tho? A Geek Community. The new Rugrats is great, actually, and I will not apologize for saying it. It’s...
Aside from some nitpicks and some references that will probably be dated soon, the Rugrats reboot is very good and a breath of fresh air compared to other reboots. It's still childlike, imaginative, and heartfelt in true Rugrats spirit. I'll take this over (shudders) Rugrats Preschool Daze.
Charming reboot faithful to '90s cartoon classic. Read Common Sense Media's Rugrats review, age rating, and parents guide.
