This past week, Big Idea made a huge reveal: a lineup of updated character designs! On top of that, they made the official announcement of the new Netflix series, VeggieTales in the House!
It's a lot to take in at once, I know. So, I decided to take a moment and discuss this new chapter in VeggieTales history.
First of all, in case you haven't seen it yet, please don't judge this new style unfairly. It absolutely breaks my heart when people needlessly complain when new VeggieTales episodes don't meet their expectations. I know you have a right to your opinions, but what's most important is, no matter what they do, VT will always be a show whose core goal is to spread the message of God's love to children (and everyone else). No amount of spiffy animation or updated character designs can change that! Because then it wouldn't be VeggieTales, right?
So, with that in mind, here's the main lineup of new looks!
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| Image credit: The Official VeggieTales Facebook Page |
In a brief video on the VeggieTales Facebook page, Mike Nawrocki said that the characters were originally designed with the limitations of early 90's CGI, so the folks at Big Idea decided it was time to give them a modern update for today's generation. Still, I admit I was kind of shocked at first that they'd redesign the characters after all these years. especially thinking back on the epic moment in VT history when Phil Vischer first pieced Larry together (read more in Me, Myself, and Bob). But these new designs are actually really fun, and I imagine Mr. Vischer might've loved to have made them look something like this a long time ago.
I remember when I first saw the newly redesigned Jimmy and Jerry, who were the first to be revealed on social media. At first, I wasn't sure what to think, as they were both familiar, yet very different. I mean... colored irises! Eyebrows! New textures! But then, taking a closer look, I saw Jerry's stem "cowlick" and my tune began to change. It was so funny and gave him so much personality! People have been having trouble telling the gourd brothers apart for years, and now there's no way anyone could do that with that simple, subtle addition! Plus, the eye colors are a useful hint as well :)
And the rest of the characters look super fun and really cool in this new style! Junior looks more like a true asparagus! Laura is absolutely darling! Madame Blueberry looks fabulous as a brunette! Petunia's new look is gorgeous! Bob and Larry don't look too far from their old charming selves -- though Larry looks little extra "goofy"! (And I mean that in the best way!) I have yet to see what some of the other characters, like Pa, Lunt, Nezzer, and Archibald will look like. But I figure they'll do it right (well, as long as they don't decide to give Pa and Lunt eyes, but I think that's highly unlikely).
(Update 2/23/23: deep apologies to the character designers. As noted in a later post, Pa Grape was adorable with eyes!)
So, after the characters got reintroduced, another Facebook video message was posted with Mike Nawrocki and In the House's creator, Doug Tenapel, officially announcing the new Netflix series and reassuring fans that it would still have the heart and message that VT's had since the beginning. Now, I'd heard months ago through Animation Magazine that In the House would be one of several new DreamWorks-owned Netflix programs, and I was very intrigued about it. I haven't yet heard any further news on what the show will be like, but I have some ideas.
Remember the last time VeggieTales attempted to adapt to a TV series? It was fun, but it didn't really work in that format. So my assumption is, instead of just repackaging classic episodes, they'll make new, exclusive adventures. I also believe that, instead of doing the "answering-kids'-questions-with-a-story" style, they'll likely go the route of telling more sitcom-style stories, exploring these characters in their daily lives outside of the countertop!
I could easily see the veggies living in an apartment complex, where Bob and Larry are roommates, the Carrots and the Asparaguses (Asparagi?) live next door, Madame Blueberry is the rich lady who lives in the penthouse, Petunia is the quintessential girl-next-door, and Jimmy and Jerry are the goofy landlords! (Old-school fans will know what I'm talking about on that last one XD) Whatever the show structure looks like in the end, though, I really do love the idea of seeing these guys on a regular basis, with five new 22-minute episodes arriving every few months!
I don't think this means that the normal 50-minute DVD releases will halt, just that they will be coming out alongside the new show. I just love seeing Big Idea expanding their lineup! Since 3-2-1 Penguins ended I've been missing seeing a little extra Big Idea magic, so I imagine In the House will fill that gap splendidly! The only thing I don't know is whether this character design will be specifically for In the House, or if all the episodes to come will be in this style. It's been said the new series will arrive in the fall, and we already know that the new DVD episode Beauty and the Beet will be coming out in October with the classic style. So, who knows? I suppose we'll just have to wait and see. Either way, I'm excited about it!
So, if your first instinct was, "it's different, so I don't like it," I hope I was able to give you a new perspective on this new era of VeggieTales. Join me in the VT revelry! And don't forget to start up that Netflix account! You can rewatch Where's God When I'm Scared and Sweetpea Beauty on there while you're waiting :D
GMUS & <3sUVM
- Chandler
