What's Going On With Big Idea?

Hey there, fellow Veggie fans. I know it's been way too long since I last posted anything. It's partly due to the fact that life has been busy, but a lot of it also has to do with the state of VeggieTales today.

I'm absolutely not complaining about In the House/In the City; I still want to write some on my favorite episodes in the series. But admittedly, the shorter-length Netflix format doesn't make it as easy to write about as the longer direct-to-videos. There are so many new stories at once, it's hard to know where to begin sometimes. But I'm not writing this post to discuss my reasons for not writing in three years, I'm writing because I have some questions I'm hoping someone might know something about.

I believe the last episode of In the City aired last year. Bye Bye, Bacon Bill was the only ITH/ITC episode to end with a "the end," and felt like a sweet way to close out the series overall. But this came without any announcement or warning. And since then, I've noticed some things that have me a little concerned.

First of all, it seems the only thing on the socials lately has been these promotional images featuring Bible verses, inspirational quotes, jokes, and the like. You've most likely seen them and know what I'm talking about. They're very cute, and it's always good to have something encouraging pop up on the feed, but they don't give us much idea of the goings-on at the company, or what they may have planned next after ITC.

Second, it seems that VeggieTales.com has become solely a shopping site. And its spot under DreamWorks/Classic Media doesn't give much information either (except, perhaps, for the interesting note from four years ago that they had more releases planned than actually happened). Again, on both accounts, I wish there was more to say from the company directly about news and updates, especially if something's wrong.

Perhaps the most alarming was the company address I found today on an email:

Big Idea Entertainment, LLC
386 Park Avenue South
16th Floor
New York, NY 10016 

They moved to New York? When did that happen?
This could just be the merchandising branch of the company, but I'm not sure.

None of this is truly to say they aren't still a thriving company with some new, exciting tricks up their sleeves. But... I don't know. I wish I did.

The biggest "sign of life" I've seen with Big Idea lately was a Facebook Saturday Silly Song Sing-Along with Nicole C. Mullen a few weeks back. It was encouraging to know they were doing something, but it still doesn't really answer my questions.

I recently re-read the portion of Phil Vischer's book, Me, Myself, and Bob, regarding Big Idea's original downfall, and I was re-reminded of the challenges and difficulties of running a small animation company. I'm sure there are still challenges and difficulties today, even with DreamWorks' ownership.

I know that seemingly much of the fandom is divided on ITH/ITC, but as far as I knew, the shows were still doing well overall. Could there have been enough of a dent from viewers who didn't like it to ultimately hurt the company? I certainly hope not.

I care about Big Idea and the amazing people who work there. I miss hearing from them through featurettes, audio commentaries, interviews, and articles. There is so much creativity there, and most importantly, a fierce desire to make sure kids -- and the rest of the world -- know that God made them special and loves them very much! I want to know what they have planned next for VeggieTales, or if they have something totally new and different in mind. I'm glad they're still making some neat merchandise (I love my mini blind bag Larry!), but I don't think that's the future of Big Idea.

VeggieTales is not merely a lifestyle brand for preschoolers and parents.
VeggieTales is not dead.
VeggieTales is something special.
It's funny, it's genuine, it speaks truth.
It's for everyone.
And there's never been anything like it.
Same for the brave little company and the amazing people who created it 25 years ago.

I know most of you out there don't know the answers any more than I do, but I just wanted to put these thoughts out here, just in case.

Keep Big Idea in your prayers for whatever happens, whether The Bob and Larry Movie will finally be realized (one can hope!), or if it's ultimately the end of VeggieTales silliness.

Hopefully you'll see more posts soon!

GMUS & <3sUVM,
 - Chandler

News On Noah + Jaci Velasquez Interview!

Hey, Veggie fans! There's been quite a flurry of news coming out regarding the first DVD release of the new VT era, Noah's Ark! Read on for some of my own thoughts on this exciting next chapter!

Image credit: DWA TV PR

When I first heard that the next episode would be a new retelling of the Noah story, I was a little surprised; didn't they already retell this Bible story on Minnesota Cuke and the Search For Noah's Umbrella? On the commentary for that episode, it was stated that the Minnesota Cuke episodes worked well for retelling darker Bible stories (it's not all rainbows and fuzzy animals, you know), so I wasn't expecting them to try Noah again. But the more I've heard about this new approach, the more excited I am for it. Plus, the first VeggieTales movie concept before Jonah was about Noah's ark, so I'm curious if this episode will have any similarities to that earlier concept. But in any case, it's appropriate that this episode is going back to where the show began -- retelling Bible stories in a fun, fresh way! So, I can say with great certainty that Noah has me excited for more reasons than one.

The first thing that I'm definitely looking forward to is that they're doing this up as a musical. Of course, VT has always rocked at doing musicals, as no episode to date has been without a song (or two or three), but I think the boat-bound musical subgenre is an especially fun way to flip the story of Noah around a bit. A little less "doomsday" and a bit more "Anchors Aweigh"!

Another thing I'm very excited for is that this episode's got a couple of amazing voices on board: Wayne Brady and Jaci Velasquez! They will be playing Noah's son, Shem, and his wife, Sadie. I'm seriously excited, because Wayne Brady is a hilarious actor and an epic singer, and Jaci Velasquez is an amazing singer and radio show host! I love Shem and Sadie's character designs, and I think they'll fit in perfectly into the VT world. I really love how many great actors and singers have been showing up in VT lately, from Rob Paulsen and Tress MacNeille's roles on In the House to Terry Crews's stellar performance as Bruce Onion in Celery Night Fever! Phil and Mike can do perfectly on their own, but it's always great seeing the Veggie world expanded :)

And I'd be completely wrong if I didn't mention how adorable these animals are. I'm impressed since the massive amount of fur was apparently the reason why the Noah film didn't fly in the first place. I don't yet know what company's doing their animation, whether it will still be Huhu or if Bardel will take over. Bardel's work with furry creatures in DWA's Puss in Boots and King Julien series has proved to be awesome, so they'll look great if they go that route. Either way, I'm really glad that VT is in a place now where they try something technologically that they couldn't do ten years ago!

One of the things I'm most curious about with this new chapter is what the format will be like. I've already heard they're reanimating the original intro to fit the new style, so that's definitely going to be exciting to see come to life. Will they ever give Larry a break on that tuba so he doesn't nearly pass out? (Probably not!) In addition, we'll likely get to see the new countertop and hopefully Qwerty too (though I'm not entirely sure on this, considering there isn't a Qwerty in ITH's kitchen, but we'll have to wait and see). It'll be interesting to see how these new versions of the crew we've gotten to know in ITH will translate to a regular VT episode format.

Finally, I'm very much looking forward to seeing their spin on the lesson. Noah's Umbrella chose to talk about having the confidence to do what God wants us to do, while the new Noah is a lesson in trusting God. I really like the twist they've come up with... I could easily see Noah and his folks having some questions about God's plan in the midst of that massive flood. So, that really works well as this episode's moral, finding something unique to set it apart from the already awesome Minnesota Cuke.

And if nothing I've said has you pumped up yet, this interview with Sadie herself, Jaci Velasquez, ought to! (Thanks, DWA TV!) Read on.

Why did you want to make a VeggieTales movie?

VeggieTales is like the Mecca of our house – I’ve got two little boys, and they cannot get enough VeggieTales. So, to be a part of this is just a wonderful thing for me. My husband and I like to sing to our kids, but they could care less – it’s to the point where we’ll sing and practice a song with them while we’re giving them baths and they’ll plug their ears and say, “Mommy, Daddy! Stop!” To be part of VeggieTales and do something for the first time that my kids might actually enjoy is wonderful.

The story of Noah and his ark has been told many times. What makes the VeggieTales version different?

Well, I’m pretty sure it will be the only version with singing vegetables and a giant squid! I think it was pretty brave of VeggieTales to take on the story of Noah because it is so familiar – but they make it feel completely new. The animals are absolutely adorable, and there’s so much comedy; I’ve always thought VeggieTales movies were funny, but this one is really funny. They’ve also really discovered something important about the story, because Noah’s Ark is about patience, trusting and believing. Kids need to understand those things. Whatever we pour into our children is what will pour out of them – what they learn as children is what they will be as adults. We are planting seeds in their hearts and souls, and it’s important for them to understand that God has a purpose and a plan. We don’t always understand it, and we have to trust in it. That’s a big lesson, and Noah’s Ark helps parents start to teach it.

Who is your favorite VeggieTales character?

Sorry to be so typically “normal,” but it’s always Larry! I love Madame Blueberry, as well, but really… Larry. He just makes you happy. He makes you laugh. It’s like he’s every kid you’ve ever known, but he’s not – because he’s a vegetable!

Why do you think VeggieTales has been so popular for so long?

I think parents want good entertainment for their kids, especially in the world we live in. You know, human beings are born knowing how to do the wrong thing, but we need to be taught how to do the right thing, and what better way to do that than through entertainment? As a mom, I know that it can get really overwhelming to try to teach kids everything they need to know. You say prayers with them at night, you read books with them, you take them to Sunday school – but that’s only one day a week. So it helps to have entertainment that teaches them the truth and that teaches them fundamental things about life. As a parent, VeggieTales gives me such gratitude!

 

Definitely looking forward to seeing this one and talking about it in my review! Until then...

GMUS & <3sUVM

- Chandler

VeggieTales In The House & The New Character Designs

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!

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

New Trailer for The League of Incredible Vegetables

I didn't expect it to come until later this summer, but surprisingly enough, we have the first trailer for the first LarryBoy episode in six years, The League of Incredible Vegetables. Which, as another surprise, doesn't have the word LarryBoy in the title.

It looks amazing, doesn't it? I'm going to give it a quick review here.

0:05-0:13 Dr. Flurry looks really cool (no pun intended). He seems like the typical mad scientist kind of villain, but that's not something we've seen before in VeggieTales (except for in the 2D LarryBoy videos, perhaps). And he has penguin henchmen! How neat is that?

0:20-0:36 I really like these superhero costumes. They're pretty simple, but I guess I should have expected that. It seems like it would be difficult to design anything more complicated for a vegetable. And it wouldn't really be necessary anyway. The names of the superheros are pretty imaginative as well. I expected Bob to just be called The Red Wonder or Bobin like he called himself in LarryBoy and the Bad Apple. But nope, they decided to come up with something more creative and decided on the name Thingamabob, which was just genius.

0:37-0:39 The super vehicles. Let's see, we've got the LarryMobile, a helicopter thing which I'm assuming is Bob's, a shoe-car thing that is obviously Petunia's, and little car that could belong to either Junior or Lunt. Cool stuff. But where's the fifth one? It seems like the LarryCave is keeping its design from Bad Apple, which is good.

0:44-0:48 Wow, that logo looks awesome! And that is really all I can say about it.

Are you excited yet? Because I definitely am! This looks to be the best thing that the veggies have done in several years. And its coming to a store near you October 2012.

Podcast #1: Leap Year, Bubble Rap and More

Today, I'm very excited to announce our brand new Countertop Podcast! In Episode 1, I talk about several new things, including the new short Larry's Leapin' Leap Year and the new Silly Song. You'll also have the pleasure of hearing me ramble about how much VeggieTales has changed over the past few years.

Click here to listen to and download this episode.

Larry's Leapin' Leap Year

Bubble Rap

Review of The Princess and the Popstar

Summary from VeggieTales.com:

Princess Poppyseed’s life on her family’s farm is far from the glamorous world of her favorite pop singer Vanna Banana. While Princess milks the cows and dreams of a life on stage, Vanna has her own dreams of a life far from the hectic pace of stardom that leaves her feeling alone and lonely. On a chance meeting at a playground, Vanna and Princess cross paths and realize they look almost exactly alike, which leads to the crazy notion that maybe they could switch lives! In a flash, the girls’ secret plan is launched and Princess is whisked to her new life as a pop star while Vanna gets to live her dream of a life away from the pressure of fame! As Princess tries to live up to the demands of being a diva and Vanna learns how to milk the cows, things don’t go as smoothly as they would like! As each girl realizes the life they longed for doesn’t fulfill all their dreams, they learn that the life God gave them is the one for which they were uniquely and lovingly designed.

You can be a rockstar. Follow your dreams and you can be famous. Believe in yourself.

That's what so much of our culture is constantly telling us. A friend of mine came up with a term for phrases such as the ones stated above: "Disneychannelisms." And it fits very well. Kids turn on the TV to nearly any kid's channel and they're told that they have to be famous in order to be special.

And that's why it's so refreshing to see VeggieTales teaching that fame isn't everything- that God has made each and every life special.

Review of Pistachio- The Little Boy That Woodn't

From the Cover
Once upon a time, a lonely toymaker named Gelato decided to carve a little boy out of wood. Imagine his surprise when he learned that his little toy boy could walk... and talk... and definitely had a mind of his own! When Pistachio tries to do things his way he lands in a"whale" of a situation! Will he decide to listen to the wisdom of a loving father in time enough to save his whole family from becoming fish food?

I have to say, Pistachio is probably one of Junior's best (and cutest) roles ever. I thouroghly enjoyed how childlike he was, and he did well in the role of the rebelious son. Gelato is a nice character as well. Some say that Dad Asparagus would have fit the part better, but personally I think Larry was a better choice. We don't get to see him in a father role very often, and it was fun to see that in this show. Khalil made a return in this episode as the character of Cricket. He provides much of the humor.

Review of Bob and Larry Sing the 80s

Track List:
Gourds Just Want to Have Fun
La Bamba
Everybody Have Fun Tonight
Walking On Sunshine
Footloose
That's What Friends Are For
We Got The Beat
Walk Like An Egyptian
The Power of Love
Don't Worry Be Happy

Following the success of the 2006 release of Bob and Larry Sing the 70s, this new album covering songs from the 80s was released last fall. Since I received my copy several months ago, it has become one of my favorite VeggieTales music albums. The songs are great, and the "veggietized" versions of some of the lyrics are funny.

Review of 'Twas the Night Before Easter

From the Cover:
"It's Easter time in Crisper County and cable news reporter Marlee Meade (Petunia Rhubarb) is hunting for a way to help others. On a tip that the old town theater will be shut down, Marlee cooks up a plan to save the stage. Despite all her schemes, will she discover the true meaning of Easter and what helping others is really about?"

I believe the best word to describe this new episode is classic. The character's roles really match their personalities, and the show overall feels like one of the old episodes that we all love. Their are so many great moments and songs. The only thing that I could almost complain about is the fact that the storyline is very similar to The Star of Christmas, but its different enough to where I don't think its a big deal.

Review of Happy Together

From the Cover:
"What makes you happy? Join Larry and his Veggie pals on a quest to find out what true happiness is all about! Featuring 3 classic stories with lessons on forgiveness, courage and friendship! PLUS... funny and thought-provoking moments from the Veggie Kids (as voiced by real children) sharing their take on what true happiness really means!"


Even though Happy Together is a compilation of three already released episodes, the twenty minutes or so of all-new animation will probably make it worth you 10-12 bucks, especially if you like cute little kids talking about happiness.

Review of Sweetpea Beauty: A Girl After God's Own Heart

From the Cover:
"Sweetpea Beauty know that what's on the inside is what matters most, but insecure Queen Blueberry can't see past her own reflection! Will Sweetpea save the Queen from the lies of the tricky mirror and help her understand she's special just the way God made her? Find out in the fairy "Veggie" tale about the real meaning of true beauty."
  
As I said in a previous review, Sweetpea Beauty is painful to watch. I once heard someone say that it looks unfinished, and I totally agree. The Snoodlerella story for the most part looked better than the rest of the show though.

Review of It's A Meaingingful Life

From the Cover:
"It was the biggest football game of his life, and Stewart (Larry the Cucumber) had a chance to win it all. Injured in one bad play, his hopes of playing in the Salad Bowl- and living a life of fame and fortune- are dashed forever. Years later, silly-but-sweet Stewart loves his family, friends and job at the toy train factory, but still wonders "what if" things had been different. When he meets a mysterious train conductor who can turn back time, Stewart gets a chance to have the life he always wanted. Will he finally find all he's been looking for? And what does this mean for those he loves most? Find out in this story of wonder and a lesson in being content."
 
It's A Meaningful Life is an episode that, in most ways, does not disappoint. I say "in most ways" because of a somewhat minor problem, namely the technical quality. Ever since they stopped using the animation house in Canada, the quality of the animation has slowly been going down. This show isn't as bad as Sweetpea Beauty (that one was just painful to watch), but I did notice some issues such as some of the character's bouncing looking rather unnatural, some objects being a little too shiny, and several other things.

'Twas The Night Before Easter Trailer

Here is the trailer for the newest VeggieTales video, 'Twas The Night Before Easter.

 I will give my comments bit by bit here.