THE VEGGIETALES FAQ
VERSION 6.1
|
The VeggieTales FAQ is maintained at The Ultimate VeggieTales Web Site! (UltimateVeggie.com). It may be freely copied and distributed, provided no portion is altered in any way and these paragraphs remain present. "VeggieTales" and all VeggieTales characters are registered trademarks of Big Idea Productions, Inc. (BigIdea.com). Neither The VeggieTales FAQ nor The Ultimate VeggieTales Web Site! are affiliated with Big Idea Productions or its distributors or licensees. 0.1 - What is new to the VeggieTales FAQ? G E N E R A L 1.1 - Who produces VeggieTales,
and how can I contact them? C H A R A C T E R S 2.1 - Who performs the voice
for each character? S I L L Y S O N G S 3.1 - Why did Big Idea take
out Sonny Bono's picture from "Love My Lips?" M E R C H A N D I S E 4.1 - Where can I buy VeggieTales
merchandise? M I S C E L L A N E O U S 8.0 - There is an audio or
video problem with my VeggieTales tape. What should I do? SECTION 0.1
SECTION 1.0 What is VeggieTales? VeggieTales is a computer animated children's video series. The series debuted in 1993 with its first video, "Where's God When I'm S-Scared?" - the first full-length, computer-animated film to be produced in the United States (since it was released while Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story" was still in production). Each video is approximately 30 minutes in length, and seeks to teach Bible stories and moral lessons in new and creative ways. The series was originally created for children ages 3 to 8. But VeggieTales has gained tremendous popularity with kids of all ages, causing the producers to expand much of the show's content for adults and children alike. Word of mouth has spread quickly over the company's brief history, and VeggieTales has now sold more than 11 million videos. Nearly all of the characters on VeggieTales are fruits, vegetables or other types of vegetation. The program is hosted by Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber, and is full of returning characters (see SECTION 2.0, SECTION 2.1). It's purpose is to improve peoples lives through creative media, to teach biblical values, and to remind kids and parents that "God made you special, and He loves you very much!" SECTION 1.1 The series is produced by Big Idea Productions (based in Lombard, Illinois - a suburb of Chicago) and is distributed by Word Entertainment in the specialty Christian marketplace and by Lyrick Studios in the general market. The first twelve videos in the series were produced on SoftImage animation software, though Big Idea switched to the Maya animation package in 1999. Big Idea has become Chicago's largest computer animation studio, and perhaps the largest in the midwest. The videos and albums are written and produced by Phil Vischer (founder and president of Big Idea), Mike Nawrocki, Kurt Heinecke and many other employees of Big Idea. Kurt arranges and produces most of the series' original music, while Phil and Mike write, direct and perform in the videos. Big Idea presently employs more than 160 men and women in its animation, design, Internet / interactive, consumer products, marketing, operations, IT, finance and human resources divisions. Click here to learn more about the folks at Big Idea! Big Idea Productions can be reached at:
Big Idea Productions
or call: 1-800-229-1002 (630-652-6000 in the Chicago area). Big Idea's web site is at www.bigidea.com. Word/Everland Entertainment can be reached at:
Word Entertainment
or call: 1-800-933-9673. Word's web site is at www.wordrecords.com. SECTION 1.2 Big Idea Productions, the creators and producers of VeggieTales, is not publicly traded, and has no plans to be in the near future. SECTION 1.3 There are 13 videos currently available. They are as follows (in order of release):
Where's God When I'm S-Scared? (1994) SECTION 1.4 The videos are currently being released approximately every six months. This may change in the coming years as Big Idea's production schedule changes and its projects become more ambitious. SECTION 1.5 "Esther" is now in production at Big Idea, and is scheduled to be released to the specialty Christian market in August, 2000. Big Idea's next big project is "Jonah," an hour-long VeggieTales feature due in 2002. Keep watching The Ultimate VeggieTales Web Site! for the latest info. SECTION 1.6 Yes! Where's God When I'm S-Scared?, God Wants Me to Forgive Them?!?, Rack, Shack & Benny and The Toy That Saved Christmas are currently available in Spanish. Check your local Christian retailer to find out if they carry these videos, or if they can order them. SECTION 1.7 There is no news on VeggieTales DVD yet. The first place you'll be able to find any new info on this project is at Bob's Newsbriefs at The Ultimate VeggieTales Web Site! SECTION 1.8 It's very likely! Big Idea Productions, the producers of VeggieTales, has hinted at a full-length movie to be released in theaters. Though it's far from a done deal, the company is developing a possible script for the movie. In addition, many bookstores and churches sponsor theater premiere parties for the release of new VeggieTales videos. (Watch BigIdea.com for that information.) SECTION 2.0 Who are the VeggieTales characters, what type of vegetables are they, and when did they first appear? Cast members range from vegetables to fruits, animals to toys. While many are recurring, some have appeared in only one episode thus far. All characters are listed here in order of appearance. Recurring characters are marked with an asterisk (*).
SSWL = Silly Songs With Larry SECTION 2.1 Most voices are performed by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki (see SECTION 1.1). The performers currently known for each character are listed below, in order of the characters' appearance.
SECTION 2.2 The identities of these two characters (from Rack, Shack & Benny and The Toy That Saved Christmas) have been somewhat in dispute. But Big Idea Productions confirms that Mr. Lunt is a "decorative gourd" (a type of squash), like Jimmy and Jerry. Other theories have included some type of nut, or a spanish onion. Mr. Nezzer has been a bit more difficult to deduce. He appears to be a cucumber, like Larry, but is bumpy - leading to the belief that he may be a pickle. He also has a stem on top of his head, leading to the more likely conclusion that he is a zucchini. In fact, Big Idea Productions has confirmed that he is a zucchini. SECTION 3.0 How many Silly Songs with Larry are there, and what are they called? "Silly Songs with Larry" ("the part of the show where Larry comes out and sings a silly song") usually appears in the middle of a video. There are currently nine Silly Songs, one on each video with the exception of God Wants Me to Forgive Them?!?, Larry-Boy & the Fib from Outer Space!, Madame Blueberry and Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed. Instead, God Wants Me to Forgive Them?!? contains the sketch, "The Forgive-o-Matic," and Larry-Boy & the Fib from Outer Space! contains "Larry-Boy's Music Video." Silly Songs was cancelled in Madame Blueberry, and replaced by "Love Songs With Mr. Lunt," in which the gourd sang the ballad "His Cheeseburger." Silly Songs was reinstated in Silly Sing-Along 2: The End of Silliness?, thanks to the outcry of Silly Songs fans! Finally, Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed does not contain any extra segment. Silly Songs with Larry are as follows:
The original version of "Love My Lips!," the Silly Song on Dave and the Giant Pickle, contained a smiling photograph of Sonny Bono, entertainer and United States Congressman from the state of California. Bono died in a skiing accident in 1998, and his photo was removed out of respect. The new version - on videotapes produced after Bono's death - contains a photo of Robert Ellis, one of Big Idea's original animators. SECTION 3.2 Larry the Cucumber sings "Song of the Cebú" in Josh and the Big Wall! The song is about a little boy and his three cow-like cebu (... and also a hippo). "Cebú" is actually the name of an island in the Philippines. But there is an animal called a "zebu" (pronounced 'zee-byoo') - Spanish for "cebú." It's a domesticated, cow-like animal of Asia and Africa, and has a prominent hump on its back and a large dewlap. Zebus are beasts of burden and are reared for their milk and meat. The hump on the zebu's back is made up of muscle fibers that seem to serve no useful purpose. SECTION 4.0 What additional VeggieTales merchandise is available? The range of VeggieTales licensed products continues to grow. In addition to the best-selling videos, items such as CDs and cassettes, t-shirts, neckties, stationary, notepads, toys, activity kits, books, gift wrap and much more are available. You'll find a complete listing of those items that carry a message at Big Idea's official web site - www.bigidea.com. SECTION 4.1 VeggieTales videos and many CDs can be found at major retailers in the US, such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Costco, Sam's Club and Target. For a complete collection of VeggieTales videos, CDs and a wide range of other products, check your local Christian retailer. VeggieTales is the best-selling video series in the Christian market, so it is very likely that most Christian retailers will also carry some of the other VeggieTales items. If you cannot locate an item, contact the item's manufacturer directly. In most cases, manufacturers deal only with retailers, and cannot ship out small order to individual customers - but hopefully they can tell you how to get ahold of the item. SECTION 4.2 The list of licensees - those companies granted the right to produce VeggieTales merchandise - is always growing. Below is the list of licensees and contact information currently known.
There is currently no printed catalog of VeggieTales products. To contact Big Idea for more information on licensed products, just click here for the company's address and phone number. SECTION 4.4 No. But there is certainly a demand for one! Phil Vischer, the show's creator, has been quoted as saying that a CD-ROM project would be "way too expensive to be worth the effort." But things change, and interactive desktop media may well be somewhere in the future for VeggieTales. Ideas are always being tossed around. Keep your eye on The Ultimate VeggieTales Web Site! for the latest info. SECTION 4.5 Yes! Paper plates, cups, napkins and invitations are currently produced by CK Gibson. Check your local Christian bookstore to see if they carry or can order these items. If you have no luck, you may contact the manufacturer at the address below to see where in your area they may be purchased. A new line of VeggieTales party supplies, produced by Hallmark, will be available in the fall of 2000. SECTION 4.6 Not yet, but some of these items (such as wallpaper borders) are on the way! Keep your eye on Bob's Newsbriefs at The Ultimate VeggieTales Web Site! for the latest info. SECTION 4.7 Big Idea's consumer products team is always looking for the best partners to create new, high-quality products. Due to legal issues, though, the company cannot accept suggestions for new products. If you'd like to contact the company anyway, visit their web site, at www.bigidea.com, or click here for their mailing address and phone number. SECTION 5.0 How can the characters close doors, drive cars, hold things, etc. when they have no hands? This is one of those questions that just does not have a good answer. But since VeggieTales are targetted primarily at children, the question inevitably comes up! There is an obvious difference between the physical laws of our world and those of the cartoon world. Animators sometimes refer to the different physical laws of the world of cartoons as the "plausible impossible." When Wile E. Coyote (Warner Brothers) runs off a cliff and does not fall until he looks down, we have witnessed the plausible impossible. The same altered state of reality exists within VeggieTales. Vegetables open and close doors and drive cars without feet or hands because these are necessary actions for them to make; nevermind that they shouldn't be able to. In short: it's just a cartoon! The producers of VeggieTales have often inserted jokes about the fact that the characters don't have hands. In The Toy That Saved Christmas, Buzz-Saw Louie states: "Okay, everybody who's got hands, start tieing," soon discovering that he's the only one! Also, on the album "A Very Veggie Christmas," Larry enlists the help of his friend Manuel to play the maracas, "'cause he's got hands." In Josh and the Big Wall!, Tom Grape asks Pa, "How are we clapping??" And in Madame Blueberry, Larry says "Hold me, Bob!" (to which the tomato replies, "I would if I could, man!") SECTION 6.0 Why doesn't Bob like the "What Have We Learned?" song? This is a running joke which finds new expression with each new video. In Where's God When I'm S-Scared?, Bob was interrupted by the song but could not figure out where the music was coming from. In later episodes he attempted to destroy whatever it is that plays the "What Have We Learned?" song. Bob is simply irritated with the song because it interrupts what he is saying (twice) each and every episode. Other characters, such as Larry and the French Peas, on the other hand, have taken a liking to the song. SECTION 7.0 Can I show VeggieTales at my Sunday school, youth group, class, school, Bible study, party, etc.? If you have any concerns about copyright, please contact Big Idea Productions. This web site is not at all affiliated with the show's producers, and can grant no copyright permissions. Click here to find out how to contact Big Idea, or visit their web site at www.bigidea.com! As long as no admission is charged for the event, you should not have trouble securing permission - so don't worry when you ask! SECTION 7.1 All VeggieTales characters and most of the images on The Ultimate VeggieTales Web Site! (characters, video sleeves, video screen shots, etc.) are copyrighted by Big Idea Productions. This is a fan site, and I cannot grant copyright permission for any of it. You can find Big Idea's web site at www.bigidea.com if you'd like to contact them, or click here for the company's mailing address and phone number. See the Webmasters page for more info! SECTION 8.0 There is an audio or video problem with my VeggieTales tape. What should I do? Take the tape back to the place of purchase if it is defective. If the retailer refuses to replace the tape or refund your money, or if you cannot return to the place of purchase, contact Word Entertainment, Lyrick Studios (depending on which is identified as the distributor on your video) or Big Idea Productions directly. Click here for info on how to contact them. SECTION 9.0 Why did Big Idea change the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den for Where's God When I'm S-Scared? The following note to parents was included in newer editions of Where's God When I'm S-Scared?:
"In the VeggieTales production of Daniel in the lion's den you will notice that we have combined the lion's den incident with the story of King Nebuchadnezzer's dream. We felt that this simplification while preserving the themes and integrity of the book of Daniel produced a paraphrase more suitable to the attention spans and comprehension levels of young children. All editorial decisions in segments based on Bible stories are taken very seriously and discussed at length with our independent content advisors. Still, we encourage you to actively scrutinize our stories and drop us a note with any criticism comments or suggestions." SECTION 10.0 Is VeggieTales going to be sold to Disney? No. The rumor that VeggieTales or Big Idea Productions will be sold to Disney is untrue. Phil Vischer, founder of Big Idea and the creator of VeggieTales, cites Walt Disney as one of his greatest inspirations. But Big Idea's goal is not just to make money - its goal is to become a major media company with a biblical worldview, "to lead a revolution introducing biblical values into popular media." This goal cannot be accomplished by selling out to another company. SECTION 11.0 Watching Madame Blueberry carefully will reveal that Madame's hair color changes from brown to blonde and then back again throughout the course of the video. Even on the cover of the video Madame has blonde hair, but in the pictures on the back she is a brunette. It is unlikely that this is just an accident on the part of the show's producers, since her hair also changes styles. Most likely, Madame bought a wig or had her hair done at the Stuff-Mart - for this is where it changes. When she realizes that she doesn't need all that stuff to be happy, she gets rid of her sunglasses, the flowers on her hat, and her new hairdo. There is one point where an error may have been made by the producers: when Madame first arrives at the Stuff Mart and takes off shopping, her hair is briefly blonde. The next shot of her finds her cruising down the aisles with brown hair. Finally, when she takes a break at the snack bar, she is blonde. SECTION 12.0 Do you have sheet music or guitar tabs for VeggieTales songs? No. Sheet music for songs from the first three VeggieTales videos (Where's God When I'm S-Scared?, God Wants Me to Forgive Them?!? and Are You My Neighbor?) are available from Word Music in the "VeggieTunes Easy Songbook." It retails for about $9.95. Check your local Christian bookstore. Sheet music and guitar tabs are not available, either in print or on the Internet, for other songs. You can find song lyrics at The Ultimate VeggieTales Web Site! SECTION 13.0 Why doesn't VeggieTales include Jesus Christ more? The Ultimate VeggieTales Web Site! is not affiliated with Big Idea Productions, the show's producers, so you might want to contact them if you want an 'official' answer. (Click here for contact info.) But remember that Big Idea has articulated itself not as a "Christian" media company specifically, but rather a media company with a biblical worldview. VeggieTales should teach biblically based values that point to Jesus and to God, but not necessary tell the story of Jesus Himself. SECTION 14.0 Did Big Idea change the words to "The Bunny Song" on Rack, Shack & Benny? Yep. The lyrics on the original version, the words that Rack, Shack and Benny refused to sing because they were bad, included such lines as "I don't love my mom or my dad, just the bunny!" The song was so catchy that many kids started singing it, and many parents complained. Big Idea Productions created "The New & Improved Bunny Song" for the first sing-along video (Very Silly Songs!), which had a positive slant to the song: "I didn't eat my soup or my bread, just the bunny!" A third version now appears on Rack, Shack & Benny, including the line "I won't eat no beans, and I won't eat tofu. That stuff is for sissies but bunnies are cool!" If you'd like to hear the original version of "The Bunny Song," you can download it here. (Just don't sing it!) SECTION 15.0 Are VeggieTales closed captioned? Originally, videos were not closed captioned when first produced. But as the series is gradually rereleased into the general market, distributed by Lyrick Studios, they are being closed captioned. Newer videos (after July, 1998) distributed by Word Entertainment are also now closed captioned. Look for videos marked as distributed by Lyrick, or check toward the bottom of the back of the box to see if it is closed captioned. SECTION 16.0 Will the "VeggieTales Christmas Spectacular" PaxTV special be available on video? Nope. The special first aired in December, 1998, and was rebroadcast in November of 1999. The show might be reaired again during the next holiday season - check Bob's Newsbriefs at The Ultimate VeggieTales Web Site for future updates. The Toy That Saved Christmas can be purchased in stores. In addition, the three songs performed by Larry the Cucumber, Archibald Asparagus and Junior Asparagus during the "Christmas Spectacular" are part of the audio CD/cassette, "A Very Veggie Christmas!" e-mail webmaster@UltimateVeggie.com 
|