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Thirty years later, Rugrats reinvents itself through Paramount Plus.
On August 11th, 1991, Rugrats premiered on Nickelodeon. The original cartoon became a staple for 90’s kids all over the world, helping to set the foundation for Nickelodeon’s classic shows from our childhoods. This year marks a whopping thirty years since it first released, with some new announcements for celebration. We’ve discussed Rugrats before, and the remarkable impact voice actors can have.
So, what does Rugrats have in store for its thirtieth anniversary? For starters, a new logo to celebrate the show’s thirty years has been revealed. Even limited edition ‘Reptar’ themed ice cream (slushies, sundaes, and ice cream bars based on the IP) will be available at Milk & Cream Cereal Bar locations in New York and New Jersey until mid-September. Most importantly, a modern update of the show, described as “a reinvention of the beloved 90’s cartoon,” is available to stream now through Paramount Plus streaming services.
While the show has quite divisive reviews so far (sitting at a current 4.1 IMDb score), its modern update brings back its beloved voice actors from the original – including actress E.G. Daily as Tommy, and Cheryl Chase as Angelica. With five full episodes and a number of extra shorts available to stream, there is a good deal of content for fans to check out.
The new Rugrats property is almost certainly aimed more at nostalgic millenials than today’s kids. Although Tommy is still in diapers, there are now smartphones, Marie Kondo and online dating. The show is still meant for kids, but a specific subset-the kids of 90s kids. It’s clear that Paramount hopes millenial parents will plop their kids in front of the TV for a bit of relatable viewing. I don’t expect it to pay off. Too many of the gags focus on mocking millenials, with a bizzare intermix of irritation with boomers and exasperation at Gen Z’rs (there’s even a character named-you guessed it-Jen Z).
Obviously there will still be plenty of people who tune in to the new Rugrats, whether its millenials who want a hit of sweet, sweet nostalgia or parents plopping their kids in front of a device for some easy mindless distractions. What do you think of the Rugrats reboot? Will you be tuning in to watch it? Be sure to let us know!