Rugrats

1995 - United States

Thanks to a winning combination of knowing, multi-levelled writing and perfectly cast vocal performances from an experienced and talented cast, this latter day entry into the ever-expanding field of high quality children's TV animation gave us the world as seen from the all-accepting innocence of a child's-eye point of view.

Nappy wearing toddler Tommy Pickles is the central character of this adventurous infant ensemble. Along with fuzzy-haired, perpetually scared friend Chuckie, and twins Phil and Lil, Tommy shares a playpen and endless adventures crawling around the house and neighbourhood, while indulging in a non-stop series of adventures which deftly parodies everyday life with the wide-eyed innocence of childhood, which belies the decidedly wry, adult sensibilities which informs the show's scripting.

To the Rugrats, the world is a place full of mysteries; such ordinary sights as a garbage truck chewing up refuse in the early morning effortlessly transforms in to a terrifying monster on the street outside, as their rich and active imaginations reworks the world around them into a frame of reference which they can readily grasp, if only imperfectly understand. Of course, there's a truly wonderful master-villain in the form of Angelica, Tommy's malevolent three-year- old cousin who constantly delights in terrorising the mini quartet with all the gleefully open cruelty that is such a naturally accepted part of childhood. Angelica is a masterful creation; a pint-sized Wicked Witch of the West with a post-modern hard-nosed LA attitude still being shaped by exposure to all pervading outside social influences, of which she isn't even aware, much less can she comprehend.

Smart, consistently funny, with a warm heart and a genuine sense of affection for the many small sorrows and joys which comprise childhood, Rugrats is that all too rare event; a children's animated series that appeals to adults by cocking a sophisticated snook at grown up conventions, while reminding us of all what we lost when we made the transition from little to large.