View source for Rugrats

{{Short description|1991–2004 American animated television series}}
{{About|the original 1991 TV series}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Rugrats logo.png
| image_alt            = The word "Rugrats" and two small underlines in dark blue written in a child's handwriting, with red, yellow, and green dots, a white background and a jagged yellow border.
| genre                = {{Plainlist|
* [[Television comedy|Comedy]]
* [[Adventure fiction|Adventure]]
* [[Slice of life]]
}}
| creator              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Arlene Klasky]]
* [[Gábor Csupó]]
* [[Paul Germain]]
}}
| voices               = {{Plainlist|
* [[E. G. Daily]]
* [[Christine Cavanaugh]] 
* [[Nancy Cartwright]] 
* [[Cheryl Chase (actress)|Cheryl Chase]]
* [[Tara Strong]]
* [[Kath Soucie]]
* [[Dionne Quan]]
* [[Cree Summer]]
* [[Jack Riley (actor)|Jack Riley]]
* [[Melanie Chartoff]]
* [[David Doyle (actor)|David Doyle]] 
* [[Joe Alaskey]]
* [[Michael Bell (actor)|Michael Bell]]
* [[Tress MacNeille]]
* [[Philip Proctor]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Mark Mothersbaugh]]
| composer             = {{Plainlist|
* Mark Mothersbaugh
* Denis M. Hannigan
* [[Bob Mothersbaugh]]
* Rusty Andrews
}}
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 9
| num_episodes         = 172 (327 segments)
| list_episodes        = List of Rugrats episodes
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
* Arlene Klasky
* Gábor Csupó
* [[Vanessa Coffey]] (1991–93)
* Mary Harrington (1997–98)
}}
| producer             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Rick Gitelson]]
* Cella Nichols Duffy
* Geraldine Clarke (1992–95)
* [[David Blum]]
* Kate Boutilier
}}
| editor               = {{Plainlist|
* Karl Garabedian
* John Bryant
* Jerry Klovisky
}}
| runtime              = 23 minutes
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Klasky Csupo]]
* [[Nickelodeon Animation Studio]]{{efn|Known as Games Animation for the first four seasons.}}
}}
| network              = [[Nickelodeon]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1991|8|11}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2004|8|1}}
| related              = {{plainlist|
* ''[[The Rugrats Movie]]''
* ''[[Rugrats in Paris: The Movie]]''
* ''[[All Grown Up!]]''
* ''[[Rugrats Go Wild]]''
* ''[[Rugrats (2021 TV series)|Rugrats]]''
}}
}}

'''''Rugrats''''' is an American [[animated television series]] created by [[Arlene Klasky]], [[Gábor Csupó]], and [[Paul Germain]], produced by [[Klasky Csupo|Klasky Csupo Inc.]] for [[Nickelodeon]]. The series focuses on a group of [[toddler]]s, most prominently [[Tommy Pickles]], [[List of Rugrats characters#Chuckie|Chuckie Finster]], and the twins [[List of Rugrats characters#Phil and Lil|Phil]] and [[List of Rugrats characters#Phil and Lil|Lil DeVille]], and their day-to-day lives, usually involving life experiences that become much greater adventures in the imaginations of the main characters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brownfield |first=Paul |date=August 16, 1998 |title=Talk About a Baby Boom |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-aug-16-ca-13511-story.html |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Heffley |first=Lynne |date=July 21, 1996 |title=View from the Rug Up: 'Rugrats,' Nickelodeon's Animated Hit, Looks at World Through Eyes of a Toddler |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-21-tv-26268-story.html |access-date=February 22, 2022|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

The series premiered on August 11, 1991. It is the second of the original three Nickelodeon animated series known as "[[Nicktoons]]", after ''[[Doug (TV series)|Doug]]'' and before ''[[The Ren & Stimpy Show]]''. The series initially lasted for 65 episodes spanning three seasons. Production was then halted, and Germain left Klasky Csupo Inc. in 1993 with the last episode airing on November 12, 1994. In 1995 and 1996, two [[Judaism|Jewish]]-themed specials premiered, "[[A Rugrats Passover]]" and "[[A Rugrats Chanukah]]", respectively. During this time, after the end of its original run, ''Rugrats'' began to receive a boost in ratings and popularity due to frequent [[reruns]] on Nickelodeon.

In 1996, Klasky Csupo Inc. began producing new episodes with a new writing staff, and the series' fourth season began airing in 1997. As a result of its popularity, a [[Rugrats (film series)|series of theatrical films]] were released over the next five years: ''[[The Rugrats Movie]]'', which introduced Tommy's younger brother [[Dil Pickles|Dil]], was released in 1998, ''[[Rugrats in Paris: The Movie]]'', which introduced Chuckie's stepmother Kira, his stepsister Kimi, and a poodle named Fifi, was released in 2000, and ''[[Rugrats Go Wild]]'', a [[crossover (fiction)|crossover]] film with another Klasky Csupo series, ''[[The Wild Thornberrys]]'', was released in 2003.

On July 21, 2001, Nickelodeon broadcast the TV special ''[[All Growed Up]]'' to celebrate the 10th [[anniversary]] of the series. The special would eventually be considered a [[Pilot Episode|pilot]] for the ''Rugrats'' [[sequel]] series ''[[All Grown Up!]]'', which aired from 2003 to 2008. It chronicles the lives of the characters after they age 10 years. The final episode of ''Rugrats'' aired on August 1, 2004, bringing the series to a total of 172 episodes over nine seasons. Two direct-to-video specials were released in 2005 and 2006 under the moniker ''Rugrats Tales from the Crib''. A spin-off series, ''[[Rugrats Pre-School Daze]]'', aired four episodes in 2008. 

The 13-year run ties ''Rugrats'' with ''[[King of the Hill]]'' as the [[List of longest-running American television series|eighth-longest-running American animated television series]]. ''Rugrats'' is Nickelodeon's third longest-running animated series, behind ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' and ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'', and one of the [[List of animated television series by episode count|longest-running animated series]] overall. Until ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' aired its 173rd episode in 2012, ''Rugrats'' was Nickelodeon's longest-running cartoon.

''Rugrats'' gained over 20 awards, including four [[Daytime Emmy Award]]s, six [[Kids' Choice Awards]], and its own star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]. The series anchored Nickelodeon as the network's top-rated series from 1995 to 2001. Tie-in media for the series include video games, comics, toys, and various other merchandise.

A [[Rugrats (2021 TV series)|reboot of the series]] [[Executive producer|executive-produced]] by the original creative team of Klasky, Csupó, and Germain premiered on [[Paramount+]] in 2021.

==Premise==

===Characters===
{{main|List of Rugrats characters}}
[[File:Rugrats cast.png|thumb|upright=1.7|right|''Rugrats'' sports a vast array of secondary and tertiary characters.]]
The series focuses on the experiences of a courageous, adventurous one-year-old baby named [[Tommy Pickles]] and his group of playmates&nbsp;– several other [[infant]]s and toddlers, some of whom debuted later in the series. His playmates include [[Chuckie Finster|Chuckie]], Tommy's bespectacled, red-headed, insecure, cowardly two-year-old best friend, the twins [[Phil and Lil]], noted for their revolting eccentricities, Tommy's baby brother [[Dil Pickles|Dil]], who was born in ''[[The Rugrats Movie]]'', [[Angelica Pickles|Angelica]], Tommy and Dil's outrageously spoiled and selfish three-year-old cousin who is a "rival" of his friends, [[Kimi Finster|Kimi]], Chuckie's adventurous, playful stepsister (later his adopted sister in the seventh-season episode "Finsterella") who is introduced in ''[[Rugrats in Paris: The Movie]]'', and [[Susie Carmichael|Susie]], a good-hearted neighbor of the Pickles family, who protects the babies from Angelica, with whom she often butts heads.

The other characters depicted in ''Rugrats'' include the babies' parents, grandparents, and pets. Parental figures include [[Didi Pickles|Didi]] and [[Stu Pickles]], Tommy and Dil's mother and father, [[Chas Finster]], Chuckie's mild-mannered father, [[Kira Finster|Kira]], Chuckie's sweet-natured, kind and understanding stepmother (later his adopted mother) whom Chas marries in ''Rugrats in Paris: The Movie'', [[Drew Pickles]], Angelica's indulgent and doting father, [[Charlotte Pickles]], Angelica's [[workaholic]] mother, [[Betty DeVille]], Phil and Lil's easy-going yet boisterous [[feminism|feminist]] mother, and [[Howard Deville|Howard DeVille]], the twins' mild-mannered and soft-spoken father. Grandparents include [[Lou Pickles]], Drew and Stu's father and Tommy, Angelica, and Dil's grandfather, Lulu, Lou's second elderly wife that appeared in later seasons of the series, and Didi's parents, Boris and Minka, who are [[Jews|Jewish]] immigrants. The Pickles family also own a dog named [[Spike (Rugrats)|Spike]] and a cat belonging to Angelica named Fluffy.

In the series, babies talk to each other whenever adults are either not around, or are not paying attention.<ref name="D'Augustine 1996">{{Cite web |last=D'Augustine |first=Billy |date=1996 |title=A discussion with Paul Germain |url=http://rugratonline.free.fr/germain.html |access-date=December 25, 2023}}</ref> The babies have a limited understanding of the world. Toddlers Angelica and Susie talk to the babies as well and also communicate with adults, as they act as a bridge between the two worlds.<ref name="D'Augustine 1996"/>

===Setting===
[[File:Rugrats setting.jpg|thumb|left|Tommy's house, the primary setting of ''Rugrats'']]
Many of the adventures in which the babies find themselves take place at Tommy's house; the parents usually rely on Didi, Stu, or Grandpa Lou (Stu’s father) to babysit the kids while they run errands. Their address is revealed on an invoice in the season one episode "Tommy's First Birthday" as 1258 N. Highland, the original address of Klasky Csupo in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Tommy's First Birthday |series=Rugrats |network=[[Nickelodeon]] |date=August 11, 1991 |season=1 |number=1}}</ref> However, the specific city or state is never mentioned in the series. Several indicators, such as a state flag at a post office, license plate designs on the vehicles, and various trips to the [[Grand Canyon]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], and the beach, place the characters somewhere in [[southern California]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Graham Canyon/Stu-Maker's Elves |series=Rugrats |network=[[Nickelodeon]] |date=May 24, 1992 |season=1 |number=13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Vacation |series=Rugrats |network=[[Nickelodeon]] |date=July 8, 1997 |season=4 |number=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=No Bones About It/Beach Babies |series=Rugrats |network=[[Nickelodeon]] |date=November 1, 1992 |season=2 |number=9}}</ref>

The location is also hinted at during the season one episode "Little Dude" when Didi, who is a teacher, takes Tommy to her class at Eucaipah High School, referencing the city of [[Yucaipa, California]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Baby Commercial/Little Dude |series=Rugrats |network=[[Nickelodeon]] |date=September 8, 1991 |season=1 |number=4}}</ref> It has been implied that this ambiguity was done intentionally to help give the impression of seeing the world through the eyes of the babies, who would not understand the concept of location. The DeVilles live next door to the Pickles and, midway through the second season, the Carmichaels move in across the street.<ref name="Mimi1998">{{Cite magazine |last=Swartz |first=Mimi |date=November 30, 1998 |title=You Dumb Babies |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1998/11/30/you-dumb-babies |url-status=live |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414190508/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1998/11/30/you-dumb-babies |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |access-date=August 18, 2017}} [https://www.gwern.net/docs/fiction/1998-swartz.pdf Alt URL] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616225151/https://www.gwern.net/docs/fiction/1998-swartz.pdf|date=June 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Meet the Carmichaels/The Box |series=Rugrats |network=[[Nickelodeon]] |date=January 10, 1993 |season=2 |number=18}}</ref>

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Rugrats episodes}}
During the first six seasons of ''Rugrats'', episodes were primarily divided into two eleven-minute segments. After the second movie, during season seven, ''Rugrats'' aired with a format of three seven-minute segments per episode, though it returned to its original format in the final two seasons.<ref name="rugratsfaq">{{Cite web |title=The rugrats FAQ |url=http://www.rugratonline.com/faq.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105100523/http://rugratonline.com/faq.htm |archive-date=January 5, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
{{:List of Rugrats episodes}}

==Production==
Episodes took up to a year in advance to produce. After the episode's story was written and approved, the next phase consisted of voice recording, storyboarding, pre-eliminating animation, overseas production, overseas delivery, followed by editing and polishing.<ref name="rugratsfaq"/>
===Development===

''Rugrats'' was formed by the then-husband-and-wife duo of [[Gábor Csupó]] and [[Arlene Klasky]], along with [[Paul Germain]] in the summer of 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Starr |first=Michael |date=June 16, 1999 |title=New York Post interviews Klasky-Csupo |url=http://rugratonline.free.fr/inter1.html |website=[[New York Post]] |access-date=December 25, 2023}}</ref><ref name="D'Augustine 1996"/> Klasky Csupo had a major animation firm at the time which also provided services for commercials and music videos. Klasky, Csupó, and Germain were also animating ''[[The Simpsons]]'' for [[Matt Groening]] at the time, which they would continue to do until 1992 when the series' producer [[James L. Brooks]] and his company [[Gracie Films]] switched domestic production to [[Film Roman]]. The trio decided to create their own series in reaction to a proclamation by the children's cable network Nickelodeon that they were to launch their own line of animated series, which would be later called "Nicktoons".<ref name="1989proposal">{{Cite magazine |title=Original Rugrats Proposal (1989) |date=August 29, 1989 |url=https://archive.org/details/rugrats-pilot-script-and-proposal/Original%20Rugrats%20Proposal/mode/2up |magazine=A Proposal for a Television Series |publisher=Klasky-Csupo, Inc. |via=the Internet Archive}}</ref> The network's Vice President of Animation [[Vanessa Coffey]] approached them to create a pilot for their new series. With the comedic stimulation branching from the antics of Klasky and Csupó's infant children and pulling inspiration from The Beatles, the 6{{frac|1|2}}–minute pilot episode, "[[List of Rugrats episodes|Tommy Pickles and the Great White Thing]]" (which never aired), was released on DVD by [[Paramount Home Entertainment]] in 2001.

[[Peter Chung]], along with Klasky and Csupó, co-designed the characters and directed the series pilot, as well as the opening sequence. In a ''Decider'' article, Chung said, "He [Gábor] wanted the babies to be 'strange' instead of 'cute.'"<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gaines |first1=Caseen |last2=Klickstein |first2=Mathew |date=June 16, 2016 |title=The Oral History of 'Nicktoons', Part III: Exploring the Multigenerational Appeal of 'Rugrats' |url=http://decider.com/2016/06/16/the-oral-history-of-nicktoons-part-iii-rugrats/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170308002230/http://decider.com/2016/06/16/the-oral-history-of-nicktoons-part-iii-rugrats/ |archive-date=March 8, 2017 |access-date=June 25, 2016 |website=[[Decider (website)|Decider]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="1989proposal"/> The production was completed in 1990, and they submitted it to Nickelodeon, who tested it with an audience of children. The feedback for the pilot episode was primarily positive. With that, Coffey and then-network president [[Geraldine Laybourne]] approved of and bought the series and sent it into production. Chuckie and Angelica were added as characters. Following the success of its first season, Nickelodeon renewed the series for its second season in November 1991.<ref name="Viacom Press Release">{{cite news|url=http://rugratonline.free.fr/nt91re.html|date=November 19, 1991|title=Nickelodeon Reorders All Three of its Original Animated Series|author=Geraldine Laybourne|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 24, 2023}}</ref>

Germain, who felt that the series needed a bully, based Angelica on a girl bully from his childhood and decided the character would be a spoiled brat. Klasky initially disliked Angelica and also protested her actions in episodes like "Barbecue Story", where she throws Tommy's ball over the fence. In a ''[[The New Yorker|New Yorker]]'' article, Klasky said, "I think she's a bully. I never liked Angelica."<ref name="Mimi1998" /> Klasky disdained Angelica and never fully approved of her character development. Angelica became problematic for some ''Rugrats'' staff. When her voice actress, Cheryl Chase, had problems portraying a mean Angelica, [[Steve Viksten]], one of the writers, would mention that Angelica was the series' [[J. R. Ewing]]. After seeing Angelica in ''The Rugrats Movie'', Klasky commented, "I think she's great for the show; I love Angelica."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New Yorkers Facts About Rugrats |url=http://www.rugratonline.com/rrnews2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314183149/http://www.rugratonline.com/rrnews2.htm |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Writing ===
According to Germain, when the series was first conceived, the rule was that babies can really talk, but keep it a secret from adults. Such as the unaired pilot in which the babies wait for adults to leave the room before speaking to each other. However, the rules quickly began to evolve, and the babies became a metaphor for children of all ages. During production of the first season in June 1991, Germain and his fellow writers would argue among themselves over whether the adults could not understand the babies' talking, or whether the babies only spoke to each other when adults were not around.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Writer's Bible for Rugrats |date=June 1991 |url=https://archive.org/details/rugrats-writers-bible/page/4/mode/2up |page=6 |magazine=Writer's Bible |publisher=Klasky Csupo, Inc. |via=the Internet Archive}}</ref> During the first season, they tried a little of both, although later in the season, the writers would have the babies talk to each other while adults were in the same room, as long as there was a lot of space between them. By the end of the season, the writers allowed the babies to talk to each other while in their strollers as long as adults were not in the same shot.<ref name="D'Augustine 1996"/>

===Voice actors===
Through its full run, ''Rugrats'' had a steady array of main voice actors. [[E. G. Daily]] voices [[Tommy Pickles]], except in the unaired pilot where Tami Holbrook provides the voice; [[Christine Cavanaugh]] originally voiced Chuckie Finster, but Cavanaugh left the series for personal reasons and was subsequently replaced by [[Nancy Cartwright]] near the end of 2001. The fraternal twins, Phil and Lil, and their mother, Betty, are voiced by [[Kath Soucie]]; Dil Pickles and Timmy McNulty are voiced by [[Tara Strong]]. [[Cheryl Chase (actress)|Cheryl Chase]], who initially auditioned for the role of Tommy, was brought on board to be cast as the voice of [[Angelica Pickles]]. [[Dionne Quan]] voices Kimi Finster. Susie is voiced by [[Cree Summer]] except for two episodes when Summer was unavailable, and Daily filled in for her instead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats Characters -- the Rugrats |url=http://www.rugratonline.com/rrchar01.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105124810/http://rugratonline.com/rrchar01.htm |archive-date=January 5, 2011 |access-date=2011-01-10 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Other regular voice actors include [[Jack Riley (actor)|Jack Riley]] as Stu Pickles, [[Melanie Chartoff]] as Didi Pickles and Grandma Minka Kropotkin, [[Michael Bell (actor)|Michael Bell]] as Drew Pickles, Chas Finster and Grandpa Boris Kropotkin, [[Tress MacNeille]] as Charlotte Pickles, [[Phil Proctor]] as Howard DeVille, Julia Kato as Kira Finster, [[Hattie Winston]] as Dr. Lucy Carmichael, [[Ron Glass]] as Randy Carmichael and [[David Doyle (actor)|David Doyle]] as Grandpa Lou Pickles until his death in 1997,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Myrna |date=March 1, 1997 |title=David Doyle; Actor on 'Charlie's Angels' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-01-mn-33700-story.html |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> after which [[Joe Alaskey]] took over until the series' end. In 2000, [[Debbie Reynolds]] joined the cast as Lulu Pickles, Lou's second wife, and remained until the series' end.

=== Animation ===
Overseas animation for the series was done at [[Wang Film Productions]] for the pilot and its first-season, and [[Anivision]] and [[Sunwoo Entertainment]] for the rest of the series. It was followed by editing and polishing before its master tapes were sent to [[Nickelodeon]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Rugrats FAQ |url=http://rugratonline.free.fr/faq.html |access-date=February 11, 2023 |website=Unofficial Rugrats Online}}</ref>

=== Music ===
The theme song for ''Rugrats'' is composed by [[Mark Mothersbaugh]], who also composed the main music for the series, along with Denis M. Hannigan, Rusty Andrews, and his brother [[Bob Mothersbaugh]].

==Themes==
''Rugrats'' visualizes ordinary, everyday activities through the eyes of a group of toddlers. Using their imaginations, the babies transform routine tasks into surprising adventures. The babies, having a limited understanding of the world, constantly mispronounce words and use improper grammar. Challenges often emerge because the babies misinterpret the adults, usually caused by Angelica's deceptive translations. The grown-ups of ''Rugrats'' are simultaneously quirky, over-cautious, and oblivious. The series portrays adults as mysterious eccentrics. Episodes usually center on a [[morality|moral lesson]] that the babies learn during their imaginative explorations.

==Release==
===Broadcast===
''Rugrats'' was Nickelodeon's second [[Nicktoons|Nicktoon]], debuting on the same day as ''[[Doug (TV series)|Doug]]'' (which premiered before it) and ''[[The Ren & Stimpy Show]]'' (which debuted after). After the first run of the series, which was produced from 1990 to 1993, production went on a hiatus, co-creator/co-writer [[Paul Germain]] left the series,<ref name="D'Augustine 1996"/> and episodes that had not yet aired continued to be released through 1994. In 1995 and 1996, two Jewish-themed specials premiered; "[[A Rugrats Passover]]" and "[[A Rugrats Chanukah]]", respectively, and the rest of the series aired in reruns. Production on new episodes restarted in 1996 with a new writing staff,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms39Ck6EcGM|title=The Legacy of Rugrats with Paul Germain|last=Old School Lane|website=[[YouTube]]|date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> and the series aired in Nickelodeon's [[SNICK]] block from 1997 to 2001. From 1994 until 2012, ''Rugrats'' was the longest-running Nickelodeon animated series, with 172 episodes produced across its 13-year run. This record was surpassed in 2012 by ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' with the episode "Squiditis/Demolition Doofus".<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2009 |title='SpongeBob' Renewed for 26 Episodes |url=https://www.thewrap.com/spongebob-renewed-26-episodes-11810/ |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref>

On July 21, 2001, in celebration of its 10th anniversary, Nickelodeon aired the television special ''[[All Growed Up]]'', which featured the characters ten years older. After the special, the network aired a retrospective titled ''Rugrats: Still Babies After All These Years'', narrated by [[Amanda Bynes]]. Because of the special's ratings and popularity, Nickelodeon commissioned ''[[All Grown Up!]]'', a series about the characters after they have aged up, which ran from 2003 to 2008. ''Rugrats'' ended on August 1, 2004.<ref name="RugratsTVGuide">{{Cite web |title=Rugrats |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/rugrats/episodes/191757/ |access-date=June 28, 2016 |website=[[TV Guide]]}}</ref><ref name="Mimi1998" />

===Home media===
Nickelodeon and [[Amazon.com]] struck a deal to produce DVDs of new and old Nickelodeon shows, through the [[CreateSpace]] service. Using a concept similar to [[print on demand]], Amazon made the discs, cover art, and disc art itself. The first and second seasons of ''Rugrats'' were released on June 2, 2009, along with the first and second seasons of ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'' (although the ''Rugrats'' Season 2 was released in a "Best of" collection).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats DVD news: Pre-order&nbsp;– Season 1 from Amazon |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Season-1/11806 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604034552/http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Season-1/11806 |archive-date=June 4, 2009 |access-date=May 25, 2009 |website=TV Shows on DVD |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Season 3 and 4 were released on September 23, 2011, through the CreateSpace program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats DVD news: Announcement for Rugrats&nbsp;– Season 3 and Rugrats&nbsp;– Season 4 |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Seasons-3-and-4/16001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218034536/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Seasons-3-and-4/16001 |archive-date=December 18, 2011 |access-date=August 12, 2012 |website=TV Shows on DVD |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Season 5 was released shortly after on October 4.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 25, 2007 |title=Rugrats DVD news: Announcement for Rugrats&nbsp;– Season 5 |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Season-5/16034 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017064601/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Season-5/16034 |archive-date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=August 12, 2012 |website=TV Shows on DVD |df=mdy-all}}</ref> On October 6, 2011, the complete Seasons 6–8 were released through CreateSpace, and Season 9 was released in a "Best of" collection.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 25, 2007 |title=Rugrats DVD news: Announcement for Rugrats&nbsp;– Season 6, Season 7, Season 8, Best of Season 9 |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Seasons-6-7-8-Best-of-9/16056 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809075010/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Seasons-6-7-8-Best-of-9/16056 |archive-date=August 9, 2012 |access-date=August 12, 2012 |website=TV Shows on DVD |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Amazon re-released seasons 2 & 9 as complete seasons on May 9, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats DVD news: Update about Rugrats&nbsp;— Season 2 and Rugrats&nbsp;— Season 9 - TVShowsOnDVD.com |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Seasons-2-and-9/19793 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721064416/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Seasons-2-and-9/19793 |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |access-date=August 13, 2015 |website=TV Shows on DVD |df=mdy-all}}</ref> As of February 2017, the Amazon.com releases have been discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WPIvNZeUtk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/8WPIvNZeUtk |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Rugrats Season DVD Sets Out of Print on Amazon???|last=J's Blu-Rays|date=February 28, 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In May 2017, Nickelodeon and [[Paramount Home Media Distribution]] released Seasons 1 and 2 on DVD.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats DVD news: General Release for Season 1 and Season 2|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Season-1-and-Season-2/23077 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820163134/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Season-1-and-Season-2/23077 |archive-date=August 20, 2017 |access-date=August 20, 2017 |website=TV Shows on DVD |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In February 2018, Nickelodeon and Paramount Home Media Distribution released Seasons 3 and 4 on DVD.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats - 'Season 3' and 'Season 4' DVDs to 'Go Wide' at General Retail |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Seasons-3-and-4/23836 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130220749/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rugrats-Seasons-3-and-4/23836 |archive-date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=November 29, 2017 |website=TV Shows on DVD |df=mdy-all}}</ref> On May 18, 2021, Nickelodeon and Paramount Home Entertainment released ''Rugrats: The Complete Series'' on DVD.<ref name="USComplete">{{Cite web |title=Rugrats: The Complete Series |url=https://www.amazon.com/Rugrats-Complete-Elizabeth-Daily/dp/B08SYTG7CF |access-date=March 15, 2021 |website=Amazon}}</ref>

In Australia, all seasons have been released by [[Beyond Home Entertainment]].

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ DVD releases&nbsp;— complete seasons
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="3"| DVD name
! scope="col" rowspan="3"| {{abbr|No.|Number}} of<br />episodes
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Release date
|-
! scope="col" colspan = "2" | [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]]
! scope="col" rowspan = "2" | [[DVD region code#4|Region 4]]
|-
! scope="col" | Amazon
! scope="col" | Paramount
|-
| scope="row"| Season 1
| 13
| June 2, 2009
| May 2, 2017
| December 4, 2013
|-
| scope="row"| Season 2
| 26
| May 9, 2014
| May 2, 2017
| December 4, 2013
|-
| scope="row"| Season 3
| 26
| September 23, 2011
| February 6, 2018
| April 2, 2014
|-
| scope="row"| Season 4
| 17
| September 23, 2011
| February 6, 2018
| June 4, 2014
|-
| scope="row"| Season 5
| 12
| October 4, 2011
| {{N/A}}
| June 4, 2014
|-
| scope="row"| Season 6
| 28
| October 6, 2011
| {{N/A}}
| June 4, 2014
|-
| scope="row"| Season 7
| 18
| October 6, 2011
| {{N/A}}
| December 3, 2014
|-
| scope="row"| Season 8
| 13
| October 6, 2011
| {{N/A}}
| December 3, 2014
|-
| scope="row"| Season 9
| 14
| May 9, 2014
| {{N/A}}
| December 3, 2014
|-
| scope = "row" | The Complete Series
| 172
| {{N/A}}
| May 18, 2021<ref name="USComplete" />
| October 31, 2017
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|+Other releases
! colspan=2|Title
! Episode count
! Movie count
! Release date
! Episodes
|-
| style="background:#fee22f|
| ''Decade in Diapers''
| 11
| rowspan=8|0
| September 24, 2002
| "Angelica Orders Out", "The First Cut", "Reptar on Ice", "No Bones About It", "Be My Valentine", "Chuckie vs. The Potty", "Doctor Susie", "Vacation", "Finsterella", "Bigger Than Life", and "Tommy Pickles and the Great White Thing"
|-
| style="background:#d5a1c5|
| ''Mysteries''
| 8
| January 28, 2003
| "Murmur on the Ornery Express", "The Fun Way Day", "Trading Phil", "Grandpa's Date", "The Legend of Satchmo", "Grandpa's Teeth", "Visitors from Outer Space", and "Grandpa Moves Out"
|-
| style="background:#0a0c0b|
| ''Nicktoons Halloween''
| rowspan=2|1
| August 26, 2003
| "Curse of the Werewuff"
|-
| style="background:#d6e8f4|
| ''Nicktoons Christmas''
| September 30, 2003
| "Babies in Toyland"
|-
| style="background:#4b87c3|
| ''Holiday Celebration''
| 12
| August 31, 2004<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats Holiday Celebration (Halloween/Turkey & Mistletoe): Elizabeth Daily, Christine Cavanaugh, Nancy Cartwright, Michael Bell, Melanie Chartoff, Kath Soucie, Cheryl Chase, Joe Alaskey, David Doyle, Jack Riley, Tress MacNeille, Phil Proctor, Barry Vodos, Celia Kendrick, Craig Bartlett, Dave Fontana, Howard E. Baker, Igor Kovalyov, Jeff McGrath, Jim Duffy: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=August 31, 2004 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Rugrats-Holiday-Celebration-Halloween-Mistletoe/dp/B0002ERWUU/ |access-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref>
|
* '''Disc 1:''' "Curse of the Werewuff", "Ghost Story", "Aunt Miriam", "Sleep Trouble", "Spike's Nightscare"
* '''Disc 2:''' "Babies in Toyland", "The Turkey Who Came To Dinner", "Kwanzaa", "The Santa Experience", and "Chanukah"
|-
| style="background:#70a7da|
| ''Nick Picks Vol. 1''
| rowspan=3|1
| May 24, 2005
| "Finsterella"
|-
| style="background:#ab499d|
| ''Nick Picks Vol. 2''
| October 18, 2005
| "All Growed Up"
|-
| style="background:#d6e8f4|
| ''Nick Picks Holiday''
| September 26, 2006
| "The Santa Experience"
|-
| style="background:#ffffff|
| ''The Trilogy Movie Collection''
| 0
| 3
| March 15, 2011 (DVD)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rugrats Trilogy Movie Collection |title=Rugrats Trilogy Movie Collection: Elizabeth Daily, Christine Cavanaugh, Nancy Cartwright, Michael Bell, Melanie Chartoff, Kath Soucie, Cheryl Chase, Joe Alaskey, David Doyle, Jack Riley, Tress MacNeille, Phil Proctor, Barry Vodos, Celia Kendrick, Craig Bartlett, Dave Fontana, Howard E. Baker, Igor Kovalyov, Jeff McGrath, Jim Duffy: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=March 15, 2011 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Rugrats-Trilogy-Movie-Collection-Elizabeth/dp/B004IK30NC |access-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref><br/>March 8, 2022 (Blu-ray)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nickalive.net/2022/01/paramount-to-release-rugrats-trilogy.html?m=0 | title=Paramount to Release 'The Rugrats Trilogy Movie Collection' on Blu-ray on March 8 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Igor-Kovalyov/dp/B09NGXSWYT/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_US=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3MJ8LDAV97WGG&keywords=Rugrats+Trilogy+Movie+Collection+Blu-ray&qid=1672325334&sprefix=rugrats+trilogy+movie+collection+blu-ray,aps,121&sr=8-1|title=Rugrats Trilogy Movie Collection|accessdate=March 10, 2023|via=Amazon}}</ref>
|
* '''Disc 1:''' ''The Rugrats Movie''
* '''Disc 2:''' ''Rugrats in Paris: The Movie''
* '''Disc 3:''' ''Rugrats Go Wild''
|-
| style="background:#53386d|
| ''Halloween''
| rowspan=2|5
| rowspan=3|0
| September 20, 2011<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rugrats: Halloween |title=Rugrats: Halloween: Artist Not Provided: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=20 September 2011 |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005CVTW88 |access-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref>
| This release is a reissue of the first disc from the ''Holiday Celebration'' DVD set.
|-
| style="background:#5fbc47|
| ''Outdoor Shenanigans!''
| rowspan=2|July 8, 2014
| "Discover America", "Barbeque Story", "Moose Country", "Sand Ho!", and "The Gold Rush"
|-
| style="background:#79458d|
| ''Reptar Returns!''
| 3
| "Runaway Reptar", "Reptar 2010", and "The Big Showdown"
|}

=== Streaming ===
As of March 4, 2021, all seasons are available on [[Paramount+]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats |url=https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/rugrats/ |access-date=March 4, 2021 |website=[[Paramount+]]|date=August 10, 1991 }}</ref>

==Reception==
=== Ratings ===
In 1994, "[[A Rugrats Passover]]" received a [[Nielsen Rating|Nielsen]] rating of 3.1, with a 4.8% share of American audiences, making it the sixth most-watched cable telecast that week.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 1, 1995 |title=Cable's top 25 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]}}</ref> In 1996, ''Rugrats'' episodes had aired 655 times over the course of the calendar year, and it remained one of cable television's most-watched series that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richmond |first=Ray |date=January 20, 1997 |title=Numbers game puts Nick way out front |url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/ratings/numbers-game-puts-nick-way-out-front-1117433320/ |access-date=August 20, 2017 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> In February 1996, ''Rugrats'' reached a record of 19.1 million viewers per week, becoming the highest-rated kids program on cable.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=February 13, 1997 |title=Nickelodeon Maintains Leadership Position in Kids TV Season - Nick Prime is Number One Kids Daypart |work=[[Nielsen Media Research]]}}</ref> In November 1996, the series surpassed itself with 20.8 million viewers per week.<ref name=":0" /> In December 1996, "[[A Rugrats Chanukah]]" received a Nielsen rating of 7.9 in the show's target demographic of children aged 2–11.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 18, 1996 |title=Nickelodeon drives kids TV marketplace in new season Grows While Competition Declines; Outperforms Broadcasters In Key Dayparts |publisher=Press release, [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]}}</ref>

On November 10, 1998, the fourth-season episode "The Turkey Who Came to Dinner" became Nickelodeon's highest-rated program, with a Nielsen rating of 9.4, which totaled 3.7 million viewers among kids 2-11.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 16, 1998 |title=Nickelodeon is Cable's Number One Rated Network for 1998: Record Setting Performances on Nickelodeon / Nick at Nite Drive Network To Total Day Cable Ratings Victory for Third Straight Year |work=[[Nielsen Media Research]]}}</ref> On January 18, 1999, it was surpassed by the sixth-season episodes "Chuckie's Duckling" and "A Dog's Life", all of which earned a 13.8 Nielsen rating.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 30, 1999 |title=Nickelodeon / Nick At Nite Maintains Dominance as No. 1 Cable Network for 14 Consecutive Quarters - Nickelodeon / Nick at Nite Outperformed Closest Competition By 32% In First Quarter, 1999 - Nickelodeon Doubles Ratings Of Closest Competitor Among Kids |work=[[Nielsen Media Research]]}}</ref> On July 21, 2001, the series' special "[[All Growed Up]]" became Nickelodeon's highest-rated program among kids 2-11, earning a Nielsen rating of 20.4 with a 70% share.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 2, 2001 |title=Nickelodeon Marks Six Years as Basic Cable's Number-One Network - Nick Completes 24 Consecutive Quarters at Number One in Total Day with Households and Kids - Nick's Total-Day Tally in 3Q 2001 Yields Its Largest Kids' Audience Ever; Finishes September at Number One - SpongeBob SquarePants Closes Quarter as Broadcast and Cable TV's Number-One Prime-Time Show for Kids |work=[[Nielsen Media Research]]}}</ref> It remains as the series' highest-rated episode.

===Critical reception and legacy===
In a 1995 interview, [[Steven Spielberg]] referred to the series as one of several shows that were the best children's programming at the time. Spielberg described ''Rugrats'' as "sort of a TV ''[[Peanuts]]'' of our time".<ref>"Spielberg Toons in." ''[[TV Guide]]''. October 28, 1995. 33.</ref> ''Rugrats'' was also considered a strong point in [[Nickelodeon]]'s rise in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shattuck |first=Kathryn |date=July 15, 2001 |title=FOR YOUNG VIEWERS; TV's No. 1 Babies Celebrate Their 10th Birthday |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/15/tv/for-young-viewers-tv-s-no-1-babies-celebrate-their-10th-birthday.html |access-date=August 12, 2010 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mifflin |first=Lawrie |date=November 25, 1998 |title=TV NOTES; First Lesson in Hype |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/25/movies/tv-notes-first-lesson-in-hype.html?scp=17&sq=rugrats&st=csescp=25&sq=rugrats&st=cse |access-date=August 12, 2010 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schmuckler |first=Eric |date=August 30, 1998 |title=TELEVISION; In 'Rugrats,' Babies Know Best |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/30/arts/television-in-rugrats-babies-know-best.html|access-date=August 12, 2010 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mifflin |first=Lawrie |date=November 30, 1997 |title=COVER STORY; When Grown-Ups Let Children Have a Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/30/tv/cover-story-when-grown-ups-let-children-have-a-say.html|access-date=August 12, 2010 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In a press release celebrating the series' 10th anniversary, [[Cyma Zarghami]] stated, "During the past decade, ''Rugrats'' has evolved from a ratings powerhouse, being the number one children's show on TV, to pop icon status. It has secured a place in the hearts of both kids and adults, who see it from their own point of view".<ref name="rugratonline.com">{{Cite web |title=Marketing The Rugrats' Tenth Anniversary |url=http://www.rugratonline.com/rrat10a.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314183106/http://www.rugratonline.com/rrat10a.htm |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |access-date=2017-08-20 |website=Rugrats Online |df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to Nickelodeon producers, this series made them the number-one cable channel in the 1990s.<ref name="tv">{{Cite web|title=Rugrats|url=http://www.tv.com/rugrats/show/534/summary.html?q=rugrats&tag=search_results;title;1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204213454/http://www.tv.com/rugrats/show/534/summary.html?q=rugrats&tag=search_results;title;1|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2013|access-date=2017-08-20|website=[[TV.com]]}}</ref> [[Jeff Jarvis]] reviewed ''Rugrats'' and stated, "When ''[[The Simpsons]]'' was a segment on ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'', it was just a belch joke with hip pretensions. As a series, it grew flesh and guts. It was my favorite cartoon. Until I discovered Nickelodeon's ''Rugrats'', a sardonic, sly, kid's-eye view of the world that skewers thirty-something parents and [[The Cosby Show|Cosby kids]]."<ref>{{Cite web |title=TV Guide Issues Featuring Rugrats |url=http://www.rugratonline.com/rrtvg2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830042949/http://www.rugratonline.com/rrtvg2.htm |archive-date=August 30, 2012 |access-date=2017-08-20 |website=Rugrats Online |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Controversy===
''Rugrats'' was noteworthy among contemporary children's television for depicting observant, identifiable Jewish families.<ref name="goldberg">Danny Goldberg, ''Dispatches from the Culture Wars: How the Left Lost Teen Spirit'' (New York: Miramax Books, 2003), 197.</ref> Jewish, [[Christians|Christian]], and [[Muslims|Muslim]] religious groups gave the series high praises for their special holiday episodes. Nonetheless, at one point the [[Anti-Defamation League]] and ''[[The Washington Post]]'' editorial page castigated the series for its depiction of Tommy Pickles' maternal grandparents, accusing their character designs of resembling [[Nazi Germany|Nazi-era]] [[Themes in Nazi propaganda#Jews|depictions]] of Jews.<ref name=goldberg/>

===Awards and nominations===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Association
! scope="col"| Award category
! scope="col"| Nominee
! scope="col"| Result
|-
| scope="row"| 1992
| rowspan="2" | [[Daytime Emmy Award]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program|Outstanding Animated Program]]
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| 1993
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program|Outstanding Animated Children's Program]]
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| 1994
| [[CableACE Award|CableAce]]
| Animated Programming Special or Series
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Daytime Emmy Award]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program|Outstanding Animated Children's Program]]
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="5"| 1995
| [[Annie Award]]
| [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production|Best Individual Achievement for Writing in the Field of Animation]]
| Episode: "A Rugrats Passover"
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Humanitas Prize]]
| Children's Animation Category
| Episode: "I Remember Melville"
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[CableACE Award|CableAce]]
| Animated Programming Special or Series
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Daytime Emmy Award]]
| Outstanding in Animation
|
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award|Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program|Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming One Hour or Less)]]
| "[[A Rugrats Passover]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| 1996
| [[Kids' Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Cartoon<ref name="kcas">{{Cite web |title=All Winners |url=http://www.nick.com/kids-choice-awards/all-winners/ |access-date=May 25, 2013 |website=[[Nick.com]] |publisher=[[Nickelodeon]] |archive-date=January 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122184504/http://www.nick.com/kids-choice-awards/all-winners/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="5"| 1997
| [[Annie Award]]
| [[Annie Award for Best Animated Home Entertainment Production|Best Animated Home Entertainment Production]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://annieawards.org/legacy/25th-annie-awards|title=25th Annual Annie Awards|website=Annie Awards.org|access-date=November 28, 2024|archive-date=September 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903124424/http://annieawards.org/legacy/25th-annie-awards|url-status=live}}</ref>
| A Rugrats Vacation
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program|Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming One Hour or Less)]]<ref name="emmys">{{Cite web |title=Rugrats |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/rugrats |access-date=April 22, 2013 |website=[[Emmy Award]] |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]}}</ref>
| "[[Mother's Day (Rugrats)|Mother's Day]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Kids' Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Cartoon<ref name="kcas" />
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| Young Artist Awards
| Best Performance in a Voiceover
| Charity Sanoy<br />{{small|for "Dust Bunnies"/"Educating Angelica"}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[CableACE Award|CableAce]]
| Best Writing in a Children's Special Or Series
| Episode: "[[Mother's Day (Rugrats)|Mother's Day]]"
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| 1998
| [[Kids' Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Cartoon<ref name="kcas" />
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| Humanitas Prize
| Children's Animation Category
| Episode: "Mother's Day"
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="8"| 1999
| [[Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program|Outstanding Children's Program]]<ref name="emmys" />
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Genesis Award]]
| Television&nbsp;– Children's Programming
| Episode: "The Turkey That Came to Dinner"
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Kids' Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Cartoon<ref name="kcas" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 3, 1999 |title='Rugrats', 'All That' Win Kids' Awards |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-03-ca-33551-story.html |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Humanitas Prize]]
| Children's Animation Category
| Episode: "Autumn Leaves"
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| TV Guide Award
| Favorite Children's Show
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| World Animation Celebration
| Best Director of Animation for a Daytime Series
| Episode: "Naked Tommy"
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Kids Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Movie<ref name="kcas" />
| ''[[The Rugrats Movie]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| Cable Guide
| Favorite Cartoon
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="4"| 2000
| [[Artios Award]]
| Best Casting for Animated Voice Over&nbsp;– Television
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Kid's Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Cartoon<ref name="kcas" />
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program|Outstanding Children's Program]]<ref name="emmys" />
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| TV Guide Award
| Favorite Children's Show
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="5"| 2001
| [[Artios Award]]
| Best Casting for Animated Voice Over&nbsp;– Television
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Emmy Award]]
|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program|Outstanding Children's Program]]<ref name="emmys" />
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Kids' Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Cartoon<ref name="kcas" />
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Television Critics Association Awards]]
| Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| Jewish Image Awards
| Outstanding Achievement
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="4"| 2002
| [[Artios Award]]
| Best Casting for Animated Voice Over&nbsp;– Television
| Episode: "Cynthia Comes Alive"
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Emmy Award]]
| Outstanding Children's Program<ref name="emmys" />
| Special: "[[All Growed Up]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Kid's Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Cartoon
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| BMI Cable Award
|
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="4"| 2003
| [[Artios Award]]
| Best Casting for Animated Voice Over&nbsp;– Television
| Episode: "Babies in Toyland"
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Kid's Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Cartoon
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| scope="row"| [[Daytime Emmy Award]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program|Outstanding Children's Animated Program]]
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| BMI Cable Award
|
|
| {{won}}
|-
| scope="row"| 2004
| [[Daytime Emmy Award]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program|Outstanding Children's Animated Program]]
|
| {{nom}}
|}

===Honors===
[[File:Rugrats on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.jpg|thumb|right|The Rugrats received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in a ceremony on June 28, 2001, commemorating the show's 10th anniversary.]]
On June 28, 2001, in commemoration of their tenth anniversary, ''Rugrats'' received a star on the fabled [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], making it Nickelodeon's first series to receive a star. It was placed at 6600 W. Hollywood Blvd., near Cherokee Ave., outside a toy and costume shop.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/the-rugrats/|title=Rugrats|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> In the October 2001 issue of ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard Magazine]]'', a leading magazine for comic book fans, they released the results of the "100 Greatest Toons ever", as selected by their readers; ''Rugrats'' ranked at No. 35. Three other Nicktoons—''SpongeBob SquarePants'', ''[[Invader Zim]]'', and ''Ren and Stimpy''—also placed on the list.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.listal.com/list/wizard-magazines-top-100-cartoons|title=Wizard Magazine's Top 100 cartoons list|website=www.listal.com}}</ref> In a list of TV Land's "The 2000 Best Things About Television", ranking the all-time TV shows, channels, commercials, people, catch phrases, etc., ''Rugrats'' is ranked No. 699.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats News & Other Little-Known Facts&nbsp;– Part 2 |url=http://rugratonline.free.fr/rrnewsb.html |access-date=April 22, 2013 |website=Rugrats Online}}</ref>

The original series was named the 92nd-best animated series by [[IGN]].<ref name="ign100">{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2009 |title=Top 100 Animated Series: 92. Rugrats |url=https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-animated-series/92 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119005214/http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/92.html |archive-date=January 19, 2009 |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=[[IGN]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Angelica Pickles placed seventh in ''TV Guide'<nowiki/>''s list of "Top 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time" in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 30, 2002 |title=TV Guide's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time |url=https://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/|access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref> On September 24, 2013, in honor of their 60th anniversary, ''Rugrats'' earned a spot on ''TV Guide'''s "60 Greatest Cartoons of All Time" list.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 24, 2013 |title=TV Guide magazine's 60 greatest cartoons of all time |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/tv-guide-magazines-60-greatest-cartoons-of-all-time|access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=[[Fox News]]}}</ref> In 2017, James Charisma of ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' ranked the series' opening sequence #11 on a list of ''The 75 Best TV Title Sequences of All Time''.<ref name="Paste">{{Cite web |last=Charisma, James |date=January 4, 2017 |title=The 75 Best TV Title Sequences of All Time |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/title-sequences/the-75-best-tv-title-sequences-of-all-time/ |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]}}</ref>

==Franchise==
{{Main|Rugrats (franchise)}}

===Films===
{{further|Rugrats (film series)}}
In 1998, ''[[The Rugrats Movie]]'' was released, which introduced Dil, Tommy's little brother, to the series. Its worldwide gross was $140.9 million against a $24 million budget, though it received mixed reviews from critics. In 2000, a sequel, ''[[Rugrats in Paris: The Movie]]'', was released, with three new characters introduced, Kimi, Kira, and Fifi. Kimi would become Chuckie's sister and Kira would become his new mother, after marrying his father. Fifi would become Spike's new mate and Chuckie's new dog. It too was a box office success and also received a more positive critical reception. In 2003, ''[[Rugrats Go Wild]]'' was released. It was a crossover between the ''Rugrats'' and ''[[The Wild Thornberrys]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Peter M. |date=June 20, 2003 |title=Diaper-Clad Adventurers Heed the Call of the Wild |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/20/movies/20TAKI.html|access-date=August 12, 2010 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> It was the least successful ''Rugrats'' film both critically and commercially. The ''Rugrats'' film trilogy has grossed $299.6 million.{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}} In July 2018, Paramount announced that Rugrats would release a live-action movie on January 29, 2021. However, in November 2019, Paramount decided to pull the movie from its schedule with no explanation given.<ref name="rugratsfilm">{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=November 12, 2019 |title=Paramount Grounds 'Rugrats' Movie, Moves WWE's 'Rumble' Back Six Months & Titles Next 'SpongeBob' Pic |url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/rugrats-movie-pulled-wwe-rumble-release-date-titles-spongebob-movie-sponge-on-the-run-1202784527/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In October 2024, it was announced that a new live-action hybrid film was in the works from Paramount and Jason Moore.<ref name="Kroll">{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2024-10-02 |title=Live-Action Hybrid 'Rugrats' Movie In the Works From Paramount And 'Pitch Perfect' Director Jason Moore |url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/rugrats-movie-paramount-pitch-perfect-jason-moore-1236105112/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Live action film ===
On July 16, 2018, It was announced that Paramount Pictures had greenlit a live-action/CGI hybrid feature film which was last set for a January 29, 2021 release date.<ref name="rugratsfilm" /> Originally, it had been set for a November 13, 2020 release, and then was pushed back, with ''[[Clifford the Big Red Dog (film)|Clifford the Big Red Dog]]'' taking its old slot.<ref name="THR">{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=July 16, 2018 |title='Rugrats' Revived at Viacom With New Nickelodeon Series, Feature Film |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rugrats-revived-at-viacom-new-nickelodeon-series-feature-film-1127473/ |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref name="deadline.com">{{Cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |last2=Petski |first2=Denise |date=July 16, 2018 |title='Rugrats' Returns With Nickelodeon Series Revival & Live-Action Paramount Movie |url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/rugrats-revival-series-nickelodeon-live-action-movie-paramount-1202427458/ |access-date=July 16, 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> But on November 12, 2019, the live-action/CGI hybrid film was removed from Paramount's release schedule.<ref name="rugratsfilm" /> In October 2024, it was announced that the film was back on track at Paramount with [[Jason Moore (director)|Jason Moore]] on board to direct with [[Mikey Day]] and [[Streeter Seidell]] setting to pen the script.<ref name="Kroll"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=2024-10-02 |title='Rugrats' Live-Action Movie in the Works at Paramount With CGI Babies |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/rugrats-movie-live-action-paramount-1236166025/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Spin-offs and reboot===
{{See also|All Grown Up!|Rugrats (2021 TV series)}}
''Rugrats Pre-School Daze'', also known as ''Angelica and Susie's School Daze'', is a [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] that follows Angelica Pickles and Susie Carmichael as [[preschool]] students. [[Arlene Klasky]] and [[Gábor Csupó]] were its creators and [[executive producer]]s.<ref name="Source4">{{Cite web |date=March 12, 2002 |title=Nickelodeon Upfront 2002 |url=http://www.nickandmore.com/2002/03/12/nickelodeon-upfront-2002/ |access-date=January 19, 2019 |website=Nick and More!}}</ref> It was announced in 2001 as the first spin-off for ''Rugrats'', and initially received a 13-episode order.<ref name="Source1">{{Cite web |last=Petrozzello |first=Donna |date=March 13, 2002 |title='Rugrats' Family Growing Spinoff 'Angelica' among 5 new Nick series |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/rugrats-family-growing-spinoff-angelica-5-new-nick-series-article-1.492680 |access-date=January 19, 2019 |website=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> Though it was reportedly a "highly-anticipated" part of the March 2002 [[upfront presentation]],<ref name="Source4" /> the series was reduced to four [[television special]]s.<ref name="Source2">{{Cite web |last=Oei |first=Lily |date=September 26, 2002 |title='Rugrats' grows up |url=https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/rugrats-grows-up-1117873421/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231094306/https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/rugrats-grows-up-1117873421/ |archive-date=December 31, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> This decision was reached after Nickelodeon shifted its focus to the ''All Grown Up!'' spin-off following the rating success of "All Growed Up".<ref name="Source2" /> ''Rugrats Pre-School Daze'' was first shown in the United States between November 2008 and December 2008.<ref name="Amazon2">{{Cite web |title=Angelica and Susie's Preschool Daze |url=http://www.amazon.com:80/Angelica-and-Susies-Preschool-Daze/dp/B00BDS2YOS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226122215/http://www.amazon.com/Angelica-and-Susies-Preschool-Daze/dp/B00BDS2YOS |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |website=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]}}</ref> The series carried a [[TV Y|TV-Y]] parental rating, meaning that it was judged as "designed to be appropriate for all children".<ref name="TVG">{{Cite web |title='Angelica and Suzie: Preschool Daze |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/angelica-and-suzie-preschool-daze/463699/ |access-date=January 20, 2019 |website=[[TV Guide]]}}</ref>

In 2005, [[Paramount Home Entertainment]] released all four episodes of ''Rugrats Pre-School Daze'' on the DVDs for the ''Rugrats: Tales from the Crib'' movies. The first two were released on the ''Snow White'' DVD,<ref name="SourceWorldCat2">{{Cite book |title=Rugrats. Tales from the crib : snow white |via=[[WorldCat]] |oclc=606038354}}</ref> while the last two were on the one for ''Three Jacks and a Beanstalk''.<ref name="SourceWorldCat1">{{Cite book |title=Rugrats, tales from the crib. Three Jacks & a beanstalk |via=[[WorldCat]] |oclc=68967938}}</ref> The series was once available on the [[iTunes Store]] and [[Amazon Instant Video]],<ref name="Amazon2" /><ref name="SourceiTunes">{{Cite web |title=Rugrats Pre-School Daze |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/angelica-susies-pre-school/id593546839 |website=[[iTunes Store]]}}{{dead link|date=May 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> but the episodes were later removed from both platforms.<ref name="Amazon2" /><ref name="SourceiTunes" /> All episodes are available on [[Hulu]]. [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']]'s Brian Steinberg felt that the series' concept could be retooled as part of a ''Rugrats'' [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]], where the baby protagonists would be shown in preschool and Angelica in [[kindergarten]].<ref name="SourceVariety">{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=September 2, 2015 |title='Rugrats' Revival? Nickelodeon Mulls Return of Classic Shows |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/nickelodeon-classic-tv-rugrats-hey-arnold-1201583856/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024042220/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/nickelodeon-classic-tv-rugrats-hey-arnold-1201583856/ |archive-date=October 24, 2016 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> On May 14, 2020, it was announced that the reboot was delayed until 2021.<ref name="2021 Delay">{{Cite web |last=Mary Anne Butler |date=May 14, 2020 |title=That Nickelodeon''Rugrats'' Revival Delayed til 2021 |url=https://nerdbot.com/2020/05/14/nickelodeon-rugrats-revival-delayed-2021/ |access-date=July 27, 2020 |website=Nerdbot}}</ref> it was announced that Nickelodeon had given a series order to a 26-episode revival of the series, executive produced by Klasky, Csupó, and Germain. The reboot premiered on [[Paramount+]] on May 27, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Andrew |date=October 15, 2020 |title=Nickelodeon Updates Icons, Sets New Characters for 2021 |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/spotlight/nickelodeon-6-1234806240/ |access-date=October 19, 2020 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Del Rosario |first=Alexandra |date=February 24, 2021 |title='Rugrats': Original Voice Cast Members To Reunite For Series Revival At Paramount+ |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/rugrats-original-voice-cast-members-reunite-series-revival-paramount-1234699673/ |access-date=December 9, 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Ryan |date=May 3, 2021 |title=''Rugrats'' Reboot Gets May Premiere Date at Paramount+ — WATCH |url=https://tvline.com/2021/05/03/rugrats-reboot-premiere-date-new-episodes-returning-may-2021/ |access-date=May 3, 2021 |website=[[TVLine]]}}</ref> The reboot also began airing on Nickelodeon on August 20, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Rugrats (reboot series)'' Episode Listings |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/rugrats-reboot-series/listings/ |publisher=[[The Futon Critic]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 18, 2021 |title=The Nickelodeon Virtual Upfront Show: Bring Your Kids! |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/03/18/the-nickelodeon-virtual-upfront-show-bring-your-kids-574212/20210318nickelodeon01/ |access-date=August 31, 2021 |work=The Futon Critic}}</ref>

===Other media===
====Comics====
{{further|Rugrats (comic strip)}}
From 1998 to 2003, Nick produced a ''Rugrats'' comic strip, which was distributed through [[Creators Syndicate]]. Initially written by show-writer Scott Gray and drawn by comic book artist Steve Crespo, with Rob Armstrong as editor. Will Blyberg came on board shortly after as inker. By the end of 1998, Lee Nordling, who had joined as a contributing gag writer, took over as editor. Nordling hired extra writers, including Gordon Kent, Scott Roberts, Chuck Kim, [[J. Torres]], Marc Bilgrey, and [[John Zakour]], as well as new artists including Gary Fields, Tim Harkins, Vince Giaranno, and Scott Roberts. Stu Chaifetz colored the Sunday strips. The ''Rugrats'' strip started out in many papers, but as often happens with spin-off strips, soon slowed down. It is still seen in some papers in re-runs. Two paperback collections were published by [[Andrews McMeel]] ''It's a Jungle-Gym Out There'' and ''A Baby's Work Is Never Done''.

During this time, [[Nickelodeon]] also published 30 issues of an all-''Rugrats'' comic magazine. Most of these were edited by Frank Pittarese and [[Dave Roman]], and featured stories and art by the comic strip creators and others. The last nine issues featured cover art by Scott Roberts, who wrote and drew many of the stories. Other writers included Roman, Chris Duffy, Patrick M. O'Connell, Joyce Mann, and Jim Spivey. Other artists included [[Joe Staton]] and [[Ernie Colón]]. The magazine also included short stories, many by Pittarese, and games, as well as reprints from an earlier, UK produced ''Rugrats'' comic.

Nick produced a special 50-page comic magazine retelling of the film ''[[Rugrats in Paris: The Movie|Rugrats in Paris]]'', edited by Pittarese and Roman, written by Scott Gray, pencils by Scott Roberts, and inks by Adam DeKraker.

On October 18, 2017, [[Boom! Studios]] began publishing a new ''Rugrats'' comic book series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://previewsworld.com/Article/197289-BOOM-Studios-And-Nickelodeon-Announce-Publishing-Partnership-Kicks-Off-With-Rugrats |website=PreviewsWorld.com |title=BOOM! Studios and Nickelodeon Announce Publishing Partnership, Kicks Off With Rugrats |date=July 17, 2017 |access-date=August 31, 2021 }}</ref>

====Video games====
Nineteen video games based on the series have been released. Notably, ''[[Rugrats: Search for Reptar]]'' became one of the [[List of bestselling playstation games|bestselling PlayStation games]]. ''[[Rugrats: Scavenger Hunt]]'' was released for the [[Nintendo 64]]. Tommy and Angelica appear as guest characters in ''Rocket Power: Team Rocket Rescue''. They appear again as playable characters in ''[[Nickelodeon Party Blast]]'' and ''[[Nicktoons Racing]]''. Tommy later appears in ''[[Nicktoons Basketball]]'' in his ''[[All Grown Up!]]'' form. ''Rugrats'' characters make non-playable appearances in ''[[Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots]]'' and ''[[Nicktoons MLB]]''. Tommy, Angelica, and Reptar are playable characters in the official [[mobile game]] ''Nickelodeon Super Brawl Universe''. Tommy, Angelica, and Reptar appear as playable characters in ''[[Nickelodeon Kart Racers]]''. These same characters, along with Chuckie, are playable in ''[[Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix]]''. Reptar is a playable character in ''[[Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl]]'' and [[Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2|its sequel]]. Angelica is a playable character in the [[Apple Arcade]] game ''Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis''. Chuckie, Reptar, Purple Reptar, and Susie appear as playable characters in ''[[Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway]]''. On August 31, 2023, The MIX Games and Wallride Games announced ''Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland'', an [[8-bit computing|8-bit]] [[2D side-scrolling|2D sidescrolling]] [[video game]] that was released on August 16, 2024. The game offers an option for HD visuals that replicates the visual style of the original television series. An [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES cartridge]] version of the game was distributed through [[Limited Run Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MIX Games |url=https://themixgames.com/games/rugrats |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=themixgames.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=rawmeatcowboy |date=2023-08-31 |title=Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland revealed |url=https://gonintendo.com/contents/25176-rugrats-adventures-in-gameland-revealed |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=GoNintendo |language=en}}</ref>

====Live performances====
{{Main|Rugrats: A Live Adventure}}
There are two live performances throughout the original series. The first show, ''Rugrats: A Live Adventure'', premiered on February 6, 1998, at the [[Oakdale Theater]] in [[Wallingford, Connecticut|Wallingford]], [[Connecticut]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=MacFarlane |first=Ron |date=April 1998 |title=Rugrats Hit the Road |work=[[Animation World Magazine]] |volume=3 |issue=1 |url=https://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.1/3.1pages/3.1macfarlanerugrats.html }}</ref>  The US leg of the tour ended on August 1, 1999, at Lawrence Welk Resort Center-Champagne Theatre in [[Branson, Missouri|Branson]], [[Missouri]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Rugrats -- A Live Adventure: Second Tour Schedule (10/23/98 to 12/20/98) |url=http://rugratonline.free.fr/rrlive3.html |access-date=February 11, 2023 |website=Unofficial Rugrats Online}}</ref> Originally, the international tour of the show was going to debut on September 27, 1999, in Mara Plata, [[Argentina]], but it was cancelled along with all [[South America]]n shows.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Rugrats -- A Live Adventure: International Tour Schedule (10/28/99 to 5/14/2000) |url=http://rugratonline.free.fr/rrlive5.html |access-date=February 11, 2023 |website=Unofficial Rugrats Online}}</ref> It instead had an international debut on October 28, 1999, at the [[Wembley Stadium]] in [[Wembley]], [[Greater London]], [[England]].<ref name=":3" /> The international tour of the shows were done in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Ireland]], and [[Australia]] and ended on May 14, 2000, at the [[Adelaide Entertainment Centre]] in [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]].<ref name=":3" /> Overall, the [[North America]]n tours of the show ran 403 shows in 91 cities,<ref name=":2" /> and the international tour of the show ran in 12 cities.<ref name=":3" /> Despite some criticism, the show was well received from critics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats -- A Live Adventure: What Does The Press Think About The Show? |url=http://rugratonline.free.fr/rrlive.html |access-date=February 11, 2023 |website=Unofficial Rugrats Online}}</ref>

The second show, ''Rugrats Magic Adventure!'', premiered on June 9, 2000.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title="Rugrats Magic Adventure!" |url=http://rugratonline.free.fr/rrlive6.html |access-date=February 11, 2023 |website=Unofficial Rugrats Online}}</ref> It ran exclusively at [[Universal Studios Hollywood]] in [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]].<ref name=":4" /> It closed in 2001, and was replaced by ''[[Shrek 4-D]]'' in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shrek 4D (Universal Studios Hollywood)|url=http://www.parkz.com.au/parks/US/Universal_City/Universal_Studios_Hollywood/rides/421-Shrek-4D.html|work=Database Entry|publisher=Parkz|access-date=August 3, 2010|archive-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202104553/http://www.parkz.com.au/parks/US/Universal_City/Universal_Studios_Hollywood/rides/421-Shrek-4D.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Merchandise====
Merchandise that was based on ''Rugrats'' varied from video games, toothpaste, [[Kellogg's]] cereal, slippers, puzzles, pajamas, jewelry, wrapping paper, Fruit Snacks, Inflatable balls, watches, pencils, markers, cookie jars, key rings, action figures, [[Uno (card game)|My First Uno]] games, and bubblegum. The series also managed to spawn a popular merchandise line at [[Walmart]], [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]], [[Target Corporation|Target]], [[eBay]], [[Hot Topic]], [[J. C. Penney]], [[Toys "R" Us]], [[Mattel]], Barnes & Noble, and Basic Fun.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats For Sale |url=http://www.rugratonline.com/rrprod.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314183113/http://www.rugratonline.com/rrprod.htm |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |access-date=2017-08-20 |website=Rugrats Online |df=mdy-all}}</ref> By March 1999, the franchise had generated an estimated {{US$|1.4 billion|long=no}} in merchandise sales.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael |first=Stroud |date=March 8, 1999 |title=Rugrats romp and roll. |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1999/BC-1999-03-08.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308041532/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1999/BC-1999-03-08.pdf |access-date=March 4, 2017 |website=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |page=46 |archivedate=March 8, 2021}}</ref>

The ''Rugrats'' had their own cereal made by Post called Reptar Crunch Cereal. The Rugrats and Reptar were predominantly featured on the front, there's a board game on the back and a special $3 rebate for Runaway Reptar on the side. This cereal was released for a limited time only, sold at US supermarkets 8/1/99 to 9/15/99 only, and not all supermarkets carried the cereal. To memorialize the movie, Rugrats in Paris, another Rugrats-based cereal came out in October 2000. Simply called the Rugrats in Paris Cereal, it has a similar appearance to Trix; it's a sweetened, multi-grain cereal with small-round bits in plain, red, purple and green. Small Eiffel Towers could also be seen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Breakfast with Rugrats: The kids On The Cereal Box |url=http://www.rugratonline.com/rrcerbox.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314183116/http://www.rugratonline.com/rrcerbox.htm |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |access-date=2017-08-20 |website=Rugrats Online |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2017, entertainment retail store chain [[FYE (retailer)|FYE]] began selling Reptar Cereal, as well as Reptar Bars, both based on fictional products within the series. Reptar Cereal is very similar to [[Froot Loops]], and Reptar Bars are chocolate bars filled with green frosting, a reference to the series in which the bars would turn the tongues of whoever ate it green.

''Rugrats'' made fast-food appearances as well, with the most appearances being on Burger King. In 1994, the Hardee's fast-food chain offered a collection of Nicktoons toys as premiums that were included with kids' meals at their restaurants. All 4 Nicktoons at that time were featured — ''Doug'', ''Rugrats'', ''Ren & Stimpy'', and ''Rocko's Modern Life''. Other food items that feature ''Rugrats'' were Fruit Snacks, Macaroni and Cheese, Bubble Gum and Campbell's Rugrats Pasta with Chicken and Broth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugrats Foods |url=http://www.rugratonline.com/rrfood.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226181939/http://www.rugratonline.com/rrfood.htm |archive-date=December 26, 2012 |access-date=2017-08-20 |website=Rugrats Online |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In their first tie-in with Burger King, 5 ''Rugrats'' toys were offered with their Kids Club meals, a different one with each meal. Each toy came with a 12-page (including covers) miniature version of Nickelodeon Magazine, which featured the toy's instructions, word search, picture puzzle, "Say What?", a scrambled word puzzle, a coupon for Oral-B Rugrats toothpaste and toothbrush, and entry blanks to subscribe to Rugrats Comic Adventures, Nick Magazine, and the Kids Club. From 1998 until 2004, ''Rugrats'' based-products included watches and various toys.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Burger King Rules", And So Does Rugrats |url=http://www.rugratonline.com/burgking.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904105652/http://rugratonline.com/burgking.htm |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |access-date=2017-08-20 |website=Rugrats Online |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{IMDb title|0101188}}
*[http://www.creators.com/comics/rugrats.html?comicname=rug Rugrats daily comic strip at Creators Syndicate]
*[http://toonopedia.com/rugrats.htm ''Rugrats''] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240528014438/https://www.webcitation.org/6o9zTsWiI?url=http://toonopedia.com/rugrats.htm Archived] from the original on February 9, 2017.
*[https://decider.com/2016/06/16/the-oral-history-of-nicktoons-part-iii-rugrats/ The Oral History Of ‘Nicktoons’, Part III: Exploring The Multigenerational Appeal Of ‘Rugrats’] Decider, June 16, 2016

{{Rugrats}}
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|title = Awards for ''Rugrats''
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{{Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program}}
{{Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Cartoon}}
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{{Klasky Csupo}}
{{Creators Syndicate Comics}}
{{Former Nickelodeon original series}}
{{Children's programming on CBS in the 2000s}}

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[[Category:Rugrats (franchise)| ]]
[[Category:1991 American animated television series debuts]]
[[Category:2004 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1990s American animated comedy television series]]
[[Category:1990s American children's comedy television series]]
[[Category:2000s American animated comedy television series]]
[[Category:2000s American children's comedy television series]]
[[Category:1990s Nickelodeon original programming]]
[[Category:2000s Nickelodeon original programming]]
[[Category:American children's animated adventure television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated comedy television series]]
[[Category:Animated television series about children]]
[[Category:Animated television series about twins]]
[[Category:Animated television series about families]]
[[Category:Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program winners]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Nicktoons]]
[[Category:Jewish American television series]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into films]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into video games]]
[[Category:Television shows scored by Mark Mothersbaugh]]
[[Category:Animated television series set in California]]
[[Category:Television series created by Gábor Csupó]]
[[Category:Television series created by Arlene Klasky]]
[[Category:Television series created by Paul Germain]]