Did you grow up with Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil, Angelica, and Susie? You know–Nickelodeon’s The Rugrats? Have you ever wondered what they might have looked like all grown up? Well of course we were privy to their teenage lives thanks to the short-lived spinoff series All Growed Up. But what happens when a Rugrats animator has a say in the matter, 11 years after the final episode of the classic series aired? See above; that’s what.
Eric Molinsky was a storyboard artist at animation studio Klasky Csupo from 1999 to 2002 where he worked on such memorable Nick shows like The Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys, Rocket Power, and As Told By Ginger. Flash-forward to 2015, and Molinsky has taken to Studio 360 to pen a blog post revealing his take on what the Rugrats would actually look like today. He’s put the effort into maturing the nostalgic babies because he’s frustrated with the modern-day interpretations of them making Tommy and the gang into these super hip and stylish young adults. Here’s a quote plucked from his mild rant:
“The Rugrats did not all grow up to be fashion models or self-confident hipsters. Especially not Chuckie. They probably grew up to be average if not slightly lumpy looking people — just like their parents.”
Pictured here, there’s no doubt that Tommy Pickles is his father’s son; Stu’s purple hair and signature stubble are prominently highlighted. Chuckie has held onto his awkwardness and he carries around a depressingly sad stare. Phil has let himself go a bit, gaining some fat, growing a goatee, and and plastering a rubber ducky tattoo on his left forearm (points!). Lil, meanwhile, has grown into a frumpy demeanor while maintaining her tiny pink bow.
Be sure to dive into the gallery below to see what Angelica, Susie, Dil, and Kimi would look like today according to Molinsky. It all makes sense: Angelica has inherited her mom’s uptight, blabbermouth persona; Susie has imprinted on Angelica more than she would ever like to admit; Tommy’s younger brother Dil has turned a strange corner rocking a couple of gold and silver chains; and Chuckie’s stepsister Kimi was somehow neglected by Chaz just enough to warrant her current emo phase.
Whether or not you fully embrace these interpretations of the Rugrats is entirely up to you. But coming from an actual Nick animator of the 90s, they surely produce a raw sense of nostalgia and make you think real hard about the life decisions these characters had to make along the way to get to this point. As the series has been in the can for quite some time now, it’s up to you and me to fill in the bubbles. That’s what the comments section is for–have fun with it!
