We celebrate the second season of the Rugrats animation series and the birth of Tommy’s little brother Dil with a new ‘meet the makers’ interview series. Find out more about the artists who brought this happy bunch of babies to life.

We sat down with Sujith P Babu, Animation Supervisor on Rugrats, to find out more about his work:

Can you tell us about your journey in the animation industry? 

I grew up loving animated movies, cartoons, and the world of art. Some of my favorite childhood memories included binge-watching the most iconic stories about our all-time favorite house cat failing to outwit his adversary. However, I never thought that I would end up working in this special industry. Early in my career, I had the opportunity to work on some of the best television series like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, Barbie: A Perfect Christmas and Back at the Barnyard. I started my journey with Technicolor and Mikros Animation in 2009 and began working on some of the awe-inspiring series like Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Wallykazam, Spirit Riding Free, Amusement Park and Rugrats.

Rugrats is one of the longest-running Nickelodeon shows and is a Daytime Emmy-winning animated series. What was your first reaction when you learned you’d be working on its CG-animated reboot? 

I was incredibly excited! It is still one of the most renowned cartoons ever made. It was wonderful to see the show returning in 3D format (CG) almost 25 years after it first aired, because of how influential it was. The original Rugrats series has a special place in the hearts and minds of those kids who grew up watching the classic Nickelodeon cartoon. Trying to recreate the humor for the new generation while retaining the energy level with a careful blend of emotions and innocence was definitely a challenge. 

The Rugrats reboot is set in the present, with all the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology. It shows the challenges faced by parents today and draws attention to key issues in our society like diversity and inclusion. What do you think is the role of animation in portraying various kinds of families and society? 

Being a part of Rugrats, the second season was the best experience I ever had, and it provided great learning for me as a parent. In today’s world as the younger generation is divided by invisible digital barriers, a series like Rugrats which focuses on instilling family values in children in this fast-paced world is critical. I think animated shows and movies are the best way to keep children attached to their roots and a great medium that targets a diverse audience as well. With the ever-growing support of cutting-edge technology, the age-old art of storytelling is being reinvented. The show captivates all categories of audiences equally.  

While working on this all-CG show, what were the main artistic and/or technical challenges you had to overcome in your department? 

Working on a project that deals with a unique array of significantly diverse kid’s personalities was a fun but challenging task. Recreating the 3D version of characters and maintaining the essence of the original Rugrats show at the same time was tough. It was challenging, from a technical standpoint, to maintain the consistency of style across the animation from different team members. Perpetually aligning the thoughts of the animators with each character’s style and potential responses in relation to their behaviors was another hurdle we successfully crossed.     

What is your favourite sequence from the show, and why? 

Rugrats is a show about four toddlers, Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, and Phil and Lil Deville. My favorite part of this show is its theme song. This is an updated version of the original introduction sequence where the kids are playing around in the Pickles’ living room. The theme highlights the unpredictable and whimsical nature of children. These are skillfully woven into vivaciously appealing and remarkably adventurous actions. The music still sounds true to the original Rugrats. I believe the music has a lot to do with grounding the show.

What are you looking forward to most with the show airing its second season?  

The second season is undoubtedly promising. It has brought out a more colorful, exciting, hilarious and zestful series of events. The show is filled with more jokes and pranks which would certainly cater to a larger audience. I am very excited to see it receive a fantastic reception. 

Discover more of our team members by visiting the Talent Spotlights section our website.