At the Movies (Rugrats) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "At the Movies" |
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| Rugrats episode | |
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 3a |
| Directed by | Dan Thompson |
| Written by | Craig Bartlett Paul Germain |
| Production code | 103a |
| Original air date | August 25, 1991 |
"At the Movies" is the first part of the third episode of the cartoon show Rugrats. It first aired on Nickelodeon on August 25, 1991. This was during the show's first season.
In this episode, Tommy's parents, Didi and Stu, take the babies to the movie theater. They plan to watch a movie called The Dummi Bears and the Land Without Smiles. But Tommy really wants to see a monster movie called Reptar!. So, he and the other babies sneak out of their movie. They try to find the Reptar! movie instead. As they search, they accidentally cause a lot of funny trouble!
This episode was written by Craig Bartlett and Paul Germain. Dan Thompson directed it. "At the Movies" was the first time we met the characters of the Dummi Bears and Reptar. The Dummi Bears were like other gentle cartoon characters, such as the Care Bears. Reptar was inspired by the famous Japanese monster, Godzilla. Reptar became very popular. He appeared on T-shirts, in video games, and even had his own cereal! He was in many other Rugrats episodes too.
A book called The Japanification of Children's Popular Culture gave a good review of "At the Movies." In 1997, the episode was released on a VHS tape called Rugrats: Return of Reptar. This tape was even nominated for an award in 2000!
Contents
What Happens in "At the Movies"?
Tommy's Movie Wish
Tommy really wants to see the movie Reptar!. But his parents, Didi and Stu, decide to take him to The Dummi Bears and the Land Without Smiles. They think it will be a perfect first movie for Tommy. They also invite their friends to watch it together.
The Babies' Big Adventure
At the movie theater, Tommy tells his friends about Reptar. This makes all the babies want to see the Reptar movie instead. As the Dummi Bears movie starts, they sneak out. Grandpa Lou even jokes that the Dummi Bears movie should be called The Land Without Brains!
The babies try to find the Reptar! movie. First, they walk into a theater showing a romantic film. They stand in front of the screen, blocking the view. An usher comes in, and the babies hide. They accidentally bother a couple on a date. Lil says she doesn't like kissing movies because "Nothing ever happens."
Mess at the Concessions
Next, they wander to the snack stand. The babies find popcorn, sodas, candy, and more. Two teenagers, Larry and Steve, are working there. But they are too busy arguing about comic books to notice the babies.
Tommy looks for Reptar near the popcorn. Phil and Lil play with the soda machines. They push the buttons and spill drinks everywhere! The soda keeps pouring out. Chuckie finds some candy and then sees stairs. Phil and Lil start playing with ketchup and mustard. They also spill all the straws. After Chuckie points out the stairs, Tommy thinks Reptar must be upstairs. As soon as the babies leave, the teenagers see the huge mess and scream!
Up in the Projection Booth
The babies climb the stairs to the projection booths. They think the film projectors look like "spaghetti merry-go-rounds." They check each movie until they find Reptar!. They are amazed by the movie!
Meanwhile, Grandpa Lou goes to get snacks. Phil tries to get a better look at the screen. He falls onto a film projector and starts riding it! Soon, all the babies are riding the projectors. Then they grab the movie films. They run around, tangling and breaking the films.
The Movie Ends Badly
The babies quickly rush downstairs after seeing the damage. The projectionist notices the huge mess. He tries to save the film, but it's too late. Grandpa Lou finds the babies after getting snacks. He sees the mess at the concession stand. He tells Larry and Steve that in his day, people knew how to keep a workplace clean!
Grandpa Lou takes the babies back to the Dummi Bears movie. But the film gets stuck in the projector. It melts right at the most exciting part! The audience groans. The babies smile at each other, and Grandpa Lou eats his popcorn.
Heading Home
People leave the theater because they didn't get refunds. The movie kept going black, and the popcorn tasted bad. Stu is upset that The Land Without Smiles ended so suddenly. Didi tells him they will have to wait for the video. But they are happy Tommy watched a whole movie without fuss. Since they didn't see the ending, Didi and Stu decide to see the movie again next week. They will go to a different theater. As they drive home, Tommy sees a flashing Reptar billboard.
How "At the Movies" Was Made
Creating the Episode
"At the Movies" was written by Craig Bartlett and Paul Germain. Paul Germain helped create Rugrats with Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó. Dan Thompson directed the episode. Germain also worked as the animation director for the early episodes.
The voice actors recorded their lines in Hollywood, California. Each actor took one day to record. It could take anywhere from 15 minutes to four hours, depending on the scene.
The Birth of Reptar
This episode was the first time the character Reptar appeared. Reptar looks like a Tyrannosaurus rex. But his actions and style are a funny copy of the monster Godzilla. Godzilla first appeared in a 1954 Japanese movie.
Reptar's name sounds like a child trying to say "Velociraptor." Velociraptors are fierce dinosaurs. They became famous from the Steven Spielberg movie Jurassic Park. Kids often become very interested in dinosaurs between ages four and seven. This age group was a big part of the Rugrats audience. This is likely why Reptar was a dinosaur.
Home Video Releases
"At the Movies" was released on VHS in 1997. The tape was called Rugrats: Return of Reptar. It included other Reptar episodes like "Reptar 2010" and "Reptar on Ice." This release was part of a special deal with Oral-B. It also helped promote Rugrats videos during the holidays.
On June 2, 2009, "At the Movies" was released on the Rugrats: Season 1 DVD by Amazon.com. It was also released on the Rugrats: Season 1 DVD by Paramount Home Media Distribution on May 2, 2017.
