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[[File:New_VeggieTales_Logo_3.png|thumb|Logo (as of October 2014)]]
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[[File:New_VeggieTales_Logo_3.png|thumb|Logo (as of August 2014)]]
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'''VeggieTales''' is an American series of children's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_animation computer animated] films featuring [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphic anthropomorphic] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable vegetables] in stories conveying [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morality moral] themes based on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity Christianity]. The episodes frequently retell [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible Bible] stories anachronistically reframed and include humorous references to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_culture pop culture]. The series was developed by [[Big Idea Entertainment]] and is owned by [[Jariel-Pixar]] through its subsidiary, [[Jariel-Pixar Classics|Classic Media]].
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'''VeggieTales''' is an American series of children's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_animation computer animated] films featuring [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphic anthropomorphic][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable vegetables] in stories conveying moral themes based on
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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity Christianity]. The episodes frequently retell [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible Bible] stories anachronistically reframed and include humorous references to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_culture pop culture]. The series was developed by [[Big Idea Entertainment]] and is owned by [[Jariel-Pixar]] through its subsidiary, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Media Classic Media].
   
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VeggieTales was created by [[Phil Vischer]] and [[Mike Nawrocki]], who also provide many of the voices. Originally released in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-to-video direct-to-video] format, the series debuted on December 21, 1993. From September 9, 2006 to September 7, 2009, VeggieTales appeared on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Broadcasting_Company NBC] as part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubo qubo] Saturday morning [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_programming children's programming] block. On November 3, 2012 the show began running on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Broadcasting_Network Trinity Broadcasting Network] (TBN) as well as its children's network [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smile_of_a_Child Smile of a Child], where it currently continues to air episodes (in a repackaged and edited format).
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VeggieTales was created by [[Phil Vischer]] and [[Mike Nawrocki]], who also provide many of the voices. Originally released in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-to-video direct-to-video] format, the series debuted on December 21, 1993. From September 9, 2006 to September 7, 2009, VeggieTales appeared on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC NBC] as part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubo qubo] Saturday morning [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_television_series children's programming] block. On November 3, 2012 the show began running on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Broadcasting_Network Trinity Broadcasting Network] (TBN) as well as its children's network [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smile_of_a_Child_TV Smile of a Child], where it currently continues to air episodes (in a repackaged and edited format).
   
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In 2009, [[Netflix]] made many VeggieTales videos (in their uncut, original formats) and feature films available via their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_streaming video streaming] service. On March 14, 2014, [[Netflix]] announced a new VeggieTales television show from Jariel Powell-Outlaw Animation entitled VeggieTales In The House. Big Idea has also published VeggieTales books and music CDs and branded items such as toys, clothing, and garden seeds for vegetables and flowers.
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In 2009, [[Netflix]] made many VeggieTales videos (in their uncut, original formats) and feature films available via their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaming_media video streaming] service. On March 14, 2014, [[Netflix]] announced a new VeggieTales television show from [[Jariel Powell-Outlaw Animation]] entitled [[VeggieTales in the House]]. Big Idea and Jariel has also published VeggieTales books and music CDs and branded items such as toys, clothing, and garden seeds for vegetables and flowers.
   
 
==History==
  
==History==
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The idea for VeggieTales came in the early 90's when Phil Vischer was testing out animation software as a medium for children's videos. Due to the limitations of the software available to him at the time, he chose to avoid the technical production hurdle of creating characters with arms, legs, or hair. His first animation model was an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphic anthropomorphic] candy bar. When his wife suggested that parents might prefer a hero who promoted healthier eating habits, he began basing characters on fruits and vegetables.
  
The idea for VeggieTales came in the early 90's when Phil Vischer was testing out animation software as a medium for children's videos. Due to the limitations of the software available to him at the time, he chose to avoid the technical production hurdle of creating characters with arms, legs, or hair. His first animation model was an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphic anthropomorphic] candy bar. When his wife suggested that parents might prefer a hero who promoted healthier eating habits, he began basing characters on fruits and vegetables.
 
==='''Format'''===
  
==='''Format'''===
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The episodes generally follow a standard format where a moral issue is posited in the opening countertop sequence, either through a viewer question or an issue brought up by Bob or Larry, followed by one or more "films" that address the issue, with a
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<span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:22.3999996185303px;">The episodes generally follow a standard format where a moral issue is posited in the opening countertop sequence, either through a viewer question or an issue brought up by Bob or Larry, followed by one or more "films" that address the issue, with a [[Silly Song]] in the middle. The </span>''Silly Songs''<span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:22.3999996185303px;"> are generally introduced with a </span>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_card title card]<span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:22.3999996185303px;"> and a </span>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiceover voiceover] <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:22.3999996185303px;">saying, "And now it's time for Silly Songs with Larry, the part of the show where Larry comes out and sings a silly song." Some </span>''Silly Songs''<span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:22.3999996185303px;"> have alternate titles, such as "Love Songs with Mr. Lunt," where another character sings the song instead. The </span>''Silly Song''<span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:22.3999996185303px;">, if one appears, is usually in the middle of the program, often at a </span>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffhanger cliffhanger]<span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:22.3999996185303px;"> moment or in between two stories (although the LarryBoy episodes, in particular, often lack this segment). Each tale ends with the program's signature sign-off: "Remember kids, God made you special and He loves you very much."</span>
  
   
 
==='''VeggieTales on TV'''===
  
==='''VeggieTales on TV'''===
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==='''VeggieTales in the House'''===
  
==='''VeggieTales in the House'''===
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A new series, [[VeggieTales in the House]], premiered on [[Netflix]] in Thanksgiving 2014. The series lead is [[Doug Tennapel]] and features a theme song by independent studio musician and frequent Tennapel collaborator [[Terry Scott Taylor]]. Mike Nawrocki and Phil Vischer continue to voice their characters, but the rest of the original video cast has been replaced by veteran voice actors [[Tress MacNeille]] and [[Rob Paulsen]]. The series is an expansion of the kitchen counter-top segments of the original videos to include a full city which the characters live in. Bob and Larry live as roommates in an apartment west of the kitchen counter. Several stories revolve around a general store built into the bottom-right corner of a kitchen counter which is run by Pa Grape. The cast from the original videos remains the same aside from the absence of Mr. Nezzer, who has been replaced by a similar looking character named Ichabeezer.
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A new spin-off titled "VeggieTales in the House" will be a Netflix original series. The series introduces a new look for the characters and introduces some new ones too. The episodes will each be 11 minutes long and each will include a new song and often times, a moral or biblical value. It will premiere on November 26, 2014.
  
   
 
==Characters==
  
==Characters==
 
{{Main|List of VeggieTales characters}}
  
{{Main|List of VeggieTales characters}}
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''VeggieTales'' has a continuous back story that all of the cartoons are actually teleplays, performed by various vegetables and fruit that live together on the same kitchen countertop. Some of these characters have "real names," and take on various roles in the teleplays, although they will also frequently appear as themselves. Most of these "regulars" were established in the very earliest videos, while some have been added more recently.
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VeggieTales has a continuous back story that all of the cartoons are actually teleplays, performed by various vegetables and fruit that live together on the same kitchen countertop. Some of these characters have "real names," and take on various roles in the teleplays, although in the earlier adventures they appeared as themselves, showing some of their real-life situations. Most of these "regulars" were established in the very earliest videos, while some have been added more recently.
   
 
==Episodes==
  
==Episodes==
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# ''[[King George and the Ducky]] Special Edition (also includes 3-2-1 Penguins! Runaway Pride at Lightstation Kilowatt)''
  
# ''[[King George and the Ducky]] Special Edition (also includes 3-2-1 Penguins! Runaway Pride at Lightstation Kilowatt)''
 
# ''[[Where's God When I'm S-Scared?]] 15th Anniversary Collector's Edition (also includes 3-2-1 Penguins! Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn)''
  
# ''[[Where's God When I'm S-Scared?]] 15th Anniversary Collector's Edition (also includes 3-2-1 Penguins! Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn)''
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==='''Compilation videos'''===
  
==='''Compilation videos'''===
 
{{main|List of VeggieTales compilation videos}}
  
{{main|List of VeggieTales compilation videos}}
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==Reception==
  
==Reception==
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The video series and stage productions have enjoyed more financial success than the films.
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Despite the lukewarm ticket sales of the two feature films, the video series and stage productions have been runaway successes. The revenue for Big Idea grew between 1996 and 1999 from $1.3 million to over $44 million. This can be attributed to the overall Christian message and the off-beat humor of the creators Vischer and Nawrocki which appeals to adults as well as kids. The left-leaning media group Common Sense Media commented on the TV series that VeggieTales "will probably be most amusing for younger kids, or, perhaps more accurately, less sophisticated viewers. It's not the lessons themselves that older kids might object to -- more the fact that you can see them coming a mile away, and even the best songs can't make getting there any more exciting."
  
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  ⚫
The revenue for Big Idea grew between 1996 and 1999 from $1.3 million to over $44 million as the moral tales and off-beat humor proved popular with parents. The media group Common Sense Media commented on the TV series that VeggieTales "will probably be most amusing for younger kids, or, perhaps more accurately, less sophisticated viewers. It's not the lessons themselves that older kids might object to--more the fact that you can see them coming a mile away, and even the best songs can't make getting there any more exciting."
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  ⚫
Reception to the films was lukewarm both among critics and at the box office. The films have Jonah - A VeggieTales Movie currently holds a 65% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 55 reviews from critics, with an average score of 5.8 out of 10. The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything received generally negative reviews and performed poorly at the box office. It holds a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
   
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Jonah - A VeggieTales Movie currently has a 65% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 55 reviews from critics, with an average score of 5.8 out of 10. Conversely, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything received mixed to negative reviews and underperformed at the box office, receiving a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
  
 
==='''NBC controversy'''===
  
==='''NBC controversy'''===
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When [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC NBC], a national broadcasting company based in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York], began airing VeggieTales episodes in September 2006, it edited the episodes to remove overtly religious messages, including references to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God God]. The original sign-off message--"Remember kids, God made you special and He loves you very much!"--became a simple, inclusive "Good-bye!" The changes were made at the request of the network's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standards_and_practices standards and practices] department to enforce compliance with network policies regarding religious neutrality. The original dialogue remained viewable by users of the network's closed-caption feature.
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When the show aired on NBC network television in September 2006, VeggieTales episodes were edited to remove most references to God, at the request of the NBC network's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standards_and_practices standards and practices] department. The religious references remained intact in the closed-captions accompanying each episode. Notable was the removal of the program's signature sign-off message: "Remember kids, God made you special and He loves you very much." Despite this, Bob and Larry would always say "Goodbye!" at the end. The Christian conservative watch group [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parents_Television_Council Parents Television Council] complained about the removal to NBC. NBC replied that the editing conformed to the network's broadcast standards of "not to advocate any one religious point of view." Vischer also expressed discontent with the edits, stating that he was not informed that religious content would be removed from the series, and he would have refused to sign a contract if he had known of this beforehand. Vischer said, "I would have declined partly because I knew a lot of fans would feel like it was a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellout sellout] or it was done for money." Still, Vischer added that he understood NBC's wish to remain religiously neutral, and said, "VeggieTales is religious, NBC is not. I want to focus people more on 'Isn't it cool that Bob and Larry are on television.'" Bozell wasn't satisfied about the broadcasting. He said, "If NBC is so concerned about that three-letter-word God, then they shouldn't have taken 'VeggieTales.' This just documents the disconnect between [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood Hollywood] and the real world."
  
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The conservative watch group [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parents_Television_Council Parents Television Council] complained to NBC about the changes. L. Brent Bozell, president of the group, complained of the network "ripping the heart and soul out of a successful product," adding that "if NBC is so concerned about that four-letter-word God, then they shouldn't have taken 'VeggieTales.' This just documents the disconnect between [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood Hollywood] and the real world."
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NBC replied that the editing conformed to the network's broadcast standards, which direct producers "not to advocate any one religious point of view." NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks said "Our goal is to reach as broad an audience as possible with these positive messages while being careful not to advocate any one religious point of view."
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Vischer said he was not informed that overtly religious content would be removed and said he would have declined to sign the contract had he known. "I would have declined partly because I knew a lot of fans would feel like it was a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellout sellout] or it was done for money," he said. Vischer added that he still understood NBC's wish to remain religiously neutral. "VeggieTales is religious, NBC is not. I want to focus people more on 'Isn't it cool that Bob and Larry are on television.'"
   
 
==Feature-length films==
  
==Feature-length films==
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==Stage production==
  
==Stage production==
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VeggieTales Live is a series of stage shows based on the VeggieTales videos. Six versions of the shows have been staged. The shows have toured across the U.S. and at theme parks including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollywood Dollywood] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Dollar_City Silver Dollar City].
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[[VeggieTales Live!|VeggieTales Live]] is a series of stage shows based on the VeggieTales videos. Six versions of the shows have been staged. The shows have toured across the U.S. and at theme parks including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollywood Dollywood] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Dollar_City Silver Dollar City].
   
 
==Video games==
  
==Video games==
 
==='''Macintosh/PC'''===
  
==='''Macintosh/PC'''===
 
#Veggie Tales Super Silly Fun! (unknown release date, 2005)
  
#Veggie Tales Super Silly Fun! (unknown release date, 2005)
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#Veggie Carnival (October 15, 2001)
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#Veggie Carnival (November 16, 2001)
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#Jonah: A VeggieTales Game (October 15, 2002)
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#Jonah: A VeggieTales Game (August 27, 2002)
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#Veggie Tales Creativity City (January 31, 2002)
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#Veggie Tales Creativity City (March 19, 2002)
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#The Mystery of VeggieIsland (May 7, 2002)
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#The Mystery of Veggie Island (May 21, 2002)
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#Minnesota Cuke and the Coconut Apes (June 13, 2003)
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#Minnesota Cuke and the Coconut Apes (May 20, 2003)
   
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===[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2 PlayStation 2] '''and''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance Game Boy Advance]===
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==='''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2 PlayStation 2]''' '''and''' '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance Game Boy Advance]'''===
 
#[[LarryBoy and the Bad Apple]] (August 1, 2006)
  
#[[LarryBoy and the Bad Apple]] (August 1, 2006)
   
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===[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS IOS]===
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==='''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS IOS]'''===
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#"Step-by-Story presents: The Goofy Gift" (December 28, 2011)
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#"VeggieTales Spotisodes Collection" (February 7, 2012)
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#"Step-by-Story presents: Larry's Missing Music" (March 19, 2012)
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  ⚫
==='''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system) Android]'''===
 
#"Step-by-Story presents: The Goofy Gift" (December 28, 2011)
  
#"Step-by-Story presents: The Goofy Gift" (December 28, 2011)
 
#"VeggieTales Spotisodes Collection" (February 7, 2012)
  
#"VeggieTales Spotisodes Collection" (February 7, 2012)
 
#"Step-by-Story presents: Larry's Missing Music" (March 19, 2012)
  
#"Step-by-Story presents: Larry's Missing Music" (March 19, 2012)
   
⚫
===[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system) Android]===
  
 
==='''VideoNow Jr.'''===
  
==='''VideoNow Jr.'''===
 
A number of VeggieTales titles were released on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PVD_Disc Personal Video Disc] (PVD) for Playskool's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VideoNow VideoNow]Jr., a portable video player for children.
  
A number of VeggieTales titles were released on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PVD_Disc Personal Video Disc] (PVD) for Playskool's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VideoNow VideoNow]Jr., a portable video player for children.
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#"Where's God When I'm S-Scared"
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#"Where's God When I'm S-Scared" (1980)
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#"Dave and the Giant Pickle"
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#"Dave and the Giant Pickle" (1984)
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#"LarryBoy and the Fib from Outer Space"
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#"LarryBoy and the Fib from Outer Space" (1986)
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#"Josh and the Big Wall"
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#"Josh and the Big Wall" (1987)
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#"King George and the Ducky"
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#"King George and the Ducky" (1990)
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#"The Ballad of Joe"
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#"The Ballad of Joe" (1996)
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#"LarryBoy and the Bad Apple"
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#"LarryBoy and the Bad Apple" (2004)
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#"The League of Incredible Vegetables" (2012)
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#"Gideon" (2005)
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#"Esther" (1991)
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#"Little House that Stood" (2013)
   
 
==Music and audio CDs==
  
==Music and audio CDs==
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# ''25 Favorite Silly Songs''
  
# ''25 Favorite Silly Songs''
 
# ''25 Favorite Bible Songs''
  
# ''25 Favorite Bible Songs''
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# ''Beauty and the Beet: The Soundtrack''
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# ''VeggieTales: All the Songs CD - Volume One''
   
 
==Merchandise==
  
==Merchandise==
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==References==
  
==References==
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#http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2012/august/dreamworks-buys-veggietaless-owner.html
  
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#http://www.tbn.org/watch-us/broadcast-schedule
  
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#http://ww.smileofachildtv.org
  
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#http://ww.smileofachildtv.org
  
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#http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/13/netflix-dreamworks-originals-puss-in-boots-king-julien/
  
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#[http://www.ceganmo.com/2008/10/press-release-big-idea-inc-appoints.html ''Big Idea Inc, Appoints VeggieTales Co-Creator Mike Nawrocki to Head of Creative and Development'']<span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:20.15999984741211px;">, Press release, Big Idea Inc., September 30th, 2008</span>
  
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#Phil Vischer Me, Myself, and Bob (January 2007)
  
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#http://www.amazon.com/VeggieTales-Kindly-Viking-Penguins-Feature/dp/B002SOP8O4/
  
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#http://www.amazon.com/Wheres-When-S-Scared-15th-Anniversary/dp/B002NMV5TS/
  
−
#Vischer, Phil (2008). Me, Myself, and Bob. Thomas Nelson. p. 54. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number ISBN][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1595551220 1595551220].
  
−
#Common Sense Media - VeggieTales - TV Review: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/veggietales
  
−
#[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jonah_a_veggietales_movie/#contentReviews "Jonah - A VeggieTales Movie (2002)"]. RottenTomatoes.com. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  
−
#Westbury, Joe, [http://www.christianindex.org/2596.article.print ''NBC chooses family values over spiritual values in VeggieTales Saturday morning line-up''], The Christian Index, September 26, 2008
  
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#Cohen, Sandy [https://web.archive.org/web/20110629071019/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,215266,00.html ''Talking Veggies Stir Controversy at NBC''] at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayback_Machine Wayback Machine] (archived June 29, 2011), Associated Press, Foxnews.com, September 22, 2006
  
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# [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1Y1-98337077.html Talking Veggies Stir Controversy at NBC - AP Online | HighBeam Research]
  
−
#([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeggieTales#CITEREFCohen2006 Cohen 2006])
  
−
#Parker, Jenni,[http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/12/62006g.asp ''PTC Applauds NBC's Airing of VeggieTales, Religious Content Intact''], Agape Press, December 6, 2006
  
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#http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veggietales-live-happy-birthday-bob--larry-tour-returns-this-fall-with-first-time-show-dates-for-west-coast-221632901.html
  
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#ValuSoft (2008-08-13). "[http://www.amazon.com/Veggie-Tales-Super-Silly-Cd-rom-PC/dp/B001E91ELA/ref=sr_1_12?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1326816810&sr=1-12 Veggie Tales Super Silly Fun! Cd-rom: Video Games"]. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  
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#[http://www.amazon.com/VeggieTales-Veggie-Carnival-Jewel-Case-Pc/dp/B00006JK51/ref=sr_1_8?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1326816810&sr=1-8 "VeggieTales: Veggie Carnival (Jewel Case) - PC: Video Games"] Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  
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#[http://www.amazon.com/Jonah-VeggieTales-Game-Pc/dp/B00006JK4X/ref=sr_1_6?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1326816810&sr=1-6 "Jonah: A VeggieTales Game - PC: Video Games"]. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  
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#<span class="citation web" style="word-wrap:break-word;">[http://www.amazon.com/Veggie-Tales-Creativity-City-PC-Game/dp/B000098XNE/ref=sr_1_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1326816810&sr=1-2 "Veggie Tales Creativity City (PC Game): Video Games"]. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.</span>
  
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#<span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="-webkit-user-select:none;">'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeggieTales#cite_ref-23 <span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top:-99999px;clip:rect(1px1px1px1px);overflow:hidden;-webkit-user-select:none;position:absolute!important;height:1px!important;width:1px!important;">Jump up</span>^]'''</span> <span class="citation web" style="word-wrap:break-word;">[http://www.amazon.com/VeggieTales-Mystery-Veggie-Island-Pc/dp/B00006JK24/ref=sr_1_5?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1326816810&sr=1-5 "VeggieTales: The Mystery of Veggie Island - PC: Video Games"]. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.</span>
  
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#<span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="-webkit-user-select:none;">'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeggieTales#cite_ref-24 <span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top:-99999px;clip:rect(1px1px1px1px);overflow:hidden;-webkit-user-select:none;position:absolute!important;height:1px!important;width:1px!important;">Jump up</span>^]'''</span> <span class="citation web" style="word-wrap:break-word;">[http://www.amazon.com/Veggie-Tales-Minnesota-Coconut-Jewel-Pc/dp/B0002BJSLE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_vg_3 "Veggie Tales: Minnesota Cuke and the Coconut Apes (Jewel Case): Video Games"]. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.</span>
  
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#<span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="-webkit-user-select:none;">'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeggieTales#cite_ref-25 <span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top:-99999px;clip:rect(1px1px1px1px);overflow:hidden;-webkit-user-select:none;position:absolute!important;height:1px!important;width:1px!important;">Jump up</span>^]'''</span> <span class="citation web" style="word-wrap:break-word;">[http://www.amazon.com/Veggietales-Larry-Boy-Apple-Playstation-2/dp/B000F7CECU/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1326816810&sr=1-1 "Veggietales: Larry Boy and the Bad Apple - PlayStation 2: Big Idea: Video Games"]. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.</span>
  
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#<span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="-webkit-user-select:none;">'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeggieTales#cite_ref-26 <span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top:-99999px;clip:rect(1px1px1px1px);overflow:hidden;-webkit-user-select:none;position:absolute!important;height:1px!important;width:1px!important;">Jump up</span>^]'''</span> <span class="citation web" style="word-wrap:break-word;">[https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/step-by-story-veggietales/id492022025?ls=1&mt=8 "Connecting to the iTunes Store"]. Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.</span>
  
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#<span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="-webkit-user-select:none;">'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeggieTales#cite_ref-27 <span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top:-99999px;clip:rect(1px1px1px1px);overflow:hidden;-webkit-user-select:none;position:absolute!important;height:1px!important;width:1px!important;">Jump up</span>^]'''</span> <span class="citation web" style="word-wrap:break-word;">[https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/veggietales-spotisode-collection/id499459063?mt=8 "Watch and Find - VeggieTales Games and Video Clips - A Fingerprint Network App on the App Store on iTunes"]. Itunes.apple.com. 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2014-01-22.</span>
  
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#<span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="-webkit-user-select:none;">'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeggieTales#cite_ref-28 <span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top:-99999px;clip:rect(1px1px1px1px);overflow:hidden;-webkit-user-select:none;position:absolute!important;height:1px!important;width:1px!important;">Jump up</span>^]'''</span> <span class="citation web" style="word-wrap:break-word;">[https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/step-by-story-veggietales/id509109422?mt=8 "Connecting to the iTunes Store"]. Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.</span>
  
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#<span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="-webkit-user-select:none;">'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeggieTales#cite_ref-29 <span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top:-99999px;clip:rect(1px1px1px1px);overflow:hidden;-webkit-user-select:none;position:absolute!important;height:1px!important;width:1px!important;">Jump up</span>^]'''</span> [http://www.licensemag.com/licensemag/Brands/Big-Idea-Grows-VeggieTales-Brand/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/707135?contextCategoryId=9989 "Big Idea Grows VeggieTales Brand"]. Licensemag.com. 2011-02-10. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  
   
 
==External links==
  
==External links==

Latest revision as of 22:22, 11 June 2019

New VeggieTales Logo 3

Logo (as of August 2014)

VeggieTales is an American series of children's computer animated films featuring anthropomorphicvegetables in stories conveying moral themes based on Christianity. The episodes frequently retell Bible stories anachronistically reframed and include humorous references to pop culture. The series was developed by Big Idea Entertainment and is owned by Jariel-Pixar through its subsidiary, Classic Media.

VeggieTales was created by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki, who also provide many of the voices. Originally released in direct-to-video format, the series debuted on December 21, 1993. From September 9, 2006 to September 7, 2009, VeggieTales appeared on NBC as part of the qubo Saturday morning children's programming block. On November 3, 2012 the show began running on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) as well as its children's network Smile of a Child, where it currently continues to air episodes (in a repackaged and edited format).

In 2009, Netflix made many VeggieTales videos (in their uncut, original formats) and feature films available via their video streaming service. On March 14, 2014, Netflix announced a new VeggieTales television show from Jariel Powell-Outlaw Animation entitled VeggieTales in the House. Big Idea and Jariel has also published VeggieTales books and music CDs and branded items such as toys, clothing, and garden seeds for vegetables and flowers.

History[]

VeggieTales was created by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki through their company Big Idea Productions. Their aim was to produce children's videos which conveyed Christian moral themes and taught Biblical values and lessons. The animated feature involved stories told by a group of recurring vegetable characters who lived on a kitchen countertop. The program was offered in the direct-to-video market, with the first 30-minute program, Where's God When I'm S-Scared?, released in July 1993. In all, Big Idea has released 45 VeggieTales episodes including three Silly Song collections, 5 holiday specials, 4 LarryBoy episodes and a drawing tutorial. In addition to these episodes, there are 13 compilations that combine previously released material, and two feature length movies, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie and The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie. Beginning in 2006, the VeggieTales videos were adapted as a regular television program through the Qubo multi-platform network and NBC network. On September 30, 2008, Big Idea said that Mike Nawrocki would create an "original new VeggieTales TV series," though no further news has been revealed.

The idea for VeggieTales came in the early 90's when Phil Vischer was testing out animation software as a medium for children's videos. Due to the limitations of the software available to him at the time, he chose to avoid the technical production hurdle of creating characters with arms, legs, or hair. His first animation model was an anthropomorphic candy bar. When his wife suggested that parents might prefer a hero who promoted healthier eating habits, he began basing characters on fruits and vegetables.

Format[]

The episodes generally follow a standard format where a moral issue is posited in the opening countertop sequence, either through a viewer question or an issue brought up by Bob or Larry, followed by one or more "films" that address the issue, with a

VeggieTales on TV[]

The NBC VeggieTales television show altered the general format by opening in the living room of Bob the Tomato's house. Bob, Larry the Cucumber, and other Veggie characters then sing the show's theme song as they hop to Bob's front door. The theme song ends with a character making a random comment, such as Pa Grape commenting on Archibald's new sweater. Bob and Larry then wait for the mailman, Jimmy Gourd, to deliver a letter. When Jimmy comes, he happily sings his Mail Song, which Bob and Larry both find tedious. Similar to the opening counter-top sequence of the VeggieTales videos, Bob and Larry read the letter and the cast tries to decide how to solve the viewer's problem through one of three regular segments: Archibald reads a story from his Big Book of Oddities, Pa Grape shows an old film, or Mr. Lunt appears with his stick puppet, Paco the Storytelling Mule, and tells a story. The result always proves disastrous, as the story or film makes no sense. Bob and Larry then intervene with a story from a VeggieTales video. The show ends with Bob and Larry wrapping things up by reiterating the story's lesson and thanking the kids for coming to his house. NBC episodes end with characters bidding the audience a simple "Good-bye".

VeggieTales in the House[]

A new series, VeggieTales in the House, premiered on Netflix in Thanksgiving 2014. The series lead is Doug Tennapel and features a theme song by independent studio musician and frequent Tennapel collaborator Terry Scott Taylor. Mike Nawrocki and Phil Vischer continue to voice their characters, but the rest of the original video cast has been replaced by veteran voice actors Tress MacNeille and Rob Paulsen. The series is an expansion of the kitchen counter-top segments of the original videos to include a full city which the characters live in. Bob and Larry live as roommates in an apartment west of the kitchen counter. Several stories revolve around a general store built into the bottom-right corner of a kitchen counter which is run by Pa Grape. The cast from the original videos remains the same aside from the absence of Mr. Nezzer, who has been replaced by a similar looking character named Ichabeezer.

Characters[]

Main article: List of VeggieTales characters

VeggieTales has a continuous back story that all of the cartoons are actually teleplays, performed by various vegetables and fruit that live together on the same kitchen countertop. Some of these characters have "real names," and take on various roles in the teleplays, although in the earlier adventures they appeared as themselves, showing some of their real-life situations. Most of these "regulars" were established in the very earliest videos, while some have been added more recently.

Episodes[]

Main article: List of VeggieTales videos

Re-issues and re-releases[]

Big Idea has released a few "special edition" DVDs which consist of remastered videos and additional features not on the original DVD.

  1. Lyle the Kindly Viking Special Edition (also includes 3-2-1 Penguins! Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn)
  2. Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen Special Edition (also includes 3-2-1 Penguins! The Cheating Scales of Bullamanka)
  3. Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed Special Edition (also includes 3-2-1 Penguins! The Amazing Carnival of Complaining)
  4. King George and the Ducky Special Edition (also includes 3-2-1 Penguins! Runaway Pride at Lightstation Kilowatt)
  5. Where's God When I'm S-Scared? 15th Anniversary Collector's Edition (also includes 3-2-1 Penguins! Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn)

Compilation videos[]

Main article: List of VeggieTales compilation videos

Originally, Big Idea, Classic Media, and DreamWorks Animation have all bundled the various VeggieTales episodes into video collections ranging in size from double features all the way up to a boxed collection of the first 30 VeggieTales videos. In addition, the three companies have also released compilation videos including only collections of the Silly Songs from the various videos. These song collections have included the songs in "Sing Along" format as well as countdowns of the most popular Silly Songs as voted on by fans.

Reception[]

The video series and stage productions have enjoyed more financial success than the films.

The revenue for Big Idea grew between 1996 and 1999 from $1.3 million to over $44 million as the moral tales and off-beat humor proved popular with parents. The media group Common Sense Media commented on the TV series that VeggieTales "will probably be most amusing for younger kids, or, perhaps more accurately, less sophisticated viewers. It's not the lessons themselves that older kids might object to--more the fact that you can see them coming a mile away, and even the best songs can't make getting there any more exciting."

Reception to the films was lukewarm both among critics and at the box office. The films have Jonah - A VeggieTales Movie currently holds a 65% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 55 reviews from critics, with an average score of 5.8 out of 10. The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything received generally negative reviews and performed poorly at the box office. It holds a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

NBC controversy[]

When NBC, a national broadcasting company based in New York, began airing VeggieTales episodes in September 2006, it edited the episodes to remove overtly religious messages, including references to God. The original sign-off message--"Remember kids, God made you special and He loves you very much!"--became a simple, inclusive "Good-bye!" The changes were made at the request of the network's standards and practices department to enforce compliance with network policies regarding religious neutrality. The original dialogue remained viewable by users of the network's closed-caption feature.

The conservative watch group Parents Television Council complained to NBC about the changes. L. Brent Bozell, president of the group, complained of the network "ripping the heart and soul out of a successful product," adding that "if NBC is so concerned about that four-letter-word God, then they shouldn't have taken 'VeggieTales.' This just documents the disconnect between Hollywood and the real world."

NBC replied that the editing conformed to the network's broadcast standards, which direct producers "not to advocate any one religious point of view." NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks said "Our goal is to reach as broad an audience as possible with these positive messages while being careful not to advocate any one religious point of view."

Vischer said he was not informed that overtly religious content would be removed and said he would have declined to sign the contract had he known. "I would have declined partly because I knew a lot of fans would feel like it was a sellout or it was done for money," he said. Vischer added that he still understood NBC's wish to remain religiously neutral. "VeggieTales is religious, NBC is not. I want to focus people more on 'Isn't it cool that Bob and Larry are on television.'"

Feature-length films[]

  • Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002): Archibald Asparagus stars as Jonah in this version of the Biblical story. The Veggies learn that God is a God of second chances, and that we need to give second chances too and be compassionate and merciful.
  • The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (2008): In this second VeggieTales feature film, three lazy wannabe pirates go back in time to the 17th century to fight real pirates and become heroes in a battle to rescue a royal family from an evil tyrant. The three slackers learn that a hero doesn't have to be tall, strong, and handsome to be useful.

Stage production[]

VeggieTales Live is a series of stage shows based on the VeggieTales videos. Six versions of the shows have been staged. The shows have toured across the U.S. and at theme parks including Dollywood and Silver Dollar City.

Video games[]

Macintosh/PC[]

  1. Veggie Tales Super Silly Fun! (unknown release date, 2005)
  2. Veggie Carnival (November 16, 2001)
  3. Jonah: A VeggieTales Game (August 27, 2002)
  4. Veggie Tales Creativity City (March 19, 2002)
  5. The Mystery of Veggie Island (May 21, 2002)
  6. Minnesota Cuke and the Coconut Apes (May 20, 2003)

PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance[]

  1. LarryBoy and the Bad Apple (August 1, 2006)

IOS[]

  1. "Step-by-Story presents: The Goofy Gift" (December 28, 2011)
  2. "VeggieTales Spotisodes Collection" (February 7, 2012)
  3. "Step-by-Story presents: Larry's Missing Music" (March 19, 2012)

Android[]

  1. "Step-by-Story presents: The Goofy Gift" (December 28, 2011)
  2. "VeggieTales Spotisodes Collection" (February 7, 2012)
  3. "Step-by-Story presents: Larry's Missing Music" (March 19, 2012)

VideoNow Jr.[]

A number of VeggieTales titles were released on Personal Video Disc (PVD) for Playskool's VideoNowJr., a portable video player for children.

  1. "Where's God When I'm S-Scared" (1980)
  2. "Dave and the Giant Pickle" (1984)
  3. "LarryBoy and the Fib from Outer Space" (1986)
  4. "Josh and the Big Wall" (1987)
  5. "King George and the Ducky" (1990)
  6. "The Ballad of Joe" (1996)
  7. "LarryBoy and the Bad Apple" (2004)
  8. "The League of Incredible Vegetables" (2012)
  9. "Gideon" (2005)
  10. "Esther" (1991)
  11. "Little House that Stood" (2013)

Music and audio CDs[]

Main article: List of VeggieTales albums
  1. VeggieTunes 1
  2. VeggieTunes 2
  3. Larry-Boy Soundtrack
  4. VeggieTunes 3: A Queen, a King, and a Very Blue Berry
  5. Silly Songs with Larry
  6. Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie Soundtrack
  7. A Very Veggie Christmas
  8. The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree
  9. VeggieTunes 4
  10. Veggie Rocks!
  11. Boyz in the Sink
  12. Bob and Larry Sing The 70's
  13. A Very Veggie Easter
  14. VeggieTales Worship Songs
  15. Pirates Boatload of Fun
  16. On the Road with Bob and Larry
  17. Bob and Larry's Sunday Morning Songs
  18. Bob and Larry's Backyard Party
  19. O Veggie, Where Art Thou?
  20. Bob and Larry's Campfire Songs
  21. Junior's Bedtime Songs
  22. Junior's Playtime Songs
  23. More Sunday Morning Songs with Bob and Larry
  24. Bob and Larry's Toddler Songs
  25. LarryBoy: The New Soundtrack
  26. The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything Original Movie Soundtrack
  27. God Made You Special
  28. Christian Hits Music
  29. VeggieTales Greatest Hits
  30. Storytime with Bob and Larry Volume 1
  31. Storytime with Bob and Larry Volume 2
  32. Here I Am To Worship
  33. Bob and Larry Sing the 80's
  34. Sweetpea's Songs for Girls
  35. Hosanna: Top 10 worship songs
  36. Bob and Larry Go Country
  37. 25 Favorite Very VeggieTunes
  38. 25 Favorite Sunday School Songs
  39. 25 Favorite Christmas Songs
  40. 25 Favorite Lullaby Songs
  41. 25 Favorite Toddler Songs
  42. 25 Favorite Travel Songs
  43. 25 Favorite Action Songs
  44. 25 Favorite Silly Songs
  45. 25 Favorite Bible Songs
  46. Beauty and the Beet: The Soundtrack
  47. VeggieTales: All the Songs CD - Volume One

Merchandise[]

On February 10, 2011, Big Idea Entertainment announced several new product promotions, including partnerships with Chick-fil-A (kids meal promotions), American Puzzle Company (wooden puzzles and trains), CTI Industries (mylar and latex balloons), Tabbies (index tabs, stickers, temporary tattoos and wall clings), Victory Designs (children's guitars), and Zoobies (plush pillows and blankets).

References[]

External links[]

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