What's Going On With Big Idea?

Hey there, fellow Veggie fans. I know it's been way too long since I last posted anything. It's partly due to the fact that life has been busy, but a lot of it also has to do with the state of VeggieTales today.

I'm absolutely not complaining about In the House/In the City; I still want to write some on my favorite episodes in the series. But admittedly, the shorter-length Netflix format doesn't make it as easy to write about as the longer direct-to-videos. There are so many new stories at once, it's hard to know where to begin sometimes. But I'm not writing this post to discuss my reasons for not writing in three years, I'm writing because I have some questions I'm hoping someone might know something about.

I believe the last episode of In the City aired last year. Bye Bye, Bacon Bill was the only ITH/ITC episode to end with a "the end," and felt like a sweet way to close out the series overall. But this came without any announcement or warning. And since then, I've noticed some things that have me a little concerned.

First of all, it seems the only thing on the socials lately has been these promotional images featuring Bible verses, inspirational quotes, jokes, and the like. You've most likely seen them and know what I'm talking about. They're very cute, and it's always good to have something encouraging pop up on the feed, but they don't give us much idea of the goings-on at the company, or what they may have planned next after ITC.

Second, it seems that VeggieTales.com has become solely a shopping site. And its spot under DreamWorks/Classic Media doesn't give much information either (except, perhaps, for the interesting note from four years ago that they had more releases planned than actually happened). Again, on both accounts, I wish there was more to say from the company directly about news and updates, especially if something's wrong.

Perhaps the most alarming was the company address I found today on an email:

Big Idea Entertainment, LLC
386 Park Avenue South
16th Floor
New York, NY 10016 

They moved to New York? When did that happen?
This could just be the merchandising branch of the company, but I'm not sure.

None of this is truly to say they aren't still a thriving company with some new, exciting tricks up their sleeves. But... I don't know. I wish I did.

The biggest "sign of life" I've seen with Big Idea lately was a Facebook Saturday Silly Song Sing-Along with Nicole C. Mullen a few weeks back. It was encouraging to know they were doing something, but it still doesn't really answer my questions.

I recently re-read the portion of Phil Vischer's book, Me, Myself, and Bob, regarding Big Idea's original downfall, and I was re-reminded of the challenges and difficulties of running a small animation company. I'm sure there are still challenges and difficulties today, even with DreamWorks' ownership.

I know that seemingly much of the fandom is divided on ITH/ITC, but as far as I knew, the shows were still doing well overall. Could there have been enough of a dent from viewers who didn't like it to ultimately hurt the company? I certainly hope not.

I care about Big Idea and the amazing people who work there. I miss hearing from them through featurettes, audio commentaries, interviews, and articles. There is so much creativity there, and most importantly, a fierce desire to make sure kids -- and the rest of the world -- know that God made them special and loves them very much! I want to know what they have planned next for VeggieTales, or if they have something totally new and different in mind. I'm glad they're still making some neat merchandise (I love my mini blind bag Larry!), but I don't think that's the future of Big Idea.

VeggieTales is not merely a lifestyle brand for preschoolers and parents.
VeggieTales is not dead.
VeggieTales is something special.
It's funny, it's genuine, it speaks truth.
It's for everyone.
And there's never been anything like it.
Same for the brave little company and the amazing people who created it 25 years ago.

I know most of you out there don't know the answers any more than I do, but I just wanted to put these thoughts out here, just in case.

Keep Big Idea in your prayers for whatever happens, whether The Bob and Larry Movie will finally be realized (one can hope!), or if it's ultimately the end of VeggieTales silliness.

Hopefully you'll see more posts soon!

GMUS & <3sUVM,
 - Chandler

Noah's Ark Review

Hey to my fellow Veggie-Heads! A new chapter of VeggieTales has begun and I'm incredibly excited to be bringing you my review on the fantastic new episode Noah's Ark! Now, let's get on board! (I couldn't resist.)

(Also: thanks to DWA TV for the advance copy!)

The first thing you might notice is the new reincarnation of the intro. It's overall very similar to the 2010-2014 one, but now Bob and Larry are going it solo. I'll admit, I've gotten used to Jimmy and Jerry coming in on the second verse, but the intro is no less enjoyable. Seeing Bob and Larry with their new looks is really cool, and the fact they're doing this on their own reminds me a lot of the original intro. But perhaps the best thing about the new intro is that, instead of a clip show, they show off a variety of "photos" of each episode's cover art throughout the years, which makes me so nostalgic. It's a lovely reminder of how far they've come, and how many wonderful episodes they've made! I'm guessing once they get some more episodes under their belt in the new style, they'll go back to the clip show format, but this is definitely a preferred method over just using clips from this episode alone.

We also get to see the new countertop! I just adore how Bob and Larry subtly comment on each other's new looks. Larry did mention on an interview with NewReleaseTuesday.com that working out brought out the color in his eyes :) Oh, and Qwerty hasn't changed a bit! But the elephant in the room isn't all of the new looks, it actually is an elephant -- because the first episode of this new era is Noah's Ark! And it's the only Noah's Ark retelling thus far to be told from Shem's point of view and to involve a giant squid and several flying machines. (I do like how they get it off the bat real fast that these things are all Larry's additions. Smart plan when you want to avoid confusing younger viewers.) Anyhow, off the countertop and onto the story itself!

While Bob and Larry being on the cover seems to make this episode appear to be about them, it's actually Shem who's at center stage. Shem, played by the awesome Wayne Brady, has big plans. Having just come off his honeymoon with his new wife, Sadie, Shem is full of ideas for their new home. But he doesn't expect to find that his dad built an ark while they were gone. This new perspective is absolutely a breath of fresh air and is one of the most original concepts I've ever seen. Shem reacts a lot like we would in this situation. Noah and the rest of the family just go with what God says, but Shem can't help but wonder if maybe his plan would be better. Throughout the story, Shem finds himself having doubts one way or another, and it's only when he allows himself to trust God that he's able to understand why His plan is perfect. Aside from the excellent storytelling method Shem helps execute, he is absolutely hilarious. He's witty, real, and appropriately sarcastic at times. Honestly, I would not mind if Shem became a permanent character on the show :)

And of course, it would be wrong of me not to talk more about Shem's better half, Sadie, played by the awesome Jaci Velasquez. Sadie is a constant source of support and encouragement for Shem. She's sweet-natured, bubbly, and trusting -- but she can be tough when she needs to be! I love that VT decided to give the unnamed wives of Noah's sons some real personality and make them more than just a few supporting characters.

Thinking about characters, I was very interested in seeing how the rest of the roles would be filled. After watching In the House for a while, I've gotten used to each character's new, unique personality, which can make it sort of hard to visualize what it would look like for them to don new personalities and costumes for their characters. Ultimately, each veggie stays pretty true to his or her ITH characterization, but Big Idea has sprinkled in some new personality traits to make them uniquely the characters of Noah and his family. It will definitely be interesting to see over time how some characters might play certain roles, like the next time Larry plays a hero-type character, after being his playful, silly self so much lately. But really, the differences are minute and don't take away for a second the joy, creativity, and excellent storytelling VT has always brought to the table.

Then there's the music! There's an ark-load of songs in this one, and each one of them is fantastic. And when you throw in Mr. Brady and Miss Velasquez's singing voices, you've got something super special. The songs, written by Drew Fornarola and Marshall Pailet, are so well done and really give a unique sound to this episode. The overall musical stylings of this one really feels like a throwback to the classic VT Bible stories. I can't help but love that VeggieTales hasn't let go of their musical roots! :D

Speaking of songs, we also are getting the new era's first Silly Song, My Golden Egg! Only Larry would take an Easter egg hunt this seriously, as he goes all Indiana-Jones on it as he searches for that prized golden egg. The song has a great rhythm, clever lyrics, and of course, a few well-placed Indy nods -- like with the French Peas as background-singer jungle tribesmen! But Larry just might let that treasure slip out from under his nose amidst the catchy song... or will he? Either way, I really want a chocolate egg right now, and Easter's not for another month!

Fact is, there's a lot I could go on and on about; the adorable animals, the fantastic character animation, all of the effects, the funny gags and one-liners... but I don't want to forget to talk about the beautiful truth of this episode.

Image credit: DWA TV PR

Between being stuck in the rain for forty days and being stuck on the ark a year afterward, Shem finds himself desperate to chart his own course. But when he actually listens to God and allows himself to trust His promises, he finds himself playing an unexpected role in God's plan. In the end, Shem finally understands what it means to embrace what God wants for his future. I think it's safe to say we all have times in our lives when we'd rather be in control, and when we don't understand the hardships and frustrations around us. But isn't it amazing just how much God loves us, and how perfect the course He charts for us is? Noah's Ark is a beautiful reminder of both those truths, and it's an absolutely no-questions five-star episode! Well done, Big Idea! 

You'll never see the story the same way again... and that's not a bad thing!

GMUS & <3sUVM,
- Chandler

News On Noah + Jaci Velasquez Interview!

Hey, Veggie fans! There's been quite a flurry of news coming out regarding the first DVD release of the new VT era, Noah's Ark! Read on for some of my own thoughts on this exciting next chapter!

Image credit: DWA TV PR

When I first heard that the next episode would be a new retelling of the Noah story, I was a little surprised; didn't they already retell this Bible story on Minnesota Cuke and the Search For Noah's Umbrella? On the commentary for that episode, it was stated that the Minnesota Cuke episodes worked well for retelling darker Bible stories (it's not all rainbows and fuzzy animals, you know), so I wasn't expecting them to try Noah again. But the more I've heard about this new approach, the more excited I am for it. Plus, the first VeggieTales movie concept before Jonah was about Noah's ark, so I'm curious if this episode will have any similarities to that earlier concept. But in any case, it's appropriate that this episode is going back to where the show began -- retelling Bible stories in a fun, fresh way! So, I can say with great certainty that Noah has me excited for more reasons than one.

The first thing that I'm definitely looking forward to is that they're doing this up as a musical. Of course, VT has always rocked at doing musicals, as no episode to date has been without a song (or two or three), but I think the boat-bound musical subgenre is an especially fun way to flip the story of Noah around a bit. A little less "doomsday" and a bit more "Anchors Aweigh"!

Another thing I'm very excited for is that this episode's got a couple of amazing voices on board: Wayne Brady and Jaci Velasquez! They will be playing Noah's son, Shem, and his wife, Sadie. I'm seriously excited, because Wayne Brady is a hilarious actor and an epic singer, and Jaci Velasquez is an amazing singer and radio show host! I love Shem and Sadie's character designs, and I think they'll fit in perfectly into the VT world. I really love how many great actors and singers have been showing up in VT lately, from Rob Paulsen and Tress MacNeille's roles on In the House to Terry Crews's stellar performance as Bruce Onion in Celery Night Fever! Phil and Mike can do perfectly on their own, but it's always great seeing the Veggie world expanded :)

And I'd be completely wrong if I didn't mention how adorable these animals are. I'm impressed since the massive amount of fur was apparently the reason why the Noah film didn't fly in the first place. I don't yet know what company's doing their animation, whether it will still be Huhu or if Bardel will take over. Bardel's work with furry creatures in DWA's Puss in Boots and King Julien series has proved to be awesome, so they'll look great if they go that route. Either way, I'm really glad that VT is in a place now where they try something technologically that they couldn't do ten years ago!

One of the things I'm most curious about with this new chapter is what the format will be like. I've already heard they're reanimating the original intro to fit the new style, so that's definitely going to be exciting to see come to life. Will they ever give Larry a break on that tuba so he doesn't nearly pass out? (Probably not!) In addition, we'll likely get to see the new countertop and hopefully Qwerty too (though I'm not entirely sure on this, considering there isn't a Qwerty in ITH's kitchen, but we'll have to wait and see). It'll be interesting to see how these new versions of the crew we've gotten to know in ITH will translate to a regular VT episode format.

Finally, I'm very much looking forward to seeing their spin on the lesson. Noah's Umbrella chose to talk about having the confidence to do what God wants us to do, while the new Noah is a lesson in trusting God. I really like the twist they've come up with... I could easily see Noah and his folks having some questions about God's plan in the midst of that massive flood. So, that really works well as this episode's moral, finding something unique to set it apart from the already awesome Minnesota Cuke.

And if nothing I've said has you pumped up yet, this interview with Sadie herself, Jaci Velasquez, ought to! (Thanks, DWA TV!) Read on.