VeggieTales is an American series of children's computer animated films featuring anthropomorphic vegetables in stories conveying moral themes based on Christianity.
They frequently retell Biblical stories, sometimes anachronistically reframed, and include humorous references to pop culture in many different eras by putting Veggie spins on them (e.g., classic literature, TV shows, etc). The series was developed by Big Idea Entertainment.
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 5, 2009, VeggieTales was featured on the children's programming block called qubo on NBC. As of 2009, the TV show is shown on Gospel Music Channel.
The series has still been releasing new episodes on DVD while the television show airs. VeggieTales has also published books, music CDs and branded items such as toys, clothing, and garden seeds for vegetables and flowers (e.g., daisies, fern, tulips, pumpkins, squash, peas, scallions, sunflowers, etc). In 2012, VeggieTales will be shown on the BBC's digital preschool programming channel CBeebies.
The episodes generally follow a standard format where a moral issue is posited in the opening countertop sequence, either through a viewer letter (as of 2009, video e-mail is used instead of letters) or because of something brought up by Bob or Larry, followed by one or more "films" that address the issue, with a silly song in the middle. Often Larry, Jimmy & Jerry Gourd, Archibald, or The French Peas will show short videos in an attempt to address the issue only to be saved in the end as Bob introduces the main story.
The Silly Songs are generally introduced with a title card and the voiceover saying, "And now it's time for Silly Songs with Larry, the part where Larry comes out and sings a silly song." Some silly songs have alternate titles, such as "Love Songs with Mr. Lunt," where another character sings the song instead. The Silly Song, if one appears, is always in the middle of the program, often at a cliffhanger moment. The LarryBoy episodes, in particular, lack this segment.
