VeggieTales is one of those kids' TV shows that continues to be a mainstay even 30+ years after its creation. It’s a show featuring lots of fun characters, songs, stories, and more. In this article, we dive deep into VeggieTales and discuss some of its themes and ideas from the perspective of a parent.
Parents can never be too careful these days about what their kids are watching, so we review each of the most important aspects of VeggieTales and give parents the resources they need to decide what’s best for their kids.
Feel free to navigate the "Table of Contents" to jump to the sections most relevant to you:
VeggieTales has been around for a while and is considered by many to be a classic kid’s show. It’s a family favorite for kids and parents looking for wholesome entertainment. The show was created with Christian values in mind, and is often touted as one of the best shows for kids that’s both educational and entertaining.
If you’re a parent looking for a way to entertain the kids while inspiring, educating, and keeping them happy - VeggieTales is a great pick.
VeggieTales was created in 1993 by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki and their company, Big Idea Entertainment - which is featured at the beginning of every episode during the VeggieTales theme song.
The show features talking, singing, and adventuring animated vegetables of all sorts, but the two mainstay characters are Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber. Each episode generally begins with an introduction to the theme or idea being tackled by the episode, often centered around a biblical moral lesson. This introduction is done by Bob and Larry on their kitchen countertop in most episodes, and then is followed by the characters acting out a play of a story on that episode’s theme or lesson.
Most episodes have an interlude in the middle where the veggies (primarily Larry the Cucumber, but not always) perform a “silly songs” segment. This is usually titled “Silly Songs with Larry”, but also has other funny iterations such as "Love Songs with Mr. Lunt", "Ukulele Karaoke with Bob", or even "Obscure Broadway Show Tunes with Larry”. The songs are always fun, funny, and kid-appropriate. Many parents may find them stuck in their heads after a while too!
Each episode ends with a conclusion presented by Bob and Larry, where they discuss the lesson learned in the episode and read a Bible verse to tie the episode’s theme into a specific Bible story or reference.
VeggieTales is a long-running show, but wasn’t always available as a cartoon on network television. In fact, it started as a direct-to-video series, and is considered one of the earliest computer-animated franchises!
The show began in the early 1990s when one of the creators, Phil Vischer, was experimenting with computer-animated graphics as a way to tell stories to kids. They created the show with very simple character designs for a reason - it helped the creators avoid the hurdle of animating arms, legs, and clothing for all of the characters. Vischer’s wife Lisa suggested that the parents of the kids might enjoy a show that also promoted healthy eating habits – and thus, VeggieTales was born.
The first VeggieTales episode was released in 1993 and was titled “Where's God When I'm S-Scared?”.
Original VeggieTales (1993-2015)
The first series - which we’ll refer to as “The Original VeggieTales” ran from 1993-2015, and had 50 episodes over that period. The original VeggieTales series was primarily created as a direct-to-video production, with a few re-releases as DVD compilations and remastered episodes. Many of these episodes of the original VeggieTales are available for streaming now on Yippee.tv.
VeggieTales on TV! (2006-2009)
VeggieTales on TV was the first series of VeggieTales to air on TV channels as opposed to direct-to-video releases. It ran on NBC for 3 years, and had a Spanish version released on Telemundo. This series was a spin-off from the original VeggieTales series, and took place in Bob’s house instead of the usual kitchen countertop setting.
Despite this difference, the show follows a similar format to the original VeggieTales, where Bob and Larry receive a letter from kids, introduce the moral or theme of the episode, begin the story section, and conclude with Bob explaining the lesson learned.
A major difference in this series is the lack of a Bible verse reading at the end of each episode - which caused a fair bit of controversy among fans. This was a choice by NBC’s standards and practices department, although the episodes still retold Bible stories in many episodes.
VeggieTales in the House (2014-2016)
VeggieTales in the House was the first series to be produced for streaming, and aired originally on Netflix. This series had a total of 52 episodes over four seasons, and was followed by VeggieTales in the City in 2017. It featured many of the same classic characters as the original VeggieTales, and had the original voice actors for characters.
This adaptation also faced some controversy and criticism because it used new character designs for every character in the show - many of which featured new CGI eyebrows and colored eyes, which were offputting to many viewers.
VeggieTales in the City (2017)
VeggieTales in the City is the second spin-off VeggieTales series produced by Netflix. It consisted of two seasons with 13 episodes each, for a total of 26 episodes. The series continued with the same character designs and voice actors of VeggieTales in the House, and was met with similar criticism.
The VeggieTales Show
The VeggieTales show was an attempt to revive the enthusiasm fans had for the original series of VeggieTales, and went back to the show's roots of simple character designs and faith-based messaging for kids.
This revival of the original themes and character designs was a hit with fans, and led to renewed interest in the series.
The VeggieTales Show is now available for streaming online at Yippee.tv here.
Other releases and movies:
VeggieTales has also had several additional releases of video bundles, DVD special editions, remasters, compilation and collection box sets, video games, and more.
Most notable are the two movies: Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, which was released in 2002, and The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie, which was released in 2008.
VeggieTales DVD collections and box sets include:
Read more about the different VeggieTales series here, including links to every episode of The VeggieTales show and where to watch them!
VeggieTales features many iconic characters parents love because they teach valuable moral lessons through fun stories and songs. These characters take on a variety of personas that kids can relate to - like the fun-loving and silly Larry the Cucumber, the curious kid Junior Asparagus, the lovely Petunia Rhubarb, and many more!
These characters each take on different roles during the stories told through VeggieTales, and play a variety of characters within those stories. Each episode ends with the characters learning a valuable moral lesson, which is then explained by Bob and Larry in further detail.
Bob is one of the core characters in VeggieTales, and is seen in almost every episode. He generally takes on a leadership role, narrating many of the story segments, and wrapping up the episodes when they’re done. He’s a bit high-strung and can get easily frustrated with the antics of his more childlike companion, Larry.
Bob learns many lessons throughout the show, like perseverance, using your gifts, patience, gratefulness, and more.
Read more about Bob the Tomato here.
Larry is the second main character in VeggieTales, and co-hosts the show with Bob. He’s very silly, and his antics sometimes drive Bob up a wall! He’s frequently learning right alongside your kids with whatever lesson is being taught, and helps reinforce the lessons learned by showing even adults can learn new things too.
Larry learns lessons like those of forgiveness, courage, second chances, facing hardship, trusting in god, and lots more!
He’s also the host of a kid-favorite segment: Silly Songs with Larry. These fun songs are hilarious, and hopefully won’t drive parents too crazy when they’re sung over and over (and… over!) by your kids. They’re catchy, funny, and about some of the silliest topics you’ve ever heard, like a hairbrush, lips, water buffalo, and plenty of others.
Read more about Larry the Cucumber here.
Junior is the star of many VeggieTales episodes, and is the kid of the show. He’s 5 years old and often gets himself into a pickle with his overly curious nature. He learns the Biblical lessons taught to kids throughout the show, and is a fun-loving kid who’s seen frequently. He learns all sorts of lessons throughout the series, such as handling fear and peer pressure, building self-esteem, the importance of telling the truth, and a whole lot more.
These are just a few of the main characters in VeggieTales who are seen in almost every episode, but they’re often supported by a zany cast who go on many adventures and learn right alongside them!
Want to learn more about all the various VeggieTales Characters? Click here for our full list of the most important VeggieTales Characters.
VeggieTales has had many episodes throughout the various series - over 218 episodes in total, not including the movies, reproductions and remasters, and re-releases!
With such a large series, it can be hard to pick a favorite. Below we’ve pulled out a few that we think really define the series, but you can also dive deeper with our list of top VeggieTales episodes and where to watch them.
“Are You My Neighbor” is the third episode of the original series of VeggieTales, and is the top-rated episode of VeggieTales with a stellar rating of 9.4/10 stars on IMDB.
This episode is a space-themed adventure - perfect for the astronaut lover in the family - and teaches kids about the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In this episode, kids learn the value of loving their neighbors, even if they’re strangers.
Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush
“Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush” is the first episode to feature Larry the Cucumber as the legendary Minnesota Cuke, adventurer extraordinaire. This episode is loosely parodying the Indiana Jones films which can make it a fun watch for parents who know the context, and teaches kids a lesson of being kind to one's enemies.
Dave and the Giant Pickle
“Dave and the Giant Pickle” tells the Bible story of David and Goliath in a fun way, and features Larry the Cucumber’s super-hero alter-ego, Larry-Boy. This retelling of the classic story teaches about self-esteem and believing in yourself even when the odds are against you.
“King George and the Ducky” tells the story of King David and Bathsheba, and teaches a lesson on the dangers of selfishness. Kids learn the value of humility and sharing through this adaptation of the classic Bible lesson.
One of the main attractions of VeggieTales is its seamless integration of catchy songs throughout the series. The creators of VeggieTales (Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki) knew the value of song and rhyme in reinforcing memory and lessons in kids - and employed it beautifully throughout the series.
One of the best examples of this is through the frequent interludes in the series: Silly Songs with Larry. These songs are sometimes just fun and nonsensical (and are still incredibly catchy), but can also help reinforce the lessons learned throughout the series.
The Hairbrush Song
The hairbrush song (also known as “Where is My Hairbrush?”) is a Silly Song with Larry, and was featured in the VeggieTales episode "Are You My Neighbor?". It’s also Larry's theme song from VeggieTales, and is a classic that kids love!
The Water Buffalo Song
The Water Buffalo Song is another silly song by Larry about the very silly topic of water Buffalos. This is the very first silly song from VeggieTales, and can be seen in "Where's God When I'm S-Scared?”.
Dance of the Cucumber
The Dance of the Cucumber song is a Silly Song with Larry, and is sung in Spanish by Larry while Bob translates. The Dance of the Cucumber is in the fourth episode of the original VeggieTales, Rack, Shack, and Benny.
The Bunny Song (careful with this one!)
While this song IS iconic - it also comes with a big disclaimer for parents. The song was originally sung by a villain of the show (Mr. Nezzer), and the creators didn’t think kids would sing it because it was from a “bad guy”.
It featured a few controversial lines like “I won't go to church, And I won't go to school!” and “I don't love my mom or my dad”, which got some complaints from parents. It was so catchy that kids were singing it anyway, without realizing what they were saying! (I mean, who can blame a 4-year-old with that tune ;). The producers ended up creating a revised version of The Bunny Song, which you can watch here.
This song now has two versions - the original (example here) and the updated, parent-friendly version here. This song was originally featured in the episode: "Rack, Shack & Benny". So if your kid asks for The Bunny Song, be sure to put on the right version!
This is just a little taste of some of the variety of songs in VeggieTales. Most episodes feature 5-8 songs per episode, not including the introduction song (the VeggieTales theme song) and the outro song (“What have we learned?”). With so many songs packed into every episode, it's no wonder VeggieTales is a favorite among kids!
Want more iconic songs? Check out our list of top VeggieTales songs here.
VeggieTales is a family-friendly Christian Kids TV show that features many moral themes and lessons throughout the series, many of which are directly related to Bible stories and passages.
Below we’ve compiled a list of the most commonly recurring messages in VeggieTales, and their related theme from the Bible.
VeggieTales episodes with a forgiveness theme:
VeggieTales episodes about conquering or overcoming fear:
VeggieTales episodes about telling the truth:
VeggieTales episodes about love:
VeggieTales episodes about the meaning of Christmas:
VeggieTales episodes about trust:
VeggieTales episodes about sharing:
In addition to these recurring themes, there are many other Bible themes throughout the series such as dealing with temptation, friendship, dealing with bullies, being content, making good choices, and many more.
Most of these themes are seen in single episodes and aren’t recurring, but they’re still valuable lessons for kids to learn.
Want to learn more about how VeggieTales is great for teaching kids about the Bible? Read more here.
While primarily focused on Bible stories and faith-based lessons, VeggieTales is also chock-full of pop-culture references, parodies, and more. These little easter-eggs can make viewing a little more fun and interesting for parents, who will likely get the references more than their kids.
Have you caught any other pop-culture references while watching VeggieTales with your kids? Let us know and we’ll add to the list!
VeggieTales isn’t just an American phenomenon - it’s also been translated into 18 different languages and has been spread all over the world!
With so many different translations and global reach, it’s no wonder that VeggieTales is one of the best-selling computer-animated kid’s franchises of all time. Estimates put the reach at over 16 million books sold, 7 million CDs of music, and over 235 million music streams.
That doesn’t include all the various iterations of the show that have been seen on TV, streaming platforms like Yippee.tv, direct VHS and DVD sales, video game sales, and more. All in all, VeggieTales is truly a global phenomenon that has spread Christian morals and themes all over the planet.
VeggieTales began as a direct-to-video program that was released initially on VHS tapes and later DVDs, which led to parents collecting dozens (sometimes hundreds!) of individual episodes over the years so their kids could watch every episode. Even if parents purchased box sets of VeggieTales, they could still be out hundreds of dollars if they wanted the full series.
VeggieTales has finally migrated from old-school direct DVD and VHS sales to modern streaming platforms that are easy to use, kid-friendly, and vetted by Christian parents. With a platform like Yippee.tv, parents no longer have to worry about their kid stumbling upon content that isn’t kid-friendly, plus they save a TON of money.
Instead of having to spend hundreds on DVDs over the years, parents can get access to the entire VeggieTales catalog plus tons of other shows for just $4.08 per month.
The best place to watch VeggieTales online is Yippee.tv. With the largest collection of VeggieTales episodes, kid-friendly and exclusively curated YouTube content, and a huge collection of other Bible and faith-based shows meant just for kids.
Need more info? Here’s an in-depth guide on watching VeggieTales online.
Here are some of Yippee’s VeggieTales collections, so you can pick and choose the one that’s best for your kids:
With such a large collection of VeggieTales episodes available for streaming on demand, it’s no wonder parents are choosing Yippee.tv as their number one choice for Christina kid’s streaming.
Parents know that picking the right TV shows for their kids is essential, not only to make sure they’re not being exposed to strange or unsavory content, but also that the content they’re watching is educational, fun, and wholesome. VeggieTales has become one of the best shows for kids because of its fun use of songs, silly animated vegetables, and reimagining of Bible stories that teach kids valuable lessons.
The legacy of VeggieTales is still evolving, and there may even be new episodes and movies coming out soon! Until then, keep your kids happy and entertained with a subscription to Yippee.tv, so they can watch episodes of VeggieTales whenever they want!
Ready to sign up for Yippee but want the best annual price? Enter “COMPARE” when you sign up for an annual subscription and pay just $44.10 annually (a discount of 10% off our already great yearly price).
.png?width=100&height=100&name=Yippee_Logo_Confetti_Colour_blue%20(1).png){kind=logo}
Yippee TV is a family-friendly streaming service dedicated to providing safe, wholesome, and entertaining content for children. Featuring a wide array of shows, movies, and original series, Yippee TV aims to deliver positive, educational, and fun programming that parents can trust. With a focus on values-based content, Yippee TV ensures an engaging and enriching viewing experience for young audiences.
.png?width=30&name=Yippee_Logo_Confetti_Colour_blue%20(1).png){kind=logo}
Yippee: August 8, 2024
Jay Jay the Jetplane is a fun animated kid's show featuring a variety of vehicles (mostly planes/aircraft), set in the city of Tarrytown. The show...
Yippee: August 8, 2024
The Moore The Merrier Vlogs has become a beloved channel in the world of family-oriented YouTube content, offering viewers a glimpse into the lives...
Yippee: August 8, 2024
As kids entertainment has evolved, it can be hard for parents to keep up. New shows, YouTube programs, and more are all growing way faster than any...
.png){kind=logo}
Yippee