Nicktoons - Nick Knacks Episode #109

[TMC]

Before we get into Doug, Rugrats, and Ren & Stimpy, we should take some time for context. Just what was the Nicktoons project? What was the state of children's television animation going into the 1990s? Who was Vanessa Coffey and what motivated her to step up? And what about the five pilots that didn't get greenlit? Welcome to the Nicktoons Era.

[Hawkee]

If you were to ask anyone about what made Nickelodeon big in the 90's aside from the game shows and sitcoms and talk shows the answer you'll most likely get from the person you're speaking to will be Nicktoons. From the time it was launched in 1991 Nickelodeon had always wished to develop and create their own original cartoon block and together with various animation companies that dream came true when Nicktoons was born. And with three animated cartoons which were Ren And Stimpy Doug and Rugrats Nicktoons was destined to become popular. Although all three Nicktoons did well it was actually Ren And Stimpy that received the most attention at first and with the humor and funny storylines Ren And Stimpy proved itself worthy of a hit. The same was said for Doug and while Doug was a monster hit nobody could prepare themselves for the Nicktoon that would soon become huge for Nickelodeon way before Spongebob Squarepants debuted and that cartoon was Rugrats and from the time it was launched people would've never thought Rugrats would become a hit but actually the reason why Rugrats became a worldwide hit all over the world was due to the hiatus Nickelodeon started when they stopped making new Rugrats episodes and when Nickelodeon did this fans put up a big fuss and because of outrage from fans Nickelodeon finally made more episodes of Rugrats along with Rugrats The Movie to be released in theaters Thanksgiving 1998 and that's when Rugrats took off like a rocket. But when they focused on new Nicktoons like The Angry Beavers Rocko's Modern Life Catdog and The Wild Thornberrys Nickelodeon knew Nicktoons was a successful block but I think when Doug got sold to Disney it hurt Nickelodeon a lot and just like Rugrats The Wild Thornberrys also got a movie too. But when Rocket Power and The Fairly Oddparents debuted Nicktoons was starting to go downhill because after Rugrats ended it's run Nickelodeon thought it was the end of Nicktoons. But when Spongebob Squarepants debuted people thought it would be short-lived and be cancelled. But the critics were wrong and Spongebob Squarepants became a hit much to everybody's delight and I can say that in reality Spongebob Squarepants saved Nicktoons and still sells millions of merchandise around the world and has had movies and spin-off shows. And if Spongebob Squarepants hadn't existed the Nicktoons block would've ended but it is still a success for Nickelodeon today