Dave and the Giant Pickle (VHS)

A Parable.com Exclusive Interview with the Creator of VeggieTales

Why Vegetables?

They don’t have any arms, legs or hair. I became an animator in 1986, and when I started programs just didn’t have any complexity at all. You could just do balls and icons and things. You couldn’t do arms, legs, hair or clothes. I wanted to develop characters that I could create right then, not five years later.

So I played around with candy bars, but I thought, no, moms would be mad if their kids started to fall in love with candy. So what would moms not be mad about? Vegetables.

I worked on the eyes a lot, they had to have a lot of expression in them. I actually made the eyes first and them plopped them on different characters. I played with Nerf guys, then the candy bars. In the end the cucumber had the most dietary appeal.

What was your vision for your work when you first started? Did you envision all of this?

It would be great to say I had the whole thing planned out, but I didn’t. I knew I wanted to be a filmmaker and storyteller. I knew I wanted my stories to be full of God’s truth. When I started I didn’t know if I wanted to be a solo moviemaker like Speilberg, or create an entire media company like Disney.

I made the first video by myself in my spare bedroom. Then I realized a lot of this is quite laborious, so I hired two guys who knew how to do animation. I wrote and directed and Mike Nawroki came in on evenings and weekends. That started the evolution from just Phil and his computers, to Big Idea Productions. That is important, because Lucas, when he is gone, his stories will end. There will be no more stories. What I realized is that what the world really needs is another Disney, but with the Christian world view. This can’t be just about me, it has to be an organization that will continue the story telling when I’m gone.

You have said that your goal is to become the next Disney, in practical terms, what does that mean? Will there be a Larryland someday?

I want to be in location based entertainment at some point. That could be anything from a Chuck E. Cheese-type restaurant to a theme park. What I have to ask is, "What will work in the next century?" Is it live theater, themed restaurants, or is it a full theme park? So what will the future look like? I know it will be something bigger and new that is just beyond what we’re doing now. It’s not just mimicking larger companies, it is learning from larger companies to see what they are doing right.

What road blocks do you think you will face in that venture?

The biggest roadblock is to find talented people. Too many Christians have abandoned these industries of animation, moviemaking and production. We’ve pulled back from the arts. Most of the Christian kids with a bent for art are encouraged to go into ministry because that is seen as a "higher" calling. We need to encourage Christians to pursue the arts. Today you can influence so many more people from a TV than you can from a pulpit. There are so many people who work in the industry now and never thought they could work in a Christian environment.

As children watch a VeggieTales video, are there specific messages you want them to take away with them?

Every show has a specific message to communicate. It’s a "nugget of truth" and we don’t start to write a show until we have that. Every "nugget of truth" has to be simple enough for a 4-year old to understand, remember and take with them.

The series as a whole also has a "nugget of truth" which is what Bob and Larry say at the end of every show, "God made you very special and he loves you very much!"

What is next for you? Could there be another character set?

There will be more character sets coming up, and I can’t say any more than that. There will be many more videos, and VeggieTales showing up in places you won’t expect. We think Veggies need to be on TV. This is our chance to see, "If we build it, will they come?"

Where will Big Idea Productions be in 2 years? In 20 years?

Within the next year, Big Idea products will be in Lombard, Illinois [moving from Chicago]. It is a small suburb with a 19th century downtown. We’ve bought two a half acres of land right in downtown that includes a 1920s theater. We’ll refurbish that and host special events and VeggieTales showings. We’ll have a studio connected to it that people can tour through.

So it will be like a little Universal Studios

That’s exactly it!

Our 20-year goal is to be a top 4 family media brand. So when you ask people what family media companies they think of first, it will be Disney, Nickelodeon and Big Idea. If you go back and ask them which they trust the most, they’ll say Big Idea.

We will still be telling great stories and we’ll still be putting the needs of kids before the needs of stockholders. We teach Judeo-Christian values and teach it from a Christian worldview. We very seldom try to teach theology. Our goal is to reintroduce God into popular media.

How many people does it take to produce a single VeggieTales video? How many people do all the voices for an average video?

I’m about half the voices. I’ve done 15-20 characters. Mike is another 5. All the others are 1 voice per person. Friends come in and help us. Dad Asparagus is an old friend of mine. We’re having a lot of fun and we have a lot more stories to tell. It is just frustrating when you can’t find the people to do what you want to do. I want the world to change faster, but we’re working on God’s timing.

Your videos are now being sold in secular stores like Wal-Mart and K-mart. Is VeggieTales "crossing over" to the secular market?

It was never intended to be just for Christians. VeggieTales was always meant to take God’s truth to the masses. The strength of our Christian stores is still where most of our fans are, and that is still where they will have all the VeggieTales stuff. I see our Christian stores giving us our depth and breadth.

Is there anything else you would like to tell people?

The most important thing is that we are absolutely devoted to spreading God’s truth and giving parents tool to teach their children Christian values.

Here are Bob and Larry's answers to some of YOUR questions! Thank you to everyone who sent in questions. They were all great and we know the Veggie guys had a very hard time choosing just a few to answer.

What kind of music do Veggies like to listen to?

Larry: Mostly polka or alternative polka.
Bob: When I'm cleaning the house I like to switch on a little rhythm and greens.
~Mary Katherine Age: 17

I am a major Veggie Tale fan and absolutely loved "Madam Blueberry." However, could you please tell me more about "Mr. Lunt"? Where did he get his name and exactly what kind of vegetable is he?

Bob: Mr. Lunt is a decorative gourd.
Larry: That means he has little nutritional value and highly receptive to polyurethane.
Bob: For more information on decorative gourds, log on to the decorative gourd gallery at: http://www.duo-county.com/~rdhughes/decorative.htm
Larry: And remember, Joelle, when decorating gourds, always wear your safety goggles.
~Joelle Age: 13

What kind of games do vegetables like you play?

Bob: I like "Mouse Trap." You roll your dice... You move your mice... nobody gets hurt.
Larry: I like to play "Pin the Tail on the Maniac Lynx."
~Kathryn

Why are VeggieTales so lovable? My grandpa and Grandma watch them. My mom and dad watch them. My brother, Brooks and I just love them too. What have you done to make them so lovable?

Bob: Oatmeal. And you know what's funny? The more oatmeal I eat, the more lovable I get.
Larry: For me it's rice with bananas. But if I eat too much I start to hiccup... I'm not sure if hiccuping is lovable or not.
~Mac Age 2

My question is: how come you guys can pick things up and blow your nose when you don't have arms? I don't want you to get arms, I just wanted to know. Thank you.

Bob: It's the magic of television.
Larry: Ya! Kinda like how Fred Flintstone can stop a car with his feet.
Bob: Ouch. I wouldn't want to try that.
Larry: How could you? You don't have feet.
Bob: Oh yeah.
~Audra I am seven years old and in grade 2.

Bob and Larry how did you learn about God?

Bob: My Mom.
Larry: Billy Graham.
~Kourtany

Larry has his silly songs and alter ego...but Bob, you're always so serious. Is there a hidden, silly side of Bob we don't know about?

Bob: Sure! Sometimes I whistle when I shave... that's pretty silly.
Larry: ... No it's not.
Bob: It's not?
Larry: No... But if you shaved with peanut butter and a rubber razor and whistled, that would be silly.
Bob: Oh... well... what would I whistle?
Larry: It doesn't really matter.
~Peter, Elizabeth, Christian (6) and Kathleen (4)

My question is how old are you and do you have any brothers or sisters?

Bob: My doctor thinks I'm somewhere between 4 and 35. He could count my rings to be sure, but it's not covered in my insurance.
Larry: I have a brother named Steve - he sells exercise equipment.
Bob: No you don't!
Larry: I know. But if I did...he would!
~David age 2

Are Bob and Larry relatives?

Larry: I don't think so.
Bob: We both have a great aunt named "Ruth", but we're not sure if it's the same Ruth. If she were, I guess we could be cousins twice removed.
Larry: ... Is that like refried beans?
Bob: ...Ah... No.
Larry: What if your cousin is a bean?
Bob: Then you'd be a lentil.
Larry: Oh!... Like Barbara Streisand!
Bob: Stop it.