VeggieTales’ Creators File for Chapter 11
Big Idea Productions, makers of the best-selling VeggieTales video series, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday, as part of a deal to sell the financially troubled company.
Big Idea has agreed to sell its assets–including copyrights to Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber and other VeggieTales characters — to Classic Media LLC, which owns or manages media properties such as “Rocky and Bullwinkle,” “Lassie,” “The Lone Ranger” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
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Kris Fuhr, a spokesperson for Big Idea, said the company intends to continue making VeggieTales videos, with an Easter special due for release next February, followed by videos in May and September. Plans for a second VeggieTales film, announced last fall, are now on hold, Fuhr said. “There are projects that are ready to go,” she said, “but they have to have the appropriate business model” before proceeding.
Wow.
Update:
As a parent of two toddlers, I’m very appreciative of Big Idea. Sure, it’s easy to snipe and find fault. Veggie Tales is not perfect. Nothing other than the autographs of the Bible are.
Sometimes Veggie Tales does present an overly simplified version of the Bible that misses many important points. But it’s not as though they present it as an authentic retelling. I have no complaints.
I’m glad that Bob and Larry will survive this. Big Idea has done the kingdom of God a service by creating high quality, Biblically sound, kid’s entertainment.
Oh my, Big Idea was struggling as a company? I didn’t know that,they seemed very successful, but I guess the cost of all the equipment they use to make the video’s outweighed the profit. That still amazes me, I am really glad they are still continuing with it though, Veggie tales has been a huge success everywhere I go.
There IS a God!!!
I’ve been looking for this news since I read about their losing a lawsuit. I’m glad it’s only a financial problem and that they are able to continue making stories. It shows the need for business wisdom to lead a company.
I take it Swift doesn’t like them.
Phil / Robert,
Why would Mac not like Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie? After all, it just takes an Old Testament story about sin, repentance, and God’s grace and turns it into a Hollywood comedy. No sex, violence, or bad language. It’s all good, right?
Regarding the sins of the Ninevites: “They lie! They steal! But worst of all, they slap people with fishes!” Sure is funny! Let’s all laugh at the wickedness of Nineveh.
I’d rather teach my kids to true story of Jonah and look at sin in a very serious manner, deserving of God’s wrath and not a subject of humor.
Question: How does the VeggieTale portrayal of Jonah (and Khalil) in the whale’s belly give an accurate “sign” of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to your kids?
Here’s a link on ReThinking VeggieTales and another one here
The key statement is this:
“As much as we want to teach, as much as parents want us to teach lessons to their kids, and as much as we want to put impressive images on a screen, we never forget that we are in the entertainment business. And if our movies don’t first entertain a whole family, it doesn’t matter what else we’ve tried to do, because they’re not going to be there. They’re going to be out of the room.” – Phil Vischer, Baptist Press 10-2-02
Summary: Entertainment more important than Scripture.
Wow, Mac, you are good!
Michael
Summary: Entertainment more important than Scripture.
What a bad “translation.” Vischer does not say or mean this at all. He simply means that they are an entertainment company, so that’s what they make. He would certainly agree that a person should get his Bible from the Bible.
They make cartoons for kids. No one believes they are straight Bible teaching.
Personally, I am glad for cartoons that use biblical ideas in their entertainment. But I’m sure that’s no surprise to anyone who already thinks I’m a worldly compromiser using a watered-down Bible version.
By Mac and Michael’s logic, I suppose children’s Bibles are also bad. This would mean that ANY adaptation or retelling of Biblical stories was by definition an abomination. The only acceptable presentation would be man reading the entire Biblical story in a very solemn voice.
This is for kids! It leaves some things out, and modifies other things, and creates a fictional story BASED ON the factual Biblical account. It’s entertainment with morals. It’s not a substitute for expositional preaching and Bible teaching. It’s not intended to be.
I’d rather teach my kids to true story of Jonah and look at sin in a very serious manner, deserving of God’s wrath and not a subject of humor.
Michael, do you have kids? If so, what ages are they?
Robert,
I have two sons, one is 8 and the other is 2. And yes we have children’s KJV Bibles that have cartoons depicting bibical events.
Jared wrote:
They make cartoons for kids. No one believes they are straight Bible teaching.
Maybe adults, that have read and understand the true doctrines of the Bible, know this. But that isn’t the target audience, is it?
You are saying that teaching a kid that “the consequences of sin is something to laugh at” is OK?
As for Jared’s comment about children’s Bibles being “an abomination”, there is a big difference in simplifing the stories and illustrating events as children’s Bibles do and the perverting of the truth and events that VeggieTales does.
As for Jared’s comment about children’s Bibles being “an abomination”
That was actually my (Robert’s) comment.
You are saying that teaching a kid that “the consequences of sin is something to laugh at” is OK?
I don’t think this is a fair characterization of Veggie Tales. Could you refer me to the particular event and show that you think teaches a child that the consequences of sin is something to laugh at? I’ve never seen that taught in the slightest.
I was watching “Josh and the Big Wall” (which is a good retelling of Joshua at Jericho) and the show addressed your point. At the end, Junior asks Bob “Did the Israelites REALLY build a big rocket and have slushees thrown on their heads?” and Bob says “No. Those were things WE added. We’re using our imaginations, remember?”
That was actually my (Robert’s) comment.
My apologies to you and Jared.
Could you refer me to the particular event and show that you think teaches a child that the consequences of sin is something to laugh at? I’ve never seen that taught in the slightest.
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
According to the Big Idea website, Jonah set sail on a pirate ship that eventually went “to the heart of Nineveh for a hilarious showdown.” (4th paragraph). Their words, not mine.
And as I wrote the other day:
Regarding the sins of the Ninevites: “They lie! They steal! But worst of all, they slap people with fishes!” Sure is funny! Let’s all laugh at the wickedness of Nineveh.
When is entertainment more important than truth?
Are you saying that Big Idea can only make an entertaining movie by taking a few liberties with the story?
The “showdown” in Nineveh does in fact have some funny parts, but the core message of repentance and impending judgment is still there. I would not describe the climatic scene as “hilarious” by any stretch. And while the Ninevites look a bit silly slapping each other with fish, it’s quite clear that they are evil. They are violent, dishonest, and hateful, and that’s all clearly portrayed.
Have you actually seen Jonah? Or any VeggieTales movies? If not, where do you get your information and opinion about the shows?
Robert,
Have you actually seen Jonah? Or any VeggieTales movies? If not, where do you get your information and opinion about the shows?
Bits and pieces, yes; from start to finish, no. If you actually read my posts, you would see where I have linked to articles discussing the movie or to Big Idea’s own website for the “hilarious showdown” quote (again their words, not mine).
Here is another link.
How about answering some of my questions, some of which I have previously posted:
1) How does the VeggieTale portrayal of Jonah (and Khalil) in the whale’s belly give an accurate “sign” of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to your kids?
2) When is entertainment more important than truth?
3) Do your kids sing “The Bunny Song” from the video Rack, Shack & Benny with the lyrics, “I don’t love my mom or my dad, just the bunny!” and “I won’t go to church, and I won’t go to school”?
I know they redid the lyrics after many people complained that their kids were going around and singing the “catchy” song.
4) Would you agree that I have a valid concern that the catchy jingles and lyrics of these movies and videos have a way of “sticking” and repeating themselves in the mind of a child and can affect a child’s values and behavior far more than all the nice “Christian” sentiments cloaked in clever stories?
5) Is describing these videos as “biblically sound” truely accurate when stories are so twisted that they leave the child confused as to whether the events depicted actually occurred?
I don’t think #5 came out the way I intended, so let me reword it:
5) Is describing these videos as “biblically sound” truely accurate when stories are so twisted that they leave the child confused when compared to the actual biblical story?
Do you know that three of the four links you posted all go to the same article?
I’ve seen Jonah, a couple of times, and in my judgment it does not do violence to the central theme of the Biblical story. But then again, I do not get hysterical over the addition of a half-caterpillar half-worm with an Arab name, nor do I choke on Dr. Archibald (the vegetable who played Jonah) maintaining the same British accent he has in all the other shows.
1) How does the VeggieTale portrayal of Jonah (and Khalil) in the whale’s belly give an accurate “sign” of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to your kids?
Jonah is in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, and repents for his disobedience, and is vomited up on the shore. What more do you want? How is this a distortion? Please elaborate.
2) When is entertainment more important than truth?
This is such a biased and misleading statement! Entertainment is never more important than truth, nor has anyone suggested that it is. Entertainment, however, does have a value all of its own, which is what Nawrocki said. He’s in the entertainment business. His purpose is to entertain.
3) Do your kids sing “The Bunny Song”
We haven’t seen that one, so, no.
catchy jingles and lyrics of these movies and videos have a way of “sticking” and repeating themselves in the mind of a child and can affect a child’s values and behavior far more than all the nice “Christian” sentiments cloaked in clever stories?
First of all, the ‘nice “Christian” sentiments’ are NOT “cloaked”. They are pretty obvious for anyone who watches the shows.
Second, no, I don’t think that’s a valid concern. I think it is paranoia.
5) Is describing these videos as “biblically sound” truely accurate when stories are so twisted that they leave the child confused when compared to the actual biblical story?
They are not “so twisted” and have not produced any significant confusion in my children, nor do I expect that they would produce significant confusion in the minds of any children whose parents were instructing them in the Word.
But perhaps that’s the problem. Perhaps we’re expecting VeggieTales to do the hard work of teaching our kids for us.
Mike Nawrocki said “Our hope is that parents and kids will go home after the film to read the biblical account and have a better understanding about the story’s theme of God’s compassion and mercy.” (Baptist Press, 10-2-2002)
I take the time with my son to tell him the literal Biblical stories (although I do censor some material. I still regret telling him about how Nahash wanted to poke out the right eye of all the Israelites in Jabesh-Gilead.)
If parents aren’t teaching their children the word of God, and if they don’t have their kids at a church where the Bible is systematically taught, then yeah, I agree, this could be confusing to a kid. But if parents are falling down in those areas, having a confused understanding of Jonah will be the least of their concerns, don’t you think?
Honestly, I was impressed with Jonah’s faithfulness to the important elements of the Biblical story. In particular, Nineveh and the Ninevites were portrayed as very evil, very violent, very hateful, very dishonest. Jonah was cast into the sea with the expectation that he would die. Jonah’s message of repentance was just as strong as I imagine it was when he actually preached it – none of this “positive only” nonsense. His message was “STOP IT! Stop lying! Stop stealing!…” And, I was VERY impressed that they followed up with Jonah expecting to see the destruction of Nineveh and his disappointment and “temper tantrum” when it wasn’t.
Furthermore, “Josh and the Big Wall” was incredibly faithful to the Biblical story. I was afraid it was going to portray the Israelites as something other than the aggressors, but it didn’t. It was quite clear that the Israelites were conquering the land God had given them. No punches were pulled (although they didn’t actually show the slaughter of the people of Jericho).
In my opinion, Veggie Tales does a better job of accurately portraying Biblical stories than most other attempts to do so.
If parents aren’t teaching their children the word of God, and if they don’t have their kids at a church where the Bible is systematically taught, then yeah, I agree, this could be confusing to a kid.
That’s exactly my point! Unlike you and me, I’m afraid most “Christian” parents rarely, if ever, discuss biblical doctrines with their children.
But perhaps that’s the problem. Perhaps we’re expecting VeggieTales to do the hard work of teaching our kids for us.
Just like they expect their kids to learn biblical doctrine from their Sunday School teacher.
No responsibility or concern, just take them to S.S. every once in awhile and let them watch some wholesome “Christian” entertainment where there’s no sex or foul language.
For someone grounded in the Word and understanding of the doctrines, they would watch this movie and understand it’s desire to “entertain”. However, that doesn’t describe the average Christian, does it? Instead, we have a majority of people that can’t explain why or if they are truely saved, much less teaching their children to know as well. Here they are allowing their children to watch this and assume that since it’s a Bible story, what they are seeing is what happened.
CONFUSION, CONFUSION, CONFUSION
Yes, I have a problem with that, after all souls are at stake.
Concerning the movie:
Who convicts Jonah of his sins, God or Khalil?
Who teaches the lesson of compassion and mercy, God or Khalil?
Who fails to show that same compassion and mercy for Jonah at the end of the movie, God or Khalil?
Entertainment is never more important than truth, nor has anyone suggested that it is.
I again submit that is exactly what Vischer is saying here:
“And if our films don’t first entertain a whole family, it doesn’t matter what else we’ve tried to do, because they’re not going to be there. They’re going to be out of the room.”
He is compromising the truth for the sake of entertainment.
I’m afraid most “Christian” parents rarely, if ever, discuss biblical doctrines with their children. … people that can’t explain why or if they are truely saved, much less teaching their children to know as well. Here they are allowing their children to watch this and assume that since it’s a Bible story, what they are seeing is what happened.
Then the problem is with the PARENTS, not with the movie. The folks at Big Idea specifically state their intention is for parents to do the work of teaching their children, not depend on VeggieTales to do so.
Again, I quote (emphasis added): “Our hope is that parents and kids will go home after the film to read the biblical account and have a better understanding about the story’s theme of God’s compassion and mercy.”
If a parent is not teaching his children the way of God, per Deut 6, he has a lot more serious problems than the spurious introduction of a half-worm, half-caterpillar with a popular Arab name.
CONFUSION, CONFUSION, CONFUSION
The confusion is the fault of the parents’ failure to teach the Bible. It is not the fault of VeggieTales, coloring books, Sunday School, or church plays. Lay the blame where it belongs.
Who convicts Jonah of his sins, God or Khalil?
I believe that all conviction comes from God. The messenger might vary. Who convicted the Ninevites – Jonah or God? God did, at Jonah’s message.
I guess they could have inserted a long, boring monologue by Jonah to explain his repentance, but I thought Khalil and the choir of angels did a pretty good job as an artistic device.
Who teaches the lesson of compassion and mercy, God or Khalil?
Again, only God can teach us these things, but He oes use people – preachers, for instance – to deliver the message. This is not a signficant deviation from the Biblical narrative.
Would you have preferred an audible voice of God in the film?
Who fails to show that same compassion and mercy for Jonah at the end of the movie, God or Khalil?
So… you’re criticizing Khalil here for rebuking and then walking away from Jonah? Khalil is just a fictional character. I don’t understand your point. I didn’t understand it in the article you linked to, either.
He is compromising the truth for the sake of entertainment.
That’s a stinging accusation, but it’s unfounded. Can you give me even a single example where VeggieTales compromises truth for the sake of entertainment? Just one show, one time where they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, or omitted something essential to the theme of the story, for entertainment.
He is compromising the truth for the sake of entertainment.
Because he’s an entertainer. I’m not sure why this is so difficult to understand.
Do Christian plumbers sacrifice the truth for the sake of fixing someone’s pipes?
Instead of insisting that Vischer stop entertaining and go be a minister or something else we’ve decided he should be, perhaps we should be thankful that the entertainment he produces has biblical themes.
He doesn’t say entertainment is more important than truth period. He’s saying that, in his business of entertainment, his goal first and foremost is to entertain. He’s not a minister or preacher or anything. If he was, you’d have a valid point. But he’s not, so you don’t.
That’s exactly my point! Unlike you and me, I’m afraid most “Christian” parents rarely, if ever, discuss biblical doctrines with their children.
First of all, that wasn’t your point. Your point was the Veggie Tales are “bad.” But that is different than mindless parents not guiding their children to know truth from fiction (even fiction based on truths).
The fault for children’s confusion lay with parents. Not VeggieTales.