AAAHH!!! Real Monsters
Encyclopedia
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters is an American
animated television series about adolescent monster
s in training, developed by Klasky Csupo
for Nickelodeon
. The show ran for four seasons on Nickelodeon's main United States
cable channel and was rerun on Nicktoons until 2006.
The show focuses on three young monsters — Ickis, Oblina and Krumm — who attend an institute for monsters under a city dump and learn to frighten humans. Many of the episodes revolve around them making it to the surface in order to perform "scares" as class assignments.
. He is the son of Slickis, who was the academy's most renowned student and the Gromble's favorite. Oblina (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh
) comes from a wealth
y monster family, and is considered by the Gromble to be his best student. She is shaped like a black and white, upside down candy cane
. One of her favorite methods of scaring humans is reaching within herself and pulling out her internal organs, and she has considerable talent for shapeshifting
into various terrifying forms. She also has a talent for inducing nightmare
s in humans, by sticking her finger in their ear and tickling their brains while they sleep. The third monster is named Krumm (voiced by David Eccles). Like the rest of his family, his eye
balls are not attached to his body, and are usually seen carried in his hands; if he requires the use of both hands, he can carry them in his mouth. His most valuable tool in scaring is his overwhelming armpit stench
as well as using his eyeballs.
The Gromble (or more simply just Gromble) (voiced by Gregg Berger
) is a tall, green-gray monster with two tufts of head hair, a beard, a tail, and wears a belt around his waist and a red pump on each of his four feet. Along with Ickis, he is one of the few monsters who can hear the Pool of Elders — the source of monster existence that is made of the very substance of fears. His assistant, Zimbo (voiced by Tim Curry
) is a monster who resembles a bee with one mammal
ian leg and a humanoid face with green hair.
The monsters frequently face Simon the Monster Hunter (voiced by James Belushi
), a human who is determined to prove that monsters exist. He wears a thick-collared jacket and glasses.
and Peter Gaffney
, and was produced by Csupó's company Klasky Csupo
, which also created the animated shows Rugrats
and Duckman
. Before the final title was chosen, which took over 5 years, the series had the working titles Monsters and Real Monsters. The show was conceived after Csupó and his wife and creative partner Arlene Klasky
were approached by the network Nickelodeon
to create a follow-up series to Rugrats. Csupó was inspired to write a show about monsters because his own young children loved them. He also said he knew Nickelodeon would not want a series about human characters because everybody else was pitching shows about animals. Csupó drew some sketches of possible monsters on a piece of paper and successfully pitched the idea to the network: "I wanted them silly and not too skillful – and the idea worked."
Nickelodeon programming director Herb Scannell
said the character design in Aaahh!!! Real Monsters was partially inspired by Yellow Submarine
, a 1968 animated film inspired by The Beatles
. The character Grumble, in particular, bore a close resemblance to the Blue Meanie
characters from that film. Csupó said some elements of the show have a look similar to the film noir
genre, and called the city dump where the monster characters reminiscent of the visual style from the films Blade Runner
(1982) and Brazil
(1985).
The characters guest-starred in the 1999 Rugrats
episode #106 "Ghost Story
". Before that, David Eccles, the voice of Krumm, provided the monster voice coming from under Chuckie's bed.
on Rugrats, played the part of Oblina. She attempted to make the voice sound like a British version of the actress Agnes Moorehead
. Ickis was voiced by Charles Adler, a voice actor with more than 100 credits on at least 80 television shows, who had also worked as a voice director for Rugrats. David Eccles provided the voice of Krumm; his wife, Diana Eccles, was a facilities director for Klasky Csupo and an associated producer for Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. The Gromble was voiced by Gregg Berger, who previously played the character Cornfed Pig in the Klasky Csupo series Duckman.
Other recurring characters include:
debuted The '90s Are All That
, a block of classic Nickelodeon programming from the 1990s, which will include Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.
Australia
praised the show's animation and sense of humor, although it was not as "hip and witty" as The Ren & Stimpy Show or The Simpsons
. Although he felt the show would appeal to children over 9 as well as adults, he said it may not appeal to those who "react negatively to semi-scary sights and gags about body odor, physical punishment or abusive older siblings". USA Today
writer Matt Roush called it "garish and blissfully silly" and praised the show's "outrageous characters have just enough Ren & Stimpy grodiness, but tempered with exceptional sweetness". Ginny Holbert of the Chicago Sun-Times
called it a "cute and clever" series with "with and inventive creatures", and compared the animation to the work of artist Peter Max
. Gannett News Service
writer Mike Hughes called it a "terrific cartoon series", and said the show's "wildly perverse humor" had a "distinctly European style" that reflected Gábor Csupó's Hungarian background.
The Plain Dealer wrtier Tom Feran called the show "good fun" and favorably compared the series' premise to that of the animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas
. Boston Herald
writer Frances Katz wrote, "If there was ever a great title for a cartoon, it has to be Nickelodeon's Aaahh!!! Real Monsters." Not all reviews were positive. The November 1994 issue of Parenting
magazine listed Aaahh!!! Real Monsters as #1 in its top ten list of the worst new shows of the television season, describing it as "Graphic and scatological; it's just plain gross." Some media outlets pointed out similarities between Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and The Brothers Grunt
, an MTV
animated television series about a group of grotesque humanoid characters. Gábor Csupó rejected these comparisons and claims his show was more story- and character-driven with a different visual style.
for Outstanding Achievement in Animation in 1995 alongside Rugrats
, Animaniacs
, Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?
and 2 Stupid Dogs
. The award ultimately went to Rugrats.
tape. The complete first and second seasons were released for PlayStation Network for view on the (PlayStation 3
) and PSP (PlayStation Portable
) systems. In 2011, a preview on DVD
release from Shout Factory promoted a planned one of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. On October 4, 2011, Shout Factory released the first season on a two-disc DVD set.
produced a series of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters action figures in 1995. They each stand approximately 4 inches (10 cm) tall and include an action feature. Other products based on the cartoon include Fleer
trading cards, books, plush toys, pens, hats, backpacks, notepads, cups, gum, and videos. At one point, General Mills
also included small, promotional flip book
s of Ickis, Krumm, Oblina, and the Gromble in its Cinnamon Toast Crunch
cereal
.
and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis by Majesco in 1995. Ickis also appeared in Nicktoons Racing
for the PlayStation
, PC
, and Game Boy Advance
yet was missing from the Game Boy Color
version.
The characters were also created in full 3D
for Microsoft
's Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animated television series about adolescent monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
s in training, developed by Klasky Csupo
Klasky Csupo
Klasky Csupo, Inc. is a multimedia entertainment production company located in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, founded by artist/producer, Arlene Klasky and animator, Gábor Csupó.- History :...
for Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon is a US cable TV channel.Nickelodeon may also refer to:-In television:*Spinoffs of the Nickelodeon channel:** Nickelodeon Magazine, a children's magazine.** Nickelodeon Universe, an amusement park....
. The show ran for four seasons on Nickelodeon's main United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cable channel and was rerun on Nicktoons until 2006.
The show focuses on three young monsters — Ickis, Oblina and Krumm — who attend an institute for monsters under a city dump and learn to frighten humans. Many of the episodes revolve around them making it to the surface in order to perform "scares" as class assignments.
Synopsis
The episodes follow the adventures of Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm, three young monsters attending a monster school whose headmaster is The Gromble. Ickis (voiced by Charlie Adler) is a small red monster who, due to his large ears, is often confused with a rabbitRabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
. He is the son of Slickis, who was the academy's most renowned student and the Gromble's favorite. Oblina (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh
Christine Cavanaugh
Christine Cavanaugh is an American former voice actress who had a distinctive speaking style and had provided the voice for a large range of cartoon characters. She is best known as the voice of Babe in the hit film, Babe, Chuckie Finster on Rugrats, and Dexter for the original Dexter's Laboratory...
) comes from a wealth
Wealth
Wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem...
y monster family, and is considered by the Gromble to be his best student. She is shaped like a black and white, upside down candy cane
Candy cane
A candy cane is a hard cane-shaped candy stick. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint or cinnamon; however, it is also made in a variety of other flavors and may be decorated with stripes of different colors and thicknesses...
. One of her favorite methods of scaring humans is reaching within herself and pulling out her internal organs, and she has considerable talent for shapeshifting
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
into various terrifying forms. She also has a talent for inducing nightmare
Nightmare
A nightmare is an unpleasant dream that can cause a strong negative emotional response from the mind, typically fear or horror, but also despair, anxiety and great sadness. The dream may contain situations of danger, discomfort, psychological or physical terror...
s in humans, by sticking her finger in their ear and tickling their brains while they sleep. The third monster is named Krumm (voiced by David Eccles). Like the rest of his family, his eye
Eye
Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptors in conscious vision connect light to movement...
balls are not attached to his body, and are usually seen carried in his hands; if he requires the use of both hands, he can carry them in his mouth. His most valuable tool in scaring is his overwhelming armpit stench
Body odor
Body odor or body odour, sometimes colloquially abbreviated as B.O., is the smell of bacteria growing on the body. The bacteria multiply rapidly in the presence of sweat, but sweat itself is almost completely odorless to humans....
as well as using his eyeballs.
The Gromble (or more simply just Gromble) (voiced by Gregg Berger
Gregg Berger
Greggory "Gregg" Berger is an American voice actor, who is known for his longtime role as Odie the dog from the Garfield franchise...
) is a tall, green-gray monster with two tufts of head hair, a beard, a tail, and wears a belt around his waist and a red pump on each of his four feet. Along with Ickis, he is one of the few monsters who can hear the Pool of Elders — the source of monster existence that is made of the very substance of fears. His assistant, Zimbo (voiced by Tim Curry
Tim Curry
Timothy James "Tim" Curry is a British actor, singer, composer and voice actor, known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film and television productions. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California....
) is a monster who resembles a bee with one mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
ian leg and a humanoid face with green hair.
The monsters frequently face Simon the Monster Hunter (voiced by James Belushi
James Belushi
James Adam "Jim" Belushi is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is the younger brother of comic actor John Belushi.-Early life:Belushi was born in Chicago...
), a human who is determined to prove that monsters exist. He wears a thick-collared jacket and glasses.
Production
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters was created by Gábor CsupóGábor Csupó
Gábor Csupó is a Hungarian-born animator, writer, film director and music producer. He is co-founder of the animation studio Klasky Csupo, which has produced shows like Rugrats, Duckman, and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.-Career:...
and Peter Gaffney
Peter Gaffney
Peter Gaffney is an American writer and editor. He is best known for his writing work on The Simpsons and Rugrats. He spent five years as a writer and creative consultant for MTV...
, and was produced by Csupó's company Klasky Csupo
Klasky Csupo
Klasky Csupo, Inc. is a multimedia entertainment production company located in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, founded by artist/producer, Arlene Klasky and animator, Gábor Csupó.- History :...
, which also created the animated shows Rugrats
Rugrats
Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The series premiered on August 11, 1991, and aired its last episode on June 8, 2004....
and Duckman
Duckman
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man is an American animated sitcom that aired from 1994–1997, created by Everett Peck and developed by Peck. The sitcom is based on characters created by Peck in his Dark Horse comic...
. Before the final title was chosen, which took over 5 years, the series had the working titles Monsters and Real Monsters. The show was conceived after Csupó and his wife and creative partner Arlene Klasky
Arlene Klasky
Arlene Klasky is an animator, graphic designer, television producer and co-founder of Klasky-Csupo with Gábor Csupó. Arlene Klasky is one of the television industry’s leading advocates for quality animated programming that entertains children. In 1999, she was named one of the “Top 25 Women in...
were approached by the network Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon is a US cable TV channel.Nickelodeon may also refer to:-In television:*Spinoffs of the Nickelodeon channel:** Nickelodeon Magazine, a children's magazine.** Nickelodeon Universe, an amusement park....
to create a follow-up series to Rugrats. Csupó was inspired to write a show about monsters because his own young children loved them. He also said he knew Nickelodeon would not want a series about human characters because everybody else was pitching shows about animals. Csupó drew some sketches of possible monsters on a piece of paper and successfully pitched the idea to the network: "I wanted them silly and not too skillful – and the idea worked."
Nickelodeon programming director Herb Scannell
Herb Scannell
Herb Scannell, is the president of BBC Worldwide America.-Early years:Scannell was born in Long Island, New York to an Irish father and Puerto Rican mother as the youngest of four. He received his primary and secondary education in his hometown. His mother taught him Spanish at home helping him to...
said the character design in Aaahh!!! Real Monsters was partially inspired by Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine (film)
Yellow Submarine is a 1968 animated musical fantasy film based on the music of The Beatles. It is also the title for the film's soundtrack album, released as part of The Beatles' music catalogue. The film was directed by animation producer George Dunning, and produced by United Artists and King...
, a 1968 animated film inspired by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. The character Grumble, in particular, bore a close resemblance to the Blue Meanie
Blue Meanies (Yellow Submarine)
The Blue Meanies are a fictional army of fierce, if buffoonish, music-hating creatures in the surreal 1968 Beatles film Yellow Submarine. They allegorically represent all the bad people in the world....
characters from that film. Csupó said some elements of the show have a look similar to the film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
genre, and called the city dump where the monster characters reminiscent of the visual style from the films Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
(1982) and Brazil
Brazil (film)
Brazil is a 1985 British science fiction fantasy/black comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam. It was written by Gilliam, Charles McKeown, and Tom Stoppard and stars Jonathan Pryce. The film also features Robert De Niro, Kim Greist, Michael Palin, Katherine Helmond, Bob Hoskins, and Ian Holm...
(1985).
The characters guest-starred in the 1999 Rugrats
Rugrats
Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The series premiered on August 11, 1991, and aired its last episode on June 8, 2004....
episode #106 "Ghost Story
Ghost Story (Rugrats)
"Ghost Story" is the 103rd episode of the animated television series Rugrats. It originally aired on the television network Nickelodeon on March 27, 1999, during the series' sixth season. The babies have a sleepover with Angelica and they tell a scary story featuring cameos from the Aaahh!!! Real...
". Before that, David Eccles, the voice of Krumm, provided the monster voice coming from under Chuckie's bed.
Cast
Christine Cavanaugh, who provided the voice of Chuckie FinsterChuckie Finster
Charles "Chuckie" Crandall Finster is a fictional character from the Nickelodeon animated television series' Rugrats and All Grown Up!. He is Tommy Pickles' best friend and tritagonist . The character is voiced by Christine Cavanaugh...
on Rugrats, played the part of Oblina. She attempted to make the voice sound like a British version of the actress Agnes Moorehead
Agnes Moorehead
Agnes Robertson Moorehead was an American actress. Although she began with the Mercury Theatre, appeared in more than seventy films beginning with Citizen Kane and on dozens of television shows during a career that spanned more than thirty years, Moorehead is most widely known to modern audiences...
. Ickis was voiced by Charles Adler, a voice actor with more than 100 credits on at least 80 television shows, who had also worked as a voice director for Rugrats. David Eccles provided the voice of Krumm; his wife, Diana Eccles, was a facilities director for Klasky Csupo and an associated producer for Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. The Gromble was voiced by Gregg Berger, who previously played the character Cornfed Pig in the Klasky Csupo series Duckman.
Other recurring characters include:
- The Snorch
- Slickis – Ickis' father.
- Horvak – Krumm's father.
- Mama Gromble – The Gromble's mother.
- Sublima – Oblina's mother.
- Skeetch – Oblina's father.
- Nicky – The monsters' only human friend, a 10-year-old boy who befriended Ickis.
- The Shroink – An elderly monster
- Dizzle – A female monster student who likes Ickis
Broadcast History
From October 1994 to around 2004, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters was on Nickelodeon. In 2002 it started airing on Nicktoons TV. In 2006 it was taken off Nicktoons (formerly known as Nicktoons TV) and was shown occasionally on Sundays on Nickelodeon's "Nick Rewind." It often appears on Nick.com's Turbo Nick, an online programming broadcast. In July 2011, TeenNickTeenNick
TeenNick, formerly The N, is an American television network aimed at the teenage market. TeenNick is owned by the MTV Networks subsidiary, Viacom. The channel was originally known as The N from its April 1, 2002 launch until September 28, 2009....
debuted The '90s Are All That
The '90s Are All That
The '90s Are All That is a programming block that airs on TeenNick. The block shows requested Nickelodeon shows from the 1990s, airing in a two-hour block running every night from midnight to 2 a.m., with an encore from 2 to 4 a.m...
, a block of classic Nickelodeon programming from the 1990s, which will include Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.
Australia
-
- ABC TVABC1ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
(1995–present) - NickelodeonNickelodeon AustraliaNickelodeon is the Australian counterpart of the Nickelodeon network in the United States. It is operated by a joint venture of XYZnetworks and MTV Networks Australia.-History:...
(1995–present) Brazil - NickelodeonNickelodeon (Brazil)Nickelodeon Brazil is a cable and satellite television channel, the Brazilian counterpart of the American network Nickelodeon. It is owned by Viacom Networks Brasil, the Brazilian branch of MTV Networks Latin America.-History:...
(1994–1998) - Rede BandeirantesRede BandeirantesRede Bandeirantes , officially nicknamed Band or Band Network, is a television network from Brazil, based in São Paulo. Part of the Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação , it aired for the first time in 1967...
(2010–present) Canada - YTV (1994-1998) Croatia
- NickelodeonNickelodeon (Croatia)Nickelodeon Croatia is a Croatian TV Channel.It is broadcasting Croatia but also in Montenegro,and Bulgaria.Nickelodeon Croatia is just Nickelodeon Europe....
(1997–2005) Greece - TVCTVCTVC may mean:*TVC , a home computer made by the Hungarian company Videoton around 1986*Cherry Capital Airport - IATA code for airport in Traverse City, Michigan, USA*Tatsunoko vs...
(1999–2004) - Channel 9Channel 9 (Greece)Channel 9 is a Greek TV channel that broadcasts in the region of Attica. It is considered as an informational channel although a significant part of its broadcasting are cartoons from the Nickelodeon TV network.- Cartoon shows :...
(2005–2007) - NickelodeonNickelodeon (Greece)Nickelodeon ' is the Greek version of Nickelodeon. It launched on 3 September 2010. It is available free-to-air in the Athens area on 35 UHF signal broadcast from Hymettus, while it is also available through the DIGEA DVB-T2 digital consortium on 54 UHF signal broadcast from Aegina.. Nickelodeon HD...
(2011–present) Hungary - MSat (1998–1999)
- Nickelodeon (1999–2006)
- Viasat 3Viasat 3Viasat 3 is a Hungarian TV channel. It was originally named Alfa TV, but when in 2000 the station was bought by Swedish MTG its name was changed. It began broadcasting as Viasat 3 in October 2000....
(2000–2001) Israel - Nickelodeon
- Arutz HaYeladimArutz HaYeladimArutz HaYeladim is an Israeli kids cable television channel. It was one of the first cable channels in Israel with Arutz HaMishpaha, Arutz Hasratim and Arutz Hasport.-History:...
Malaysia - TV9TV9 (Malaysia)TV9 is a free-to-air private television station in Malaysia. TV9 began broadcasting on 22 April 2006, as a subsidiary of Media Prima Berhad. It formerly existed as Channel 9, which began airing on 9 September 2003 and ceased transmission on 1 February 2005 due to financial difficulties faced by the...
(2011-present) Mexico - NickelodeonNickelodeon (Latin America)Nickelodeon Latin America is a cable and satellite television channel, counterpart of the American network Nickelodeon. It is oriented to Latin American region and the caribbean; mainly for children and teens. It is owned by MTV Networks Latin America. The channel was launched on December 20, 1996...
(1999–present) - Nick HitsNick Hits (Nickelodeon Latin America Block)Nick Hits was a Latin American segment on Nickelodeon, which aired classic Nick Toons, it replaced Nick at Nite on weekends. It was launched July 4, 2009 and ended April 4, 2010...
(2009–2010) - XHGCXHGC-TVXHGC-TV is a TV station owned by Televisa, broadcasting from Mexico City, and is the flagship of the Canal 5 network.-History:XHGC signed on May 10, 1952, broadcasting a Mother's Day event organized by the Excélsior newspaper; but the regular programming began at August 18, 1952.The station was...
(1999–2001) - XEQXEQ-TVXEQ is a Televisa TV station, based in Mexico, Distrito Federal. XEQ is the flagship television station of the Galavisión network ....
(2004) New Zealand - TV3TV3 (New Zealand)TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand...
(1995–2004) - NickelodeonNickelodeon New ZealandNickelodeon was a 24 hour TV channel for kids aged 3–14 in New Zealand. The channel launched on 29 July 2006 and it was available on SKY Television Channel 041...
(1999–2009) - FOUR (2011–present) Sweden
- SVT
- SVTB
- NickelodeonNickelodeonNickelodeon is a US cable TV channel.Nickelodeon may also refer to:-In television:*Spinoffs of the Nickelodeon channel:** Nickelodeon Magazine, a children's magazine.** Nickelodeon Universe, an amusement park....
(1995–2002) Taiwan - NickelodeonNickelodeon (Taiwan)Nickelodeon Taiwan is a 3-hour Nickelodeon channel block broadcasting in Taiwan and Hong Kong. It broadcasts on Taiwan's YOYO TV and is called "YOYO Nick."-Current:*SpongeBob SquarePants*Dora the Explorer*Jimmy Neutron*Go, Diego, Go!...
(1998–2003, 2006–2008) Turkey - Nick on Star TV (1995–1996)
- Nickelodeon (2007–2008)
- CNBC-ECNBC-eCNBC-e is a hybrid business/financial and entertainment channel operated in Turkey by CNBC Europe and the NTV Group.The channel shares its name with a co-owned magazine about CNBC-e....
(1999–2000) Ukraine - ICTVICTV (Ukraine)ICTV is a privately-held TV channel in Ukraine. Its coverage area allows it to be received by 56.6 % of the Ukrainian population, making the channel the fourth in the nation in terms of coverage , and third by the viewers' ratings.The channel is owned by...
- QtvQTVQTV of the Apollo Little Joe II rocket was the first test flight in 1963.-Objectives:The Little Joe II Qualification Test Vehicle was launched on its first flight from White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Area # 3...
UK - Channel 4
- NickelodeonNickelodeon (UK & Ireland)Nickelodeon is a children's television channel available on Sky, Virgin Media, Smallworld Cable, TalkTalk TV and UPC Ireland in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including on demand on BT Vision. The channel was launched on 1 September 1993...
(1994–2000) - Nicktoons (2002–2006; 2011) USA
- NickelodeonNickelodeonNickelodeon is a US cable TV channel.Nickelodeon may also refer to:-In television:*Spinoffs of the Nickelodeon channel:** Nickelodeon Magazine, a children's magazine.** Nickelodeon Universe, an amusement park....
(1994–2004) - Nicktoons (2002–2006)
- TeenNickTeenNickTeenNick, formerly The N, is an American television network aimed at the teenage market. TeenNick is owned by the MTV Networks subsidiary, Viacom. The channel was originally known as The N from its April 1, 2002 launch until September 28, 2009....
(TBA)
- ABC TV
Reviews
Josef Adalian of The Washington TimesThe Washington Times
The Washington Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. It was founded in 1982 by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, and until 2010 was owned by News World Communications, an international media conglomerate associated with the...
praised the show's animation and sense of humor, although it was not as "hip and witty" as The Ren & Stimpy Show or The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. Although he felt the show would appeal to children over 9 as well as adults, he said it may not appeal to those who "react negatively to semi-scary sights and gags about body odor, physical punishment or abusive older siblings". USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
writer Matt Roush called it "garish and blissfully silly" and praised the show's "outrageous characters have just enough Ren & Stimpy grodiness, but tempered with exceptional sweetness". Ginny Holbert of the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
called it a "cute and clever" series with "with and inventive creatures", and compared the animation to the work of artist Peter Max
Peter Max
Peter Max is a German-born Jewish American artist. At first, works in this style appeared on posters and were seen on the walls of college dorms all across America. Max then became fascinated with new printing techniques that allowed for four-color reproduction on product merchandise...
. Gannett News Service
Gannett Company
Gannett Company, Inc. is a publicly-traded media holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, United States, near McLean. It is the largest U.S. newspaper publisher as measured by total daily circulation. Its assets include the national newspaper USA Today and the weekly USA Weekend...
writer Mike Hughes called it a "terrific cartoon series", and said the show's "wildly perverse humor" had a "distinctly European style" that reflected Gábor Csupó's Hungarian background.
The Plain Dealer wrtier Tom Feran called the show "good fun" and favorably compared the series' premise to that of the animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas, often promoted as Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, is a 1993 stop motion musical fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a being from "Halloween Town" who opens a portal to...
. Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
writer Frances Katz wrote, "If there was ever a great title for a cartoon, it has to be Nickelodeon's Aaahh!!! Real Monsters." Not all reviews were positive. The November 1994 issue of Parenting
Parenting (magazine)
Launched in 1987 by Time Inc., Parenting is a magazine for families published in the United States. In February 2009, the magazine became two separate, age-targeted editions: Parenting Early Years, for moms of infants, toddlers and preschoolers; and Parenting School Years, for moms with kids in...
magazine listed Aaahh!!! Real Monsters as #1 in its top ten list of the worst new shows of the television season, describing it as "Graphic and scatological; it's just plain gross." Some media outlets pointed out similarities between Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and The Brothers Grunt
The Brothers Grunt
The Brothers Grunt is an animated TV series that aired from August 15, 1994 to February 20, 1995 on MTV. The series was created by Danny Antonucci .-Premise:...
, an MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
animated television series about a group of grotesque humanoid characters. Gábor Csupó rejected these comparisons and claims his show was more story- and character-driven with a different visual style.
Awards
The pilot episode of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters won first prize for film animation producer for television at both the Houston Film Festival and Ottawa Film Festival. The series was nominated for a Daytime Emmy AwardDaytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
for Outstanding Achievement in Animation in 1995 alongside Rugrats
Rugrats
Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The series premiered on August 11, 1991, and aired its last episode on June 8, 2004....
, Animaniacs
Animaniacs
Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, usually referred to as simply Animaniacs, is an American animated series, distributed by Warner Bros. Television and produced by Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The cartoon was the second animated series produced by the collaboration of Steven...
, Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?
Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? is an American animated television series based on the series of computer games. It should not be confused with the PBS game show Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?. The Earth show was made by DIC/Program Exchange and originally aired Saturday mornings on FOX...
and 2 Stupid Dogs
2 Stupid Dogs
2 Stupid Dogs was an American animated television series created by Donovan Cook and produced by Hanna-Barbera and Turner Program Services that originally ran from September 5, 1993 to February 13, 1995 on TBS. The main segments of the show featured two dogs, "Big Dog" and "Little Dog". The Big Dog...
. The award ultimately went to Rugrats.
Home media releases
From 1995 to 1997, select episodes of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters were released on VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
tape. The complete first and second seasons were released for PlayStation Network for view on the (PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
) and PSP (PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
) systems. In 2011, a preview on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release from Shout Factory promoted a planned one of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. On October 4, 2011, Shout Factory released the first season on a two-disc DVD set.
| Season | Release Date | Discs | | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | August 27, 2010 | 3 | 13 |
| Season 2 | September 14, 2010 | 3 | 13 |
| Season 3 | October 26, 2010 | 3 | 13 |
| Season 4 | November 16, 2010 | 3 | 13 |
| Shout Factory | Release date | Discs | | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | October 4, 2011 | 2 | 13 |
| Season 2 | April 3, 2012 | 2 | 13 |
| Season 3 | TBA | 2 | 13 |
| Season 4 | TBA | 2 | 13 |
Merchandising
MattelMattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
produced a series of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters action figures in 1995. They each stand approximately 4 inches (10 cm) tall and include an action feature. Other products based on the cartoon include Fleer
Fleer
The Fleer Corporation, founded by Frank H. Fleer in 1885, was the first company to successfully manufacture bubblegum; it remained a family-owned enterprise until it was taken private in 1989....
trading cards, books, plush toys, pens, hats, backpacks, notepads, cups, gum, and videos. At one point, General Mills
General Mills
General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green...
also included small, promotional flip book
Flip book
A flip book or flick book is a book with a series of pictures that vary gradually from one page to the next, so that when the pages are turned rapidly, the pictures appear to animate by simulating motion or some other change. Flip books are often illustrated books for children, but may also be...
s of Ickis, Krumm, Oblina, and the Gromble in its Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Cinnamon Toast Crunch is a brand of breakfast cereal produced by General Mills and Nestle. The cereal was first produced in 1984...
cereal
Breakfast cereal
A breakfast cereal is a food made from processed grains that is often, but not always, eaten with the first meal of the day. It is often eaten cold, usually mixed with milk , water, or yogurt, and sometimes fruit but sometimes eaten dry. Some cereals, such as oatmeal, may be served hot as porridge...
.
Video games
A video game based on the TV series was released for the Super NESSuper Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis by Majesco in 1995. Ickis also appeared in Nicktoons Racing
Nicktoons Racing
Nicktoons Racing is a Nickelodeon racing game for the PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, Windows, and arcade.- Teams :From Rugrats:...
for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
, PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
, and Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
yet was missing from the Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
version.
The characters were also created in full 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
for Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker.