Tommy Pickles
Encyclopedia
Thomas Malcolm "Tommy" Pickles is the main protagonist
of the Nickelodeon
animated television series' Rugrats
and its spin-off
All Grown Up!
. He is clad in only a T-shirt and a diaper and is bald with big, blank eyes. He translates everything adult into baby gibberish. Arlene Klasky
said that she based the character of Tommy on her own son.
In the Rugrats pilot episode, Tommy was voiced by Tami Holbrook. In the TV series
, the character was voiced by E.G. Daily.
His main catchphrase was "a baby's gotta do, what a baby's gotta do!"
Having a Jewish mother and a Christian father, Tommy celebrates both Jewish and Christian holidays (Hanukkah
and Christmas
for example).
) until his younger brother Dil was born; despite that, he had a reputation for being the "bravest
" baby. But in the episode "The Bravliest Baby" Tommy "lost" his bravery, and Angelica picked Chuckie as the "new" bravest baby. His parents are usually inattentive to his antics, but will ignore/dismiss his actions if they do catch him up to something. In the episode "Mommy's Little Assets" Charlotte babysat him and she often rarely punished or disciplined him but it was up to her to do so. Most other time his parents just scold him instead of threatening him punishment for his bad behavior. These adventures of his usually involved in solving simple dilemmas that are complicated by big imaginations. For instance, in an episode where Tommy's parents were speaking of dust bunnies, and Angelica told him the bunnies hid under the carpet to try to eat him, he decided he must cross the carpeted floors and get into the kitchen by climbing on the furniture and not touching the carpet itself. He also stands up to his evil-minded cousin Angelica Pickles
. He appeared in the most episodes of any character. At the start of the series, Tommy was exactly one year old and was presumably the youngest of the core Rugrats he is apparently able to speak fluent.
, a diaper
, bow-legs, and pigeon-toed feet. Tommy wears a white diaper with yellow straps, which sometimes sags or falls off. In certain episodes he wore a red shirt with overalls, like in the second pilot "Tommy's First Birthday". Although every episode since he has worn a sky blue shirt. He has no visible teeth in the front of his mouth, but he has one tooth on the right side of his jaw when seen from the inside.
Tommy is the leader and the main character of the movie. He and his friends are playing Okey Dokey Jones (a parody of Indiana Jones
) at the beginning of the film. He gets a new baby brother, however, he thought he was getting a sister and while his mother is giving birth he and his friends go through the hospital to "find her". Unfortunately, Didi has her baby and her baby is male. His friends (Lil and Phil) plan to take Dil back to the baby store or "hopsical" (hospital
). Tommy does not want Phil and Lil DeVille
to take Dil to the hospital because his mom and dad want to keep him. He realizes that Dil is a bad, naughty baby (hogging the blanket, not cooperating, drinking up all their milk) and takes a jar of banana baby food, holding it above Dil's head. About to pour the food on Dil, he stops himself, holds him close and says "I'm sorry, Dil." As they become loving brothers, Tommy sings Dil a lullabye and they slowly fall asleep. Before the film ends, Dil decides to share his bottle with his big brother, Tommy.
In contrast to the first and third films, Tommy plays a supporting role. In the opening moments of the film, he and Dil
are at Grandpa Lou's wedding. He is angry because someone took Dil's pacifier
and buried it in the sandbox
(although he mentions that the park
is his favorite place). Despite being a major character, this is his most prominent moment in the film as Chuckie is the central focus. He and the other Rugrats help Chuckie find his new mother.
After the Pickles, DeVilles, & Finsters are shipwrecked on a deserted island, rather than on a fancy cruise thanks to Stu, Tommy decides that they should look for Nigel Thornberry (as he says Nigel Strawberry), to help them get home. They eventually do, but Nigel develops amnesia and the thinks that he is a toddler. This is a crossover animated film of Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys
. He aims to be just like his hero, Nigel, as he pretends to be him and "captures film" of a three-toed sloth. Lil, being the camerawoman and Chuckie, the director, and others spot a Siberian tiger (in their words Siferian tiger). As they all, except Tommy, get away in the jeep, the tiger bites at Tommy's diaper until it snaps. Thus, sending them into the river, where they encounter a "Crocagator" and escape it with a chew toy. In the final scene, the families unite and Tommy decides to be like his father when he gets older.
's talent for singing, Tommy also has a newfound talent: making films with his camcorder
(perhaps a residue trait leftover from wanting to be like Nigel). A few episodes have been made around this fact: "Truth or Consequences" (first US tx: November 30, 2003), revealed he made his first film at the age of 37 months, then making a negative film about his friends. The main storyline of "Brother, Can You Spare The Time?" (first US tx: January 17, 2004) opened with him mentioning recently winning a young filmmaker's award; and one storyline in the episode "Bad Aptitude" (first US tx: June 4, 2004) was about Tommy's sudden early retirement from filmmaking after making a flop and receiving an unfavorable (for his filmmaking aspirations) result on his career aptitude exam. However, he has not been seen with his camcorder since "The Big Score" (first US tx: April 25, 2005), when he was filming Lil at the soccer field.
In the episode "Thief Encounter" (first US tx: December 6, 2003), he was discovered to be stealing goods from around the neighborhood, but that was because he was sleep walking; in "River Rats" (first US tx: December 13, 2003), he was shown to be afraid of water
, stemming from an experience during a fishing outing with his grandpa; in "Dude, Where's My Horse?" (first US tx: July 16, 2005), he was the worst cowboy
out of the regulars (always roping up Lil).
Up until early Season 2, Tommy was also either shown or mentioned as being part of the school soccer team, even trying to teach Dil how to play ("Fools Rush In", first US tx: June 5, 2004). Lately (more specifically since the episode "The Big Score"), however, all the focus on soccer has involved only Phil and Lil DeVille. He had his first kiss with Olivia in episode 26, "Fear of Falling". Also it is shown that he might have feelings for his friend Kimi Finster in the episode "TP + KF" It is reveled in the episdoe (Rachel Rachel) and (A Rugrats Chaunnka Rugrats) that he is apparently able to speak fluent Hebrew.
hair like his father, Stu. From season 2 onwards, his hair was changed to a lighter purple color. For season one, he wears a white shirt with yellow sleeves. For later seasons, Tommy (like most characters) expanded his wardrobe and began wearing many different outfits. He still keeps his screwdriver he had as a baby in his pocket. More recently, he had a keychain
with a screwdriver on it.
wrote in 1998 that "Tommy Pickles is a bigger star than George Clooney."
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of the Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
animated television series' 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 its spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
All Grown Up!
All Grown Up!
All Grown Up! is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó. After the success of All Growed Up, the Rugrats 10th anniversary special, Nickelodeon commissioned All Grown Up! as a spin-off series based on the episode.The series ran from April 12, 2003 to August...
. He is clad in only a T-shirt and a diaper and is bald with big, blank eyes. He translates everything adult into baby gibberish. 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...
said that she based the character of Tommy on her own son.
In the Rugrats pilot episode, Tommy was voiced by Tami Holbrook. In the TV series
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....
, the character was voiced by E.G. Daily.
His main catchphrase was "a baby's gotta do, what a baby's gotta do!"
Having a Jewish mother and a Christian father, Tommy celebrates both Jewish and Christian holidays (Hanukkah
Hanukkah
Hanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE...
and Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
for example).
Rugrats
Tommy is best known for being the most courageous of the children, often proposing new and innovative ideas towards the subject matter and leading the other children (Chuckie, Phil, Lil, Kimi, Susie, and, reluctantly, Angelica) on imaginative adventures. He also has the incredible ability to coerce and inspire the others into overcoming their fears and challenging the boundaries set by their parents. Inside his diaper is a plastic screwdriver, which he uses to get himself and his friends out of the play pen. He was the youngest character (although not much younger than Phil and LilPhil and Lil DeVille
Phillip Richard Bill "Phil" and Lillian Marie Jill "Lil" DeVille, or simply Phil and Lil, are the twins from the Nickelodeon shows Rugrats and All Grown Up!, and are among the series' original characters....
) until his younger brother Dil was born; despite that, he had a reputation for being the "bravest
Courage
Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation...
" baby. But in the episode "The Bravliest Baby" Tommy "lost" his bravery, and Angelica picked Chuckie as the "new" bravest baby. His parents are usually inattentive to his antics, but will ignore/dismiss his actions if they do catch him up to something. In the episode "Mommy's Little Assets" Charlotte babysat him and she often rarely punished or disciplined him but it was up to her to do so. Most other time his parents just scold him instead of threatening him punishment for his bad behavior. These adventures of his usually involved in solving simple dilemmas that are complicated by big imaginations. For instance, in an episode where Tommy's parents were speaking of dust bunnies, and Angelica told him the bunnies hid under the carpet to try to eat him, he decided he must cross the carpeted floors and get into the kitchen by climbing on the furniture and not touching the carpet itself. He also stands up to his evil-minded cousin Angelica Pickles
Angelica Pickles
Angelica Charlotte Pickles is a character voiced by Cheryl Chase in the Nickelodeon shows Rugrats and All Grown Up! and is among the series' original characters. She is a spoiled brat and the cousin of Tommy and Dil Pickles, serves as the main antagonist or the tritagonist of the series...
. He appeared in the most episodes of any character. At the start of the series, Tommy was exactly one year old and was presumably the youngest of the core Rugrats he is apparently able to speak fluent.
Appearance
Tommy's distinct features in Rugrats are a mostly-bald head with a few strands of hair and stubble, a sky blue shirtShirt
A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for almost any garment other than outerwear such as sweaters, coats, jackets, or undergarments such as bras, vests or base layers...
, a diaper
Diaper
A nappy or a diaper is a kind of pant that allows one to defecate or urinate on oneself discreetly. When diapers become soiled, they require changing; this process is often performed by a second person such as a parent or caregiver...
, bow-legs, and pigeon-toed feet. Tommy wears a white diaper with yellow straps, which sometimes sags or falls off. In certain episodes he wore a red shirt with overalls, like in the second pilot "Tommy's First Birthday". Although every episode since he has worn a sky blue shirt. He has no visible teeth in the front of his mouth, but he has one tooth on the right side of his jaw when seen from the inside.
In the Rugrats films
- The Rugrats MovieThe Rugrats MovieThe Rugrats Movie is a 1998 American animated film, produced by Klasky Csupo and Nickelodeon Movies. The film was distributed by Paramount Pictures and first released in theaters in the United States on November 20, 1998....
Tommy is the leader and the main character of the movie. He and his friends are playing Okey Dokey Jones (a parody of Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones
Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
) at the beginning of the film. He gets a new baby brother, however, he thought he was getting a sister and while his mother is giving birth he and his friends go through the hospital to "find her". Unfortunately, Didi has her baby and her baby is male. His friends (Lil and Phil) plan to take Dil back to the baby store or "hopsical" (hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
). Tommy does not want Phil and Lil DeVille
Phil and Lil DeVille
Phillip Richard Bill "Phil" and Lillian Marie Jill "Lil" DeVille, or simply Phil and Lil, are the twins from the Nickelodeon shows Rugrats and All Grown Up!, and are among the series' original characters....
to take Dil to the hospital because his mom and dad want to keep him. He realizes that Dil is a bad, naughty baby (hogging the blanket, not cooperating, drinking up all their milk) and takes a jar of banana baby food, holding it above Dil's head. About to pour the food on Dil, he stops himself, holds him close and says "I'm sorry, Dil." As they become loving brothers, Tommy sings Dil a lullabye and they slowly fall asleep. Before the film ends, Dil decides to share his bottle with his big brother, Tommy.
- Rugrats in Paris: The MovieRugrats in Paris: The MovieRugrats in Paris: The Movie, also known as The Rugrats Movie 2: Rugrats in Paris and Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - Rugrats II, is 2000 American animated film, and the sequel to the 1998 film The Rugrats Movie that follows the continuing adventures of the Rugrats. In the film, Chuckie Finster takes...
In contrast to the first and third films, Tommy plays a supporting role. In the opening moments of the film, he and Dil
Dil Pickles
Dylan Prescott "Dil" Pickles is a fictional character. He is the younger brother of Tommy Pickles, younger son of Stu and Didi Pickles, and younger cousin of Angelica Pickles in the Nickelodeon film The Rugrats Movie, who later appeared in the show Rugrats, on which the film is based, and its...
are at Grandpa Lou's wedding. He is angry because someone took Dil's pacifier
Pacifier
A pacifier is a rubber, plastic, or silicone nipple given to an infant or other young child to suck upon. In its standard appearance it has a teat, mouth shield, and handle...
and buried it in the sandbox
Sandbox
Sandbox may refer to:* Litter box, an indoor box for cats to relieve themselves* Sandpit or sandbox, a wide, shallow playground construction to hold sand often made of wood or plastic...
(although he mentions that the park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
is his favorite place). Despite being a major character, this is his most prominent moment in the film as Chuckie is the central focus. He and the other Rugrats help Chuckie find his new mother.
- Rugrats Go Wild
After the Pickles, DeVilles, & Finsters are shipwrecked on a deserted island, rather than on a fancy cruise thanks to Stu, Tommy decides that they should look for Nigel Thornberry (as he says Nigel Strawberry), to help them get home. They eventually do, but Nigel develops amnesia and the thinks that he is a toddler. This is a crossover animated film of Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys
The Wild Thornberrys
The Wild Thornberrys is an American animated television series that aired on Nickelodeon. It was rerun in the USA on Nickelodeon and occasionally The N until 2009 and Nicktoons until 2007...
. He aims to be just like his hero, Nigel, as he pretends to be him and "captures film" of a three-toed sloth. Lil, being the camerawoman and Chuckie, the director, and others spot a Siberian tiger (in their words Siferian tiger). As they all, except Tommy, get away in the jeep, the tiger bites at Tommy's diaper until it snaps. Thus, sending them into the river, where they encounter a "Crocagator" and escape it with a chew toy. In the final scene, the families unite and Tommy decides to be like his father when he gets older.
All Grown Up!
Personality
Similar to SusieSusie Carmichael
Susanna "Susie" Yvonne Carmichael is a supporting character from the Nickelodeon show Rugrats and a main character in its spin-off All Grown Up!...
's talent for singing, Tommy also has a newfound talent: making films with his camcorder
Camcorder
A camcorder is an electronic device that combines a video camera and a video recorder into one unit. Equipment manufacturers do not seem to have strict guidelines for the term usage...
(perhaps a residue trait leftover from wanting to be like Nigel). A few episodes have been made around this fact: "Truth or Consequences" (first US tx: November 30, 2003), revealed he made his first film at the age of 37 months, then making a negative film about his friends. The main storyline of "Brother, Can You Spare The Time?" (first US tx: January 17, 2004) opened with him mentioning recently winning a young filmmaker's award; and one storyline in the episode "Bad Aptitude" (first US tx: June 4, 2004) was about Tommy's sudden early retirement from filmmaking after making a flop and receiving an unfavorable (for his filmmaking aspirations) result on his career aptitude exam. However, he has not been seen with his camcorder since "The Big Score" (first US tx: April 25, 2005), when he was filming Lil at the soccer field.
In the episode "Thief Encounter" (first US tx: December 6, 2003), he was discovered to be stealing goods from around the neighborhood, but that was because he was sleep walking; in "River Rats" (first US tx: December 13, 2003), he was shown to be afraid of water
Aquaphobia
Aquaphobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of water. Aquaphobia is a specific phobia that involves a level of fear that is beyond the patient's control or that may interfere with daily life. People suffer aquaphobia in many ways and may experience it even though they realize the water in an...
, stemming from an experience during a fishing outing with his grandpa; in "Dude, Where's My Horse?" (first US tx: July 16, 2005), he was the worst cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
out of the regulars (always roping up Lil).
Up until early Season 2, Tommy was also either shown or mentioned as being part of the school soccer team, even trying to teach Dil how to play ("Fools Rush In", first US tx: June 5, 2004). Lately (more specifically since the episode "The Big Score"), however, all the focus on soccer has involved only Phil and Lil DeVille. He had his first kiss with Olivia in episode 26, "Fear of Falling". Also it is shown that he might have feelings for his friend Kimi Finster in the episode "TP + KF" It is reveled in the episdoe (Rachel Rachel) and (A Rugrats Chaunnka Rugrats) that he is apparently able to speak fluent Hebrew.
Appearance
Tommy now has purplePurple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
hair like his father, Stu. From season 2 onwards, his hair was changed to a lighter purple color. For season one, he wears a white shirt with yellow sleeves. For later seasons, Tommy (like most characters) expanded his wardrobe and began wearing many different outfits. He still keeps his screwdriver he had as a baby in his pocket. More recently, he had a keychain
Keychain
A keychain or key chain is a small chain, usually made from metal or plastic, that connects a small item to a keyring. The length of a keychain allows an item to be used more easily than if connected directly to a keyring...
with a screwdriver on it.
Love interests
- Olivia: Tommy meets Olivia for the only time whilst on vacation in the episode "Fear of Falling". After she develops a huge crush on Tommy, he spends nearly all his time with her and she eventually provides him with his first kiss.
- Rachel: Tommy fell deeply in love with Rachel in the episode "Rachel, Rachel" after they met each other at Hebrew school. They were both there to prepare for their respective Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. They soon became official boyfriend and girlfriend before breaking up in the final season episode "All Broke Up". In "All Broke Up", Tommy also shows an interest in another girl called Anita.
- Kimi FinsterKimi FinsterKimi Finster is a fictional character on the animated television series Rugrats and spin-off All Grown Up!. She is voiced by actress Dionne Quan and first appeared in Rugrats in Paris in 2000...
: In the episode "TP + KF", it is shown that Tommy might have feelings for Kimi and vice versa. It is revealed in that episode that Kimi had written TP + KF on her garage wall.
Reception
Tommy has been generally well-received, and is widley considered one of the greatest cartoon characters of all time. The San Jose Mercury NewsSan Jose Mercury News
The San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
wrote in 1998 that "Tommy Pickles is a bigger star than George Clooney."