The Paramount+ revival of Rugrats has been an adorable return to form for Tommy, Chucky, Angelica, and the rest of the babies in their group. The characters were among the earliest breakouts of the Nickelodeon Animation Studio, and Rugrats' modern revival has brought the classic characters into a modern setting with a fresh coat of paint. Following the success of the show's first season, the latest batch of episodes will expand the setting with new characters and bring back some old favorites from the original show, including Tommy's younger brother Dil.
Much of the show's original cast have returned to reprise their roles, including EG Daily as the group's adventurous leader, Tommy and Tara Strong as the infant Dil. Ahead of Rugrat's return on Apr. 14, CBR sat down with Daily and Strong to talk about their favorite elements of each other's character, the bond they've formed over the years on multiple projects, and voice acting.
CBR: Since I've got the both of you, I thought it'd be nice to do a little family bonding and ask -- what is your favorite aspect of your on-screen sibling? Tara, what's your favorite aspect of Tommy? EG, what are your favorite parts of Dil?
Tara Strong: Yeah, what's your favorite aspect of Dil? I'm ready for you to answer first [laughing].
EG Daily: [In character as Tommy Pickels] I really like that he's smaller than me. I don't like that he's stinky. But I like that he gurgles and babbles and that I'm in charge.
Strong: I have to say, all kidding aside, I love seeing these characters again. Who doesn't love Tommy? I love everything about Tommy. He's such a fascinating, brave little guy. I think even though Dil still annoys him like any other brother, he looks up to him and loves him. It's kind of like how [EG and I] are in real life, too. We're brothers on Rugrats and sisters on Powerpuff Girls. In real life, people think we're sisters all the time. We pretty much are. So we're just happy to be together again.
Tara, you've been very vocal within the voice acting community about its representation and place in the industry. What are your views on the state of voice-acting right now?
Strong: I love playing around with A.I. voice acting. But it does scare me. There are elements that are scary. I'm fearful that it could take out a bunch of different careers. I certainly don't appreciate companies taking our voices and using them without permission. I think that should be scary for anyone, not just actors. But when it comes to Nickelodeon and the people we work with all the time, they really treat us like artists. That's one of the reasons we're so happy to be back here.
It feels like coming home, and this show encapsulates everything that is good about acting, animation, and inclusion. Rugrats was one of the first shows that had a Jewish family, a black family, [and] a gay Mom that's now out in the world. Representation really matters, and I think Rugrats has always been an inclusive place where kids might not have known what Hanukkah or Passover, or Kwanzaa was. If any show got a reboot and could help the world find peace and acceptance of each other, it's The Rugrats.
The second season of Rugrats will debut on Paramount+ on April 14.