List of VeggieTales characters
This is a list of characters that appear in the animated series VeggieTales.
Primary characters
Bob the Tomato
Bob the Tomato (introduced 1993) is usually the "straight man" in his partnership with Larry the Cucumber, as they introduce many of the stories at the beginning and wrap-up the Biblical lesson at the end of most of the shows. He also plays many character roles in the story segments, some of which are in contrast to his more mature persona, which Phil Vischer called "my inner Mr. Rogers".[1] He first appeared in 1993 in Big Idea's first video, Where's God When I'm S-Scared?. In it, he and Larry set the opening format which has largely become a VeggieTales standard, where a letter is read from a viewer by the duo on a kitchen counter (which serves as a sort of stage). In this show, Bob played himself in the first of the two 15-minute segment titled "Tales from the Crisper", comforting frightened Junior Asparagus with the cheerful song, "God is Bigger." The end of this episode started a running gag in which Bob is annoyed by the "What Have We Learned" end-of-episode song, impatiently waiting until it is over so that he can ask Qwerty what they've learned today.
Phil Vischer's voice acting for Bob has taken a slightly higher pitch over the years, although not nearly as significantly as Mike Nawrocki's changes in voice acting for Larry.
He is voiced by VeggieTales co-creator Phil Vischer.
Larry the Cucumber
Larry the Cucumber (introduced 1993) partners with his best friend Bob as the wacky sidekick hosting the videos. He plays his tuba (actually a sousaphone) in the theme song while Bob and the other characters sing it until 2014. Larry also plays numerous and varied roles throughout the series and becomes the central character in the series in later episodes. One of his central roles is as the host of a short, recurring musical segment entitled Silly Songs with Larry, in which Larry performs humorous musical numbers of various style and content. Larry also has several other recurring roles including: "Minnesota Cuke" (a parody of Indiana Jones); "Elliot" (formerly "Buccaneer Larry"), one of the The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything; and the comical "superhero" LarryBoy in both computer-animated and traditionally animated adventures. Larry was also the star of his own short-lived animated series entitled Larryboy: The Cartoon Adventures in 2002, where his Superhero personality Larryboy was the Main Character.
Larry was first used by Vischer to make a short film called "Mr. Cuke's Screen Test" in 1991 and this film inspired Vischer and Mike Nawrocki to create VeggieTales. Larry's onscreen debut was in Big Idea's first video, called Where's God When I'm S-Scared? In this first episode, he was the source of most of the jokes, including physical gags and silly dialogue. The video also introduced "Silly Songs with Larry", in which he wore an oversized cowboy hat and sang "The Water Buffalo Song." The Silly Song segment, placed between halves of the traditionally half-hour-long story, became a very popular staple of VeggieTales entertainment. Larry is the only character to have made an appearance in every single VeggieTales episode (to date).
One of the most notable differences between the Larry of Where's God When I'm S-Scared? and more recent videos is the range of his voice. While Nawrocki has always performed Larry's voice, early shows were voiced with a broad vocal range, from Nawrocki's natural tenor to well above. Starting with Are You My Neighbor?, that range was limited in scope to the upper range and included a slight lisp, giving Larry a more youthful and sillier sound. Gradually, Larry's speech became more normal, at about the time of the making of the film King George and the Ducky.
Larry is one of the only Veggies to have spoken about, and to have been seen with, his family. He talks about his Aunt Ruth in Dave and the Giant Pickle's Silly Song, "I Love My Lips," in Josh and the Big Wall's Silly Song, "Song of the Cebu". In Duke and the Great Pie War, he says that he has three brothers named Bob (not the tomato), Mark, and Steve, with Bob being the oldest. At the end of the show, the brothers join Bob and Larry and perform the "What Have We Learned" song. Larry has said that his father is an astronaut.
Larry is voiced by VeggieTales co-creator Mike Nawrocki.
Junior Asparagus
Junior Asparagus (introduced 1993) is one of the co-stars of the VeggieTales series and is a 5-year-old typical child. Junior has taken a lead or title role in several videos, including Where's God When I'm S-Scared?, Dave and the Giant Pickle, Lyle the Kindly Viking, and Lord of the Beans. He is also a member of the boy band "Boyz in the Sink", along with Larry, Mr. Lunt, and Jimmy Gourd, which have appeared in several Silly Songs. Junior is also seen in videos with his parents, Dad and Mom Asparagus.
In the initial episodes, Junior was as much a main character as Bob or Larry, having a starring role in at least one segment in every episode - even appearing alongside Bob in Josh and the Big Wall and Abe and the Amazing Promise where he replaced Larry on the sink counter and interacted with the story's characters. As the series has evolved, his role has become less pronounced such that Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen would become the first episode in which Junior did not make an appearance. However, Junior continues to be featured prominently with leading roles in such movies as Lyle the Kindly Viking, The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's, and Lord of the Beans.
Junior was voiced by Lisa Vischer in the video releases. He is voiced by Tress MacNeille in the VeggieTales in the House series.
Archibald Asparagus
Archibald Asparagus (introduced 1993) appears in the stereotypical role of a stuffy, classically educated "adult" contrasting with the rest of his co-stars. Archibald has a monocle, red bowtie and English accent.
Archibald first appeared in Where's God When I'm S-Scared?, where he played King Darius in the Daniel and the Lion's Den segment and interrupted the Silly Song, The Water Buffalo Song. Archibald has a recurring role as Larry-Boy's butler, Alfred. He also sang the Silly Song, The Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo and was the title character in Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie.
Archibald is voiced by VeggieTales co-creator Phil Vischer.
Laura Carrot
Laura Carrot (introduced 1995) is a 6-year-old carrot and is Junior's best friend. She first appeared in Are You My Neighbor? and got her first major role in Rack, Shack and Benny. She is usually used when there is a child female lead.
Laura Carrot has been voiced by Kristin Blegen, Megan Murphy, and Keri Pisapia in the videos, and Tress MacNeille in the VeggieTales in the House series.
Mr. Lunt
Mr. Lunt (introduced 1995) is a decorative gourd[2] with a Spanish accent who grew up in New Jersey. He often appears as Mr. Nezzer's assistant, and they were both introduced in Rack, Shack & Benny. Mr. Lunt appears as Sedgewick (formerly "Pirate Lunt"), one of "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" as well as the "Boyz in the Sink". In addition to his "Boyz" songs, Mr. Lunt has gotten two of his own Silly Songs ("His Cheeseburger" & "Doughnuts for Benny"). A notable feature is his lack of eyes; he often wears a hat and uses the brim of the hat or his eyebrows for expression.
He is voiced by Phil Vischer.
Jimmy and Jerry Gourd
Jimmy and Jerry Gourd (introduced 1995) are brothers and appear as a secondary comic duo. While Bob and Larry can be considered animated versions of Abbott and Costello, Jimmy (the orange gourd) and Jerry (the yellow gourd) might more closely resemble Tweedledee and Tweedledum. The pair debuted together in Are You My Neighbor? which established that they love to eat. Jimmy is a member of the boy band "Boyz in the Sink" while Jerry appears with Mr. Lunt in the Silly Song "His Cheeseburger" (furthering his reputation as loving to eat). Along with Mr. Lunt, Jimmy did musical commentary in Sweetpea Beauty: A Girl After God's Own Heart.
Jimmy and Jerry are voiced respectively by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki.
Madame Blueberry
Madame Blueberry (introduced 1998) is a blueberry with a French accent who first appeared as the title character in Madame Blueberry. Her name and the theme of this video are both obvious allusions to the tale of Madame Bovary, who also seeks to spend beyond her means in order to find happiness. Although a blueberry, she is similar in size to Bob the Tomato and slightly larger than the similarly-sized-in-real-life French Peas. Madame Blueberry has a reoccurring role as the Mayor of Bumblyburg in the Larry-Boy videos.
Madame Blueberry was voiced in the direct-to-video series by Megan Moore Burns in 1998, by Gail Bock from 1999-2002, by Jackie Ritz from 2002-2009, and Megan Murphy from 2005 to the present. She is voiced by Tress MacNeille in the VeggieTales in the House series.
Petunia Rhubarb
Petunia Rhubarb (introduced 2005) is a red-headed rhubarb who is often seen with Larry as his love interest. Her first appearance was in Duke and the Great Pie War playing the part of Princess Petunia, the scorned "Ruth" figure waiting to be redeemed by Larry's "Boaz". Petunia has also sung alongside Larry in the Silly Song, "Where Have All The Staplers Gone?" on the video Pistachio - The Little Boy That Woodn't.
Petunia Rhubarb is voiced by Cydney Trent for the direct-to-video series. She is voiced by Tress MacNeille in VeggieTales in the House.
Pa Grape
Pa Grape (introduced 1994) is, as his name suggests, an elderly looking grape with glasses and a Brooklyn accent. Pa made his first appearance in God Wants Me to Forgive Them!?! as is the father of Tom and Rosie Grape and husband of Ma Grape. Pa has a reoccurring role as the captain of the "Pirates Who Don't Do Anything", along with Larry and Mr. Lunt. Pa Grape typically appears as a wise, fatherly figure such as Jesse in Dave and the Giant Pickle, Little Joe's father in The Ballad of Little Joe, cousin Mordecai in Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen and the angel sent to guide Gideon in Gideon: Tuba Warrior.
Pa Grape is voiced by Phil Vischer.
Mr. Nezzer
Mr. Nezzer (introduced 1995) is a zucchini who made his debut in Rack, Shack & Benny as "Nebby K. Nezzer" (an allusion to Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon) the owner of a chocolate bunny factory who creates an idol that he wants everyone to worship. In The Toy That Saved Christmas, Mr. Nezzer plays Nebby's brother "Wally P. Nezzer", again with side-kick and chief trouble-maker Mr. Lunt. In The Star of Christmas and An Easter Carol, he is "Ebenezer Nezzer" (an allusion to Ebenezer Scrooge) who owns a theater and an Easter egg factory respectively. In addition to his roles as the villain, Mr. Nezzer usually appears as the leader in VeggieTales videos such as his role as the King Xerxes of Persia character in Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen, Olaf the lead Viking in Lyle the Kindly Viking, and the Mayor of Dodgeball City in The Ballad of Little Joe and Moe and the Big Exit.
Mr. Nezzer is voiced by Phil Vischer.
The French Peas
Headed by Philippe and Jean-Claude, the French Peas (introduced 1996) are a group of green peas with broken French accents. The Peas are often portrayed as villains, albeit agitating ones as opposed to menacing. Like the French soldiers in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the French Peas often torment passersby with strange, nonsensical threats which fits their overall "yapping little dog" personas, as they did in Josh and the Big Wall! The French Peas first appeared playing the Philistines in Dave and the Giant Pickle. In this episode we also learn the name of a third brother, Christophe. They also narrate the episode Madame Blueberry, saying that it's a French folk tale. The French Peas should not be confused with the more ordinary peas (see below) who frequently appear as background characters.
Philippe and Jean-Claude are voiced respectively by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki. Christophe is voiced by Chris Olsen, a former narrator. Numerous other voice actors have played other French Peas including animator Brian K. Roberts.
Qwerty
Qwerty (introduced 1993) is the desktop computer seen on the kitchen counter which Bob and Larry use to read the Bible verse at the end of each show. Qwerty's name is derived from the first six letters that appear on a standard English keyboard. Though Qwerty is not alive per se, it does have certain anthropomorphic characteristics, including responsory noises and voice activation. In every episode, Bob says "We're over here by Qwerty to talk about what we learned today..." to which voices start to sing the "What We Learned Today" song. Qwerty is not always perfect. As in the first episode "Where's God When I'm S-Scared?", where it accidentally posts a meatloaf recipe instead of a verse, after which its screen droops into a frown shape. And in the second episode "God Wants Me to Forgive Them?" Qwerty is shown playing the video game Pong. According to Phil Vischer, the original design for Qwerty was an Intel 80386 model computer. Qwerty was slightly updated in Abe and the Amazing Promise, giving two verses instead of one, and got a more "life-changing" update in the episode Pistachio - The Little Boy That Woodn't as it now has its own voice. The design of the new update, including a black screen rather than the original blue, is reminiscent of an Apple iMac.
Qwerty is voiced by Mike Nawrocki.
Secondary characters
The Scallions
The Scallions (introduced 1993) are a trio of often devious green onions who are led by their tallest member (simply called Scallion #1). Along with Mr. Nezzer and Mr. Lunt, the Scallions are among the most consistently appearing antagonists in VeggieTales. They debuted as the wisemen opposite Larry's "Daniel" in the second act of the video Where's God When I'm S-Scared? (Daniel in the Lions' Den) and later appeared in Are You My Neighbor? as a trio of bandits that mug Larry in "The Story of Flibber-O-Loo". In the Silly Songs "The Yodeling Veterinarian Of The Alps", "Listen", and "A Helping Hand", they (along with Frankencelery) perform as a barbershop quartet that narrates the songs. Occasionally, one of the Scallions will make a solo appearance: Scallion #1 appeared as a salesman to sell his new "Forgive-O-Matic" device in God Wants Me to Forgive Them?!, and Scallion #3 appeared as the Milk Money Bandit of Bumblyburg in LarryBoy and the Rumor Weed. None of the Scallions have actual names, which Scallion #1 laments at the end of the Silly Song "High Silk Hat" from Lyle the Kindly Viking ("I've been around since show one and I still don't have a name").
Scallion #1 is voiced by Phil Vischer, Scallion #2 is voiced by Mike Nawrocki, and Scallion #3 has been voiced by Mike Sage, Brian K. Roberts and Mike Nawrocki.
Dad and Mom Asparagus
Junior's father, Dad Asparagus, (introduced 1993) first appeared in Where's God When I'm S-Scared?. He often appears opposite Junior whenever a video requires a father figure. Seen less often, Junior's Mother, Mom Asparagus (introduced 1993), appears in the traditional mother role supporting Junior and also debuted in Where's God When I'm S-Scared?.
Dad Asparagus was voiced by Dan Anderson in the direct-to-video series and was once voiced by J. Chris Wall. He is voiced by Rob Paulsen for VeggieTales in the House. Mom Asparagus has been voiced at times by G. Bock, Pamela Thomas and Lisa Vischer in the videos. She is voiced by Tress MacNeille for the VeggieTales in the House series.
Scooter
Scooter (introduced 1995), a carrot with a Scottish accent, first appeared as the engineer of the "USS Applepies" (a spoof of Scotty from the original Star Trek television series) in "The Gourds Must Be Crazy" section of Are You My Neighbor?. Scooter also has a recurring role as a police officer in the Larry-Boy episodes in addition to other roles such as an additional Israelite in Josh and the Big Wall! and as Horatio the baker in Lyle the Kindly Viking. He returned as the USS Applepies engineer in the video Veggies In Space: The Fennel Frontier.
Scooter is voiced by Jim Poole.
Mabel and Penelope
Mabel and Penelope (introduced 1993) are a pear and an asparagus. The pair's first appearance was in Where's God When I'm S-Scared? as King Darius's maidservants. The pair is frequently seen together as secondary female characters such as wives to Mr. Nezzer and Jimmy Gourd in Lyle, The Kindly Viking.
Mabel and Penelope are voiced respectively by Pamela Thomas and Gail Bock.
Phil Winkelstein
Phil Winkelstein (introduced 1993) first appears in Where's God When I'm S-Scared? as Frankencelery, the star of the veggie horror film of the same name. Hailing from Toledo, Ohio, Winkelstein is a mild-mannered celery stalk with a high-pitched voice who resembles the classic Frankenstein's monster, sporting purple eyelids, cervical electrodes, black hair, and a unibrow, outside of his acting career. Winkelstein also sings the bass part of the barbershop quartet with The Scallions in The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps, "Listen" from "Larry Learns to Listen", and "A Helping Hand" from "Bob Lends a Helping Hand". He also appeared as a background citizen of Bumblyburg in Larry-Boy and the Fib from Outer Space!.
Phil Winkelstein is voiced by Phil Vischer.
The Green Onions
The Green Onions (introduced 1996) consist of daughter Annie, her two parents, and Grandpa George. Grandpa George was the first Green Onion to be seen and made his debut in Rack, Shack, and Benny as the postman/episode narrator and has similar reoccurring roles as a narrator of VeggieTales episodes. Annie first appeared in The Toy That Saved Christmas, alongside Grandpa George who reprises his postman role, where it is revealed that they are related. Annie's parents first appeared, alongside Annie, in Madame Blueberry playing poor French green onions.
Annie Onion has been voiced by: Shelby Vischer, Phil Vischer's daughter; Allie Nawrocki, Mike Nawrocki's daughter; and is currently voiced by Maggie Roberts, Brian Roberts's daughter. Annie's parents are voiced by Phil and Lisa Vischer. Grandpa George is voiced by Phil Vischer.
Miss Achmetha
Miss Achmetha (introduced 2000) is a green onion who made her first appearance singing the song Lost Puppies in Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen. Miss Achmetha is known for her constantly twitching eye, her somewhat confused or annoyed demeanor, and her accordion, which she sometimes plays during her singing roles. She also appears in speaking and non-speaking parts in Silly Songs including "SUV", "High Silk Hat", and "Bellybutton".
Miss Achmetha is voiced by Charlotte Jackson and Marin Miller.
Khalil
Khalil (introduced 2002) is a half worm, half caterpillar who first appeared in Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie as a rug salesman and foil/conscience to Jonah. He was then heard to voice Lutfi in the fanciful "flannel-graph" on Saint Patrick which was the opening element of the episode Sumo of the Opera. He also has a reoccurring role in the "Boyz in the Sink" Silly Songs.
Khalil is voiced by Tim Hodge.
Ichabeezer
Ichabeezer (introduced 2014) is the grumpy zucchini neighbor to Bob and Larry in the VeggieTales in the House series on Netflix. Ichabeezer is used on the Netflix series in essentially the same manner as Mr. Nezzer is in the video series - as either the gruff, semi-villain or as the vaguely simple-minded authority figure in the stories.
Ichabeezer is voiced by Rob Paulsen.
Minor characters
The Peas
The Peas (introduced 1995) consist of Percy Pea, Li'l Pea, and other peas that are only seen in a group of other Veggies as background characters. The Peas first appear as background characters in Rack, Shack, and Benny. They also star as the monks in Lyle the Kindly Viking. In Josh and the Big Wall, Percy and other peas appear as the Israelites. The entire family is seen in The Toy That Saved Christmas where Percy and Li'l Pea receive their first speaking parts. Percy and Li'l Pea see their largest roles in Larry-Boy! And the Fib from Outer Space!, Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed and "Bully Trouble" (from Minnesota Cuke and the Search of Sampson's Hairbrush).
Phil Vischer voices Percy Pea. Leslie Benodin (1996–99) and Mike Nawrocki voice Li'l Pea (1999–present).
Grandma Gourd
Grandma Gourd (introduced 2004) is a yellow gourd who has appeared in several episodes as a minor / background character. Grandma Gourd first appeared in Sumo of the Opera as a woman beating the Italian Scallion (Larry the Cucumber) over the head with her cane and had several other non-speaking roles in subsequent episodes. Her roles became slightly larger starting in 2010 with a minor speaking part in Pistachio - The Little Boy That Woodn't as a bookseller, as Mrs. Josephson in It's a Meaningful Life, as Miss Lewis in Robin Good and The Not-So-Merry Men and as Old Mother Hubbard (Goldilocks (Laura Carrot)'s mother) in "The Good Egg of Gooseville" portion of the Little House That Stood.
Grandma Gourd is voiced by Keri Pisapia.
Tom Grape
Tom Grape (introduced 1994) is a grape and is Pa Grape's son. Tom made his first appearance in God Wants Me to Forgive Them!?!, along with the rest of his family. His only other appearances have been in Dave and the Giant Pickle and Josh and the Big Wall, both times alongside his father, Pa Grape. His sister, Rosie, and mother, Ma Grape have not made any other appearances.
Tom Grape is voiced by Phil Vischer.
Charlie Pincher
Charlie Pincher (introduced 2002) is an old scallion who first appeared in The Star of Christmas and is frequently cast as a hermit or somewhat odd character. He also appears in other videos including The Ballad of Little Joe, Lord of the Beans, Moe and the Big Exit, and Abe and the Amazing Promise.
Charlie Pincher is voiced by Tim Hodge
The Peach
The Peach (introduced 1995) first appears in the Silly Song Where is My Hairbrush? and is only ever referred to by the rest of the cast as "the peach". He later appeared in the Oh, Santa! Silly Song in which he played an IRS agent. The running joke about The Peach is that he, unlike most of the other characters, has hair. He was thus the obvious choice to play Samson in Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush, however he is seen only in still pictures throughout the episode. His most recent appearance in a speaking role was as a mall employee in Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas.
The Peach is voiced by Mike Nawrocki.
Don Gourdon
Don Gourdon (introduced 2005) (also called either Bobby or Chester) is one of the schoolyard bullies who is around Junior Asparagus' age. He first appeared in Bully Trouble, had a cameo in LarryBoy and the Bad Apple, and later appeared in The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's.
Don Gourdon is voiced by Brian K. Roberts.
Apollo Gourd
Apollo Gourd (introduced in 2001) is a massive yellow gourd who first appears in a non-speaking part in the Silly Song Larry's High Silk Hat in Lyle the Kindly Viking wearing a "Gourd's Gym" tank top shirt. His next appearances were as King Twistomer of Ninevah in Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, as himself in Sumo of the Opera, where he plays the champion wrestler who goes up against the Itallion Scallion (Larry), and as Big Jim in Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue.
Apollo Gourd is voiced by Phil Vischer.
Goliath
Goliath (introduced 1996) is a gigantic pickle who is much larger than any other vegetable in the show. He first appeared as the "Goliath" figure alongside the French Peas in Dave and the Giant Pickle looking for an Israelite to fight. He also appeared in Madame Blueberry, on a background poster in which he is fighting the Fib from Larry-Boy and the Fib From Outer Space in a wrestling match, and in Josh and the Big Wall as the dad of a giant-pickle family that scared the Israelites out of the Promised Land.
Goliath is voiced by Phil Vischer.
Ellen
Ellen (introduced 2008), debuted in The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie, as Mr Lunt (Buccaneer Sedgewick)'s girlfriend. She has also been seen as Linda in It's a Meaningful Life and as Mama Bear in "The Good Egg of Gooseville" story of "The Little House That Stood".
Ellen is voiced by Keri Pisapia.
Art Bigotti
Asparagus by nature, Art Bigotti (introduced 1997) is a bowling champion. Although he has yet to have an individual speaking part and has only appeared in one video, as part of the Silly Song High Silk Hat, Art Bigotti has been mentioned in several episodes including when Junior Asparagus unintentionally breaks his dad's rare "Art Bigotti limited edition collector's plate" in Larry-Boy and the Fib from Outer Space!.
Libby Asparagus
Libby Asparagus (introduced 2012) is Junior Asparagus' little sister and debuted as a character in the opening story, "Lenny and the Lost Birthday", in Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men. She is also seen as Ermengarde in the The Penniless Princess and as Little Bo Peep in "The Good Egg of Gooseville" story of The Little House That Stood.
Libby Asparagus is voiced by Megan Murphy.
Sara Crewe
Sara Crewe (introduced 2012) is a rhubarb who played the title character, and daughter of Larry the Cucumber, in The Penniless Princess. She was also in Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas as Christina.
Sara Crewe is voiced by Anna Grace Stewart.
Esther
Esther (introduced 2000) is a leek who played the title character in the Esther: The Girl Who Became Queen as her only video appearance.
Esther is voiced by Jessica Kaplan (speaking) and Pamela Thomas (singing).
Notes
- ↑ From Veggie to Jelly: A Interview with Phil Vischer - Idol Chatter, Interview, March 30, 2009
- ↑ http://www.philvischer.com/ask-phil/