Is nothing sacred anymore? Must Hollywood continue to transform our childhood memories into unholy cinematic nightmares? It would appear so, as the beloved ‘90s cartoon Rugrats is all set to be put through the godless machine that turns animation into a live-action hybrid (via Deadline). Though perhaps we (and by we, I mean me) should calm down and think of the good live-action hybrid movies that are out there…because there are definitely some.

Though it does make one wonder what elements of the Rugrats will be CGI and what will be live-action? Regardless of the strive for positivity, it’s near-impossible not to imagine the terrifying computer-generated versions of Tommy Pickles and the gang that Hollywood might concoct. Anyone remember the original version of Sonic?

Now for the details, as the Rugrats live-action CGI hybrid movie is all set to be directed by Jason Moore, who is best known for the likes of the first Pitch Perfect movie (okay, not too bad), the comedy outing Sisters (getting a little worse), and most recently the Prime Video rom-com Shotgun Wedding starring Jennifer Lopez (and we’ve reached rock bottom). Of course, bringing Rugrats to the big screen will be a far different endeavor, so let’s try not to judge too harshly.

Perhaps positivity can be found in Moore’s Broadway credits, with the filmmaker having been behind some huge hits including the Tony Award-nominated Avenue Q, Shrek the Musical, and Steel Magnolias, as well as Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie Hall. The script for the CGI live-action movie has been written by Saturday Night Live’s Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell.

Rugrats Remains a Childhood Favorite for Many

Before we see Tommy, Chucky, and the rest of the gang molded into the kind of CGI golem Paramount has in mind, let’s remind ourselves of the wonderful adventures that the Rugrats once embarked upon while being depicted in charming 2D hand-drawn animation. Created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon, the series focuses on a group of toddlers, Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil, and Angelica, as they live out their little lives, which often become grand capers and crusades as the mundanity of life meets the imagination of the kids.

The series first premiered in 1991, and has since become a childhood favorite for many. The original run lasted three seasons, ending in 1993, before being brought back in 1996 and eventually making its way to the big screen in The Rugrats Movie in 1998. More movies, including a crossover with The Wild Thornberrys, came later, with the show also looking into the future in 2003’s All Grown Up!

The Rugrats have even been realized with CGI before in Paramount+’s 2021 reboot. So successful was this attempt to bring the gang back that it has since been removed from the streaming platform as part of a “strategic decision to focus on content with mass global appeal.” Here’s hoping that, by some miracle, the upcoming CGI hybrid movie goes much better. They better keep the theme tune, at the very least.