The creators of Rugrats are Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo (pronounced CHOOP-oh),
and they own the cartoon factory called Klasky Csupo. Here more than two hundred
artists draw pictures, writers think up stories, and actors record voices for Rugrats
and other cartoons.
Gabor grew up in Hungary where he attended art school and animation. In 1975, Gabor
decided to leave Hungary, so he travelled to Sweden. It was there he met his future
wife, Arlene Klasky, who was also an artist. They fell in love and moved to Los
Angeles (they have since divorced).
In 1982, Gabor and Arlene decided to work together, and established their
own studio. Klasky Csupo's first big animation hit was "The Simpsons", which
they animated for the first three years of the series. The Simpsons became
wildly popular, so in 1990, Nickelodeon asked Klasky Csupo to suggest some
original ideas for cartoons.
Arlene and Gabor hired Paul Germain, a TV writer, to help create new
shows for them. Arlene called Germain one night with an idea she had for a show
about a baby's view of life - Rugrats. He added the concept that the babies
could talk - but only to one another.
The first character created was Tommy, named after Germain's son. He was
also inspired by Gabor and Arlene's son, Brandon Csupo, since Gabor drew
Tommy to look like young Brandon. Klasky Csupo's Peter Chung drew Spike the dog
and Angelica, while Arlene Klasky drew Phil and Lil and grandparents Boris and
Minka, based on her Russian relatives. Gabor drew everyone else.
Arlene Klasky is a lot like Didi. She says that when she was a first-time parent,
she had no idea how to raise a baby, so she kept turning to childhood instructional
books. Gabor Csupo resembles Stu. Gabor is a very creative person like Tommy's
toy-inventor dad.
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