Note: I wrote this on a Google Doc for fun back on July 18th, 2022. I wanted to share it here so it could be seen more. I titled my essay "Why I Still Love VeggieTales".
Even though I am 23 years old (24 next month), I still love the Christian animated series VeggieTales. Why is that? The simple answer is that I still think it's really entertaining. But it goes much, much deeper than that. That's what I need to write this essay for.
To start off, it's nostalgic. I've watched it all my life. Sometimes watching it gives memories of being younger, like watching Minnesota Cuke and the Search For Samson's Hairbrush every weekend when I was 7.
It also started my passion for movies. Not only was VeggieTales what introduced me to film, but it took part in me getting into what are now some of my favorite movies. This is from them parodying movies such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lord of the Rings, The Wizard of Oz, Rocky, and It's A Wonderful Life. (I actually saw IAWL first.)
Even bits of episodes helped me in school. In Senior Year English, I could explain homophones ("Where the toads are towed down on the plain!..I need my kneaded biscuits plain!") due to the Silly Song Schoolhouse Polka from Sumo of the Opera, the Rocky parody.
In science class, I could define photosynthesis due to Larry Boy and the Rumor Weed, and in 7th Grade English, I was the only one who understood "Who's On First?" because of Duke and the Great Pie War.
Even then, that doesn't scratch the surface of why VeggieTales is so deep for me. Here it is- the series has shaped me into the person I am today.
I hope writing this isn't pompous of me, but many people praise how well I know The Bible. VeggieTales is the origin for this. From the Bible stories it taught me to the verses, much of my love for The Bible and knowledge of it comes from VeggieTales.
As a kid, that's what got me to actually READ The Bible. My favorite video growing up was Rack, Shack, and Benny. That got me to read Daniel Chapter 3 by myself. (To be honest, I copped out from reading David and Goliath- who wants to read 58 consecutive verses when you are a kid?)
Even today, some of the humor is amusing. In Are You My Neighbor, there is a story based on The Good Samaritan. Larry gets his head stuck in a hole, and the Mayor and Nurse of his town refuse to help him. Why?
"We're busy, busy, frightfully busy, more than a bumblebee, more than an ant! Busy, busy, horribly busy, we'd love to help, but we can't!"
Mind you, they can stand around and sing and dance and set up a DISCO BALL OUTSIDE, but they can't pull a cucumber out of a HOLE!
Speaking of humor, there's also the Silly Songs. It's a cherry on top for these videos to have songs about a bald vegetable missing a hairbrush or a gourd's infatuation with a cheeseburger.
It's also impressive how they handle rough parts of The Bible. For example, in King George and the Ducky, the story of David and Bathsheba is told. However, a king coveting his neighbor's wife is replaced with coveting his neighbor's rubber bath ducky.
In Esther: The Girl Who Became Queen, instead of Haman wanting the Jews to be hanged, he wants them banished to an island where they are to be tickled for eternity.
For a final example, in The Ballad of Little Joe, a Western version of Joseph and His Brothers, Joseph being accused of raping his master's wife is replaced with Little Joe being accused of stealing money from his boss. While different sins are accused of, they both show Joseph being accused of trying to take something that isn't his, in a way that kids can understand.
Anyways, to top it all off, most importantly, the lessons from the videos have guided me in life. Take Rack, Shack, and Benny, for example. Once, when I was in elementary school (circa 3rd grade), we were given candy at the end of the day but told to not eat it until we got home.
I was ridiculed by a classmate shortly later for being the only one (and I mean the only one) actually listening to the teacher. It felt weird then, but I'm proud of it now.
Rack, Shack and Benny was what kept me from eating the candy. Just like those 3 boys, I knew I had to do the right thing, even if everyone else was doing the wrong thing.
Where's God When I'm S-Scared?!? The very first video has helped me in numerous areas of my life. When I endured my abuse 9 years ago, or went to school 3 hours away, or stayed home alone for 10 days, I would be afraid. But then I'd remind myself:
"God is bigger than the Boogie Man! He's bigger than Godzilla, or the monsters on TV! Oh, God is bigger than the Boogie Man, and He's watching out for you and me!" This would always ease my fears.
Other episodes have helped me in life- Minnesota Cuke helped me show love to kids who picked on me. Not always, to be honest, but often. Sweetpea Beauty helped me not worry about girls not finding me attractrive. It's A Meaningful Life stopped me from thinking about death as a young kid, and also kept me going in my abuse. Again, this barely scratches the surface.
VeggieTales also works for me because of how good they are compared to other Christian movies. I recently wrote an essay called "I'm A Christian And I Hate Most Christian Movies", writing how movies like God's Not Dead hate on atheists.
That's not what VeggieTales taught me. Bob and Larry taught me to love my neighbor (Are You My Neighbor), my enemies (Minnasota Cuke/Hairbrush), my family (Duke and the Great Pie War), and others (The Star of Christmas). And of course, most importantly, to love God. (Shouldn't I just put every video here?)
And that's why I, a man in my 20s, still love VeggieTales, and why I probably always will. It's nostalgic, entertaining, and a deep part of my life. I will be forever grateful for that, and to me, that's not worth giving up. VeggieTales isn't just a Christian cartoon to me, it's something deeply meaningful.
