Big Idea Fans Can Once Again Greet Their Vegetables
by Allie Martin
September 13, 2004
(AgapePress) - The newest release from Veggie Tales combines elements of a famous opera and the cinema's popular Rocky movies. It took about a year from the development of the story idea to last month's release of Sumo of the Opera.Veggie Tales co-founder Mike Nawrocki describes this newest feature as a cross between the story of Sly Stallone's lovably punchy hero, Rocky, and Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado. He says the theme of the new tale is perseverance, which is "such a good lesson -- sticking to it, finishing well, or as we put it in the video, to keep on keeping on, even when things get tough."
Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and other members of the beloved Veggie Tales cast are back in this latest video release, which includes "Sumo of the Opera" feature, two shorter stories -- a lively send-up of silent movies and a hilarious Three Stooges spoof -- and a brand new Silly Song with Larry called "School House Polka."Nawrocki, who is the voice of Larry and other Veggie Tales characters, says he and the rest of the talented people behind these productions are partners in a labor of love. "We love telling stories, and we love to make ourselves laugh," he says. "And I think it's important for kids, especially with all that's available right now for them to watch, to have something that's a really great alternative, creatively and from an entertainment standpoint, but with a great message. That's what we're trying to do with Veggie Tales."
And even as the animated cast of the popular Veggie Tales stories communicate biblical truth and wholesome values to young fans, they also pass their messages on to adults -- and Nawrocki admits he and the rest of the creative team are no exception. "A lot of times we learn these messages ourselves, as a company," he says. "It's funny, looking back on a lot of the stories that we teach, it seems [we were always teaching] things that we were actually living through at the time."
The co-creator of these venerable vegetables says he has personally learned a lot first hand about the theme of perseverance that is central to Sumo of the Opera. This has been especially true in recent years, Nawrocki notes, as Big Idea Productions, the company he and business partner Phil Visher founded, faced financial troubles and was eventually sold. "This last year or two for us has been a time when we really needed to persevere," he says.
But Nawrocki stresses the fact that the sale of the production company has not affected the Christian content of its latest release. "I'm really happy with how Sumo of the Opera turned out," he says. "It's a really fun show. It's funny, and it teaches a great lesson."
Sumo of the Opera is available on DVD and VHS video at Christian retailers and other stores nationwide. It can also be ordered directly from Big Idea Productions, a family media company based in Franklin, Tennessee.
