{{Short description|Fictional character from the Rugrats cartoon}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{About|the ''Rugrats'' character}} {{Infobox character | series = Rugrats | name = Reptar | image = 220px|alt=Reptar from Rugrats | caption = | first = "At the Movies" (1991) | species = Mutated Tyrannosaurus Kaiju | creator = Craig Bartlett<br>Paul Germain<br>Arlene Klasky<br>Gábor Csupó | voice = John Schuck (as Leo)<br>Busta Rhymes (Reptar Wagon; only in The Rugrats Movie)<br>Fred Tatasciore (2021-present) }} '''Reptar''' is a fictional character from the American animated television series ''Rugrats''. He is a green ''Tyrannosaurus''-like kaiju (and sometimes appears in red-violet and lilac) with rounded and blue spike-like appendages on its back, which intentionally causes it to resemble and spoof Godzilla.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Susina |first1=Jan |editor1-last=West |editor1-first=Mark I. |title=The Japanification of Children's Popular Culture: From Godzilla to Miyazaki |date=2009 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=9780810862494 |pages=7–16 |chapter=Reptar: The Rugrats Meet Godzilla}}</ref> Outside of ''Rugrats''-related films, Reptar appears as a playable character in the ''Nickelodeon Kart Racers'' and ''Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl'' video game series.
==Character concept and depiction== [[File:PKI-Rugrat's Runaway Reptar.jpg|thumb|Flying Ace Aerial Chase at Kings Island, which was originally named and themed after the ''Rugrats'' two-part episode "Runaway Reptar".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/2166.htm|title = Escape from Madagascar - Dreamworld (Coomera, Queensland, Australia)}}</ref>]] Reptar is portrayed as being a fictional character in the ''Rugrats'' universe idolized by a majority of the children featured in the series, particularly Tommy Pickles and his friends. A gigantic green and ''Tyrannosaurus''-like kaiju, Reptar's popularity as a character is noticeably akin to that of Mickey Mouse, although his role is similar to Godzilla.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/377036|title=The Japanification of Children's Popular Culture: From Godzilla to Miyazaki (review)|first=Jaimy|last=Mann|date=September 4, 2010|journal=The Lion and the Unicorn|volume=34|issue=1|pages=119–123|via=Project MUSE|doi=10.1353/uni.0.0485|s2cid=145475991|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qjwP0EI2Di0C&q=reptar+rugrats&pg=PA7|title=The Japanification of Children's Popular Culture: From Godzilla to Miyazaki|first=Mark I.|last=West|date=October 23, 2008|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810862494|via=Google Books}}</ref> When it appeared in ''Rugrats'' related films, it prominently showed a Japanese theme park that was depicting Reptar.<ref name="auto1"/> This popularity is seen in the merchandise<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/rugrats_reptar_costume_thinkgeek/|title=This Reptar costume is sure to bring some nostalgia to your Halloween|first=Whitney|last=Paxton|website=Alternative Press |date=October 21, 2017}}</ref> spawned from his character and owned by the babies as seen in the program. The Reptar character has since been used in real-world merchandise branding, such as an amusement park ride,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.com/node/46785396|title=Nickelodeon Just Opened a Massive Indoor Theme Park, and Yes, There's a Reptar Ride|first=Kelsey|last=Garcia|date=October 31, 2019|website=POPSUGAR Family}}</ref> chocolate bar,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/rugrats-reptar-bar-candy-reissued/|title=FYE Reintroduces the Rugrats Reptar Bar|date=November 12, 2018|website=Highsnobiety}}</ref> Funko Pop,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailydot.com/bazaar/rare-funko-pops/|title=These rare Funko Pops are diamonds in the rough|date=August 23, 2018|website=The Daily Dot}}</ref> and an ice show (as featured in the episode "Reptar on Ice").<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/rugrats-30th-anniversary-reptar-ice-cream-milk-and-cream|title=New York's Milk and Cream Cereal Bar Celebrates 30th Anniversary of 'Rugrats' With Reptar Ice Cream|website=Complex}}</ref>
==In the TV series== In the 2021 series, Reptar stars in a new series called "Reptar in Space", which depicts him being stranded on the Moon after his spaceship blows up after a long journey through space, now he has to protect Earth from alien invaders and find a way back home.
==In the ''Rugrats'' films== Reptar appeared in ''The Rugrats Movie'' film as a wagon invented by Tommy's father Stu Pickles. The Reptar Wagon was no ordinary wagon as it is made like a high-tech car that can do various things such as talk and turn into a boat (Aqua Reptar) when in water and has fire breath. The Rugrats took it along with them on a journey to the "hopsical" to return Tommy's newborn brother Dil, but they wind up getting lost in the forest. In this appearance, the Reptar Wagon is voiced by Levi Curl and rapper Busta Rhymes of Flipmode Squad.
Reptar had a more important role as a giant robot in ''Rugrats in Paris'', when Stu once again built a robotic likeness of the character. The robot's head fell off twice in the film, although Stu fixed it the first time for the play. The Rugrats also took it to the church to stop the wedding of Chuckie’s father Chas and villain Coco LaBouche who hates children.
The Reptar Wagon is seen in the background in ''Rugrats Go Wild'' near the beginning of the film in the Pickles' backyard. Unlike in the previous films, neither Reptar nor the wagon has any relevance to the plot.
The Reptar Wagon appeared in several episodes of ''Rugrats'' following the release of ''The Rugrats Movie'' once again voiced by Busta Rhymes through archive recordings from the film. The Reptar Wagon is rarely seen in the later episodes.
===Other appearances=== Outside of the ''Rugrats'' film, a normal-sized Reptar appeared as playable racer in 2018's ''Nickelodeon Kart Racers'',<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/childhood-favorites-return-for-nickelodeon-kart-racers/|title=Childhood favorites return for Nickelodeon Kart Racers|date=July 25, 2018}}</ref> and its sequels ''Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/nickelodeon_kart_racers_2_grand_prix|title=Review: Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix - A Massive Improvement On The Terrible Original|date=October 9, 2020|website=Nintendo Life}}</ref> and ''Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway''; the latter game features a purple Reptar as an unlockable character.
A normal-sized Reptar also appears as a playable character in ''Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl'' and its sequel,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/nickelodeon-all-star-brawl-every-character-confirmed/|title=Every Character Confirmed For Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl|date=July 13, 2021|website=ScreenRant}}</ref> with Fred Tatasciore reprising his role from the 2021 series.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nickelodeon-all-star-brawl-voice-acting | title=Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Now Has Voice Acting and Items | date=6 June 2022 }}</ref>
==Reception== Overall, critics and fans have generally praised Reptar. ''Destructoid'' calls Reptar as his "Childhood favorites" in ''Nickelodeon Kart Racers''.<ref name="auto"/> While ''Shacknews'' described Reptar as one of the most popular characters in the ''Rugrats'' universe, and further stated that "Still, a dinosaur is badass and he's a great choice to stomp all over the competition at ''Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl'',"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/125763/what-would-nickelodeon-all-star-brawl-look-like-with-a-smash-ultimate-sized-roster|title=What would Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl look like with a Smash Ultimate-sized roster?|website=Shacknews|date=23 July 2021 }}</ref> ''Complex'' included Reptar's Wagon on their "Coolest Fictional Cars", and stated that "With extendable arms, a Busta Rhymes Reptar voice, and fire-spitting nostrils (on the original model), this is one badass baby ride."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/sports/2012/09/the-50-coolest-fictional-cars/|title=The 50 Coolest Fictional Cars|website=Complex}}</ref> ''Zimbio'' ranked Reptar as 7th of the best pop-culture dinosaur, and stated that "At first glance, Reptar might seem like a spoof on Godzilla, but this uniquely weird dinosaur is truly an unforgettable character. From having his own cereal and chocolate bar to dancing on ice, Reptar is like Beyonce to Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zimbio.com/Ranking+Pop-Culture+Dinosaurs+From+Best+To+Worst/articles/ZAZCeW66WqY/BEST+Reptar+Rugrats|title=BEST: Reptar, 'Rugrats'|website=Zimbio}}</ref> Reptar was also included at ''Alternative Press'' on their "most metal cartoon characters", by stating that "This fire-breathing beast is loved and admired in playpens far and wide for his badass heroics throughout the Rugrats series and movies."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/features/the_most_metal_cartoon_characters/|title=The 10 most metal cartoon characters|website=Alternative Press |date=April 3, 2018}}</ref>
===Lawsuit=== In 2002, Toho filed a lawsuit against Klasky Csupo, on the grounds that Reptar was an unauthorized usage of their character Godzilla. The court ended up siding with Toho, and Reptar had a reduced role in the franchise in the years following. Despite this, he has since shown up in recent pieces of media including a semi-prominent role in the 2021 reboot and being featured as a playable character in both ''Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl'' games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rugrats: 10 Facts And Trivia Fans Don't Know About Reptar |website=Screen Rant |date=June 17, 2019 |url=https://screenrant.com/rugrats-reptar-facts-trivia/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Rugrats': The Series' 10 Best Parodies | website=Geeks|url= https://vocal.media/geeks/rugrats-the-series-10-best-parodies}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Rugrats}}
Category:Animated characters introduced in 1991 Category:Fictional dinosaurs Category:Fictional monsters Category:Kaiju Category:Male characters in animated television series Category:Rugrats and All Grown Up! characters Category:Television characters introduced in 1991