Big Idea Entertainment
An American Christian animation and family-entertainment company best known for the VeggieTales franchise.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Big Idea Entertainment is an American Christian animation and family-entertainment company whose principal legacy is the VeggieTales franchise. The business began in February 1989 as GRAFx Studios, a graphics company founded by Phil Vischer to produce television-commercial work. Its direction changed after Vischer created a short computer-animated test featuring a character later associated with the VeggieTales concept. Working with Mike Nawrocki, he developed a format built around anthropomorphic vegetables, songs, comedy, biblical stories, and accessible moral lessons. Because the original GRAFx name no longer reflected the company’s focus on children’s media, it was renamed Big Idea Productions in August 1993. The company released its first VeggieTales direct-to-video program, Where’s God When I’m S-Scared?, in December 1993. The series became a distinctive property in Christian children’s entertainment, combining computer animation with religious instruction, parody, musical performances, and recurring characters such as Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber. The franchise expanded beyond home video into books, games, toys, clothing, television programming, live and licensed products, and feature films. Its appeal was concentrated among Christian families, churches, religious retailers, and audiences seeking values-oriented children’s programming, although its humor and production style also gave it broader family recognition. Big Idea’s growth created operational and financial pressures. The company moved from its original location to the Chicago suburbs in 1997 and purchased the DuPage Theater in Lombard, Illinois, intending to create a larger production base. Renovation problems, unexpected building conditions, and zoning disputes delayed the project, requiring temporary office space at Yorktown Center. In 2001, the company also became involved in litigation with HIT Entertainment. These pressures contributed to Big Idea’s bankruptcy filing in September 2003. Later that year, the company’s assets were auctioned to Classic Media for $19.3 million, and the business moved its headquarters to Franklin, Tennessee, in 2004. Under successive ownership arrangements, Big Idea continued to exploit and develop VeggieTales. Its first theatrical feature, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, was released in 2002 in a co-production involving FHE Pictures. A second theatrical film, The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie, was produced with Starz Animation and released by Universal Pictures in 2008. Classic Media was acquired by Entertainment Rights in a transaction announced in 2006, but Entertainment Rights later entered voluntary administration. Big Idea and Classic Media subsequently became part of Boomerang Media before Classic Media was acquired by DreamWorks Animation in 2012. DreamWorks Animation placed greater emphasis on the property’s television potential. It oversaw new production activity and developed VeggieTales in the House for Netflix, followed by VeggieTales in the City. These series introduced the franchise to a streaming audience and extended its life beyond the original direct-to-video model. NBCUniversal acquired DreamWorks Animation in 2016, making Big Idea part of the broader NBCUniversal corporate structure. The Franklin studio was sold in late 2017, and the offices were shut down in 2018, although marketing activity continued for a period and the brand remained an in-name-only subsidiary rather than a fully independent production operation. In 2018, NBCUniversal licensed VeggieTales properties to the Trinity Broadcasting Network. The arrangement supported The VeggieTales Show, produced through a collaboration involving NBCUniversal and Trilogy Animation Group and launched in 2019. Vischer and Nawrocki initially returned as head writers, but Vischer said in 2021 that both were no longer working on the franchise because of pay disputes and creative differences. Big Idea Entertainment is therefore best…
History
Big Idea Entertainment originated in February 1989 as GRAFx Studios, a television-commercial graphics company founded by Phil Vischer. The business moved toward children’s animation after Vischer produced a short computer-animated piece called Mr. Cuke’s Screen Test. In collaboration with Mike Nawrocki, he developed VeggieTales, a series using anthropomorphic vegetables to communicate Christian and moral themes through songs, biblical narratives, humor, and popular-culture references. The company adopted the name Big Idea Productions on August 6, 1993, and released its first VeggieTales program, Where’s God When I’m S-Scared?, in December of that year. As demand increased, Big Idea sought more production space. In 1997 it moved to the Chicago suburbs and purchased the DuPage Theater in Lombard, Illinois. The planned renovation faced delays, building problems, and zoning disputes, so the company temporarily operated from rented space at Yorktown Center. Big Idea also broadened its ambitions beyond direct-to-video releases. Its first theatrical film, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, was released on October 4, 2002, in cooperation with FHE Pictures. Expansion was followed by severe financial strain. After management and financial difficulties and litigation involving HIT Entertainment, Big Idea filed for bankruptcy on September 2, 2003. Its assets were auctioned later that year to Classic Media for $19.3 million. The business moved to Franklin, Tennessee, in 2004. A proposed acquisition by Entertainment Rights was announced in 2006, but Entertainment Rights entered voluntary administration in 2009. Big Idea and Classic Media consequently became part of Boomerang Media before DreamWorks Animation acquired Classic Media in 2012 and operated it as part of DreamWorks Classics. The franchise continued to expand through theatrical, television, and streaming formats. Big Idea’s second theatrical film, The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie, was made with Starz Animation and released by Universal Pictures on January 11, 2008. Under DreamWorks, VeggieTales in the House premiered on Netflix in 2014, followed by VeggieTales in the City in 2017. NBCUniversal’s acquisition of DreamWorks Animation, completed in 2016, placed the property within the NBCUniversal corporate structure. DreamWorks sold the Franklin studio in late 2017, and the offices were closed in 2018. NBCUniversal licensed the VeggieTales properties to the Trinity Broadcasting Network, which supported The VeggieTales Show, launched in 2019 through a collaboration involving NBCUniversal and Trilogy Animation Group. Vischer and Nawrocki initially returned as writers, but Vischer announced in 2021 that both had left the project because of compensation disputes and creative differences. Big Idea is now principally an in-name-only corporate unit associated with the continuing ownership and licensing history of VeggieTales.
- 2019
The VeggieTales Show launches
[1]A new VeggieTales television production begins through a collaboration involving NBCUniversal and Trilogy Animation Group.
- 2018
Franklin offices close and properties are licensed to TBN
[1]The Franklin offices close, while NBCUniversal licenses VeggieTales properties to the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
- 2016
NBCUniversal acquires DreamWorks Animation
[1]The completed acquisition brings DreamWorks Animation and its Big Idea-related properties into NBCUniversal.
- 2014
VeggieTales enters Netflix
[1]VeggieTales in the House launches as a Netflix streaming series.
- 2012
DreamWorks Animation acquires Classic Media
[1]Big Idea becomes part of DreamWorks Classics after DreamWorks Animation purchases Classic Media.
- 2008
Second theatrical VeggieTales film released
[1]The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie is released by Universal Pictures.
- 2004
Headquarters move to Franklin
[1]Following the Classic Media transaction, Big Idea moves its headquarters from Illinois to Franklin, Tennessee.
- 2003
Bankruptcy and sale to Classic Media
[1]Big Idea files for bankruptcy and its assets are sold at auction to Classic Media.
- 2002
First theatrical feature released
[1]Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie becomes Big Idea’s first theatrical feature.
- 1997
Move to Lombard and DuPage Theater purchase
[1]Big Idea relocates to the Chicago suburbs and purchases the DuPage Theater for a planned production facility.
Products and positioning
Values-oriented Christian family entertainment combining computer animation, biblical storytelling, music, comedy, and recurring vegetable characters.
Animated children's franchise · 1993
VeggieTales
Big Idea’s defining franchise features anthropomorphic vegetables, especially Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber, in animated stories that combine Christian teaching, biblical narratives, songs, comedy, and cultural parody. It began as a direct-to-video property and later expanded into films, television, streaming programs, books, games, toys, clothing, and other licensed merchandise.
Theatrical animated film · 2002
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
Big Idea’s first theatrical feature adapts the biblical story of Jonah within the VeggieTales format. The film combines computer animation, musical sequences, comic storytelling, and the franchise’s values-oriented approach, and was produced with FHE Pictures.
Theatrical animated film · 2008
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie
The second VeggieTales theatrical film places the familiar characters in a pirate-themed adventure. It was produced with Toronto-based Starz Animation and released by Universal Pictures, extending the franchise’s feature-film strategy beyond biblical adaptations.
Streaming animated series · 2014
VeggieTales in the House
Produced for Netflix under DreamWorks Animation Television, this series brought the VeggieTales characters into a continuing streaming format. It ran from 2014 to 2016 and helped reposition the property for audiences accustomed to episodic digital distribution.
Streaming animated series · 2017
VeggieTales in the City
The follow-up Netflix series continued the streaming adaptation of VeggieTales. It ran in 2017 and represented the final major Netflix production in this series of DreamWorks-era adaptations.
Television animated series · 2019
The VeggieTales Show
Developed after NBCUniversal licensed the VeggieTales properties to the Trinity Broadcasting Network, this series returned the franchise to television through a collaboration involving NBCUniversal and Trilogy Animation Group. Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki initially participated as head writers.
Brand decisions
2021
Departure of the original creative leadersOtherBackground
Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki had returned to writing work on the franchise during development of The VeggieTales Show.
Action taken
Vischer announced that he and Nawrocki were no longer working on VeggieTales, citing pay disputes and creative differences.
Aftermath
The departure marked a significant separation between the franchise’s original creators and its later corporate and licensed production structure.
2018
License of VeggieTales properties to TBNStrategyBackground
After the Franklin studio was sold and the offices were closed, NBCUniversal retained the ability to exploit the underlying properties through licensing.
Action taken
NBCUniversal licensed VeggieTales properties to the Trinity Broadcasting Network for a new series.
Aftermath
The arrangement led to The VeggieTales Show, while Big Idea itself remained principally an in-name-only unit.
2014
Move into streaming televisionStrategyBackground
DreamWorks Animation sought to develop the VeggieTales property for contemporary television and digital distribution.
Action taken
DreamWorks Animation Television produced VeggieTales in the House for Netflix, followed by VeggieTales in the City.
Aftermath
The franchise gained a streaming presence and continued beyond its earlier direct-to-video model.
2008
Second theatrical feature strategyProduct launchBackground
After the release of Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, Big Idea pursued another theatrical feature to broaden the franchise’s audience and commercial reach.
Action taken
The company partnered with Starz Animation on The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie, which Universal Pictures released theatrically.
Aftermath
The release expanded VeggieTales into a second feature-film adventure while preserving its family and faith-oriented identity.
2003
Bankruptcy filing and asset saleOtherBackground
Management and financial difficulties, combined with litigation involving HIT Entertainment, placed pressure on the company.
Action taken
Big Idea filed for bankruptcy and its assets were subsequently auctioned to Classic Media for $19.3 million.
Aftermath
The transaction ended Big Idea’s independence and was followed by a headquarters move to Franklin, Tennessee.
Asset auction price. $19.3 million (2003)
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