I first watched this highly imaginative kids' show somewhat by accident in the after-hours of a Friday night, about a month ago. I now watch it on a regular basis, twice a week: Friday and Saturday nights on Noggin.
The premise is a bunch of toys in a child's bathroom, which are alive at any time when there's no one there.
Tubb is a yellow frog--who comes across as a sort of circus ring master. Terrence is an alligator--who blows bubbles, and has only one tooth. As for Sploshy, she's a starfish. Reg is a red robot who stutters. Amelia's an airplane. Finbar is a shark who loves to put on an act of being tough and... "Argh, argh, argh!"... cool. And Winona is a lavender whale, who expresses herself with huge smiles and small squeaks.
Each episode puts the spotlight on a different member of the cast. Just as they're getting ready to play together, one of them is overly curious or, perhaps, dissatisfied with something.
"If only I could..." they tell themselves; then they'll think up a sort setting in which they can try doing what they want. "Wow!" they'll then say. "I said 'if only.' And now..." That's each story's starting point.
To say that the writing is good would be a vast understatement. Each one ends in a similar way--with the message being, in short, it's best to be happy as you are.
For any parents who recall "The Adventures of Gumby," that's the sort of of animation this cartoon is. I guess that's the main reason why I enjoy it. (It brings back memories of a cartoon I grew up being a big fan of.)
If only there were more cartoons like this. Wow! I said "if only." And, well... there is another stop-action-animation cartoon, also on Noggin, called "Bob the Builder." Also a good one for the little ones to learn from.
(Whereas "Rubbadbbers" messages are to have imagination and to be happy to be you, the messages of "Bob the Builder" are friendship and teamwork are very important.)
It might as well be noted, though, "Bob the Builder" is not currently in production. "Rubbadubbers" is.
