
DATE: Saturday, November 1, 1997            TAG: 9710310094

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   90 lines

``VEGGIETALES'' MAN IS ON A MISSION

PHIL VISCHER BELIEVES he has been divinely appointed to play a role in American culture. ``I felt very strongly that we needed an alternative to Saturday morning cartoons. This is what God wants me to do.''

Vischer's hip, multiplatinum-selling children's animated video series, ``VeggieTales,'' is his response to what he sees as the violence of Saturday morning cartoons and immorality of Hollywood movies. Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato lead a cast of vegetable characters in Bible-based stories.

But these are not your typical (yawn) religious videos.

They're funny. Kids actually like to watch them and sing along. High school and college students have discovered them, too.

Vischer, a 31-year-old married father of three, says that if you're making videos with a religious message, you better be entertaining.

``I rented four of the latest, greatest Christian videos and realized that I hadn't laughed once,'' Vischer said when he was in town last week as part of Regent University's George McDonald Christian Artist series. ``They were well-produced, but they just weren't fun.''

``VeggieTales'' is not competing with those old standbys ``Barney'' or ``Sesame Street.'' In fact, Vischer admires the Barney folks and is working with them on marketing strategy. His company, Big Ideas Productions, is based in Chicago.

``They're sincere with their audience,'' he said. ``Nothing is tongue in cheek. On the other end is `Ren and Stimpy,' which is all sarcasm and humor and zero percent sincerity. I think `VeggieTales' is a balance between `Barney' and `Ren and Stimpy.' ''

His biggest influences, Vischer said, are Monty Python, Dr. Seuss and Walt Disney.

The idea for ``VeggieTales'' formed shortly after Vischer started his own animation studio in 1989. Most computer software was too expensive, so Vischer found cheaper software with which he could produce animated vegetables.

He could have animated candy bars, but, ``I thought mothers wouldn't like me getting their kids hooked on a candy bar.'' By 1992, Vischer had made a two-minute promotional for ``VeggieTales,'' and in 1993, with financial help from his parents, the first one was born.

``Where's God When I'm Scared?'' deals with Daniel and the lion's den. Vischer said it was the first full-length, 3D, animated video produced in the United States.

Sales were slow, however. It took more than a year to sell 100,000 videos from Christian bookstores. But by 1995, strictly through word of mouth, sales had exploded. That's when Regent University president Terry Lindvall stumbled across them for his two children, and that's why he invited Vischer to visit the campus.

``The videos are hilarious,'' said Lindvall. ``My son and daughter sing the songs on trips.''

First-year film student Debbie Weimer said she hopes to produce quality animated children's material just like Vischer's.

``He's not out there to whack people over the head with Bibles,'' she said. ``He wants to tell them good stories that will stay with them the rest of their lives.''

Since 1995, more than 1 million videos have been sold. By the end of this year, Vischer expects to sell 2 million. In just the past year, his company has gone from nine employees to 40 and produces a different video about every six months. There will be nine ``VeggieTales'' videos out when ``Josh and the Big Wall,'' a retelling of the battle of Jericho, debuts in a few weeks.

Eventually, Vischer wants to go up against Disney and make movies that will be distributed worldwide.

``Our vision is not just to provide Christian videos in Christian bookstores,'' he said. ``This needed to be launched in the Christian market, but now we can go out to the Wal-Marts and Kmarts of the world.

``Christians already know God's truth. This can provide the alternative to people who need it. The only thing they get is what Hollywood wants them to have.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Top, D. KEVIN ELLIOTT; above, BIG IDEAS PRODUCTIONS

``VeggieTales'' creator Phil Vischer speaks to Regent University

students early this week. His video vegetable characters tell Bible

stories with humor - and counter cartoons on TV.

Graphic

`VEGGIETALES'

These videos are generally available at Christian book stores.

The list price is $14.95, but they often cost less.

``Where's God When I'm Scared?''

``Forgiveness''

``Loving Your Neighbor''

``Rad, Shack and Benny''