Is Angelica evil in Rugrats? Villain or Misunderstood?

Rugrats has been a favorite animated series for decades. With many well-developed characters significantly contributing to its captivating storyline and high ratings since the 1990s, the show still features several controversial characters. One such famous figure is Angelica Pickles. In this blog post, we will dive into the question "Is Angelica evil in Rugrats?" to clearly determine whether this main antagonist of the Rugrats franchise is bad or just being misunderstood.

Who Is Angelica Pickles? An Overview of Her Character

Angelica Charlotte Pickles is Tommy and Dil's only female cousin. She always appears in the show with the image of a bully towards other babies. Being recognized as a spoiled brat by nature, Angelica is prone to imposing on people with impolite behavior and intimidation.

Here is our breakdown for her bad attitudes towards others during the show, especially the younger ones.

1. Manipulating the Babies for Personal Gain

Throughout the series, Angelica usually leverages her age and exploits the babies' trust in her supposed knowledge to get what she wants, whether it's toys, treats, or simply asserting her dominance. For example, in the special Halloween episode "Curse of the Werewuff," Angelica makes use of innocent babies’ fear to satisfy her demands. She's convinced that they will turn into whatever they're dressed as unless they give her their Halloween candy. 

Another obvious example of her self-serving is unreasonably requiring Chucky to be her “slave". In Rugrats’ season 2 (episode 25), after unintentionally saving Chuckie from harm, Angelica exploits his timidity, manipulating him into following her commands. It would be remiss not to mention "The Baby Vanishes" episode, where Angelica forces Tommy and Chuckie to believe in their invisibility. As a result, she uses their confusion to get them to sneak desserts for her, further manipulating and exploiting their trust.

2. Spreading Fear Through Tall Tales

It’s not a hidden fact that Angelica is a talented trickster. In many episodes, she successfully makes other kids, including Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil, scared by telling frightening made-up stories.

For example, she tells Chuckie a frightening story that eating watermelon seeds will let them to grow inside his stomach, which terrifies him, and he immediately acts following her orders. In another instance, Angelica convinces the babies that Chuckie is an alien sent to capture humans, alienating him from the group through fear and suspicion she instills. Most of the time, her pranks focus on triggering the babies to get whatever she wants, such as getting cookies from the kitchen or ice cream from the fridge.

3. Sabotaging Relationships Among the Babies

In the episode "The Trial," after breaking Tommy's beloved lamp, rather than admit her fault, Angelica suggests that they should hold a trial to find the responsible party. This act not only shifts suspicion away from herself but also makes the babies fight each other and damage their friendships. 

Evidence of Angelica's Softer Side

Angelica Pickles, despite her reputation as a bully and manipulator during the series, sometimes unintentionally shows her softer side through touching moments. While these moments don't happen often, whenever they do, viewers can easily see the Angelica character in a different light. 

In the next section, we will walk you through famous moments that can help to slightly soften the negative perception of Angelica.

1. Moments of Genuine Kindness

In the “Moving Away” episode of Rugrats season 3 (episode 25), Angelica finally breaks down her walls of anger. "Even though I was always mean to you and broke your toys, the truth is deep down I like you too. I really like you," Angelica honestly admits her true love for the babies. 

These rare but meaningful scenes are cleverly displayed in the series, revealing that Angelica is still a little girl with sensitive emotions behind her abrasive personality.

2. Desire for Friendship and Acceptance

While Angelica often acts as a main antagonist, her interactions with other babies show her insecurities and desire to be included in a group. In addition, Angelica’s intimate relationship with her doll Cynthia becomes a key element that highlights her needs for companionship and deep understanding. 

Besides, her evolving relationship with Susie Carmichael also clearly expresses her desire for friendship. Regardless of their strict competition, Susie is one of Angelica’s closest friends. The relationship between them reflects how children always long to be accepted and understood in their friendships.

Perspectives from Creators and Critics

A major reason leading to the tricky question “Is Angelica evil in Rugrats?” was that two co-creators had different viewpoints about this character. 

1. Creator’s viewpoints

As for Paul Germain, he considered Angelica a necessary antagonist for the show. This opinion stemmed from his own childhood bully. However, Germain’s approach in the first three seasons emphasized that a one-dimensional villain couldn’t be attractive enough. Angelica must be given a pampered upbringing and some personal complexities. 

On the other hand, Arlene Klasky felt originally uncomfortable with Angelica’s negative personalities, especially in the early seasons. She supposed that Angelica was too rough and asked if a character like that should appear in Rugrats with the very young audiences at that time. This led to the creation of creative tensions within the creator team when they began exploiting more multi-dimensional Angelica’s personalities. Over time, Klasky’s perspective softened as Angelica’s character had more nuanced approaches. At last, she finally appreciated Angelica’s role through The Rugrats Movie.

These opposing opinions led to behind-the-scenes drama, with Germain and his supporters departing after the early seasons. Under Klasky’s lead, Angelica’s character was gradually softened and given more depth, shifting from a purely antagonistic role to a more misunderstood and complex figure.

2. Critics’ viewpoints

Since her debut, Angelica has earned plenty of fans and haters. Critics have noted her as a “necessary evil” who brought realism to the animated TV show, reflecting the obstacles during their childhood. Her lying habit and psychological manipulation served as a unique storytelling method that helped Rugrats gain a competitive edge that time. 

It’s no exaggeration to say that Angelica has become an iconic character. A 2002 TV Guide poll ranked her within the year’s “Top 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time.” While some viewers found her irritating, many saw her presence as an indispensable part of the show’s dynamic.

Final Thoughts

Angelica Pickles, with her two contrasting sides, has been a key factor in making the Rugrats story more engaging and relatable to audiences. Hopefully our article can help you answer the question “Is Angelica evil in Rugrats?” Most importantly, Angelica is still a normal child, not entirely “evil.” Her annoying personalities are developed to reflect common childhood experiences, effectively enabling this animated show to combine entertainment with meaningful life lessons. 

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