Max and Ruby is a 2002 animated series aimed at a preschool audience. Created by children's book author/illustrator Rosemary Wells and based on the world of her Max and Ruby books, the episodes present stories about Max, a rambunctious, anthropomorphised 3-year-old toddler bunny, and his big sister, Ruby, a patient, goal-oriented, sometimes restrictive 7-year-old girl bunny. The show presents an uplifting message for its audience by showing Max and Ruby playing together and exercising respect and love in resolving their conflicts. A pilot episode for this series aired in 2001 and as a regular series in 2002. According to Rosemary Wells on the Nick Jr. site, "Max & Ruby celebrates the relationship between Ruby and her younger brother, Max, and the universal nature of sibling relationships."
Each episode consists of three self-contained vignettes. Within each, Ruby is typically engaged in some sort of project or activity, while Max has a particular mania of his own which either runs counter to his sister's or distracts her. Amusingly, Max's dialog within each story is usually limited to just one word or a two-word phrase, which he repeats periodically. For example, "Tow truck!" or "Jellyballs!" By the end of the story, Max's passion often dovetails with Ruby's in some way, to her benefit and delight.
It features Samantha Morton as the voice of Ruby, Billy Rosemberg as the voice of Max and Julie Lemieux as Louise. In season three, Rebecca Peters replaced Morton as the voice of Ruby.
Oddly enough, it doesn't seem the two bunny children have parents. Even so, they have a grandmother who they are occasionally with. Ruby can be seen in many of the episodes baking cakes, buying Max new overalls and such things you'd expect of a mother. Although a picture of Max, Ruby and their parents can be seen above the fireplace in the show. Max and Ruby are the only two characters to appear in every episode of the show.
