''Rusty Rivets'' is a Canadian animated children's television series, and is produced by Arc Productions and Spin Master Entertainment. The series aired for three seasons, simultaneously on

Treehouse TV Treehouse TV (commonly known as Treehouse) is a Canadian English-language Discretionary service, discretionary specialty channel that was launched in 1997. Its name comes from sister network YTV (Canadian TV channel), YTV's former programming b ...

in Canada and on

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (nicknamed Nick) is an American pay television channel and the flagship property of the Nickelodeon Group, a sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on April 1, 1979, as the first ca ...

in the U.S., from November 8, 2016, to May 8, 2020. Inspired by elements of the maker culture, it follows the adventures of a young inventor named Rusty and his team of customized robots. The first season was the last animated project of Arc Productions before it was absorbed into Jam Filled Toronto in August 2016.

Plot

A young boy named Rusty Rivets uses his knowledge of

engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

to repurpose machine parts and create gadgets. He lives in the fictional town city of Sparkton Hills in a futuristic Canada along with his best friend Ruby Ramirez, a robotic tyrannosaurid named Botasaur, and a group of smaller robots known as the Bits. The show highlights a variety of concepts related to basic

science Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

and

technology Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...

. Rusty uses the recurring catch phrase "modify, customize, Rustify" when personalizing inventions. Ruby changes the last word to "Rubify" when she does the alterations (only twice in Rusty and the Mechanical Animal and Rusty's Spooky Adventure), and Liam changes the last word to "Liamify" when he does it (only once in Rusty the Vacuum Kid).

Episodes

Characters

Main

*Rusty Rivets (voiced by Kyle Harrison Breitkopf in Canada, and Theo Crabb-LaHei in UK) is an engineer. He has his own mobile laboratory, which is based in a recycling yard. He is the great great grandson of Ruston Rivets IV, which Ruby guesses hearing the number, indicating he is Ruston Rivets VIII, although there are conflicting ideas about the name of Ruston Rivets IV, since in Season 3, Rusty also called him Mortimer Rivets. *Ruby Ramirez (voiced by Ava Preston in Canada, and Imogen Addicott in UK) is Rusty's best friend who normally carries a

tablet computer A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. Tablets, being computers ...

that she uses to call the Bits into action. Ruby wears a red sash with white dots around her head, reminiscent of Rosie the Riveter. *Frankie Fritz (voiced by Jacob Skiba in Canada, and Fraser Martin in UK) is Rusty and Ruby's rival, arch-enemy and neighbor, using every opportunity he can to try and upstage Rusty and be the best engineer in Sparkton Hills, even resorting to cheating to accomplish it. *Frankford is Frankie's robotic skunk, best friend and counterpart to Bytes. He helps Frankie in his attempts to put Rusty out of action. *Bytes (voiced by Robert Tinkler) is Rusty's robotic dog, who communicates by barking. He generally does not take part in missions. *Kittybot is Ruby's robotic cat, who communicates by meowing. She can sit down. *Ray (voiced by Robert Tinkler) is a small, red-coloured member of the Bits with a single eye that functions as a flashlight. *Whirly (voiced by Julie Lemieux) is a pink Bit who resembles a

hummingbird Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the Family (biology), biological family Trochilidae. With approximately 366 species and 113 genus, genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but most species are found in Cen ...

. She has a pair of wings and a

propeller A propeller (often called a screw if on a ship or an airscrew if on an aircraft) is a device with a rotating hub and radiating blades that are set at a pitch to form a helical spiral which, when rotated, exerts linear thrust upon a working flu ...

on her head. *Crush (voiced by Julie Lemieux) is an orange Bit made from a clamp, who can crush and hold small objects. *Jack (voiced by Ron Pardo) is a blue, cube-shaped Bit who can lift and transport objects using his

forklift A forklift (also called industrial truck, lift truck, jitney, hi-lo, fork truck, fork hoist, and forklift truck) is a powered industrial truck used to lift and move materials over short distances. The forklift was developed in the early 20th c ...

-like arms. *Botasaur (voiced by Robert Tinkler) is the tallest member of Rusty's team, modeled after ''

Tyrannosaurus rex ''Tyrannosaurus'' () is a genus of large theropoda, theropod dinosaur. The type species ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' ( meaning 'king' in Latin), often shortened to ''T. rex'' or colloquially t-rex, is one of the best represented theropods. It live ...

''. He is Rusty's sidekick. *Botarilla (voiced by

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before Presidency of Andrew Jackson, his presidency, he rose to fame as a general in the U.S. Army and served in both houses ...

) is Rusty's robotic gorilla, who can climb on trees and swing on vines. *TigerBot (voiced by Nicki Burke) is Rusty's robotic tiger, who can climb with her tiger claws. *ElephantBot (voiced by Scott Jackson) is Rusty's robotic elephant, who can spray water on his trumpet. *Dak (voiced by Jonathan Wilson) is Rusty's robotic '' Pterodactylus''. *Spike (voiced by Sergio Di Zio) is Rusty's robotic ''

Triceratops ''Triceratops'' ( ; ) is a genus of Chasmosaurinae, chasmosaurine Ceratopsia, ceratopsian dinosaur that lived during the late Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous Period (geology), period, about 68 to 66 million years ago on the island ...

''. *Velocity (voiced by Shoshana Sperling) is Rusty's robotic ''

Velociraptor ''Velociraptor'' (; ) is a genus of small dromaeosaurid dinosaurs that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous epoch, about 75 million to 71 million years ago. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in th ...

''. *Steggie (voiced by Leigh Cameron) is Rusty's robotic '' Stegosaurus''. *Brawny (voiced by Martin Roach) is Rusty's robotic ''

Brachiosaurus ''Brachiosaurus'' () is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Jurassic, about . It was first Species description, described by American paleontologist Elmer S. Riggs in 1903 in paleontology, 1903 from fossi ...

''.

Recurring

*Liam (voiced by Samuel Faraci and Jonathan Michael Sturgess in US, and Endeavour Clutterbuck in UK and Canada) is a young blonde-haired boy who often needs rescuing. *Emily (voiced by Aaliyah Cinello in US, and Amelie Halls in UK) is a young girl introduced in Season 2, who is a friend of Liam. *Ranger Anna (voiced by Helen King in US, and Niki Felstead in UK) is a redheaded animal enthusiast in charge of the Sparkton Hills Scouts which Rusty and Ruby are part of. *Chef Betty (voiced by Novie Edwards in Season 1) and Teacher Betty (voiced by Nicole Stamp in Season 2 and 3) is a culinary expert (Season 1) and later a teacher at the school where Rusty, Ruby, and Frankie go to (Season 2 and 3). *Sammy Scoops (voiced by Joshua Graham in US, and Andy Turvey in UK) is an ice cream vendor. *Samantha (aka Cream Queen and Cone Woman) (voiced by Katie Griffin) shares the nickname "Sammy". They go into business together in "Captain Scoops" and are shown playing soccer together in "Rusty's Spaceship". *Mr. Higgins (voiced by James Rankin in Canada and Chris Garner in UK) is the first inventor in town who inspired Rusty. *Officer Carl (voiced by Jonathan Potts in Canada, and Chris Garner in UK) is the only police officer in Sparkton Hills. *Mrs. Rivets (voiced by Katie Griffin in US and Niki Felstead in UK) is Rusty's mother. *Mrs. McCloud is Liam's mother. *Mr. McCloud (voiced by Martin Roach) is Liam's father. *Ollie (voiced by Vas Saranga) is Ozzy's brother from Dino Island. *Ozzy (voiced by Zach Smadu) is Ollie's brother from Dino Island. *Orbit is a satellite after he crashed into the ground and Rusty launched him back into space. *Frankasaurus (voiced by Ian Ho) is Frankie's former younger robot dinosaur brother. *Robo-Squirrel is Mr. Higgins' robotic squirrel who can destroy things by taking nuts out. *Chompers (voiced by Andrew Sabiston) is a beaver who can wag with her beaver tail.

Production

''Rusty Rivets'' began development in late 2014. The concept was originally pitched to Guru Studio, which ultimately chose not to develop the show. The first season was produced in accordance with Spin Master's policy to work on 1-2 television programs a year. It is Spin Master's sixth animated television venture. Twenty-six episodes have been confirmed. Most of the first season's episodes were animated by Arc Productions in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

. The studio closed on August 2, 2016, but its assets have been sold to the

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

-based company Jam Filled Entertainment, and the business reopened on August 22, 2016, as Jam Filled Toronto. On May 24, 2017, it was renewed for a second season. On May 22, 2018, it was renewed for a third season.

Release

The series was announced at Nickelodeon's upfront presentation in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

on March 2, 2016. It was originally slated to premiere in the United States on August 22, 2016, but it was pushed back to November 8, 2016. The first season was going to air on

in Canada throughout fall 2016, but it was delayed until January 16, 2017. Spin Master distributes the series and its product line globally. The series premiered on Nick Jr. in Israel on February 12, 2017. As of December 2018, new episodes moved to the Nick Jr. channel.

Home media

On June 11, 2016, the first episode was released to

Amazon Video Amazon Prime Video, known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming television service owned by Amazon. The service primarily distributes films and television series produced or co-produced by ...

as a free preview. The same episode was released to Nickelodeon's mobile platforms on June 20, 2016.

and Paramount Home Entertainment released the DVD of the show on July 31, 2018.

Merchandise

Spin Master has announced that it will distribute a line of toys based on the program. The company released them in fall 2017.

Lawsuit

In 2019, an author sued Spin Master, claiming Rusty Rivets infringe the copyrights of 20-year-old comic book. Eventually Spin Master won when the judge declared that the TV series and comic book are not too similar.

References

External links

* (archived)
Nick Jr. website
(archived) * {{Nick Jr. Animated television series about robots Animated television series about children 2010s Canadian animated television series 2020s Canadian animated television series 2010s Canadian children's television series 2020s Canadian children's television series 2016 animated television series debuts 2016 Canadian television series debuts 2020 Canadian television series endings Canadian children's animated comic science fiction television series Canadian computer-animated television series Canadian English-language television shows Nick Jr. original programming Canadian preschool education television series Animated preschool education television series 2010s preschool education television series 2020s preschool education television series Treehouse TV original programming Canadian children's animated action television series Canadian children's animated science fantasy television series Television series by Jam Filled Entertainment Television series about gorillas