Phillip Roger Vischer better known as Phil Vischer (born June 16, 1966) is an American voice actor, puppeteer, writer, animator and songwriter. He is best known for creating the series VeggieTales and Big Idea with his partner Mike Nawrocki.
He is best known for voicing Bob.
In 2005, Phil created a company named Jellyfish Labs. In 2007, he started expanding the company with JellyTelly and produced a new series called, "What's In The Bible?"
He is currently living in Wheaton, Illinois with his wife Lisa and two daughters, Sydney and Shelby, and his son, Jeremy.
"Departure" from Big Idea
Since the production of their first feature film was complete, a lot of fans thought Phil left the company and wasn't interested working there. This got to the point where even some crew members believed the rumors, but Phil quickly debunked this rumor.
During the production of Jonah, the company was in financial trouble due to various events (e.g. HiT Entertainment trying to sue them after buying the rights from Lyrick Studios). Around that time, they hired a lot of people to help out with their productions before they went bankrupt. Just as the company was going bankrupt, one of the producers thought Phil was the problem for not letting the crew members do what they wanted. When Classic Media bought the company, the producer placed in their contract that Phil should stay away from being CEO. When Phil had a meeting with the owners, he suggested that he should remain as CEO, but this was overturned when John and Eric wanted the company to move to Nashville. They only wanted Phil as a consultant, and gave him an office allowance so he can stay in Chicago.
During the next few years, Phil wrote some books and created both "Jelly Telly" and "What's In the Bible?". In January 2007, Classic Media was bought by Entertainment Rights from London, and Phil saw this as an opportunity. However, the company was bought by two other guys, meaning a lot of cuts had to be made at Big Idea. Fortunately, John and Eric bought the company back in 2009. Phil saw this as an opportunity to possibly join both Jelly Telly and Big Idea together. However, the head of the company stated they weren't interested in Jelly Telly. They also said that if Phil wanted to return, he would have to cancel "What's in the Bible?", which he was halfway through with. Phil still wanted to continue his current show, so he rejected the offer.
In 2011, Phil heard in the trades that both John and Eric were selling the company to Dreamworks, so he waited for a phone call from them if they're interested in being involved in Big Idea again. However, he never received one from anyone there. Regardless, Phil stayed at the company doing voices and wrote some episodes after the bankruptcy.
In 2018, Phil officially left Big Idea, stating on Twitter that he was not returning to work on any more new episodes after VeggieTales in the City ended production.
In 2019, Phil was confirmed to be reprising his roles in The VeggieTales Show, as well as writing several episodes. This marked his official return to Big Idea after a year, and his first writing role at Big Idea in almost a decade.
In 2021, however, Phil made a tweet stating that he, as well as Mike Nawrocki, Lisa Vischer, and Kurt Heinecke, have been let go, and that all the characters are being recast. He also confirmed that this does not affect future episodes of The VeggieTales Show.
Written
VeggieTales
- Where's God When I'm S-Scared?
- God Wants Me to Forgive Them!?!
- Are You My Neighbor?
- Rack, Shack and Benny
- Dave and the Giant Pickle
- The Toy That Saved Christmas
- Larry-Boy! and the Fib from Outer Space!
- Josh and the Big Wall!
- Madame Blueberry (co-written with Mike Nawrocki)
- Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed
- King George and the Ducky
- Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen (co-written with Mike Nawrocki)
- Lyle the Kindly Viking
- The Star of Christmas
- The Ballad of Little Joe (co-written with Robert G. Lee; uncredited)
- An Easter Carol (co-written with Tim Hodge and Keith Lango)
- A Snoodle's Tale
- Lord of the Beans
- The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's
- Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue
- Abe and the Amazing Promise
- Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's Umbrella
- Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving (co-written with Robert G. Lee and Mike Nawrocki)
- Pistachio - The Little Boy That Woodn't (additional screenplay / Meatballs at Night)
3-2-1 Penguins
- Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn
- The Cheating Scales of Bullamanka
- The Amazing Carnival of Complaining
Movies
The VeggieTales Show
- God Wants Us to Make Peace
- The Best Christmas Gift
- A Lifetime Supply of Joy
- The Power of Love
- It's Cool to Be Kind
- When Being Good Means Giving Up
- Little Things Matter
- Being Gentle Makes You Great
- The Wonderfulness of Wisdom
- Forgiveness Brings the Fixing
- The Giving-est Day
- The One and Only You!
- Don't Give Up on Doing Good
- Don't Stop Believing
Directed
- Main article: Phil Vischer/Directing Filmography
Voices
- Bob (1993-2022)
- Archibald Asparagus (1993-2022)
- Pa Grape (1994-2022)
- Mr. Lunt (1995-2022)
- Jimmy Gourd (1995-2022)
- Mr. Nezzer (1995-2014; 2021-2022)
- Philippe Pea (1997-2022)
- Scallion #1 (1993-2022)
- Tom Grape
- Grandpa George
- Frankencelery
- Apollo Gourd
- Goliath (1996-2022)
- Dad Carrot (The Toy That Saved Christmas only)
- Rooney
- Granny Asparagus
- Krazy Kenny (2021-2022)
- Guy Broccoli
Shots animated by Phil Vischer
Designer
Works at Big Idea
VeggieTales
- Where's God When I'm S-Scared?
- God Wants Me to Forgive Them!?!
- Are You My Neighbor?
- Rack, Shack and Benny
- Dave and the Giant Pickle
- The Toy That Saved Christmas
- Very Silly Songs!
- Larry-Boy! and the Fib from Outer Space!
- Josh and the Big Wall!
- Madame Blueberry
- The End of Silliness?
- Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed
- King George and the Ducky
- Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen
- Lyle the Kindly Viking
- The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown
- Jonah Sing-Along Songs and More!
- The Star of Christmas
- The Wonderful World of Auto-Tainment!
- The Ballad of Little Joe
- An Easter Carol
- A Snoodle's Tale
- Sumo of the Opera
- Duke and the Great Pie War
- Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush
- Lord of the Beans
- Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler
- LarryBoy and the Bad Apple
- Gideon: Tuba Warrior
- Moe and the Big Exit
- The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's
- Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue
- Abe and the Amazing Promise
- Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's Umbrella
- Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving
- Pistachio - The Little Boy That Woodn't
- Sweetpea Beauty: A Girl After God's Own Heart
- It's a Meaningful Life
- Twas The Night Before Easter
- Princess and the Popstar
- The Little Drummer Boy
- Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men
- The Penniless Princess
- The League of Incredible Vegetables
- The Little House That Stood
- MacLarry and the Stinky Cheese Battle
- Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas
- Veggies in Space: The Fennel Frontier
- Celery Night Fever
- Beauty and the Beet
- Noah's Ark
VeggieTales in the House
- Puppies and Guppies/Sorry, We're Closed Today
- Bob and the Awesome Frosting Mustache/Bob and Larry Gettin' Angry
- Bob's Bad Breath/Trading Places
- Jimmy and Jerry Are Rich/Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot!
- Laura at Bat/Pie Fight!
- Pa Grape's Son/Larry's Cardboard Thumb
- The Gong Heard 'Round the House/When the Dust Bunnies Came to Town
- The Bucket List/A Gift for Singing
- Lie-Monade/Let's Build a Fort!
- Bacon and Ice Cream/For the Honor of LarryBoy
- The Birthday Thief/Junior Gets a Pet
- Cool as a Cucumber/The Rich Young Comic Ruler
- Popcorntastrophe!/Junior Jetpack
- Monster Manners/You, Me and Tiny Pea
- Jenna Chive Live!/Captain LarryBeard
- The Great Ice Cream Chase/The Guppy Whisperer
- The Silly Ray/The Camp Out
- Monster Truck Flower Delivery/Vote for Archibald!
- Ready for Action/Sickabeezer
- Plant-demonium!/DUO Day
- Mayoral Bike Lessons/It
- Callie Flower/World of Whiners
- Two Birthdays/Playground Tales
- Spacetato/Starved for Attention
- The Imposters/Place Trading
- Locked Out/Coach Ichabeezer
- Scaredy Cat Boot Camp/Ichabeezer Moves Out
- The Missing Jetpack/Bacon vs. Tomato
- Motato Gets a Job/Pet Day
- Blueberry's Tickets/A Club Divided
- Laura's Animal Babysitting Service/Rise of Night Pony
- Takeasaurus/The Painting
- Ichabeezer's Granddaughter/Gone Lobster
- Bob Gets Glasses/Crossing Guard
- Glued at the Hip/The Action Figure
- The Lost Tooth/The Companion Ship
- JimmyBoy/The Larry Express!
- Larry Lives it Up/Petunia's Not Funny
- The Big Secret/Madame's Soccer Skills
- Chef Larry/Lost in the Woods
- Shrink-abeezer/Motato is My Neighbor
- Invisible Arm Wrestling/Silly no more
- Stunt Driving School/Off the Rails
- Jimmy and Jerry's Big Mess/Beatbox Bill
- Larry the Sleepwalker/The Case of the Missing Monocle
- Larry Gets a Bulldozer/Bird on the Loose!
- Leader of the Team/Tina's the Boss
- The Puppy/Larry's Cousin Comes to Town
- The Bob and Larry Show/Save the Cherry Cat
- VeggieCards!/Grow-tato
- The Good Samaricucumber/Destination: SPACE STATION!
- The Big Race/Yambot
VeggieTales in the City
- Burgers for Sale/Night Phony
- Space Pirates!/Rooney on the Run
- Junior Saves the West/The Treasure Hunt
- Race Ya!/Larry the Substitute
- Pizza Eclipse/The Robot
- Delivery Boys/Dueling Mascots
- Bob's Collection/The Cookie Caper
- The Rocket Boot/The Many Versions of Larry
- Aprilcot/X Marks the Spot
- The Priceless Sock/Jimmy Makes a Comic Book
- Book Club/The Lost Dust Bunny
- The Water Slide/Story Time
- Prodigal Junior/Where's the Mayor
- Stranded/Junior Gets a Sister
- The Movie Star/New in Town
- The Hottest Pepper in the West/Karate Pirate Space Posse
- Plane vs. Train/Larry's Baby Birdies
- Two of a Kind/Moving to the City
- An Ichabeezer Christmas/A Christmas Play
- Ichaburgertopia/The Truth Hurts
- Employee Fun Day/Bringing Home the Bacon
- Books of the Bible/Monster in the Closet
- Arcade Showdown/The Audition
- The Singing, Dancing Lobster/It's Skatin' Time
- The Last Issue/Bob's Great Store
- Attack of the Marshmallow Laser/Bye Bye Bacon Bill!
3-2-1 Penguins!
- Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn
- The Cheating Scales of Bullamanka
- The Amazing Carnival of Complaining
LarryBoy: The Cartoon Adventures
The VeggieTales Show
- God Wants Us to Make Peace
- The Best Christmas Gift
- A Lifetime Supply of Joy
- The Power of Love
- It's Cool to Be Kind
- A ShakeSparagus Play
- When Being Good Means Giving Up
- Little Things Matter
- Patience Takes Practice
- Being Gentle Makes You Great
- LarryBoy and the Cape-Coat Caper
- The Wonderfulness of Wisdom
- Forgiveness Brings the Fixing
- A Tale of True Courage
- Samson's Bad Hair Day
- The Giving-est Day
- The Good Shepherd
- The One and Only You!
- LarryBoy and the Angry Eyebrows Trouble
- Don't Give Up on Doing Good
Movies
Compilations
- Heroes of the Bible!
- God Made You Special
- Lessons from the Sock Drawer
- Silly Little Thing Called Love
- Happy Together!
- Larry Learns to Listen
- Bob Lends a Helping Hand
- Little Ones Can Do Big Things Too!
- If I Sang A Silly Song
- Lettuce Love One Another!
Live Shows
- VeggieTales Live! On Stage
- Rockin' Tour Live
- A Very Veggie Christmas Live!
- God Made You Special
- VeggieTales Live! Sing Yourself Silly
- God Made You Special (2012 version)
- Happy Birthday Bob and Larry
- Silly Song Sing-Along!
- Little Kids Do Big Things!
Fun Facts
- Phil is a fan of the B-52's and Monty Python, which he often used jokes or references to them in his work.
- While in the making of Where's God When I'm S-Scared?, he and his wife were in financial struggle.
- According to the DVD commentary of Dave and the Giant Pickle, he stated that the desert environment, along with the space environment used in episode 3, were the easiest environments to create at the time.
- He started Big Idea with nothing more than his Bible college friend Mike Nawrocki, two interns Chris Olsen and Robert Ellis, and one computer in his spare bedroom.
- In episode 36 of his podcast, he was often known as "Flip" by his family. According to his mom, this was because when you say "Phillip" fast, it would sound like that. Phil had trouble dealing on his name for a while.
- He started making short films with his family's Super 8 camera when he was eight years old.
- He once met John Lasseter during a Siggraph convention sometime in the 1980s according to his autobiography.
- He along with Mike Nawrocki flunked out of St. Paul's Bible college.
- He did all the designs of the sets and characters for every show up until The Toy That Saved Christmas.
- His favorite movies are The Hudsucker Proxy and Brazil.