Max & Ruby is a children's preschool animated series based on the book series by Rosemary Wells and produced by Nelvana Limited. The series follows the everyday lives of two young rabbit siblings Max and Ruby.

Two Max & Ruby books had been previously adapted into short films by Weston Woods and Michael Sporn Animation in 1988 and 1991. These shorts were later remade into episodes for the television series.

Max & Ruby first aired in Canada on Treehouse TV on May 3, 2002. In the United States, the series first aired on Nickelodeon on the Nick Jr. block on October 21, 2002. 130 half-hour episodes were produced, with the final episode airing on April 9, 2020.

The first two seasons of the series were added to the streaming service Paramount+ on December 8, 2020, but on March 25, 2026, the show was removed from the service.

Premise

Max & Ruby follows the everyday lives of two young rabbit siblings: Max, a rambunctious and achievement-determined three-year-old and his older sister Ruby, a seldom-patient, goal-oriented and sometimes, bossy seven-year-old. The series takes place in a town called Eastbunny Hop, in a universe populated by bunnies and other creatures. According to Wells, the series shows the relationship between Ruby, Max and the universal nature of sibling relationships.

Episodes

The series premiered in 2002, but was preceded by a 1988 short and a 1991 short adapting the characters for the first time. The shorts were individually produced and were later remade into broadcast series episodes.

Characters

Main

  • Max Bunny (voiced by Billy Rosemberg in seasons 1–3, Tyler Stevenson in seasons 4–5, and Gavin MacIver-Wright in seasons 6–7) is a three, later four-year-old (starting off at three and a half years old), bunny and Ruby's younger brother. He has white fur and wears some clothes including some long overalls. Prior to seasons 3 & 5 and for the first few episodes of seasons 1 and 2, Max only says 1–3 words or phrases (with the exception of a few episodes like Max's Bedtime and Ruby's Candy Store and of voiceover on the title card for episodes featuring Ruby). He does this again in season 5 (voiceover on the episode's title card; except in just the ones featuring Ruby). In seasons 6 and 7, Max (along with Morris) is now able to speak in full sentences.
  • Ruby Bunny (voiced by Samantha Morton in seasons 1-2, Rebecca Peters in seasons 3–5, and Lana Carillo in seasons 6–7) is a seven, later, eight-year-old (starting off at seven years old and of voiceover on the title card for episodes featuring Max) white bunny, and is Max's older sister. She has white fur and has been considered the more level-headed of the siblings. She is also a member of the bunny scouts (a formula similar to the "girl scouts").

Recurring

  • Louise (voiced by Julie Lemieux) is Ruby best friend. She often comes over to visit and helps Ruby. She has tan/auburn fur and a little cousin named Morris.
  • Lemieux also voiced Baby Huffington "Baby H" (Mr. and Mrs. Huffington's baby son and Bunny Scout Leader's nephew), Grace (one of Max and Ruby's new baby siblings introduced in season 7 and Oliver's older twin sister who, similar to Max, likes getting dirty), and Oliver (the other one of Max and Ruby's new baby siblings introduced in season 7 and Grace's younger twin brother who, similar to Ruby, likes staying clean). voiced by Carolyn Larson) is Max and Ruby's mother. She and Ruby are very close to each other and she trusts Ruby's ability to help out with Max. She is Grandma and Grandpa’s daughter-in-law.
  • Dad (also known as Mr. Bunny; and Max's best friend.
  • Roger Piazza (voiced by Kenan Thompson in season 2, and Jo Vannicola in seasons 3-7) is the son of Mr. Piazza. He is older than Ruby and Louise, standing at years old.
  • The Bunny Scout Leader (voiced by Sarah Adams and Nadine Rabinovitch) is the leader of the Bunny Scouts, Mrs. Huffington's sister, Mr. Huffington's sister-in-law and Baby Huffington's maternal aunt.
  • Mr. Piazza (voiced by Jamie Watson) runs the local market in East Bunnyhop and is the father of Roger.
  • Candi (voiced by Linda Ballantyne) is the owner of the candy shop in East Bunnyhop.
  • Rosalinda (voiced by Anne Hill) is the owner of a gift shop that sells jewelry and collectibles and a friend of Max and Ruby's grandmother, Mary.
  • Katie (voiced by Robin Duke) is the waitress at the diner in East Bunnyhop.
  • Miss Bunty (voiced by Judy Price) is Max's preschool teacher.
  • Winston (voiced by Ethan Tavares) is one of Max's classmates who uses a wheelchair. He is also Max's second best friend.
  • Lily (voiced by Isabella Leo) is one of Max's classmates who is also Max's best female friend.
  • Priya (voiced by Laaibah Alvi) is one of Max's classmates who is also Max's second best female friend. She is from India.
  • Mr. Estévez (voiced by Carlos Díaz) is Ruby, Louise, and Valerie's teacher in school. He is from Mexico.
  • Antonio (voiced by Emilio Vírguez) is one of Ruby's classmates. He is Max and Ruby's new friend.

Production

Nelvana Limited and Silver Lining Entertainment Limited co-produced the show for its first five seasons (in 2005, Silver Lining was acquired by Chorion). 9 Story Media Group overtook producing the animation from Nelvana in season 3 (and continued animating the series for seasons 4 and 5 while Chorion co-produced at the same time); though Nelvana still handled production of the series.

Shortly after Chorion and its division Silver Lining Entertainment Limited both closed their doors after season 5 finished production, Nelvana became the sole producer for the series and outsourced the animation to Atomic Cartoons.

Season 6 premiered on September 18, 2016, with a new main voice cast and an updated theme song, along with each episode now having 2 11-minute segments, rather than 3 7-minute segments like the previous five seasons.

In an interview with Nickelodeon, Wells has stated about Max and Ruby's unseen parents that "we don't see Max and Ruby's parents, because [she] believe[s] that kids resolve their issues and conflicts differently when they are on their own. The television series gives kids a sense about how these two siblings resolve their conflicts in a humorous and entertaining way."

Telecast and home media

Max & Ruby first aired on Treehouse TV in Canada on May 3, 2002.

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Main series

! Name

! Release date

! Number of episodes

! Episode titles

|-

| Max & Ruby's Christmas

| October 26, 2004

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Max's Christmas" / "Ruby's Snow Queen" / "Max's Rocket Run"
  • "Ruby's Figure Eight" / "Ruby's Surprise Party" / "Ruby's Tent"
  • "Ruby's Tea Party" / "Max Is It" / "Ruby's Science Project"
  • "Ruby Writes a Story" / "Max's Dominoes" / "Grandma's Attic"

|-

| Springtime for Max & Ruby

| March 1, 2005

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Max's Chocolate Chicken" / "Ruby's Beauty Shop" / "Max Drives Away"
  • "Camp Out" / "Ruby's Clubhouse" / "Max's Picnic"
  • "Ruby's Merit Badge" / "Max's Apple" / "Quiet Max"
  • "Max Misses the Bus" / "Max's Worm Cake" / "Max's Rainy Day"

|-

| Max & Ruby's Halloween

| August 30, 2005

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Max's Halloween" / "Ruby's Leaf Collection" / "The Blue Tarantula"
  • "Ruby's Panda Prize" / "Ruby's Roller Skates" / "Ghost Bunny"
  • "Max's Shadow" / "Max Remembers" / "Ruby's Candy Store"
  • "Max's Thanksgiving" / "Max's Pretend Friend" / "Fireman Max"

|-

| Party Time with Max & Ruby

| February 14, 2006

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Max's Birthday" / "Max's New Suit" / "Goodnight Max"
  • "Bunny Cakes" / "Bunny Party" / "Bunny Money"
  • "Max's Bug Salad" / "Ruby's Beach Party" / "Super Max to the Rescue"
  • "Hide & Seek" / "Max's Breakfast" / "Louise's Secret"

|-

| Afternoons with Max & Ruby

| August 1, 2006

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Max's Froggy Friend" / "Max's Music" / "Max Gets Wet"
  • "Max's Dragon Shirt" / "Max's Rabbit Racer" / "Roger's Choice"
  • "Ruby's Hiccups" / "The Big Picture" / "Ruby's Stage Show"
  • "Ruby's Piano Practice" / "Max's Bath" / "Max's Bedtime"

|-

| Easter with Max & Ruby

| March 13, 2007

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Ruby's Easter Bonnet" / "Max's Easter Parade" / "Max and the Easter Bunny"
  • "Ruby's Loose Tooth" / "Ruby Scores" / "Ruby's Sandcastle"
  • "Max's Work of Art" / "Max Meets Morris" / "Ruby's Scavenger Hunt"
  • "Max's Check Up" / "Max's Prize" / "Space Max"

|-

| Summertime with Max & Ruby

| June 5, 2007

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Ruby's Lemonade Stand" / "Ruby's Rummage Sale" / "Ruby's Magic Act"
  • "Ruby's Hippity Hop Dance" / "Ruby's Bird Bath" / "Super Max Saves the World"
  • "Ruby's Pajama Party" / "Baby Max" / "Bunny Scout Brownies"
  • "Max's Valentine" / "Ruby Flies a Kite" / "Super Max"

|-

| A Merry Bunny Christmas

| October 2, 2007

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Grandma's Present" / "Max and Ruby's Christmas Tree" / "Max's Snow Plow"
  • "Max's Snow Day" / "Max's Snow Bunny" / "Max's Mix Up"
  • "Max's Fireflies" / "Max and Ruby's Fashion Show" / "Ruby's Sing-a-Ling"
  • "Ruby's Puppet Show" / "Sugar Plum Max" / "Max's Ant Farm"

|-

| Berry Bunny Adventures

| February 26, 2008

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Grandma's Berry Patch" / "Ruby's Bunny Scout Banner" / "Ruby's Detective Agency"
  • "Surprise Ruby" / "Ruby's Birthday Party" / "Ruby's Birthday Present"
  • "Ruby's Safari" / "Max's Mud Bath" / "Max's Lost Lizard"
  • "Ruby Riding Hood" / "Max and the Beanstalk" / "The Froggy Prince"

|-

| Perfect Pumpkin

| August 26, 2008

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Max and Ruby's Perfect Pumpkin / "Max's Jack O Lantern" / "Max's Big Boo"
  • "Max's Rocket Racer" / "Max and Morris Blast Off" / "Max's Candy Apple"
  • "Ruby Delivers" / "Getting Crabby at the Beach" / "Max Babysits"
  • "Max Cleans Up" / "Max's Cuckoo Clock" / "Ruby's Jewelry Box"

|-

| Playtime with Max & Ruby!

| January 5, 2010

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Max's Thanksgiving" / "Max's Pretend Friend" / "Fireman Max"
  • "Ruby's Figure Eight" / "Ruby's Surprise Party" / "Ruby's Tent"
  • "Max Misses the Bus" / "Max's Worm Cake" / "Max's Rainy Day"
  • "Ruby's Piano Practice" / "Max's Bath" / "Max's Bedtime"

|- Clyde's eyes

| A Visit with Grandma

| June 15, 2010

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Grandma's Treasure Hunt" / "Ruby's Jigsaw Puzzle" / "Ruby's Recital"
  • "Ruby's Rainbow" / "Home Tweet Home" / "Max's Mudpie"
  • "Ruby's Home Run" / "Ruby's Missing Tune" / "Ruby's Handstand"
  • "Ruby's Good Neighbor Report" {"Ruby's Report") / "Candy Counting" / "Ruby's New Shoes"

|-

| Everybunny Loves Winter

| September 21, 2010

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Ruby's Snowbunny" / "Ruby's Snowflake" / "Duck Duck Goose"
  • "Ruby's Gingerbread House" / "Max's Christmas Passed" / "Max's New Year"
  • "Ruby's Horn of Plenty" / "Ruby's Big Kick" / "Max Says Goodbye"
  • "Max's Balloon Buddies" / "Ruby's Penny Carnival" / "Ruby's Big Win"

|-

| Bunny Tales

| January 11, 2011

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "The Princess and the Marbles" / "Emperor Max's New Suit" / "Max and the 3 Little Bunnies"
  • "Ruby's Real Cinderella" / "Ruby's Hoola Hoop" / "Max and the Martians"
  • "Max's Castle" / "Bunny Hopscotch" / "Max's Grasshopper"
  • "Ruby's Water Lily" / "Max Saves the Parade" / "Super Max's Cape"

|-

| Rainy Day Play

| April 12, 2011

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Ruby Writes a Story" / "Max's Dominoes" / "Grandma's Attic"
  • "Bunny Cakes" / "Bunny Party" / "Bunny Money"
  • "Ruby's Safari" / "Max's Mud Bath" / "Max's Lost Lizard"
  • "Ruby's Rainbow" / "Home Tweet Home" / "Max's Mudpie"

|-

| Everybunny Loves Spring

| February 11, 2014

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Max and Ruby's Groundhog Day" / "Ruby's First Robin of Spring" / "Grandma's Geraniums"
  • "Max's Ducky Day" / "Ruby's Earth Day Checklist" / "Ruby's Earth Day Party"
  • "Ruby Gets The Picture" / "Ruby's Birdie" / "Max Plays Catch"
  • "Max's Night Light" / "Ruby's Bird Walk" / "Max Goes Fishing"

|-

| Sweet Siblings

| February 17, 2015

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Max Says Hello" / "Ruby's Spa Day" / "Ruby's Tai Chi"
  • "Engineer Max" / "Max's Toy Train" / "Max's Train Ride"
  • "Max and Ruby's Train Trip" / "Go to Sleep Max" / "Conductor Max"
  • "Space Bunny" / "Max's Sprinkler" / "Max's Pogo Stick"

|-

| Sharing and Caring

| June 2, 2015

| align="center" | 12

|

  • "Picture Perfect" / "Detective Ruby" / "Super Bunny Saves the Cake"
  • "Max's Ride" / "Max on Guard" / "Ruby's Real Tea Party"
  • "The Bunny Who Cried Lobster" / "Max and the Three Bears" / "Little Ruby Hen"
  • "Ruby's Autograph" / "A Toy For Baby Huffington" / "Max's Big Dig"

|}

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Episodes on Nick Jr. compilation DVDs

! Name

! Release date

! Number of episodes

! Episode titles

|-

| Nick Jr. Celebrates Spring

| March 2, 2004

| align="center" | 1

|

  • "Max's Chocolate Chicken"

|-

| Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 1

| May 24, 2005

| align="center" | 3

|

  • "Max's Work of Art" / "Max Meets Morris" / "Ruby's Scavenger Hunt"

|-

| Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 2

| October 18, 2005

| align="center" | 3

|

  • "Ruby's Lemonade Stand" / "Ruby's Rummage Sale" / "Ruby's Magic Act"

|-

| Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 3

| February 7, 2006

| align="center" | 3

|

  • "Ruby's Pajama Party" / "Baby Max" / "Bunny Scout Brownies"

|-

| Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 4

| June 6, 2006

| align="center" | 3

|

  • "Max Cleans Up" / "Max's Cuckoo Clock" / "Ruby's Jewelry Box"

|-

| Nick Jr. Favorites Holiday

| September 26, 2006

| align="center" | 3

|

  • "Max's Christmas" / "Ruby's Snow Queen" / "Max's Rocket Run"

|-

| Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 5

| March 13, 2007

| align="center" | 3

|

  • "Ruby Writes a Story" / "Max's Dominoes" / "Grandma's Attic"

|}

Notes

References

  • on Treehouse TV
  • on the Nick Jr. Channel