I can't really blame the animators; they are clearly trying their best to mimic the aesthetic of the original series in this new 3d format.
It's not a budget thing either; not even the best cgi would be able to match the unusual aesthetic the classic Rugrats series had.
The thing is, not everything can be redone in CGI or live-action, disregard what modern executives seem to think.
The original Rugrats, as well as many of the classic Nicktoons, featured some atypical visuals influenced by cartoons from Eastern Europe; those shows dared to be "ugly" and "weird-looking" in sharp contrast with the conventional cuteness of the large majority of mainstream children's media produced in past decades.
In some ways, it was some kind of family-friendly equivalent of the counterculture underground comics from the 70s. Many found the Rugrats to be an "ugly, weird cartoon", but that was part of it charm: It was weird, but wholesome at the same time. It was adorable in rather unusual way, having also hints of adults humor and sarcasm for the parents.
It was a genuine "family" show. This, by contrast, feels way more sanitized(Notice how the writers had to tone down Betty's feminism), way too polished. And polished visuals don't match with Rugrats, nor with Hey Arnold, or Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, or As Told by Ginger.
Apparently, according to imdb, there is still a live-action in the works, where the babies are going to be done in CGI. A very stupid idea, in my opinion, but some people is way too biased towards animation.
It's not a budget thing either; not even the best cgi would be able to match the unusual aesthetic the classic Rugrats series had.
The thing is, not everything can be redone in CGI or live-action, disregard what modern executives seem to think.
The original Rugrats, as well as many of the classic Nicktoons, featured some atypical visuals influenced by cartoons from Eastern Europe; those shows dared to be "ugly" and "weird-looking" in sharp contrast with the conventional cuteness of the large majority of mainstream children's media produced in past decades.
In some ways, it was some kind of family-friendly equivalent of the counterculture underground comics from the 70s. Many found the Rugrats to be an "ugly, weird cartoon", but that was part of it charm: It was weird, but wholesome at the same time. It was adorable in rather unusual way, having also hints of adults humor and sarcasm for the parents.
It was a genuine "family" show. This, by contrast, feels way more sanitized(Notice how the writers had to tone down Betty's feminism), way too polished. And polished visuals don't match with Rugrats, nor with Hey Arnold, or Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, or As Told by Ginger.
Apparently, according to imdb, there is still a live-action in the works, where the babies are going to be done in CGI. A very stupid idea, in my opinion, but some people is way too biased towards animation.