VeggieTales: 1x28

Sumo of the Opera

Sumo of the Opera is the 24th episode in the VeggieTales series. Subtitled “A Lesson in Perseverance”, it teaches viewers the importance of working through adversity to accomplish one’s goals. After doing a generic parody of a Gilbert and Sullivan musical in Lyle the Kindly Viking, the main story is a direct spoof of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado. The parody is so transparent, in fact, that most of the music is credited to Arthur Sullivan himself. In addition, this release contains an eclectic mix of other influences as well. While Sumo of the Opera draws plot elements and names directly from Rocky and has similar plot style to The Karate Kid, the segment that precedes, Going Up!, is an homage to both the Three Stooges and a Laurel and Hardy short film called The Music Box. Even the Silly Song is a parody, this time of the 1970s educational shorts Schoolhouse Rock!