Why Does Max Not Talk in 'Max and Ruby'? Here's What We Know

Why does Max not talk in 'Max and Ruby'? There are some ridiculously dark theories surrounding the rabbit's muteness. Here’s what we know.

There's a long and sordid history surrounding cartoon bunnies Max and Ruby, not to mention a ton of questions people have about the cute and cuddly children's series — like why does Max not talk in the series? A more pressing one, however, is whatever happened to the rabbits' parents?

And because one of the best parts of the web is reading up on everyone's crazy fan theories, it's hard not to get sucked into these deranged Max and Ruby ones.

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There's a 'Max and Ruby' theory that the rabbits killed their own parents.

OK, what? Throughout the overwhelming majority of the show's run, we never see the kids' parents. They aren't in the series at all. I'd imagine it has something to do with the fact that the show centers around the misadventures the kids embark on during their own little playtimes. This is a show for children at the end of the day, so who really cares what their parents are doing.

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After five seasons and 14 years of the show, Nickelodeon finally featured the rabbits' parents and I think it has to do a lot with some of the scary theories that were floating around the web.

Another 'Max and Ruby' theory points to the urn in the rabbits' home.

People pointed to an urn that was featured in the rabbits' home, saying that it contains the ashes of Max and Ruby's folks. Some said that the two bunnies are engaging in silly games and mischief all of the time to forget about the fact that their folks' died in an accident. Others are saying that the creepy little rabbits killed them, or it was the eerily silent Max who pulled off the heinous deed.

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However, Nickelodeon finally aired a couple of episodes featuring their parents after a very, very long time, putting to rest the theory that the two rabbits are murderers. Or that they were attacked by a wolf, or as part of Ruby's "OCD Rage," or Grandma so she could "properly" raise the bunnies, or their parents offed themselves to get out of having to look after these little nutjobs. 

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Why does Max not talk in 'Max and Ruby'?

Just like the burning question as to where their parents are, there are several unofficial theories as to why Max doesn't talk. Some tried to pass off fake correspondence from the show's producers indicating that Max has some type of head trauma he sustained in the car accident that killed his mom and dad, and Ruby is left to care for him.

Obviously, this is not the case.

Another twisted fan theory is that Max was molested by his grandma at a young age, which explains the "Super Bunny" character, a hero who was created in his own mind as a way to combat the traumas he endured at her hands. And his fascination of playing with toy ambulances and police cars, theoretically, hearkens back to the traumatic car accident he witnessed that took his folks' lives.

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Again, this isn't the truth. Rosemary Wells, the creator of the show on Nick Jr., has said that the reason why the two are alone all of the time is thus: "We don't see Max and Ruby's parents because I believe that kids resolve their issues and conflicts differently when they're on their own," she said in an interview posted to Nick Jr.s website.

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Throughout most of the series, Max didn't talk. He was a quiet toddler who was basically a Chewbacca to Ruby's Han Solo, but as the show progressed, he did talk using short words and phrases, thus debunking all of those "mute serial killer" theories.

For 45 of the show's 96 produced episodes, he does have a voice actor, Julie-Ann Dean, who may have had one of the easiest voice-over gigs since Vin Diesel in Guardians of the Galaxy. 

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