A young boy named Rusty Rivets uses his knowledge of engineering to repurpose machine parts and create gadgets. He lives in the city of Sparkton Hills along with his friend Ruby Ramirez, a robotic tyrannosaurid named Botasaur, and a group of smaller robots known as the Bits. The show highlights a variety of concepts related to basic science and technology. Rusty uses the recurring catch phrase "modify, customize, Rustify" when personalizing inventions. Ruby changes the last word to "Rubify" when she does the alterations, and Liam changes the last word to "Liamify" when he does it.
Characters
Main
Rusty Rivets – An engineer. He has his own mobile laboratory, which is based in a recycling yard. He is the great great grandson of Ruston Rivets IV, which Ruby guesses hearing the number, indicating he is Ruston Rivets VIII, although there are conflicting ideas about the name of Ruston Rivets IV, since in Season 3, Rusty also called him Mortimer Rivets.
Ruby Ramirez – Rusty's best friend who normally carries a tablet computer that she uses to call the Bits into action. Ruby wears a red sash with white dots around her head, reminiscent of Rosie the Riveter.
Frankie Fritz – Frankie is Rusty and Ruby's rival, arch-enemy and neighbor, using every opportunity he can to try and upstage Rusty and be the best engineer in Sparkton Hills, even resorting to cheating to accomplish it.
Frankford – Frankford is Frankie's robotic skunk, best friend and counterpart to Bytes. He helps Frankie in his attempts to put Rusty out of action.
Bytes – Rusty's robotic dog, who communicates by barking. He generally does not take part in missions.
Kittybot – Ruby's robotic cat, who communicates by meowing. She can sit down.
Ray – A small, red-colored member of the Bits with a single eye that functions as a flashlight.
Crush – An orange Bit made from a clamp, who can crush and hold small objects.
Jack – A blue, cube-shaped Bit who can lift and transport objects using his forklift-like arms.
Botasaur – The tallest member of Rusty's team, modeled after Tyrannosaurus rex. He is Rusty's sidekick.
Botarilla – Rusty's robotic gorilla, who can climb on trees and swing on vines.
TigerBot – Rusty's robotic tiger, who can climb with her tiger claws.
ElephantBot – Rusty's robotic elephant, who can spray water on his trumpet.
Recurring
Liam – A young blonde haired boy who often needs rescuing.
Emily – A young girl who introduced in Season 2, who is a friend of Liam.
Ranger Anna – A red haired animal enthusiast in charge of the Sparkton Hills Scouts which Rusty and Ruby are part of.
Chef Betty and Teacher Betty – A black haired culinary expert and a teacher at the school where Rusty, Ruby, and Frankie go to. Voiced by Novie Edwards.
Sammy Scoops – An ice cream vendor.
Samantha shares the nickname "Sammy". They go into business together in "Captain Scoops" and are shown playing soccer together in "Rusty's Spaceship".
Mr. Higgins – The first inventor in town who inspired Rusty.
Officer Carl – The only police officer in Sparkton Hills.
Mrs. Rivets – Rusty's mom.
Mrs. McCloud - Liam's mom.
Orbit - Rusty's satellite after he crashed into the ground and Rusty launched him back into space.
Chompers – A wild beaver that Rusty met who can wag with her beaver tail.
Frankasaurus - Frankie's former little robot dinosaur brother.
Robo-Squirrel – Rusty's robotic squirrel who can destroy things by taking nuts out.
Jerry - Rusty's pet duck who can swim in the pond. He can walk.
Episodes
Twenty-six episodes have been confirmed. On May 24, 2017, it was renewed for a second season.
Production
Rusty Rivets began development in late 2014. The concept was originally pitched to Guru Studio, which ultimately chose not to develop the show. The first season was produced in accordance with Spin Master's policy to work on 1-2 television programs a year. It is Spin Master's sixth animated television venture. Most of the first season's episodes were animated by Arc Productions in Toronto, Ontario. The studio closed on August 2, 2016, but its assets have been sold to the Ottawa-based company Jam Filled Entertainment, and the business reopened on August 22, 2016 as Jam Filled Toronto.
Release
The series was announced at Nickelodeon's upfront presentation in New York City on March 2, 2016. It was originally slated to premiere in the United States on August 22, 2016, but it was pushed back to November 8, 2016. The first season was going to air on Treehouse TV in Canada throughout fall 2016, but it was delayed until January 16, 2017. Spin Master distributes the series and its product line globally. The series premiered on Nick Junior Israel on February 12, 2017. On June 11, 2016, the first episode was released to Amazon Video as a free preview. The same episode was released to Nickelodeon's mobile platforms on June 20, 2016.
Merchandise
Toys
Spin Master has announced that it will distribute a line of toys based on the program. The company released them in fall 2017.
