In dieser Serie geht es wie im TV-Film um die vierköpfige Familie Salinsky mit dem als leicht durchgeknallt geltenden Vater Wayne, welcher jedoch ein genialer Erfinder ist und Sachen wie den Schrumpfstrahler entwickelt hat. Die als Rechtsanwältin arbeitende Mutter Diane. Die quirlige Tochter Amy, die mit den typischen Teenagerproblemen zu kämpfen hat. Und den kleinen, aber genialen Nick der im erfinderischen in die Fußstapfen seines Vaters tritt, allerdings immer einen kühlen Kopf behält. Dann gibt es da noch den Hund Quark.
Wayne Szalinski, the show's protagonist, is the husband of Diane and the father of Amy and Nick. The well-meaning Wayne constructs a variety of inventions, including the Shrink-Ray, Neuron Nudger and Brainiactivator among others, that create predicaments for his family. His wife, Diane Szalinski (Barbara Alyn Woods), is a lawyer. Diane supports Wayne and is very loving, but gets fed up with his antics. Amy Szalinski (Hillary Tuck) is the only daughter of the Szalinski's. She displays normal teenage angst, but comes to love her family more than anything else. Her younger brother, Nick (Thomas Dekker), is very much like his father. Nick likes to invent things and even looks like Wayne. He and Amy generally get along with each other.
Wayne Szalinski est un savant travaillant sur une machine à rétrécir. Par accident, ses propres enfants sont rétrécis et jetés dans la poubelle. Une aventure hors du commun attend les enfants au milieu de leur propre jardin.
Apesar das boas intenções de Wayne, que constrói uma variedade de invenções, inclusive uma denominada como 'Shrink-Ray', que faz com que periodicamente a sua esposa, seus filhos e os amigos deles ficarem em tamanho minúsculo gerando uma série de encrencas muito engraçadas. A série tem início quando a família Szalinski se muda para Matheson, no Colorado. A cada episódio são impostas novas tecnologias e efeitos digitais para caracterizar a família em variadas aventuras.