In retrospect: Ren and Stimpy

[cinco]

What did this show mean to you? (this is for you, Real Melvin)

[Tomacco]

Where to begin...

I was obsessed with this show, severely, from 1992-1995. Since I live in Toronto and there was no internet at the time, I missed out on every season past season 1, because no networks showed those Nickelodeon non-JK episodes. Every time me and my family would travel to the US, I would try so hard to catch an episode or two on TV at the hotel, and I would get so excited.

Now, looking back, the writing and the stories in the show really don't hold up so well for me, but what's definitely impacted my life about this show was the animation. R&S played a big part in getting me into animation and cartooning and just expanding my imagination. The show's style holds up great, whether it's the off-model character movements, the diverse cel-over-hand-painted backgrounds imagery, or the use of orchestral and classical music.

As for the Adult Party version, that was basically a humongous waste of time (the animation became too sharp and sleek, the voice acting was worse, and the material was brutal).

EDIT: I just noticed the animation thread, hahah, that's awesome.

[Mt. Doom]

It was a pretty good show I guess, the guy who made it is a bit of a douche

[Green Man]

this scared me as a kid

[Enter The Moleman]

it always gave me the creeps but I watched it because there weren't any other kids channels at the time.

[HappyPalooza]

I never really liked this show as a kid. I never thought it was funny, kinda dumb actually. But recently it was on nicktoons or something and everyone creams about it on the internet so I thought I'd give it another shot, and I still didn't like it. Yeah the animation's great and all, but the animation isn't worth a shit if the writing's no good in my book, it's a joint effort for me. I dunno, show's just definitely not my style.

And the guy who created it does come off as kind of a douche.

[Dave Shutton]

always enjoyed this show, so creepy and weird and disgusting right up my alley

[Matty]

I loved it then and I love it now

Episodes like Stimpy's Invention, Sven Hoëk and Man's Best Friend have brilliant writing and I concider them to have some of the best animation ever.

Adult Party Cartoon was overall pretty poor, but the episode Ren Seeks Help is one of my favourite Ren & Stimpy's ever. "Psychologist?! Are you NUTS?! I'M A HORSE!!!"

[Sniper Squirrel]

absolutely loved it fro fifth to about seventh grade, somewhere between late seventh early eighth grade i started to really dislike it. I've watched a handful of reason since then, some I still really like (Space Madness is still hilarious) but even some of he episodes I used to think were great I now think are OK and some I thought were all right, I think are mediocre at best, I doubt I'll ever relive the show the way i once did

[Semaj]

I still love the Nickelodeon years of Ren & Stimpy. The Games episodes, the ones made after John K. was fired, aren't as bad as they're often labeled as. But APC just plain sucked.

And the guy who created it does come off as kind of a douche.

What I think is more irritating is how many of his followers take his example, and how his anger has spread to other blogs and forums like some kind of black plague. This was partially what got John's blog, and a few other places temporarily shut down a while ago, because it got so out of control that John had to start telling his own fanboys to put a lid on it.

[Kiyosuki]

I definitely have to back up that sentiment on his fans, though they're not too unlike any other type of rabid fan.

I don't know, the guy's just egomaniacal. Even though I bet he's not as bad as he probably seems, and I know you're not supposed to judge art from the artist and I usually don't...in this case it's made it harder for me to appreciate Ren and Stimpy. Though as a kid even, I enjoyed it but I never really jumped on it as much as others my age, and while the better episodes in retrospect now are amusing I just don't have any attachment to it. The guy himself just adds to the distancing.

There are times I've felt like it's trying so hard to be a twisted Tex Avery cartoon that it just tries too hard, but like I said I'm sort of jaded to it so I'm probably not the best opinion on this show.

[Chou]

While I agree that John K doesn't always come across as, um, likable, his blog offers a lot of invaluable information about animation despite this. He obviously is an artist with a lot of love for his craft, though I find he can be pretty narrow-minded, sometimes even contradictory. But I still like looking at his doodles, because, if anything, they're usually pretty funny. I remember he posted some doodles of his own version of Astro Boy (which was interesting since he doesn't like shows with limited animation, but it wouldn't suprise me if he had some respect for it...Osamu Tezuka knew how to make funny drawings) and they were so vibrant and bizarre...I think even without his own personal commentary, the doodling posts can be the most informative and, perhaps, inspirational.

[Kiyosuki]

But you know...even that I've questioned as a proper defense against his attitude over time. I mean, he's good and he has a nice style, but he doesn't know anything as far as technical aspects go that many other great animation experts know too without needing a boastrous blog and rabid fanbase about it.

I don't know, I'm gonna turn this into a total John K bash-fest so I'll stop. I'll just say though that I think the guy could have been a great thing for animation but instead he opted to be just...what he became.

[Dark Homer]

i was never a big fan of this show but i watched it anyway like the loyal nickelodeon stooge i was. one of my cherished childhood memories is dancing to happy happy joy joy which they used to air during commercial breaks. it had lots of undeniably great moments (powdered toast man, log, any of the space ones) that have had untold influence over my young brain, but the bitter, often psychotic tone was a turn-off. i think the recent spongebob 10th anniversary special had a good point, the reason spongebob works is because it's so gosh down optimistic, which ren & stimpy never was

the cult of spumco and deification of john k is pretty obnoxious but it seems to have died down from what it was years ago

[D4C]

It was really cool when I was a kid.

Looking back. It's pretty much the definition of overrated tripe. It's garbage is what it is. It certainly wasn't on the tier of GOOD nicktoons like Doug and Rocko or even Angry Beavers. And that show was kind of crap too.

[Steve]

I will never forget the date August 11, 1991, which is the day that Doug, Rugrats, and this premiered as the first three Nicktoons. I was six, and I got up on Sunday morning to watch it.

Looking back, it's pretty amazing that Ren & Stimpy was even allowed on the air. For what was supposed to be a kid's cartoon, it could be pretty harsh at times. My favorite things were those extreme, incredibly-detailed closeups of stuff, like when they'd zoom in on Stimpy's nose-goblins or something. They've done that on Spongebob too. This isn't unique to those two cartoons but R&S is what I remember it for.

But my favorite thing ever on that show was



POWDERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRED



TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAST



MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!

[D4C]

My favorite things were those extreme, incredibly-detailed closeups of stuff, like when they'd zoom in on Stimpy's nose-goblins or something.

Unfortunately, that's pretty much 80% of the show. LOL SO SHOCKING.

Ren and Stimpy is to cartoons what Marilyn Manson is to music.

[Semaj]

The adult show is much much worse...

[HappyPalooza]

I liked when the characters cried.

[Mr Johannson]

One of those shows I would watch as a kid, but was never a big fan of. It still has some great episodes though.

I still love the Nickelodeon years of Ren & Stimpy. The Games episodes, the ones made after John K. was fired, aren't as bad as they're often labeled as. But APC just plain sucked.

Honestly, I never really noticed any difference in the post-John K years. APC however...

[Mr. Trampopoline]

Other than Semaj, am I the only person who thought some of the non-John K. episodes weren't that bad?

[Enter The Moleman]

John K has a post on his blog comparing the Fantastic Mr. Fox puppets to "Furries". ugh

He also shows he would have drawn Tiny Tunes, in the most unappealing way.

[kupomog]

Hahaha yeah that Tiny Toon's entry is terrible and scary.

[PreciousBodilyFluids]

John K has a post on his blog comparing the Fantastic Mr. Fox puppets to "Furries". ugh

Problem?

[Enter The Moleman]

I just think it's dumb/lazy comparison. The characters just look like animals with clothes, but minus the human-esque anatomy.

[Semaj]

Here's an episode without Ren and Stimpy.

http://www.feebs.nl/video/883b30aa72ca

[Dylan]

weird show.

[hairy moth owl]

All I remember are "stoooopid", Powdered Toast Man and Mr. Horse. I remember not really liking it at the time, then it growing on me, but I doubt I'd like it if I watched it today.

[cinco]

Season 1 and 2 are classic. Good times!

Watch these favorites. You won't be disappointed.

Space Madness
Nurse Stimpy
Stimpy's Invention
Untamed World
Sven Hoëk
A Visit to Anthony
Stimpy's Fanclub
Rubber Nipple Salesmen

[Mr. Trampopoline]

You guys got a lot of minutes to kill?

http://cin01.blogspot.com/2006/12/sp...evolution.html
http://cin26.blogspot.com/2006/12/ep...en-stimpy.html