An infamous cartoon has outdone itself. Ren & Stimpy - The Lost Episodes is, for the most part, a knee-slapping triumph. These adult-oriented installments of the dog and cat duo's exploits were written — and rejected — in 1991. Creator John Kricfalusi is back in control and once again performing as the voice of Ren. The six episodes are rife with slapstick humor of 'roid-rage intensity, profanity, borderline pornography, and chain-smoking characters.
Essentially, this is the same show you may have watched 15 years ago — in extreme form. Stimpson J. Cat is still a slow-witted goon and Ren Hoek still bashes him upside the head. During the introduction, Kricfalusi said that these episodes were crafted per fans' mailed requests.
The first episode, which aired on Spike TV in 2003, is aptly titled "Naked Beach Frenzy." Inordinately voluptuous bimbos drawn by a female cartoonist are the centerpiece. The crackhead-looking chihuahua is quickly hopped up on testosterone with Stimpy soon to follow. In an apparent appeal to men with a cartoon fetish, Z-cup breasts bounce ad nauseum. Puerile fixations aren't limited to the female anatomy; testicles, hairy man ass and pierced Jim jugs are prominently featured. Recommendation: watch while drinking, not eating.
"Stimpy's Pregnant," on the other hand, was a product of brilliance. A characteristically abusive, narcissistic Ren is cast as subservient Stimpy's husband. Ren is selfishness incarnate regarding his wife's pregnancy. The characters' interaction is a wild social commentary on egoistic pigs and the doormats who are drawn to them. Stereotypes make for great comedy.
Just when you thought the sickly dog couldn't be more vicious and deranged, "Ren Seeks Help" shows you his savage side. Ren victimizes Stimpy in some unspeakable way, cries in remorse, and seeks psychotherapy. This episode reveals the the roots of his violent nature and ends with a twist that is among the greatest moments in cartoon history.
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments
1 - Nukapai
A shame, because whilst I absolutely ADORE some of Ren & Stimpy material, I am NOT a fan of gross-out comedy. I can just about tolerate the constant puking in South Park, but I know from having been an early fan of Ren & Stimpy that their material can really cross the line for what I want to see on the screen.
I might still be tempted by this. Not sure yet. :)
2 - Kaonashi
Did you know that John has a blog and tends to post a lot of his sketches?
3 - Nukapai
Ooh, thank you, Kao! :)
4 - Duke De Mondo
ooh, this has done snared my interest-glands somethin' fierce. i remember the banter about the "adult" ren and stimpy toons a couple years back, but had forgotten all about them. thank you very much for reminding me! and a great review also.
as to gross-out humour, i think there are times when the like is absoloutely sublime. From Rabelais and his lists of items Gargantua used to wipe his arse, right up to the gloriously sickening antics in that recent South Park Richard Dawkins episode, i think there are times when the brilliant exageration of bodily functions approaches something close to godliness. Sometimes, course, it's because the writers had no proper jokes.
5 - Sterfish
I watched most of the episodes of the "Adult Party Cartoon" when they appeared on Spike TV and I have to say they were quite hit and miss. I agree that "Ren Seeks Help" was one of the best episodes, one that was really quite funny.
I think this really shows how some creative people work better with limits. With a company like Nickelodeon behind the original episodes, the creators had to temper some of the more extreme gross out elements and adult stuff with stuff that was strange. This balance of the strange and the gross out is the reason why R&S is so beloved in the first place. With no limits, the creators gorged on everything they couldn't do and, for the most part, the end result was something inferior.