“Marsupilami” Created by Andre’ Franquin; Directed b;y ;Bob Hathcock and Ed Wexler; Written by; John Behnke, Rob Humphry, and Jim Peterson; Starring Steve Mackall, Rene Auberjonois, Dan Castellaneta, Jim Cummings, Steve Landesberg, Tress MacNeille, Jason Marsden Frank Welker, and Samuel E. Wright; Run time 22 minutes.

“Marsupilami” got its start as a side character in the Franco-Belgian comic book “Spirou” creatd by Andre Franquin. The species made regular appearances in the book until Franquin quit working on it. Then they went dormant only to be revived decades later when a spin-off series of comics was created. This served to keep the character alive long enough to hit the cartoon boom of the 1990s.

The name is a combination of the words marsupial, pilou (the name of a character the creator loved), and ami (the French word for friend). The character entered into the minds of modern adults (I use that term lovingly) in the nineties when we were kids and when Marsu Productions created an animated series.

The show premiered as a part of Raw Toonage in 1992 and later on CBS, it ran until 1994. Along with the central episodes, of which there were thirteen, the show also featured shorts with either Marsupilami or side characters Sebastian the Crab (of “The Little Mermaid” fame) or Shnookums and Meat. The latter eventually got their own spin-off series that premiered in January of 1995.

The show took place in an undisclosed tropical jungle that the creator stated was in South America, though the series included species that are native to Africa, suggesting that at least this iteration takes place in a fictional amalgamation of all jungles.

Each episode features the titular character solving some problem that may involve either natural predators or human interlopers. The tone of the show feels similar to more modern fare, specifically “Wild Kratts” which features two humans in a wild setting solving some problem using animal powers. Replace the humans with a mostly mute marsupial and you’ve got “Marsupilami.”

The series fits nicely beside other environmentally conscious shows like “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” and “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” which also gained popularity in the nineties. Though “Marsupilami” was more subtle with its message, couched more in generally inoffensive children’s programming territory.

The series always stuck with me not because of the situations but because of the uniqueness of the central character. It appeals to children because the colors are bright, the characters are interesting, and most of the story is shown through action, not dialogue, making it easy to follow for kids who maybe haven’t developed strong communication skills just yet. This makes it perfect viewing for both kids and adults and serves as a testament to why the show has endured in the public psyche.

Long live Marsupilami. Houba houba.

“Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” Created by Richard Mueller; Written by Richard Mueller, Jack Enyart, and Ted Pedersen; Starring John Astin, Christian Guzek, Kath Soucie, Neil Ross, Thom Bray, Cam Clarke, S. Scott Bullock, and Maurice LaMarche; Run time 22 minutes; Originally aired September 8, 1990.

Alright 1990s, thanks for coming, please sit down. We need to talk. We’re all here because we care about you, no don’t get up, you need to hear this. We put up with a lot of weird stuff from you, when you convinced us all that tiny cardboard circles were collectible toys we went with it, when you developed and marketed creepy talking Mogwai dolls that may have been self aware we let it slide, and when you tried to convince us all that it was cool to roll up just one pant leg we didn’t say anything, because we love you.

I know you were a new decade and you were just trying to define yourself but this is getting out of hand. We have to draw the line somewhere and we’re drawing it at making cartoons about moderately sentient edibles from ambiguous food groups.

I know, I know, you’re not responsible for coming up with the “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes,” that was before your time. That first movie came out before your flamboyant neon colored older brother decade had even cracked his first tooth. And I know it was him that gave us a sequel (“Return of the Killer Tomatoes”) ten years later.

Look, I’m sure you meant well. You looked up to him, the 80s were barely over and it may have still looked cool, you weren’t far enough removed. And we can’t even blame you for bringing it into cartoons and marketing it to kids. That sin lies at the feet of the late great Jim Henson (See “The Weirdo Zone” segment of “Muppet Babies”) with the encouragement of your brother. It’s really him we should be talking too but he’s gone now…

So now this has fallen at your feet and what do you do? You give us some bogus story about veterans and holdovers from The Great Tomato War and a star crossed friendship between the human child of a war hero and tomato refugees and you have them combat the mad scientist, excuse me, angry scientist Dr. Putrid T. Gangreen (were you even trying?) trying to stop him from taking over the world. WITH TOMATOES!

You know what, the talking and malevolent tomatoes aren’t even my biggest complaint. I don’t even care so much that you had them riding skateboards, playing cards, and sporting questionable facial hair. But do you really expect us to believe that pizza would become even more of a staple food in a world where you can’t even get marinara. Pizza with mayonnaise instead of delicious, hearty, wholesome tomato sauce? I’m calling foul sir, I mean, how dare you.

What’s most troubling is that I have to remind myself I’m mad at you. I find myself enjoying it, being sucked down into this unfathomable wasteland you’ve created and forgetting that what you’ve done cannot be allowed.

You’re better than this 90s, yet here we are. You can do better, you can be better. I believe in you. Don’t let us down.

The long running era of the Saturday morning cartoon has officially ended, but no one can stop you from fulfilling your true weekend calling. Cartoons and Saturday mornings were made for each other and no one can tell us otherwise. It is to that end that we maintain vigil, bringing you animated selections each Saturday morning until the internet dies, or until we run out, good thing there’s always reruns.

“Samurai Pizza Cats” Adapted from “Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (Cat Ninja Legend Teyandee);  Licensed by Saban Entertainment; Starring Rick Jones, Sonja Ball, Terrence Scammell, and Pauline Little; Run time 30 minutes; Originally aired February 1, 1990.

What can I say about “Samurai Pizza Cats?” That theme song is ridiculous, I hate it and I love it at the same time. I don’t ever want to hear it again but it’s stuck in my head and I’m bobbing along. Stupid catchy theme song.

“Samurai Pizza Cats” was originally produced under the title “Kyatto Ninden Teyandee” which translates to Cat Ninja Legend Teyandee. According to the official wiki of the series the word Teyandee is, “a word that doesn’t translate well into English. It’s a retort used primarily by the old Tokyo city district residence and represents the Edo spirit

as espoused by the city folk in the area. It most likely evolved from the sentence “nani itte yandee?” (“What are you saying?” with disdain).”

So put that in your pub quiz file and save it for later.

The series takes place in the fictional town of Little Tokyo which is equal parts feudal Japan and future tech society. Little Tokyo is inhabited by a variation of anthropomorphic technologically enhanced animals. Cats, rats, dogs, etc.

The shows central villain is Seymor Cheese, a bipedal rat (and bipedal asshole) who is constantly up to some scheme to take over Little Tokyo from Emporer Fred (who’s competence in leadership is also up for debate).

Luckily for Fred, and all of Little Tokyo, “Big Al” Dente, leader of the palace guard, figures out what Cheese is up to and calls the Samurai Pizza Cats, made up of Speedy Ceviche, Polly Esther, and Guido Anchovy, for help.

Each episode features the cats working in the local pizza parlor and then getting involved in defending against Cheese’s current evil plot.

Think “Power Puff Girls” but less cute and more pizza cats.

The show is super self aware and self referential. There are consistent comments from the narrator and the characters that make it clear they know they are in a TV show.

If you’re looking for epic overarching plots this isn’t the show for you. If you’re looking for content that will make you think and challenge your previous philosophical notions you might want to look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for some straight fun involving robotic enhancements, pizza, and cats (I’m looking at you internet) then look no further, you have arrived. And you’re at the right place.

Cereal recommendation: pizza. Cheese is made of milk and crust is a carbohydrate. Given the circumstances and a loose relationship with “definitions” this qualifies. Logic.

The long running era of the Saturday morning cartoon has officially ended, but no one can stop you from fulfilling your true weekend calling. Cartoons and Saturday mornings were made for each other and no one can tell us otherwise. It is to that end that we maintain vigil, bringing you animated selections each Saturday morning until the internet dies, or until we run out, good thing there’s always reruns.

“Mission Hill” Created by Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein; Written by Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein, Michael Panes, Andrew Kreisberg, Ben Kull, J. David Stem, David N. Weiss, Aaron Ehasz, Dan McGrath, Robin Stein, Rob Schwartz, Rich Siegel, and Rachel Pulido; Starring Brian Posehn, Nick Jameson, Wallace Langham, Scott Menville, Vicki Lewis, Tom Kenny, Herbert Siguenza, and Tress MacNille; Run time 22 minutes; Originally aired September 24, 1999.

“Mission Hill” premiered September of 1999 on The WB. The series was originally titled “The Downtowners” but a name change was necessitated by MTV’s similarly titled “Downtown.”

The series follows a group of roommates living in Mission Hill, a fictionalized big city. Mission Hill has no analogous location in real life but is said to be an amalgamation of Mission District, Silver Lake, Wicker Park, and Williamsburg in Brooklyn. The four primary protagonists are Andy French an aspiring cartoonist employed at an ad agency, his best friend Jim Kuback (Posehn), his socially awkward little brother Kevin French, and Posey Tyler a blonde holdover from the hippy generation.

“Mission Hill” is irreverent at times but underneath the shock humor is a foundation of friendship and self affirmation. I was struck with how the series handles questions of sexuality and orientation. In the series’ third episode “Kevin’s Problem (or Porno for Pyro)” Kevin encounters a pornographic magazine while filling in at the local grocery store for a friend. When he thinks the store is slow he takes the magazine into the bathroom to masturbate. The episode makes it clear that this is not normal behavior for Kevin and he feels a certain amount of shame in his sexuality. While he’s in the bathroom the store is robbed by two of Kevin’s class mates, when the alarm goes off and the police begin to arrive, Kevin finds himself locked in the bathroom and accidentally burns the building down trying to hide the evidence of his immoral behavior.

When Kevin’s classmates are charged with attempted murder for trapping him in the bathroom and setting the building on fire, Kevin has to come clean on the witness stand admitting that he was in the bathroom looking at pornography and that he started the fire trying to hide it.

Andy then rises to confront the laughing court room crowd giving a speech about normal sexuality and that none of this would have happened if Kevin didn’t have an unjustified sexual shame. While the entire sequence of events is played out for laughs the message rings true.

“Mission Hill” also had the support of GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation” and, according to the show’s creator, “We actually had network television’s first gay male kiss in the first episode. That was the first gay male kiss ever broadcast on television and nobody cares because they didn’t see the show.”

Despite the show’s quality and progressive attitudes the shows was almost immediately put on hiatus by The WB after only two episodes. “Mission Hill” did have a second life, though almost equally brief, on Adult Swim from July to August of 2002. Only thirteen episodes were completed, of a planned eighteen. The complete series can be purchased on DVD and episode three “Kevin’s Problem (or Porno for Pyro)” has been embedded for you below. 

The long running era of the Saturday morning cartoon has officially ended, but no one can stop you from fulfilling your true weekend calling. Cartoons and Saturday mornings were made for each other and no one can tell us otherwise. It is to that end that we maintain vigil, bringing you animated selections each Saturday morning until the internet dies, or until we run out, good thing there’s always reruns.

“The Oblongs” Created by Angus Oblong and Jace Richdale; Starring Pamela Adlon, Will Ferrell, Jean Smart, Randy Sklar, Jason Sklar, Jeannie Elias, Billy West, Laraine Newman, Lea DeLaria, and Becky Thyre; Run time 30 minutes; Originally aired April 1, 2001.

“The Oblongs” is a half hour animated series that premiered on The WB April 2001. It is loosely based on characters from a picture book titled “Creepy Susie and 13 Other Tragic Tales for Troubled Children.” The show centers on the Oblongs, a family of deformed individuals who live in a polluted valley.

The show used absurd situations and objectively creepy stylization to comment on social stratification and class imbalance. The titular family live in a polluted valley and as a result each of them has some sort of deformity including a loss of limbs, hair, being conjoined or having a strange growth atop their head. Other characters have no bottom jaw or one centered breast, etc.

The upper class citizens in the show live in the hills, above the effects of the pollution and as a result don’t suffer from the maladies that impact the lower class.

The pollution that wreaks havoc on the valley folk is a direct result of the lavish lifestyles of those in the hills. This makes for a thinly veiled commentary on how the lifestyles of the “haves” directly and negatively impact the lives of the “have nots.”

“The Oblongs” would happily live along side similar shows like “Invader Zim” with animation and jokes that are slightly cringe inducing yet somehow endearing.

“The Oblongs” was short lived, with only thirteen episodes produced, the show was cancelled with only eight episodes aired on May 20, 2001. A little over a year later, in August of 2002 the final episodes were aired as part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block.

The show’s creator Angus Oblong has hinted at the possibility of a limited return of the series on Cartoon Network but as of 2010 there has been no update on the potential revival.

The long running era of the Saturday morning cartoon has officially ended, but no one can stop you from fulfilling your true weekend calling. Cartoons and Saturday mornings were made for each other and no one can tell us otherwise. It is to that end that we maintain vigil, bringing you animated selections each Saturday morning until the internet dies, or until we run out, good thing there’s always reruns.

“God, the Devil, and Bob” Created by Matthew Carlson; Directed by Dan Fausett, Sherie Pollack, Steve  Ressel, Swinton O. Scott III, and Jeff DeGrandis; Written by Matthew Carlson, Gary Murphy, Neil Thompson, and Alex Reid; Starring French Stewart, James Garner, Alan Cumming, Laurie Metcalf, Kath Soucie, Nancy Cartwright, and Jeff Doucette; Run time: 30 minutes; Originally aired March 9, 2000.

“God, the Devil, and Bob” begins with God taking a walk through modern civilization with the Devil. They seem to mostly have put their differences behind them and while they disagree with each other’s methods, they have a semblance of a friendship. When the devil makes an off handed comment saying, “Nice place you’ve created here,” in reference to a seedy back alley full of equally seedy characters, God realizes he has a point and laments that he’s considered wiping the board clean and starting fresh.

The Devil, understandably excited by this prospect encourages God in this line of thinking but God has second thoughts, he thinks maybe he ought to give humanity one last chance, but not wanting to pull the rug completely out from under the Devil’s feet, decides to make a deal. God will put off destroying all existence if a single soul can prove to him that humanity is redeemable, and because he’s so sporting he’s going to let the Devil choose the human being upon whose shoulders the fate of all existence shall rest.

Enter Bob Allman (Allman presumably to represent the everyman or all of man kind).

Bob (voiced by French Stuart) is an average guy, he works in an automobile plant in Detroit, drinks beer, argues with his wife, and struggles to connect with his children and he’s just recently met his maker.

Bob encounters the lord of hosts and the king of lies in a bar downtown, God is more than vague about what exactly Bob’s mission entails leaving him to figure out how to save humanity on his own, the Devil doesn’t offer much help either.

Bob trips, stumbles, falls, and at one point runs face first into the proverbial wall in his attempt to figure God’s cryptic instructions and save existence.

While this serves as the central plot and initial premise of the series, it isn’t drawn out, Bob is able to save the world by the end of the first episode simply by showing love and selfless affection to his daughter in a time of crisis. Thus, God calls off the apocalypse but tells Bob he isn’t finished with him yet.

The series dealt with philosophical and theological ideas while also poking fun at the apparent holes in religion.

The show didn’t live long, only a few weeks. A combination of low ratings and pressure from religious activists pushed a spear through its side and after four episodes it was finished. Activists killed “God, the Devil, and Bob” but forgive them, they knew not what they were doing.

After three days (or 11 years) the series rose again and was aired in completion on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.

Hallelujah. 

The long running era of the Saturday morning cartoon has officially ended, but no one can stop you from fulfilling your true weekend calling. Cartoons and Saturday mornings were made for each other and no one can tell us otherwise. It is to that end that we maintain vigil, bringing you animated selections each Saturday morning until the internet dies, or until we run out, good thing there’s always reruns.

“Widget, the World Watcher” Created by Peter Keefe; Directed by Tom Burton; Starring Russi Taylor, Jim Cummings, Kath Soucie, and Dana Hill; Run time: 30 minutes; Originally aired September 29, 1990.

“Widget, the World Watcher” introduces us to a group of benevolent aliens known as “watchers” who have tasked themselves with ensuring peaceful coexistence between all life forms.

In the first episode Earth is identified as a planet needing assistance. There is conflict brewing between human beings (known as “earthers” to the watchers) and whales, an apparently intelligent extra-terrestrial species living on Earth. Humans are capturing baby whales and using them for circus attractions. The watchers enlist the help of Widget, a watcher apprentice second class, to prepare a shuttle for the watcher that will go help Earth.

While preparing the shuttle Widget accidentally launches it toward Earth with himself still inside. He crash lands on the coast damaging his ship and leaving him with only a malfunctioning A.I known as Mega Brain for help.

Upon arriving Widget is welcomed by three human children who help him with is mission to intercede on behalf of whales. They borrow a speedboat and meet the whalers head on, sinking their ship and setting the baby whales free.

“Widget, the World Watcher” was one of several cartoons with environmental conservation themes that came out during this time. “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” had debuted only a couple of weeks prior on September 15, 1990, “Toxic Avengers” would hit the small screen less than a year later, and “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” was well into production in anticipation of its 1992 release.

“Widget” is similar to these other titles in that they all focus on saving the world from some ecological disaster, the threatening of a species, air pollution, oil slicks… the overarching theme is that we human beings should handle our fragile world a little more carefully so as to not need the interference of a hive-mind super hero, a pudgy little shape shifting alien, a toxic mutation, or a fairy and Robin Williams to save us from ourselves.

When I was a kid there was a sense that our environment was in trouble and that it was our responsibility to take action. I remember my elementary school class collecting donations from students to purchase rain forest land for preservation, or plant trees. I remember going on field trips to pick up trash, I remember being taught about endangered species and having a real sense that it was a serious problem needing serious action. Recycling was a big deal and something to be proud of, even Pauly Shore got in on the message with “Bio-Dome” which beneath all of its silliness and weasily antics has a message of responsibility to repair the damage cause by us and our predecessors either through ignorance or abuse.

It never felt like I was being preached to, it simply felt like a problem that was obvious, one we were aware of, and one we were preparing to correct, and I think these cartoons had something to do with that awareness.

Somewhere between then and now, even as the problems have escalated, we seem to have lost focus. I’m not suggesting that it’s directly related to the loss of these shows, it’s probably more accurate that they went hand in hand. We lost interest in taking the problem seriously and we lost interest in these types of stories and characters at the same time.

Things aren’t getting any better for our environment, maybe we would benefit if Widget, Crysta, and The Captain would come back.

The long running era of the Saturday morning cartoon has officially ended, but no one can stop you from fulfilling your true weekend calling. Cartoons and Saturday mornings were made for each other and no one can tell us otherwise. It is to that end that we maintain vigil, bringing you animated selections each Saturday morning until the internet dies, or until we run out, good thing there’s always reruns.

“Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys” Created by Gordon Bressack; Jerry Doyle, Karen Maruyama, Maurice LaMarche, Dom Irrera, James Avery, Malcolm McDowell, Jeff Bennett, and Michael Dorn; Run time: 22 minutes; Originally aired September 7, 1996.

In the early days of the space race an ape name Charlie was sent beyond the bonds of Earth by NASA and was lost in deep space. Due to a combination of freezing temperatures and zero gravity he was kept in stasis until, after decades, he reached the center of the galaxy where he encountered a vastly advanced species known only as The “        “ a species so advanced their name can’t be pronounced, only thought.

The “         “ grant Charlie the gift of enhanced intelligence and technology making him the most intelligent and advanced individual from Earth. Upon his awakening he is informed that the universe is under threat by Lord Nebula (Dorn) a being who was once human but is now a sentient partially realized black hole intent on destroying existence in a big crunch and rebuilding the universe in his own image.

In a last ditch effort to save all reality Charlie recruits four other monkeys and apes to make up his crew. He is joined by a Chinese golden monkey called Shao Lin, a spider monkey called Spydor, a mentally cracked orangutan called Dr. Splitz/Splitzy who exhibits a Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde split personality, and a gorilla called Gor who unfortunately broke the gift giving technology before his evolution was completed. Together they travel the universe fighting off Nebula to keep reality intact and safe.

While the show’s title implies that all of the central characters are monkeys, that is only true of Spydor and Shao Lin. Charlie, Dr. Splitz/Splitzy, and Gor are all in fact apes, but “Space Monkeys” sounds cooler and rolls off the tongue more easily than “Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys and Apes” so for brevity’s sake we’ll let it slide.

Despite sharp writing, interesting concepts, and a star studded cast (no pun intended) the series lasted less than a year with only 26 episodes being produced.

The long running era of the Saturday morning cartoon has officially ended, but no one can stop you from fulfilling your true weekend calling. Cartoons and Saturday mornings were made for each other and no one can tell us otherwise. It is to that end that we maintain vigil, bringing you animated selections each Saturday morning until the internet dies, or until we run out, good thing there’s always reruns.

“Rocko’s Modern Life” Created by Joe Murray, starring Carlos Alazraqui, Tom Kenny, Charles Adler, Doug Lawrence, Joe Murray, and Linda Wallem; Run time: 30 minutes; Originally aired September 18, 1993.

The character of Rocko first began as a comic book character in an unpublished series created by Joe Murray in the late 80s. During the early nineties Nickelodeon was looking for new series that were a bit edgier than most of what they had done before, with the exception of “The Ren & Stimpy Show” which was still in production.

Murray pitched the character to Nickelodeon where it ran for 52 episodes.

As a kid “Rocko’s Modern Life” appealed to me because it hit the sweet spot between kids entertainment and edgier adult content. While I enjoyed “Ren & Stimpy” it sometimes felt a little far gone for me and Rocko dialed it back just enough to get back in my youthful comfort zone while still employing gross out animation and crude humor.

The story follows the titular character, a wallaby, as well as his best friend Heffer Wolfe, a cow raised by wolves, and a turtle called Filbert.  

The show’s creator was originally skeptical about creating a cartoon for Nickelodeon but was assured by executives that Nicktoons weren’t like ordinary cartoons and that his sentiments would fit in just fine stating that he wouldn’t have to “write for children.”

The character of Rocko was created when Murray visited a zoo and saw a wallaby that seemed oblivious to the chaos around him. This one interaction gives a pretty solid basis for the entire series, a wallaby surrounded by, but not impeded by, complete and utter chaos.

Jeff “Swampy” Marsh was a storyboard writer on the show, he described the experience as difficult, stating that there was pretty consistent back and forth with censors wanting material changed or removed. Though he said the relationship of the writers with the censors was good and they worked together to find a common ground that appealed to both kids and adults. Marsh later went on to be one of the principal creators behind “Phineas and Ferb” another show that lives in the wonderland between childhood and adulthood, though without being so edgy.

“Rocko’s Modern Life” had mixed reviews from critics with some saying that it was smart and progressive, while others say it was a feeble attempt at capturing the success of “Ren & Stimpy.” Both are right to a degree, but there’s no denying that Rocko has had a lasting legacy and ardent fans even today. It also helped launch the careers of many of the industry’s biggest names, including Swamy Marsh, Dan Povenmire, and Tom Kenny. When the show finally ended after four season, much of the cast and crew regrouped on “Spongebob Squarepants” and also returned for Murray’s next series “Camp Lazlo” which employed the same animation style and similar characters in camp setting. 

The long running era of the Saturday morning cartoon has officially ended, but no one can stop you from fulfilling your true weekend calling. Cartoons and Saturday mornings were made for each other and no one can tell us otherwise. It is to that end that we maintain vigil, bringing you animated selections each Saturday morning until the internet dies, or until we run out, good thing there’s always reruns.

“The Ren & Stimpy Show” (7 out of 10) Created by John Kricfalusi; Directed by John Kricfalusi and Bob Camp; Written by John Kricfalusi, Bob Camp, Jim Smith, Vincent Waller, Bill Wray, Jim Gomez, Richard Pursel, Chris Reccardi, Ron Hauge, and Vince Calandra; Starring John Kricfalusi and Billy West; Originally aired August 11, 1991.

“The Ren & Stimpy Show” commonly called “Ren & Stimpy” was an early nineties animated series that ran on Nickelodeon. I’ve always been surprised that Nickelodeon chose to air the show with its gross-out humor and controversial subject matter, and having watched the show again in preparation for this column I’m still baffled by it.

“Ren & Stimpy” was one of the three original Nicktoons along with “Rugrats” and “Doug” which are both good in their own rights but don’t seem like they’d sit at the same lunch table with “Ren and Stimpy.”

The series was created by John Kricfalusi and pitched to Nickelodeon as part of a larger variety show, Nickelodeon homed in on the cat and dog duo and asked to have a series developed around them. Despite the studio having requested the show, it was in constant battles with their Standards and Practices department over particular content, with many requests to alter or remove material. Considering what made it into the episodes I’m curious what was removed.

In the first two seasons Ren, a Chihuahua with anger management problems, was voiced by Kricfalusi and Stimpy, a dimwitted but well meaning cat, was voiced by Billy West. Beginning in season 3 West took over voice duties for Ren as well.

The show didn’t have much overarching story aside from the occasional return gag. Each episode planted the titular characters in a new situation, most of it happening right here on earth, while some episodes took the characters into space or into historical or fictional settings.

Most episodes created a situation that would put the characters at odds with one another, usually when Ren became enraged by some unintentional slight set upon him by Stimpy. That animation style utilized unsettlingly detailed close ups and disturbing imagery, in the episode embedded below you’ll see a scene of Stimpy grooming for bed, while the initial removal of hair and cleaning of his nose are disgusting to be sure, the scene escalates when Stimpy removes his eyes, blinking gaping sockets, and places them into a contact case. He then closes the case, smashing his eyeballs with portions oozing out of the case.

To my recollection no animated series had explored that kind of territory before, and if they did, none saw the popularity that “Ren & Stimpy” did. It’s really no surprise that the show gained as large and ardent a following as it did, or that it had so many run ins with the Standards board.

The series ultimately ran for five seasons and produced a total of 52 episodes as well as one that was produced but pulled in its entirety.

For the truly courageous you can see that banned episode, it was aired as the pilot of the rebranded series “Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon” along with a handful of others. The show ran at night on Spike as part of their animation block but was cancelled quickly. As the name suggests, “Adult Party Cartoon” delved into even more fringe territory such as nudity, the consumption of body fluids, and sexual situations, including an explicit sexual relationship between the titular characters. Billy West did not reprise his role stating that that he didn’t think the show was funny and being a part of it would damage his career.

The show has been cited as having paved the way for shows like “Beavis and Butt-Head” and it’s arguable that something like Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim might not exist if “Ren & Stimpy” hadn’t shown us what cartoons can be like if we’re willing to throw away the rules. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying the impact that “The Ren & Stimpy Show” had on the industry and the way viewers take in cartoons. So this week we’re honoring the dog and cat that opened our eyes, then made us take soap to them.