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Help Kickstart a Ren & Stimpy documentary

The Simpsons may have broken many TV records and earned all of the plaudits, fans, memes and podcasts over the years, but another animated comedy of the early 1990s broke all of the rules and inspired a generation of funny people.

I was in college when my friends and I huddled to watch Nickelodeon — Nickelodeon!? — late at night to catch the latest episode of Ren & Stimpy.

It’s log, it’s log, it’s better than bad it’s good!

Happy happy joy joy, indeed!

Now more than 25 years later, filmmakers Ron Cicero & Kimo Easterwood, with a documentary about this groundbreaking toon, Happy Happy Joy Joy, The Ren & Stimpy Story.

Happy Happy Joy Joy, The Ren & Stimpy Story will shed light on how a cartoon about a twisted chihuahua and a dim-witted cat became an animation masterpiece; influenced American television, comedy and 90’s pop culture at large; rebelled against the status quo and affected the lives of those involved. The 90-minute film will feature interviews with key players and fans, never before seen footage of the show’s development, archival footage and original animation.

They’ve already spent thousands of hours and their life savings interviewing dozens of artists, writers, directors, producers, celebrities and super fans about the series, and even though Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi hasn’t participated directly yet, “he has okay’d the participation of several people close to him.” allowing us to photograph never before seen Ren & Stimpy storyboards, concept art, pencil tests and stills.

 

They’ve turned to Kickstarter now to complete post production, so they can pay for music and music licensing, original animation, main titles, sound design/editing/mixing, other legal costs.

Cicero and Easterwood are offering up rewards, too, because it’s Kickstarter, which include original and rare vintage artwork.

Their Ren & Stimpy documentary Kickstarter launched last week, and so far has raised $50,000 toward its goal of $289,400.

Won’t you help them reach their goal?

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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