Ren & Stimpy

[diet_orange]

So let's talk about probably one of the most infamous cartoons of the 1990's, the inescapable mad-cap madhouse that was The Ren & Stimpy Show. Personally I loved it and still think that it's incredibly genius, but not without it's problems (mainly perfectionism and other issues related to John K that I won't go into for the sake of brevity). The Spumco era is obviously highly favored, but I don't think the Games Animation years aren't without merit either, though I do kind of blame them for resorting to scatological humor and pure gross out for the sake of rather than Spumco where it served to further the plot and wasn't purely for shock value

Space Madness and Fake Dad are probably my two favorite episodes

 

[bjork]

I don't know it well enough to separate by era or anything, but I did watch it when it was a Nicktoon like 30+ years ago. It was popular at the time though I could always kinda go either way on it, however, Mr. Horse's weird ass freakout when they're rubber nipple salesmen is an all-time classic television moment. I don't know how they got this on a kid's show because it's as creepy as it is funny

 

[RETRO-VETRO RETRO-VETRO]

Ren & Stimpy’s legacy is fucking complicated but undeniably influential. What made the Spumco era stand out wasn’t just the animation style or the shock humor, but how tightly it was woven into character psychology and narrative rhythm. Even the gross-out moments had a kind of surreal logic to them, like “Stimpy’s Invention” where the madness builds toward that iconic “Happy Happy Joy Joy” climax. The Games Animation years definitely leaned harder into surface-level gags, and while some episodes still had strong visual direction, the tonal balance shifted. It’s wild how much the show shaped modern animation though, stuff like SpongeBob, Adventure Time, even Adult Swim’s weirder corners owe a lot to Ren & Stimpy’s willingness to break form and push discomfort as comedy. The show basically rewired what was acceptable in a cartoon, for better and worse.

For the people who don't know, this is Happy Happy Joy Joy:

 

[diet_orange]

I don't know it well enough to separate by era or anything, but I did watch it when it was a Nicktoon like 30+ years ago. It was popular at the time though I could always kinda go either way on it, however, Mr. Horse's weird ass freakout when they're rubber nipple salesmen is an all-time classic television moment. I don't know how they got this on a kid's show because it's as creepy as it is funny

Spumco is roughly the first two seasons, while Games is three thru five. I actually got a DVD set of the first two seasons of R&S as a High School Graduation present that I absolutely gobbled up. And yeah, Rubber Nipple Salesmen is a riot. On The DVD commentary, they were told by the censors that they could only really have R&S say "Nipple" a certain number of times before they got in trouble, so they tried to make the most of it

I've got a buddy that I met through Facebook (we hung out in similar groups and seemed to have a lot in common. I mean, come on, a Howard The Duck avatar? That's surely kismet) who's a big R&S fan as well and we both agree that "A Visit To Anthony" is probably the apex of uncomfortable episodes

Post automatically merged: Today at 1:29 AM

What made the Spumco era stand out wasn’t just the animation style or the shock humor, but how tightly it was woven into character psychology and narrative rhythm.

EXACTLY!

Even the gross-out moments had a kind of surreal logic to them, like “Stimpy’s Invention” where the madness builds toward that iconic “Happy Happy Joy Joy” climax. The Games Animation years definitely leaned harder into surface-level gags, and while some episodes still had strong visual direction, the tonal balance shifted.

I think my favorite inclusion in the Games Animation years was Wilbur Cobb (personally didn't care all that much for George Liquor tbh). Billy tries his best trying to sound like John's impression of Peter Lorre, but it just sounds off. I think John is in general kind of a terrible person that worked his staff to death to try and perfect his vision of what a "creator-driven" cartoon show should be, but John really did know what he was doing and I feel like the show suffered for his absence, even it was still wildly profitable

 

[Turbo Kid]

Ren's angry rants and screaming sessions were memorable, and I loved the, "No sir, I don't like it" horse.

 

[Ezri_Muldoon]

Absurdist humour, fuelled by networks desperate for original content to drive subscriptions.
This is the foundation of Nickelodeon, before SpongeBob & the Rugrats
(God it's depressing to recognise how Spongebob is STILL the main money maker) it was this which put its animated content on the map.

But I personally never liked it
Doesn't mean I can' respect its legacy.

 

[diet_orange]

But I personally never liked it
Doesn't mean I can' respect its legacy.

It's not for everybody and I kind of get the sense that a lot of people dislike the show because of how many other cartoons it influenced (namely Cow & Chicken, which I also love)

 

[RETRO-VETRO RETRO-VETRO]

Spumco is roughly the first two seasons, while Games is three thru five. I actually got a DVD set of the first two seasons of R&S as a High School Graduation present that I absolutely gobbled up. And yeah, Rubber Nipple Salesmen is a riot. On The DVD commentary, they were told by the censors that they could only really have R&S say "Nipple" a certain number of times before they got in trouble, so they tried to make the most of it

I've got a buddy that I met through Facebook (we hung out in similar groups and seemed to have a lot in common. I mean, come on, a Howard The Duck avatar? That's surely kismet) who's a big R&S fan as well and we both agree that "A Visit To Anthony" is probably the apex of uncomfortable episodes

Post automatically merged: Today at 1:29 AM

EXACTLY!



I think my favorite inclusion in the Games Animation years was Wilbur Cobb (personally didn't care all that much for George Liquor tbh). Billy tries his best trying to sound like John's impression of Peter Lorre, but it just sounds off. I think John is in general kind of a terrible person that worked his staff to death to try and perfect his vision of what a "creator-driven" cartoon show should be, but John really did know what he was doing and I feel like the show suffered for his absence, even it was still wildly profitable

Sorry I was eating, where were we? Ah yes, Wilbur Cobb he was one of the few characters from the Games era that felt like he still carried that surreal, broken brilliance from the Spumco days. Even when the voice didn’t quite land, the writing around him had that chaotic, rambling energy that made Ren & Stimpy feel unpredictable in the best way. And yeah, the whole “creator-driven” ethos John pushed was groundbreaking for animation at the time, but it came at a serious cost. The behind-the-scenes stories are rough, and it’s wild how much of the show’s DNA was tied to his obsessive control. Once he was out, you could feel the shift, like the show was mimicking itself rather than evolving. Still, it’s kind of amazing how much Ren & Stimpy influenced the industry, even with all the baggage. It cracked open the door for weird, creator-led projects that didn’t have to play by Saturday morning rules.

 

[MDGeistsfavMC5song]

I don't know it well enough to separate by era or anything, but I did watch it when it was a Nicktoon like 30+ years ago. It was popular at the time though I could always kinda go either way on it, however, Mr. Horse's weird ass freakout when they're rubber nipple salesmen is an all-time classic television moment. I don't know how they got this on a kid's show because it's as creepy as it is funny

yeah same here... my older brother was crazy into it when it first came out, so that meant I had to watch it too.. I started to love it also but never got to the point of buying the toys and stuff like he did... I still remember the stuffed animals he had that fart when you squeeze them... I like that character George Liquor from the episode "Dog Show" and apparently the whole drama with the un-aired "Man's Best Friend" episode ... well.. really the only ones I really like or even remember are from the first 3 seasons... I dont think I saw much after that

 

[Scotty]

I've only seen a few episodes of the show; A few years ago (during my final years of high school when I still watched TV), Teen Nick used to have the "Nick Splat" block where they aired '90s Nickelodeon cartoons and that was how I saw classics like Rocko's Modern Life, Rugrats, Doug (Pre-Disney era), Hey Arnold!, All That, and of course, Kenan & Kel...which aired on every other late Saturday night for some odd reason.

Back to Ren & Stimpy, I enjoyed it for what it was. Its gross-out humor was unique for its time and it paved the way for shows like South Park or Cow & Chicken.

I also played a couple of the games. The NES game is terrible, but "Stimpy's Invention" for Genesis was alright. A little jank in some aspects, but it captures the show's absurdity well and I REALLY enjoyed the team mechanic where if you hold various directions on the D-pad while holding the run button, you'll do a super move; and they're different for both Ren & Stimpy.

Post automatically merged: Today at 2:43 AM

I don't know it well enough to separate by era or anything, but I did watch it when it was a Nicktoon like 30+ years ago. It was popular at the time though I could always kinda go either way on it, however, Mr. Horse's weird ass freakout when they're rubber nipple salesmen is an all-time classic television moment. I don't know how they got this on a kid's show because it's as creepy as it is funny

That was actually the first episode I ever saw. I can already hear the walrus whispering "CALL THE POLIIIIIIICE!"

 

[CheesyExplosive]

So let's talk about probably one of the most infamous cartoons of the 1990's, the inescapable mad-cap madhouse that was The Ren & Stimpy Show. Personally I loved it and still think that it's incredibly genius, but not without it's problems (mainly perfectionism and other issues related to John K that I won't go into for the sake of brevity). The Spumco era is obviously highly favored, but I don't think the Games Animation years aren't without merit either, though I do kind of blame them for resorting to scatological humor and pure gross out for the sake of rather than Spumco where it served to further the plot and wasn't purely for shock value

Space Madness and Fake Dad are probably my two favorite episodes

Too bad i only seen it at age 5 but i love the chaos of it.

 

[MDGeistsfavMC5song]

I've only seen a few episodes of the show; A few years ago (during my final years of high school when I still watched TV), Teen Nick used to have the "Nick Splat" block where they aired '90s Nickelodeon cartoons and that was how I saw classics like Rocko's Modern Life, Rugrats, Doug (Pre-Disney era), Hey Arnold!, All That, and of course, Kenan & Kel...which aired on every other late Saturday night for some odd reason.

Back to Ren & Stimpy, I enjoyed it for what it was. Its gross-out humor was unique for its time and it paved the way for shows like South Park or Cow & Chicken.

I also played a couple of the games. The NES game is terrible, but "Stimpy's Invention" for Genesis was alright. A little jank in some aspects, but it captures the show's absurdity well and I REALLY enjoyed the team mechanic where if you hold various directions on the D-pad while holding the run button, you'll do a super move; and they're different for both Ren & Stimpy.

Post automatically merged: Today at 2:43 AM

That was actually the first episode I ever saw. I can already hear the walrus whispering "CALL THE POLIIIIIIICE!"

oh yeah that was funny as hell! I completely forgot about the terror in that walrus' eyes...

 

[Adrastia]

Back to Ren & Stimpy, I enjoyed it for what it was. Its gross-out humor was unique for its time and it paved the way for shows like South Park or Cow & Chicken.

It's amazing what children's television could get away with.

 

[Scotty]

It's amazing what children's television could get away with.

Yeah, seriously. Now every kids show is sanitized, corporate slop.

 

[iamthemilkman]

I loved Ren & Stimpy, Rocko's Modern Life, Hey Arnold, Rocket Power, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, etc., growing up. SpongeBob was the last good cartoon that Nickelodeon came up with.

I remember having these as a kid: