RenAndStimpy

It seems unlikely that any cartoon series about a cat and a dog would gain the infamy of "Ren and Stimpy." The show, about the adventures of a cat who looks much like a dog and a short-tempered "Asthma-hound" Chihuahua, unable speak unless through clenched teeth, became a major institution on the basis of its eight-episode season.

It took "Ren and Stimpy" several months on Nickelodeon to turn into the cult hit it became. This success was built mostly on the word of mouth of the few who were up at that time. It was an uphill struggle, to say the least, but when it hit, it hit big.

Eventually, its first season became legendary, and memorized by many. John Kricfalusi was suddenly a success, and more episodes were demanded.

The official reason Nickelodeon gave was that Kricfalusi had problems meeting deadlines and going overbudget. Many believe that the real reason had to do with the show's content.

At any rate, Kricfalusi's last two episodes were "Sven Hoek" and "Stimpy's Fan Club." Both of these episodes demonstrate some of the reasons for the show's success, and at the same time make it very hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that made the show special.

The episode begins with a cute little title sequence involving a live action Swedish accordion player. Right off here, is part of the key to the show's success; the use of pauses. Everything takes much longer than it should. The accordion player plays for several seconds, causing the viewers t

The opening shot also uses this same principle. There's nothing quite like it. It seems very simple, and in this way it is brilliant; Ren and Stimpy at rest in their living room. There is no animation, really--it is simply a still of this dysfunctional family unit in dormancy. Stimpy sits on the rug, staring into space, his famous tongue protruding through his smiling lips, his eyes blissfully glazed. There is a light next to him, and its only function seems to be to make Stimpy's big blue nose glisten. Every once in so often, a contented groan can be heard, either from his mouth or stomach--which of these it is, it can be sure, is irrelevant.

Across from Stimpy, in the easy chair, is Ren, clutching the armrests. Waiting. Waiting. His eyes perpetually bulging, his teeth forever gritting, the only sounds he makes are those of pure frustration. Frustration at what is uncertain. It could be many things--Stimpy, the house, the chair, the nose-light, or perhaps even himself. This is as relaxed as Ren ever gets, and for Ren, it's actually quite relaxed.

This shot, carried on for at least thirty seconds, is probably the key to the series. More is said in this shot about the warped relationship that Ren and Stimpy share than any full episode could. Ren seems to quiver, like David Lynch's Angriest Dog In The World, in pure hatred so strong he cannot move, and Stimpy simply sits there oblivious, happy, and stupid.

The sun sets and rises again during this shot (complete with rooster crow) and soon Ren finally speaks. It seems that he is quite upset with his existence--that of being stuck with an idiot like Stimpy--and he will be glad when his cousin Sven shows up, giving him someone intelligent to talk to.

Suddenly, there is a buzzing sound. The doorbell? No, just Stimpy's watch alarm. Stimpy announces that he has a pressing appointment and hops on one leg to the other side of the house, where he stops in front of a garage door and a coin slot. He puts a quarter in the slot and the door opens, revealing a horse's behind. Stimpy then leans forward and is kicked squarely in the head, knocking him across the room and bouncing off of the walls. When he finally stops bouncing and jiggles to a halt, the look on his face is of pure lobotomized contentment. There is no explanation for this event. Perhaps one is not necessary. Perhaps one is not possible. On the other hand, it might explain a lot about Stimpy.

Having seen as much of this as he's willing to take, Ren leaps from his chair, brandishing a baseball bat (from out of nowhere), but before he can do any damage to his hapless roommate, there is a knock at the door. Sven!