Anna Daniels
Ren & Stimpy could easily take the prize for being the grossest cartoon ever to air on television — in fact, that’s something the creators seemed to strive for. This isn’t just about farting in the bathtub and watching the bubbles pop up, hair in the worst places, bulging veins, or Stimpy’s magic nose goblins (a.k.a. boogers), but mixing those elements with other bodily discomforts into repugnant situations. “Stimpy’s First Fart” features the titular cat trying to recreate an earthquake-like flatulence only to have his rear end deflate, which Ren then kicks. The show also depicted the characters having extremely detailed mites in their ears, losing a tail, or pulling their own eyes out. In the episode “Dog Show,” a small canine is eaten and the only remains are the eyes that are spit back up.
Some of the truly sickening spots come from more subtle actions, incredibly up-close shots that stick in the brain because the animation is so visceral in these unpleasant moments, even if they are absurd. In “Maddog Hoek,” which features a wrestling match, Ren takes a large chomp out of a bulging sore on his opponent and a pus-like liquid shoots out. Several of these scenes are worse for adults as they realize how much nastier the depictions are, especially for germaphobes. Some credit has to be given to the sound effects as well — they add just the right noises to poop gags and body contortions to give them that extra level of “eww.”
Kids love this stuff, but any adult choosing to eat during an episode of Ren & Stimpy will most likely regret that decision.
Written by: Looper
