For those of us of a certain vintage, The Ren & Stimpy Show was utterly mind blowing. First rearing its head in 1991, this tale of a sociopathic chihuahua and a well-meaning, daft cat, this series was far more than your usual animated affair. And now, Happy Happy Joy Joy is here to tell the story of this most unique of properties.
From directors Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood, Happy Happy Joy Joy explores the creation and boom of the Ren and Stimpy characters, while also detailing the erratic mind that powered so much of what was initially seen from this duo.
Featuring a who’s who of those involved with bringing The Ren & Stimpy Show to life – such as John Kricfalusi, Vanessa Coffey, Jim Ballantine, Bob Camp, Lynne Naylor, Chris Reccardi and Billy Wray – this is the absolute perfect tell-all piece for fans of this IP. And while there’s very much a sense of championing Ren and Stimpy, the documentary does not pull any punches when it comes to the darker side of things.
It’s when the focus is on Kricfalusi that things tend to get the most intense here, with his relentless drive and determination the anchor behind making The Ren & Stimpy Show what it was, yet also being a detriment to the process by the time all was said and done. And then, well then there’s the truly dark element of all of this, as Kircfalusi ultimately ended up taking advantage of the young fans of his creation, in addition to terrorising the staff with which he wouldn’t have been able to bring Ren and Stimpy to live without.
As a celebration of Ren and Stimpy, Happy Happy Joy Joy is a triumph, but this is far more than just the literal happiness and joy of these characters and their unique world. In the end, you find yourself with a lasting sense of a sadness for the characters of Ren and Stimpy, for they, amongst many others, became victims in one man’s egomaniacal game – while those around Kricfalusi did their best to keep this runaway train on track.
Whether you’re a fan of Ren and Stimpy or not, this is a truly fascinating watch, and Happy Happy Joy Joy is an offering that has far more gut punches than a casual viewer may be expecting.
