History WesternAnimation / TheRenandStimpyShow

One of the first three Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}, which premiered alongside ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' on August 11, 1991, and third to premiere, ''Ren & Stimpy'' broke the mould in many ways. Kricfalusi and his crew were uncompromising in their ambition to diverge from [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation the boring, cheaply-animated and moral-heavy programming they despised working on for years]] by setting out to make cartoons funny again. Plots for episodes were devised using [[{{Storyboard}} storyboards]] rather than written scripts (modelled after how [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden Age]] cartoons had been made), and the layout stage was prioritised, allowing focus on visual humour and expressive character acting. This approach inspired many other successful shows in its wake -- such as ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', and ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' -- [[FollowTheLeader to follow its example]], whilst its... ahem, ''infamous'' imagery pretty much [[TropeMaker invented]] the GrossoutShow genre.

The show was an overnight sensation. However, friction between Nickelodeon execs and Kricfalusi -- mostly over Kricfalusi's attitude and penchant for late work -- eventually led to his removal from the show in 1992. Production was then absorbed by Nickelodeon itself (via its inhouse studio Games Animations) as most of the original staff gradually left in disgust over Kricfalusi's firing. The show was cancelled in 1995 after 52 half-hour episodes.

However, friction between Nickelodeon execs and Kricfalusi -- mostly over Kricfalusi's attitude and penchant for late work -- eventually led to his removal from the show in 1992. Production was then absorbed by Nickelodeon itself (via its inhouse studio Games Animations) as most of the original staff gradually left in disgust over Kricfalusi's firing. The show was cancelled in 1995 after 52 half-hour episodes.

Well, Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} did, and the result was ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'', which detailed the adventures of an [[InvertedTrope inverted version]] of the [[CatDogDichotomy cat and dog duo]], consisting of a [[CloudCuckoolandersMinder smart]], yet [[TheMentallyDisturbed mentally unbalanced]] and [[SociopathicHero psychopathic]] chihuahua named Ren Höek and his feline sidekick, a [[ThePollyanna cheery]] [[ManChild but]] [[TheDitz moronic]] [[BuffoonishTomCat tomcat]] named Stimpson J. Cat who often makes Ren [[EnragedByIdiocy angry with his eediocy]].

Well, Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} did, and the result was ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'', which detailed the adventures of an [[InvertedTrope inverted version]] of the [[CatDogDichotomy cat and dog duo]], consisting of a [[CloudCuckoolandersMinder smart]], yet [[TheMentallyDisturbed mentally unbalanced]] and [[SociopathicHero psychopathic]] chihuahua named Ren Höek and his feline sidekick, a [[ThePollyanna cheery]] [[ManChild but]] [[TheDitz moronic]] [[BuffoonishTomCat tomcat]] named Stimpson J. Cat who oft makes Ren [[EnragedByIdiocy angry with his eediocy]].

Who in their right minds would give a mainstream animated series to Creator/JohnKricfalusi, the enigmatic Canadian animator known for causing chaos throughout the '80s, with his attempts in putting out a [[GrossoutShow grotesque]], almost obscene art style which played up every body hair, pimple, bulging vein, oozing sore, lump of unsightly fat, and pock-marked butt cheek, whilst proudly flaunting around showing off the most disgusting and disturbing parts of internal anatomy?

Well, Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} did, and the result was ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'', which detailed the adventures of an [[InvertedTrope inverted version]] of the [[CatDogDichotomy cat and dog duo]], consisting of the [[CloudCuckoolandersMinder smart]], yet [[TheMentallyDisturbed mentally unbalanced]] and [[SociopathicHero psychopathic]] chihuahua named Ren Höek and his feline sidekick, a [[ThePollyanna cheery]] [[ManChild but]] [[TheDitz moronic]] [[BuffoonishTomCat tomcat]] named Stimpson J. Cat who can make Ren [[EnragedByIdiocy angry with his eediocy]].

[[RefugeInAudacity The show was over-the-top in every way imaginable]]: in its visuals, even traditional AnimationTropes were taken up a notch; characters frequently [[{{Hammerspace}} Temporarily Atomise]] things the size of a nuclear submarine and NonFatalExplosions generally take out at least one state. Even its dialog was pulled up to eleven -- Ren didn't so much talk as scream threats and insults in other people's faces. And that's not even counting its macabre tone -- in ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'', even a standard {{sitcom}} plot such as "Ren is jealous that Stimpy has a fan club" could become a tale of operatic angst and rage. And just when you thought you've seen everything, it gives us an almighty TearJerker tale about a ''sentient fart cloud!''

One of the first three Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}, which premiered alongside ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' on August 11, 1991, and third to premiere, ''Ren & Stimpy'' broke the mould in many ways: Kricfalusi and his crew were uncompromising in their ambition to diverge from [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation the boring, cheaply-animated and moral-heavy programming they despised working on for years]] by setting out to make cartoons funny again. Plots for episodes were devised using [[Main/{{Storyboard}} storyboards]] rather than written scripts (modelled after how [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden Age]] cartoons had been made) and the layout stage was prioritised, allowing focus on visual humour and expressive character acting. This approach inspired many other successful shows in its wake - such as ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', and ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' - [[FollowTheLeader to follow its example]], whilst its... ahem, ''infamous'' imagery pretty much [[TropeMaker invented]] the GrossoutShow genre.

The series lived on through a Creator/{{Marvel}} ComicBook series published from 1992 to 1996, alongside a brief early-2000s reboot (with Kricfalusi on board) for adult audiences called ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpyAdultPartyCartoon'', which is... well, polarising, to say the least.

A [[https://deadline.com/2020/08/the-ren-stimpy-show-reboot-greenlighted-comedy-central-reimagening-1203004284/ reboot]] of the show is currently in development at Creator/ComedyCentral, being produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studios with Creator/BillyWest once again voicing the titular characters; this will be the first Nickelodeon show produced for Comedy Central. In light of statutory rape allegations made against him in 2018, it was confirmed that Kricfalusi is not involved in the reboot.

An unauthorized tell-all by Thad Komorowski entitled ''[[Literature/SickLittleMonkeys Sick Little Monkeys: The Unauthorized Ren & Stimpy Story]]'' was published in 2013. A documentary, ''Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren and Stimpy Story'', which features new art and animation by many of the original artists who worked on the show, was released in 2020.

!!''General trope examples:''

!!Tie in Media with their own trope pages:

Who in their right minds would give a mainstream animated series to Creator/JohnKricfalusi, the enigmatic Canadian animator known for causing chaos throughout the '80s with his attempts in putting out a [[GrossoutShow grotesque]], almost obscene art style which played up every body hair, pimple, bulging vein, oozing sore, lump of unsightly fat, and pock-marked butt cheek whilst proudly flaunting around showing off the most disgusting and disturbing parts of internal anatomy?

Well, Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} did, and the result was ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'', which detailed the adventures of a [[InvertedTrope inverted version]] of the [[CatDogDichotomy cat and dog duo]], consisting of the [[CloudCuckoolandersMinder smart]], yet [[TheMentallyDisturbed mentally unbalanced]] and [[SociopathicHero psychopathic]] chihuahua named Ren Höek and his feline sidekick, a [[ThePollyanna cheery]] [[ManChild but]] [[TheDitz moronic]] [[BuffoonishTomCat tomcat]] named Stimpson J. Cat who can make Ren [[EnragedByIdiocy angry with his eediocy]].

[[RefugeInAudacity The show was over-the-top in every way imaginable]]: in its visuals, even traditional AnimationTropes were taken up a notch; characters frequently [[{{Hammerspace}} Temporarily Atomise]] things the size of a nuclear submarine and NonFatalExplosions generally take out at least one state. Even its dialog was pulled up to eleven -- Ren didn't so much talk as scream threats and insults in other people's faces. And that's not even counting its macabre tone -- in ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'', even a standard {{sitcom}} plot such as "Ren is jealous that Stimpy has a fan club" could become a tale of operatic angst and rage. And just when you thought you've seen everything, it gives us an almighty TearJerker tale about a ''sentient fart cloud''!

One of the first three Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}, which premiered alongside ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' on August 11, 1991, and third to premiere, ''Ren & Stimpy'' broke the mould in many ways: Kricfalusi and his crew were uncompromising in their ambition to diverge from [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation the boring, cheaply-animated and moral-heavy programming they despised working on for years]] by setting out to make cartoons funny again. Plots for episodes were devised using [[Main/{{Storyboard}} storyboards]] rather than written scripts (modelled after how [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden Age]] cartoons had been made) and the layout stage was prioritised, allowing focus on visual humour and expressive character acting. This approach inspired many other successful shows in its wake - such as ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', and ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' - [[FollowTheLeader to follow its example]], whilst its... ahem, ''infamous'' imagery pretty much [[TropeMaker invented]] the GrossoutShow genre.

However, friction between Nickelodeon execs and Kricfalusi -- mostly over Kricfalusi's attitude and penchant for late work -- eventually led to his removal from the show in 1992. Production was then absorbed by Nickelodeon itself (via its inhouse studio Games Animations) as most of the original staff gradually left in disgust over Kricfalusi's firing. The show was cancelled in 1996 after a total of 94 episodes.

* AscendedFanfic: "The Cat that Laid the Golden Hairball" is based on a fan comic that said fan mailed to Spumco.

* GagBoobs: In "Ren's Pecs", Ren is able to punch the beach tough and throw him out to sea... all using only his pecs.
** Similarly, in "Mad Dog Hoek", a bad guy wrestler beats up Ren with just his pecs.

* {{Jerkass}}: Ren. He insults and beats up his own friend, is incredibly greedy, and has a HairTriggerTemper. [[DownplayedTrope/Downplayed]] as he has a HiddenHeartOfGold.

* {{Jerkass}}: Ren.

* NoPronunciationGuide: No two episodes seem to agree on just how to pronounce Ren's last name. Stimpy, other characters and narrators usually go with some variation of either "Hork" (rhymes with "pork"), "Ho-eck" or "Ho-ack".
** Even Ren isn't consistent about the pronunciation; he does blow up at least once when someone fails to pronounce it "Hork", but other times he says nothing.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* PlotAllergy: Ren's allergic to Stimpy's shedded fur in "Hair of the Cat", [[IdiotPlot though it takes him the whole episode to realize it.]] The solution? Have Stimpy live in a sealed jar.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Make no mistake, this show was this to just about every animated TV show of its' day. The reboot for adults managed to take it [[UpToEleven a thousand steps further]].

One of the first three Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}, which premiered alongside ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' on August 11, 1991, and third to premiere, ''Ren & Stimpy'' broke the mould in many ways: Kricfalusi and his crew were uncompromising in their ambition to diverge from [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation the boring, cheaply-animated and moral-heavy programming they despised working on for years]] by setting out to make cartoons funny again. Plots for episodes were devised using [[Main/{{Storyboard}} storyboards]] rather than written scripts (modelled after how [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden Age]] cartoons had been made) and the layout stage was prioritised, allowing focus on visual humour and expressive character acting. This approach inspired many other successful shows in its' wake - such as ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', and ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' - [[FollowTheLeader to follow its example]], whilst its... ahem, ''infamous'' imagery pretty much [[TropeMaker invented]] the GrossoutShow genre.

* SmallReferencePools: Averted, as many of the classical music tracks used in the show aren't the famous ones heard everywhere. Who but classical buffs know about Frederic Chopin's "Ballad in F-Minor Op. 52", or Josef Suk's "Asrael" symphony, or Claude Debussy's "Canope", or Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Francesca da Rimini"?

* ThickLineAnimation: The show uses it from time to time, depending on it's animation studio. The episode "Egg Yolkeo/It's a Dog's Life" for example, along with the pilot episode named "Big House Blues".

* AbortedArc: Not that they had any real continuity to begin with, but the "Commander Hoek & Cadet Stimpy" shorts disappeared completely after the first season.

One of the first three Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}, which premiered alongside ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' on August 11, 1991, and third to premiere, ''Ren & Stimpy'' broke the mould in many ways: Kricfalusi and his crew were uncompromising in their ambition to diverge from [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation the boring, cheaply-animated and moral-heavy programming they despised working on for years]] by setting out to make cartoons funny again. Plots for episodes were devised using [[Main/{{Storyboard}} storyboards]] rather than written scripts (modelled after how [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden Age]] cartoons had been made) and the layout stage was prioritised to allow focus on visual humour and expressive character acting. This approach inspired many other successful shows in its' wake - such as ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', and ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' - [[FollowTheLeader to follow its example]], whilst its... ahem, ''infamous'' imagery pretty much [[TropeMaker invented]] the GrossoutShow genre.

One of the first three Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}, which premiered alongside ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' on August 11, 1991, and third to premiere, ''Ren & Stimpy'' broke the mould in many ways: Kricfalusi and his crew were relentless in their ambition to diverge from [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation the boring, cheaply-animated and moral-heavy programming they despised working on for years]] by setting out to make cartoons funny again. Plots for episodes were devised using [[Main/{{Storyboard}} storyboards]] rather than written scripts (modelled after how [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden Age]] cartoons had been made) and the layout stage was prioritised to allow focus on visual humour and expressive character acting. This approach inspired many other successful shows in its' wake - such as ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', and ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' - [[FollowTheLeader to follow its example]], whilst its... ahem, ''infamous'' imagery pretty much [[TropeMaker invented]] the GrossoutShow genre.

One of the first three Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}, which premiered alongside ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' on August 11, 1991, and third to premiere, ''Ren & Stimpy'' broke the mould in many ways: Kricfalusi and his crew were relentless in their ambition to diverge from [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation the boring, cheaply-animated and moral-heavy programming they despised working on for years]] by setting out to make cartoons funny again. Plots for episodes were devised using [[Main/{{Storyboard}} storyboards]] rather than written scripts (modelled after how [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden Age]] cartoons had been made) and the layout stage was prioritised to allow focus on visual humour and expressive character acting, inspiring many other successful shows in its' wake - such as ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', and ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' - [[FollowTheLeader to follow its example]]. Meanwhile, its... ahem, ''infamous'' imagery pretty much [[TropeMaker invented]] the GrossoutShow genre.