The John Kricfalusi Appreciation thread

People do generally remember the characters. Not so much the shorts.

You don't see much around about the studio's early 30s work, which I think is some of their best - equally as good as the Betty Boop stuff around the same time - except for the fact that Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs did episodes about that period.

His blog is pretty great. His does interesting analyses of classic/retro cartoons, ads, sitcoms, etc.

I just hate that the majority of people only care about his blog when he talks or references something about modern cartoons or films -_-

edited 1st Aug '14 8:23:01 AM by Teddy

Because HOW DARE HE HATE SOMETHING THEY LIKE!!! I guess.

I actually do remember a post on his blog that was a review of Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (the movie). I remember him saying that he liked a few parts of it like some of the animation but overall, he didn't enjoy it.

Just wanted to bring that up and I wanna read through that post again. I was actually pretty fascinated by it even though I didn't agree with him.

You may give me the link to it if ya want to.

edited 1st Aug '14 8:30:02 AM by I-Block

I like Cloudy, though I remember John bringing up some good points in that article. I have to read it again one of these days.

http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2009/09/review-of-meatballs.html

edited 1st Aug '14 8:32:29 AM by Teddy

That was just as interesting as I remembered it to be. He actually did bring up a few good points there. I VERY much agree on his little rant on the casting of celebrities in animated movies (which I actually don't mind in certain cases but it still bugs me a little).

And I would not lie if I said that I enjoyed the animation more than the story and writing. I mean, I like the story and writing but the jokes probably wouldn't have worked if it wasn't for the briskly paced animation.

edited 1st Aug '14 8:47:38 AM by I-Block

For what it's worth some of John K's opinions seem to have calmed a little in the past few years. He can actually say a few nice things about the early Games episodes of Ren and Stimpy.

Yeah. The animation made some of jokes even funnier. That's what I call the power of fun animation

edited 1st Aug '14 8:58:07 AM by Teddy

Needless to say, though, even if he does think the Games episodes aren't that bad, what happened in the early 90s still lingers with those who chose to stay on the show.

Bob Camp apparently will not make peace with him.

You know, out of curiosity, has he made any posts on his blogs about tributes to his works?

If so, please direct me to it.

This sorta is

http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2006/12/yogi-bear-pie-pirates-1958-frank.html

He also put Bob Camp for one of his many influences for cartoons

Also him showing the great poses Bob did for the oh so wonderful Stimpy's Invention

http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2009/10/stimpys-invention.html

edited 1st Aug '14 9:09:17 AM by Teddy

Thanks.

Not what I was expecting, but still cool to read.

Also, I remember watching the most recent work he did. It was some animation for a Miley Cyrus tour. Apparently, they're friends. I'll post the video with the animation if I can find it.

edited 1st Aug '14 9:19:23 AM by I-Block

Bob Camp still ain't gonna make peace with him, so I've heard. And really, I can understand why.

He was practically a pariah, blamed for killing Ren and Stimpy. John K. and his fans denigrated him at every opportunity. Even Vincent Waller, who had been friends with him since they were teens, denigrated him at one point. (See Sick Little Monkeys for more of the sordid details.)

Needless to say, though, he bounced back and was working at Hanna-Barbera on Cow And Chicken by the end of the decade. (When I talked to him he had some very nice things to say about David Feiss.)

After the Adult Party Cartoon debacle, though, I think people are revisiting the Games shorts and realizing they weren't awful at all.

edited 1st Aug '14 9:18:41 AM by Aldo930

Wait a minute... you talked to Bob Camp!? Cool!

Then again it could be Vincent Waller... still, very cool.

edited 1st Aug '14 9:21:45 AM by I-Block

That's pretty awesome if you talked to him.

http://bobcampcartoonist.blogspot.com/2009/09/2-dogs.html

In the comments, John replied to Bob.

As it turned out, Bob Camp was a friend of another cartoonist who I've corresponded with every so often. I also got to meet Peter Hannan, creator of Cat Dog, through him.

Both of them were very nice guys, and both still have very good artwork out there.

edited 1st Aug '14 9:25:39 AM by Aldo930

Nice Bob also has a Blog, he needs a much better font style though, I can barely read it.

I remember Bob saying he was disappointed he wasn't invited to do commentary for the DV Ds, while he lost patience with John, he still seems to have fond memories of the show.

I have to feel sorry for Bob though, I bet he gets that crap constantly. Either people saying he ruined the show or people begging him to team up with John again.

edited 1st Aug '14 9:29:07 AM by Psi001

edited 1st Aug '14 9:29:31 AM by Teddy

I wish that I was that lucky.

Also, found John K's most recent work. The video is in this article.

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/music-videos/john-kricfalusi-animation-miley-cyrus-bangerz-tour-96601.html

John K's stuff starts around the 2:28 mark.

edited 1st Aug '14 9:29:14 AM by I-Block

Bill Wray apparently was invited to do commentaries. The whole experience turned really sour, really fast.

And yes, he does. He has fond memories of a lot of the people who worked on the show also. Of Craig Bartlett, who worked on several episodes, he told me: "Craig is the best!"

edited 1st Aug '14 9:29:42 AM by Aldo930

What sort of conversations do we get in the commentary then?

I heard Wray has come to hate the Games episodes too.

edited 1st Aug '14 9:31:01 AM by Psi001

He never did commentaries because it turned, well, really sour. So sour he never got to do a commentary.

I don't think that's so. I've never heard it, at least.

edited 1st Aug '14 9:31:23 AM by Aldo930

I heard the Games DV Ds consist mostly of John and Spumco staff commentary. I feel that might have something to do with it. Might...

Maybe it was another member then. I remember hearing at least two other key players hated them (Camp was sorta in the middle, he liked the show but didn't think his own episodes were up to much).

edited 1st Aug '14 9:35:46 AM by Psi001

At the risk of of starting a flame war, I have to ask, why does John K. hold such extreme views on what animation should be?

I mean, I can understand preferring certain kinds of cartoons and only wanting to make certain things, but he's always come across as wanting animation to be one particular way and if it's not then it shouldn't be.

If I'm getting the wrong impression please tell me and explain.

I feel like it came from working on animation in the early 80s.

You gotta keep in mind, he worked on stuff like this:

Something must have gone wrong with him during that time.