If you mention Ren and Stimpy to most people they will know what it is, I can’t remember when it was that I first discovered the crazy show, but I do remember it being late at night and I think it was on BBC2!
In the new documentary, Happy Happy Joy Joy – The Ren and Stimpy Story which is out on iTunes, Google, Amazon and Vimeo On Demand – January 22nd. 2021 we are taken on a journey of the rise and fall of the characters and creator John Kricfalusi.
The documentary is also the story of the group of talented and dedicated artists whose incredible work brought to life two of the most beloved characters of all time – Ren and Stimpy.
It’s also a cautionary tale of artistic genius gone awry. The controversial creator of the groundbreaking show, John Kricfalusi, both caused and experienced trauma that deeply affected his work and relationships.
Through archival footage, show artwork, and interviews with the artists, actors, and executives behind the show, co-directors Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood artfully illuminate the joy, beauty, and lasting impact of Ren and Stimpy, as well as the dual sides of the show’s creator, a man who is both a brilliant animator and storyteller as well as a deeply flawed person.
Back in 2016 director Ron Cicero and his co-director Kimo Easterwood started a journey to celebrate the wonderful and bizarre work of one of the worlds favourite cartoon shows that adults and kids all over the world have enjoyed, in 2018 they completed work on the documentary, or so they thought!
Happy Happy Joy Joy – The Ren and Stimpy Story certainly takes us on a journey of discovery and if you haven’t any idea of what went on behind the scenes and the some of the explosive issues that the animators, writers and producers of Ren and Stimpy went through to bring the show to our screens.
I love documentaries about shows that have brought so much entertainment my way and Ren and Stimpy was a show that after discovering it I wouldn’t miss an episode. With its pure craziness and animation that was nothing like I’d ever seen before the show grabbed my attention from the start, going deeper into the world of the characters and the makers of the show is brought to the screen in this documentary.
It’s fascinating to see how Ren & Stimpy rose to the dizzy heights of stardom in the early 90s, but I had no idea of what was happening behind the scenes so Happy Happy Joy Joy is a real eye-opener of a documentary with some shocks along the way.
What was even more shocking was what was going on with creator of Ren & Stimpy John Kricfalusi (aka John K) and his relationship with an underage girl in the mid-’90’s along with other stories of abuse and sexual misconduct also surfaced during the documentary.
Director Ron Cicero has said when the news broke shortly after the final credits had been produced for the documentary, “John K had refused to be interviewed, he was still a critical part of the film and the news was a devastating blow on many levels.“
“After a week or two of panicking, word came back that John K now wanted to talk on camera. We knew this would fundamentally change our film, but we weren’t sure exactly how. It took another 6 months to find out.
We eventually interviewed John on camera. What you are about to see is the second version of Happy Happy, Joy Joy; the result of another 6 months of editing and re-editing as we culled down the 10+ hours of additional interviews, with John, with Robyn Byrd, his accuser, and those on the show whose legacies were now tarnished. What was initially a film focused solely on the series morphed into an exploration of art vs artist, as well as personal damage.“
I have to say myself that during the screening of Happy Happy Joy Joy I was shocked when the story changed with the news and interview with John K and Robyn. For many of us, Ren & Stimpy was a show that just entertained us and now for some, it has been tarnished by John K’s behaviour, I was also taken aback by the work that John K did after leaving the show with the “adult” version of the characters.
Happy Happy Joy Joy is a documentary that is well worth seeing if you are not only interested about the show but also to see what went on over the years of the much loved, but short-lived, animated show.
The Rise of Fall of John K and Ren & Stimpy
Movie title: Happy Happy Joy Joy - The Ren & Stimpy Story
Movie description: HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY is the journey of the rise and fall of one of the most influential animated series in the history of television. It’s the story of a group of talented and dedicated artists whose incredible work brought to life two of the most beloved characters of all time - Ren & Stimpy.
Date published: January 21, 2021
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 44min
Director(s): Ron Cicero, Kimo Easterwood
Actor(s): Matt Kennedy, Scott Webb, Vince Waller, JJ Sedelmaier
Genre: Documentary
Summary
A fascinating look into the world of the popular TV show and the rise and fall of Ren & Stimpy.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
