List of Spümcø works

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Spümcø, Inc. was an American animation production company based in Los Angeles, California. The studio produced three traditionally animated series, two Flash-animated cartoon series, two music videos, five animated shorts, and a comic book. The company also went on to produce content for several animated spots and commercials.[1] It has won several awards, including an Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject, for the Björk music video, "I Miss You".[2]

On August 11, 1991, The Ren and Stimpy Show premiered on Nickelodeon, and the show would be produced and animated by Spümcø Inc.[3] After creator John Kricfalusi was fired in September 1992, Games Animation took over production after season two had ended, and would continue production for the next three seasons.[3] In 2001, 10 years after The Ren and Stimpy Show had premiered, Kricfalusi then created an animated series for Fox Kids in the United States and Teletoon in Canada, The Ripping Friends.[4] The series premiered on September 22, 2001, and would last for only one season.[4] In 2002, when Kricfalusi received a phone call from Spike (now Paramount Network), he decided to revive Ren & Stimpy in the more adult-oriented series, Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon".[5] The series premiered on June 1, 2003, with the banned Nickelodeon series' episode, "Man's Best Friend", and a total of three original episodes aired on Spike.[5] The show was cancelled in July 2003, one month after it premiered.[5]

During 1997, John Kricfalusi and his staff at Spümcø launched their web site, which aimed to deliver cartoons to audiences without television networks' censorship.[6] Kricfalusi decided to use George Liquor, a cartoon character he created, to star in the Flash Internet cartoon series, The Goddamn George Liquor Program, which Kricfalusi created.[6] The series premiered on October 15, 1997,[7] and was the first cartoon series to be produced exclusively for the Internet.[8] In 1999, Spümcø created their second Internet-only cartoon series, Weekend Pussy Hunt.[9] The series would last for 12 episodes, with 4 unfinished cartoons due to budget problems.

In 1999, Spümcø produced and animated a Yogi Bear TV special titled Boo Boo Runs Wild, which premiered on September 24, 1999, on Cartoon Network.[10] The animated short focused on Yogi Bear's sidekick, Boo Boo Bear, who becomes fed up with the rules of man and decides to return to his natural bear roots.[10] Though it focused primarily on Yogi and Boo Boo, it was titled as a "Ranger Smith cartoon." Alongside Boo Boo Runs Wild, a second "Ranger Smith" cartoon aired, titled A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith.[11] Between 2001 and 2002, two Flash-animated Jetsons cartoons were created exclusively for Cartoon Network's official web site: and . A third Yogi Bear cartoon, titled Boo Boo and the Man, premiered in 2002 on Cartoon Network's official web site. It was animated in Macromedia Flash.

In 1997, John Kricfalusi directed a music video for Björk titled "I Miss You", a single that was released the same year.[12] It was animated by the entire staff at Spümcø.[2] It premiered on MTV, as well as Canada's MuchMusic channel.[2] In 2001, Spümcø produced their second music video production for Tenacious D, "Fuck Her Gently".[13] The video was produced in Macromedia Flash, and was directed by Gabe Swarr, who was also a producer for The Goddamn George Liquor Program and Weekend Pussy Hunt.[13]

Although the company originally closed down in 2005 due to a lawsuit with (one of the animators on Ren & Stimpy), it was revealed in 2016 on Tumblr that Kricfalusi and Cartoon Network storyboard artist Gabe Del Valle are reopening the company, under the name Spümtwø, to produce bigger projects and are now looking for employees.[14] The new studio's first project was stated to be a Ren and Stimpy short film slated to appear in front of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run,[15] with the possibility of reviving the series.[16] John Kricfalusi denied it in a February 2017 Twitter post.[17] However, an animatic of the short was released as an Easter egg on the Cans without Labels DVD on May 2019.[18][19]

Animation productions[]

Televised animated series[]

Title Summary Date of Premiere Seasons Creator(s) Co-production with Original broadcasting station Notes
The Ren & Stimpy Show The bizarre and gross-out comedic misadventures of a chihuahua and a cat 11 August 1991[3] 5 John Kricfalusi Nickelodeon Animation Studio Nickelodeon Seasons 1-2 only; remaining seasons were produced by Games Animation (now known as Nickelodeon Animation Studio).
The Ripping Friends A superhero comedy adventure of four superheroes 22 September 2001 1 John Kricfalusi
Jim Smith
Animagic
CinéGroupe 		Fox Kids/[adult swim] (U.S.), Teletoon (Canada)
Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon" An adult-oriented spinoff of Nickelodeon's The Ren & Stimpy Show. 26 June 2003[5] 1 John Kricfalusi Spike Animation Studios Spike (now Paramount Network) An adult-oriented revival of The Ren & Stimpy Show.

Internet-exclusive series and shorts[]

Title Date of Premiere Creator(s) Co-production with Broadcasting method (Web site)
The Goddamn George Liquor Program 15 October 1997[20] John Kricfalusi Spumco.com (now defunct)
What Pee Boners Are For 1998
A George Liquor Christmas
Weekend Pussy Hunt 1999 MSN[21] Spumco.com (now defunct)
IceBox.com

Cartoon Network short films[]

Title Date of Premiere Director(s) Co-production with Original broadcasting station
Boo Boo Runs Wild 24 September 1999[22] John Kricfalusi Hanna-Barbera Productions
Cartoon Network Studios 		Cartoon Network
A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith 24 September 1999[23] John Kricfalusi Hanna-Barbera Productions
Cartoon Network Studios 		Cartoon Network
The Jetsons: Father & Son Day March 19, 2001[24] Gabe Swarr Hanna-Barbera Productions
Cartoon Network Studios 		Cartoon Network
CartoonNetwork.com
The Jetsons: The Best Son March 18, 2002[25] Gabe Swarr Hanna-Barbera Productions
Cartoon Network Studios 		Cartoon Network
CartoonNetwork.com
Boo Boo and the Man April 25, 2002 John Kricfalusi Hanna-Barbera Productions
Cartoon Network Studios 		Cartoon Network
CartoonNetwork.com

Feature films[]

Title Premier Date Director Note
Troop Beverly Hills March 24, 1989 Jeff Kanew Design the opening titles and credits with Kroyer Films.

Music videos[]

Year Title Director(s)
1997 "I Miss You"[2] John Kricfalusi
2001 "Fuck Her Gently"[13]

Television and online commercials[]

Year Title Client(s) Summary and notes Ref(s)
1992 "Peacock Project" NBC Two 10-second idents. The first ident was originally produced as a 17-second one, and later cut in 10-second and 4-second versions. At the end of the first one, a speaker says "You're watching NBC." [26][27]
1995 "Fanta Cave" The Coca-Cola Company Never-materialized commercial starring Jimmy the Idiot Boy, a character created by John Kricfalusi. Produced in association with Will Vinton Productions. [28]
1996 "Lick" Aoki's Pizza Commercial starring characters Jimmy the Idiot Boy and Sody Pop, created by John Kricfalusi. [26]
"You Want Some?" Barq's Root Beer Commercial starring characters George Liquor and Jimmy the Idiot Boy, created by John Kricfalusi. [29]
1997 "Big Bad Wolf" Nike Inspired by the fairy tales Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. Named by Animation Magazine, as one of the best animated spots of 1997. A commercial similarly based on the latter one in which the wolf is trying to blow down the Pigs' house, was storyboarded by John Kricfalusi upon request by ADT,[30] but was later materialized by Red Rover Studios.[31] [32]
"Rooster" Village Pantry [33]
1998 "Cadbury Land" Cadbury [34]
"Boys Big Pockets"
"Boys Hooded Fleece"
"Girls Flare Jeans"
"Girls Curly Fleece" 		Old Navy "Boys Big Pockets" and "Boys Hooded Fleece" won an 1998 Annie Award for Best Animated Television Commercial. "Girls Curly Fleece" was also nominated for an 1999 Annie Award in the same category. [35]
1999 "Treat Your Dog Right" Wagwells Dog Treats [36]
"Rice Patooties" Commercial starring Wally Whimsy, a character created by John Kricfalusi.[37] Animated in Flash. [38]
"Quisp" Quaker Oats Animated in Flash. [39]
2000 "Tony Mora Pizza" The RequestLines System Starring Stephen Worth as Mr. DJ. Animated in Flash by Tony Mora. [40][41]

Video games[]

Title Release Producer(s) Co-production with Note
Yoake no Mariko December 6, 2001[42] John Kricfalusi Lindwurm
SCEI 		Character designs and animations to the game
Yoake no Mariko 2nd Act January 24, 2002[43] John Kricfalusi Lindwurm
SCEI 		Character designs and animations to the game
Space Fishermen October 24, 2002[44][45] John Kricfalusi Land Ho!
SCEI 		Character designs and animations to the game
Go! Go! Hypergrind November 18, 2003[46] John Kricfalusi
John Yamamoto 		Atlus: John Yamamoto,
Yoshinao Shimada 		Character designs and animations to the game

Unrealized projects[]

Title Announcement date Creator Medium Note
Untitled Film About The World's Manliest Men 1993 John K. Animated feature film The film wasn't picked up, but the characters were used in The Ripping Friends [47]
Nutty the Friendly Dump Animated series Pitched to Comedy Central, which turned it down.[48]
Ren and Stimpy untitled film 1994 Animated feature film Nickelodeon and 20th Century Fox made an agreement to produce original movies and ones based on Nickelodeon products, with Ren & Stimpy a potential idea.[49][50]
He-Hog the Atomic Pig 1999 Animated series Unsold pilot for MTV and co-produced with MTV Animation;[citation needed] concept previously pitched to USA Network and developed for a 1995 release.[51][52]
Harvey Entertainment online shorts Animated shorts Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost, Little Audrey, Little Dot and Herman and Katnip would make appearances.[53][54][55]
The Heart Aches Animated series Pilot sold to Fox Family, following the adventures surrounding a girl band. It was slated for a September 2000 date alongside The Ripping Friends on Fox Kids.[55]
Green Monkeys Betty Paraskevas
Michael Paraskevas 		Animated series Co-produced with Disney Television Animation.[56]
Flintstones animated shorts 2001 John K. Animated shorts Co-produced with Cartoon Network Studios[57]

References[]

  1. ^ Aditham, Kiran (3 December 2007). "John K. Joins Hoytyboy" Archived 2011-07-12 at the Wayback Machine. Hoytyboy Pictures. Retrieved on 27 March 2010.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d I Miss You : It's Like Christmas!. Bjorkish.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c The Ren and Stimpy Show - Show Information. TV.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b The Ripping Friends - Show Information. TV.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Ren and Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon - Show Information. TV.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "In His Way, John K. Will Challenge the World". WIRED. 8 October 1997. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  7. ^ "John K's Guide to Surviving the End of Television". Cold Hard Flash. April 23, 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  8. ^ "27th Annual Annie Award Nominee Showcase: Goddamn George Liquor Program". AWM.com. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  9. ^ Weekend Pussy Hunt at the Big Cartoon Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Boo Boo Runs Wild - Production information Archived 2012-03-26 at the Wayback Machine. inBaseline. Retrieved on 1 April 2010.
  11. ^ A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith - Production information Archived 2012-03-26 at the Wayback Machine. inBaseline. Retrieved on 1 April 2010.
  12. ^ Videography. Bjork.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b c Tenacious D: The Complete Masterworks at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  14. ^ Del Valle, Gabe (2016-04-17). "John K. and I Are in the Process of Opening a Company". Tumblr. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
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  17. ^ Kricfalusi, John [@JohnKricfalusi1] (February 6, 2017). "not that I know of" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Cans Without Labels - DVD, May 27, 2019, retrieved July 3, 2019
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  21. ^ Marcy Gardner (March 1997). "Spumco's Latest Idiot". Animation World Magazine, Issue 1. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  22. ^ Boo Boo Runs Wild at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
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  24. ^ The Jetsons: Father & Son Day at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  25. ^ The Jetsons: The Best Son at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
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  27. ^ NBC on-air ID Peacock - Spumco on Vimeo
  28. ^ Fanta Animation Test with Jimmy the Idiot 1995 on YouTube
  29. ^ You Want Some? | Barq's Root Beer | Spümcø on YouTube
  30. ^ http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/10/adt-commercial-animatic.html?m=1
  31. ^ Spumco Nike Wolf Commercial - Alternate Animatic on YouTube
  32. ^ "Nike Commercial". spumco.com. Archived from the original on 2000-02-29. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  33. ^ "Village Pantry Commercial". spumco.com. Archived from the original on 2000-03-02. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  34. ^ "Cadbury Commercial". spumco.com. Archived from the original on 2000-03-04. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  35. ^ "Spumco's Old Navy Commercials". spumco.com. Archived from the original on 2000-03-01. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  36. ^ "Wagwells Dog Treats Commercials". spumco.com. Archived from the original on 2000-03-03. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  37. ^ http://johnkpitch.blogspot.com/2009/08/wally-whimsy.html
  38. ^ "Spumco". spumco.com. Archived from the original on 2000-03-02. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  39. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgElYPFcvrc
  40. ^ Tony Mora Pizza | Spümcø on YouTube
  41. ^ "Our Team". requestlines.com. Archived from the original on 2001-02-06. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  42. ^ Yoake no Mariko. GameFAQs. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  43. ^ Yoake no Mariko 2nd Act Updates. GameSpot. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
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  49. ^ Catherine Hinman (May 19, 1993). "Nickelodeon Adds Movies To Its Credits". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  50. ^ Thomas R King (May 1993), "Nickelodeon, Fox Film, chase family viewers", The Wall Street Journal
  51. ^ Turczyn, Coury (2017-12-29). "The One True King of Cartoons: Will John Kricfalusi ever get his due?". popcultmag.com. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
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  53. ^ "Internet & Interactive". Animation World Magazine. 4 (9). December 1999. Archived from the original on 2002-06-21. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  54. ^ "Harvey tooning up online". variety.com. 1999-10-21. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  55. ^ Jump up to: a b Robertson, Virginia (1999-12-01). "Spumco toons into Web & Fox". kidscreen.com. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  56. ^ https://nypost.com/1999/12/21/kricfalusis-monkey-biz-disney-turns-to-creator-of-ren-stimpy-for-series/
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