List of Spümcø works

Spümcø, Inc. is an American animation studio 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, serving as the company's flagship property.[3] After the company was fired by Nickelodeon in September 1992, Games Animation took over production, hired most of the company's employees and continued producing the series for 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: The Jetsons: Father & Son Day and The Jetsons: The Best Son. 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 in May 2019.[18]

Animation productions

Televised animated series

Title Date of Premiere Seasons Co-production with Original broadcasting station Notes
The Ren & Stimpy Show August 11, 1991[3] 5 Games Animation Nickelodeon Seasons 1-2 only; remaining seasons were produced by Games Animation (now known as Nickelodeon Animation Studio).
The Ripping Friends September 22, 2001 1 Cambium
Animagic
Fox Kids (United States), Teletoon (Canada)
Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon" 26 June 2003[5] 1 Spike Animation Studios Spike An adult-oriented revival of The Ren & Stimpy Show.

Internet-exclusive series and shorts

Title Date of Premiere Co-production with Broadcasting method (Web site)
The Goddamn George Liquor Program October 15, 1997[19] N/A Spumco.com (now defunct)
What Pee Boners Are For 1998
A George Liquor Christmas
Weekend Pussy Hunt 1999 MSN[20] Spumco.com (now defunct)
IceBox.com

Cartoon Network short films

Title Date of Premiere Director(s)
Boo Boo Runs Wild September 24, 1999[21] John Kricfalusi
A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith September 24, 1999[22]
The Jetsons: Father & Son Day March 19, 2001[23] Gabe Swarr
The Jetsons: The Best Son March 10, 2002[24]
Boo Boo and the Man April 25, 2002 John Kricfalusi

Feature films

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

Music videos

Year Title Artist Director(s)
1997 "I Miss You"[2] Björk John Kricfalusi
2001 "Fuck Her Gently"[13] Tenacious D Gabe Swarr

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." [25][26]
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. [27]
1996 "Lick" Aoki's Pizza Commercial starring characters Jimmy the Idiot Boy and Sody Pop, created by John Kricfalusi. [25]
"You Want Some?" Barq's Root Beer Commercial starring characters George Liquor and Jimmy the Idiot Boy, created by John Kricfalusi. [28]
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,[29] but was later materialized by Red Rover Studios.[30] [31]
"Rooster" Village Pantry [32]
1998 "Cadbury Land" Cadbury [33]
"Boys Big Pockets"
"Boys Hooded Fleece"
"Girls Flare Jeans"
"Girls Curly Fleece"
Old Navy "Boys Big Pockets" and "Boys Hooded Fleece" won a 1998 Annie Award for Best Animated Television Commercial. "Girls Curly Fleece" was also nominated for a 1999 Annie Award in the same category. [34]
1999 "Treat Your Dog Right" Wagwells Dog Treats [35]
"Rice Patooties" Commercial starring Wally Whimsy, a character created by John Kricfalusi.[36] Animated in Flash. [37]
"Quisp" Quaker Oats Animated in Flash. [38]
2000 "Tony Mora Pizza" The RequestLines System Starring Stephen Worth as Mr. DJ. Animated in Flash by Tony Mora. [39][40]

Video games

Title Release Developer Publisher Note
Yoake no Mariko December 6, 2001[41] Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Sony Computer Entertainment Character designs and animation
Yoake no Mariko 2nd Act January 24, 2002[42]
Go! Go! Hypergrind November 18, 2003[43] Atlus Atlus Character designs

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 [44]
Nutty the Friendly Dump Animated series Pitched to Comedy Central, which turned it down.[45]
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.[46][47]
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.[48][49]
Harvey Entertainment online shorts Animated shorts Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost, Little Audrey, Little Dot and Herman and Katnip would make appearances.[50][51][52]
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.[52]
Green Monkeys Betty Paraskevas
Michael Paraskevas
Animated series Co-produced with Disney Television Animation.[53]
Flintstones animated shorts 2001 John K. Animated shorts Co-produced with Cartoon Network Studios[54]

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. ^ a b c d I Miss You : It's Like Christmas!. Bjorkish.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  3. ^ a b c The Ren and Stimpy Show - Show Information. TV.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  4. ^ a b The Ripping Friends - Show Information. TV.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d Ren and Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon - Show Information. TV.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  6. ^ a b "In His Way, John K. Will Challenge the World". WIRED. October 8, 1997. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  7. ^ "John K's Guide to Surviving the End of Television". Cold Hard Flash. April 23, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  8. ^ "27th Annual Annie Award Nominee Showcase: Goddamn George Liquor Program". AWM.com. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  9. ^ Weekend Pussy Hunt at the Big Cartoon Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  10. ^ 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. ^ a b c Tenacious D: The Complete Masterworks at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  14. ^ Del Valle, Gabe (April 17, 2016). "John K. and I Are in the Process of Opening a Company". Tumblr. Archived from the original on September 3, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  15. ^ Thad Komorowski (July 12, 2016), INTERVIEW: 25 Years Later, Directors Bob Camp and Bill Wray Remember "The Ren & Stimpy Show", retrieved December 13, 2016
  16. ^ Rob Owen (May 3, 2016), Nickelodeon Animation Studio: Pop-Culture Powerhouse Got an Unlikely Start, retrieved December 13, 2016
  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
  19. ^ John K’s Guide to Surviving the End of Television. Cold Hard Flash. 23 April 2007. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ Boo Boo Runs Wild at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  22. ^ A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  23. ^ The Jetsons: Father & Son Day at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  24. ^ The Jetsons: The Best Son at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  25. ^ a b "Spumco Homepage". spumco.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 1997. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  26. ^ NBC on-air ID Peacock - Spumco on Vimeo
  27. ^ Fanta Animation Test with Jimmy the Idiot 1995 on YouTube
  28. ^ You Want Some? | Barq's Root Beer | Spümcø on YouTube
  29. ^ "John K Stuff: ADT Commercial Animatic". October 25, 2007.
  30. ^ Spumco Nike Wolf Commercial - Alternate Animatic on YouTube
  31. ^ "Nike Commercial". spumco.com. Archived from the original on February 29, 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  32. ^ "Village Pantry Commercial". spumco.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  33. ^ "Cadbury Commercial". spumco.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  34. ^ "Spumco's Old Navy Commercials". spumco.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  35. ^ "Wagwells Dog Treats Commercials". spumco.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  36. ^ "JOHN K. PITCH BLOG: Wally Whimsy". August 20, 2009.
  37. ^ "Spumco". spumco.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  38. ^ Quisp | Quaker | Spümcø. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021.
  39. ^ Tony Mora Pizza | Spümcø on YouTube
  40. ^ "Our Team". requestlines.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2001. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  41. ^ Yoake no Mariko. GameFAQs. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  42. ^ Yoake no Mariko 2nd Act Updates. GameSpot. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  43. ^ "Go! Go! Hypergrind Ships". GamersHell. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  44. ^ "Ripping Friends Archived 2011-08-04 at the Wayback Machine," ABC
  45. ^ Frankel, Daniel (December 22, 1997). ""Ren & Stimpy" Creator Dumps on Comedy Central". E! News. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  46. ^ Catherine Hinman (May 19, 1993). "Nickelodeon Adds Movies To Its Credits". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  47. ^ Thomas R King (May 1993), "Nickelodeon, Fox Film, chase family viewers", The Wall Street Journal
  48. ^ Turczyn, Coury (December 29, 2017). "The One True King of Cartoons: Will John Kricfalusi ever get his due?". popcultmag.com. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  49. ^ "Q&A with Spumco's John Kricfalusi". variety.com. March 23, 1994. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  50. ^ "Internet & Interactive". Animation World Magazine. Vol. 4, no. 9. December 1999. Archived from the original on June 21, 2002. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  51. ^ "Harvey tooning up online". variety.com. October 21, 1999. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  52. ^ a b Robertson, Virginia (December 1, 1999). "Spumco toons into Web & Fox". kidscreen.com. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  53. ^ "Kricfalusi's 'Monkey' Biz – Disney Turns to Creator of 'Ren & Stimpy' for Series". December 21, 1999.
  54. ^ DeMott, Rick (March 21, 2001). "John K To Do Flintstone's Toon For Cartoon Network Online". awn.com. Retrieved July 5, 2019.