{{Short description|American animated comedy television series}} {{redirect2|Ren & Stimpy|Ren and Stimpy|the titular characters|Ren and Stimpy (characters)}} {{Use American English|date=May 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox television | image = The Ren & Stimpy Show logo.svg | alt = The words "REN" and "STIMPY" in tan filling and black outlines; the "and" in gray filling and black outlines. | genre = {{plainlist| * Animated sitcom * Black comedy * Surreal humor * Satire * Slapstick }} | creator = John Kricfalusi<!-- Please do not change without first discussing on the talk page. --> | developer = {{Plainlist| * John Kricfalusi * Bob Camp * Jim Smith * Lynne Naylor }} | showrunner = John Kricfalusi{{efn|name=s1–2|seasons 1–2}}<br>Bob Camp{{efn|name=s3–5|seasons 3–5}}<ref name="Dixon"/> | voices = {{Plainlist| * John Kricfalusi{{efn|name=s1–2}} * Billy West * Gary Owens * Harris Peet * Cheryl Chase * Alan Young * Jack Carter * Bob Camp * Michael Pataki }} | theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist| * John Kricfalusi * Chris Reccardi * Jim Smith * Scott Huml }} | open_theme = "Dog Pound Hop" {{small|performed by Die Screaming Lederhosens (Jim Smith, Chris Reccardi, and Scott Huml)}} | end_theme = "Big House Blues" {{small|performed by Die Screaming Lederhosens}} | composer = {{Plainlist| * Shawn Patterson{{efn|"Ol' Blue Nose" and "Sammy and Me"}} * Guy Moon{{efn|"Blazing Entrails" and "A Scooter for Yaksmas"}} * Chris Reccardi{{efn|"Hard Times for Haggis", "Hermit Ren" and "Ren's Brain"}} * Charlie Brissette * Andy Paley<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Lester |first1=Paul |author-link1=Paul Lester |title=Brain Wilson: Endless Bummer |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/brain-wilson-endless-bummer |magazine=Uncut |date=June 1998 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2025 |archive-date=June 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611201507/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/brain-wilson-endless-bummer |url-status=live }}</ref> }} | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 5 | num_episodes = 52 (93 segments)<ref name="TNN" /> | list_episodes = List of The Ren & Stimpy Show episodes | executive_producer = {{Plainlist| * Vanessa Coffey * Mary Harrington }} | producer = {{Plainlist| * John Kricfalusi{{efn|name=s1–2}} * Christine Danzo{{efn|name=s1|Season 1}} * Jim Ballantine{{efn|name=s2–5|Seasons 2–5}} }} | runtime = 22 minutes | company = {{Plainlist| * Spümcø{{efn|name=s1–2|Seasons 1–2}} * Games Animation{{efn|name=s2–5|Seasons 2–5}} }} | network = Nickelodeon | network2 = MTV | first_aired = {{Start date|1991|8|11}} | last_aired = {{End date|1995|12|16}}<ref name="FinalEpisode">{{Cite web |last=Leigh Michael Wilkes |date=January 23, 1996 |title=Final R&S episode |url=http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.ren-n-stimpy/browse_thread/thread/df2a470cb91e441d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018201916/http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.ren-n-stimpy/browse_thread/thread/df2a470cb91e441d |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=December 26, 2010}}</ref> | first_aired2 = {{Start date|1996|10|20}} | related = ''Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"'' }} '''''The Ren & Stimpy Show''''', also known simply as '''''Ren & Stimpy''''', is an American animated comedy television series created by John Kricfalusi for Nickelodeon. The series follows the misadventures of Ren Höek, an emotionally unstable and psychotic chihuahua dog; and Stimpy, a good-natured and dimwitted Manx cat. Originally produced by Spümcø, the series was shown on Nickelodeon from August 11, 1991, to December 16, 1995, with its last episode running on MTV on October 20, 1996, spanning a total of five seasons and 52 episodes (93 segments). The third to be shown of the original three Nickelodeon animated series known as "Nicktoons", alongside ''Doug'' and ''Rugrats'', it is one of the progenitor series of the brand.
The series received widespread critical acclaim for its visuals, animation, and surreal nature. However, it generated significant controversy for its dark humor, sexual innuendo, adult humor, violence, and shock value, contributing to Kricfalusi's termination in 1992, due to altercations with Nickelodeon's Standards and Practices and production delays. Games Animation produced the show's remaining three seasons, which received criticism for a perceived decline in quality.<ref name="Komorowski">{{Cite book |last=Thad Komorowski |title=Sick Little Monkeys: The Unauthorized Ren & Stimpy Story |publisher=BearManor Media |year=2013 |isbn=978-1593932343}}</ref>
An adult animated reboot, ''Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"'', was produced by Kricfalusi and Spümcø and aired on Spike TV in 2003, being canceled early due to production delays. On August 5, 2020, Comedy Central announced a second adult reboot of the series without Kricfalusi's involvement.<ref name="cartoonbrew">{{Cite news |last=Amidi |first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi |date=January 1, 2021 |title=Billy West Says 'Ren & Stimpy' Reboot Still on at Comedy Central |url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/billy-west-says-ren-stimpy-reboot-still-on-at-comedy-central-200451.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029165325/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/billy-west-says-ren-stimpy-reboot-still-on-at-comedy-central-200451.html |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |access-date=October 27, 2021 |work=Cartoon Brew |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Premise== {{See also|List of The Ren & Stimpy Show characters}} The series centers on Ren Höek (voiced by John Kricfalusi in seasons 1–2; Billy West in seasons 2–5), a hot-tempered, psychotic, "asthma-hound" chihuahua,<ref name="Goodman">{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Martin |date=March 2001 |title=Cartoons Aren't Real! Ren and Stimpy in Review |url=http://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.12/5.12pages/goodmanrenstimpy.php3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011227232653/http://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.12/5.12pages/goodmanrenstimpy.php3 |archive-date=December 27, 2001 |website=Animation World Magazine |publisher=Animation World Network}}</ref> and Stimpson J. "Stimpy" Cat (also voiced by Billy West), a dimwitted and happy-go-lucky Manx cat.<ref name="Goodman" /> The duo fill various roles from episode to episode, including outer-space explorers, Old West horse thieves, and nature-show hosts,<ref>{{Citation |last=Smallbridge |first=Justin |title=Ren and Stimpy's Big Corporate Takeover |date=April 1994 |work=Saturday Night |url=http://justinsmallbridge.com/clips/19940401SNrenandstimpy.html |access-date=December 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918114323/http://justinsmallbridge.com/clips/19940401SNrenandstimpy.html |archive-date=September 18, 2009 |url-status=live |via=JustinSmallbridge.com}}</ref> and are usually at odds with each other in these situations. While the show was sometimes set in the present day, the show's crew tended to avoid "contemporary" jokes about current events.<ref name="ComicsInterview" /> The show extensively features off-color<ref name="Barrier" /> and absurdist humor, as well as slapstick akin to animated shorts of the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About The Ren & Stimpy Show |url=http://nicktoons.nick.com/shows/the-ren-and-stimpy-show/about |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717080937/http://nicktoons.nick.com/shows/the-ren-and-stimpy-show/about |archive-date=July 17, 2015 |access-date=August 1, 2015 |website=Viacom International Inc.}}</ref>
The show features a host of supporting characters. Due to the nature of the show, they do not have consistent appearances or even designs; those who do appear repeatedly have different roles in each appearance, being either a part of the storyline or making cameo appearances with little bearing on the plot. Some, such as Mr. Horse, are exclusively cameo-based, spontaneously appearing as a running gag. George Liquor makes his first appearances in the show through cameos or as a supporting character, as demonstrated in "Dog Show" and "Man's Best Friend".<ref name="XMagazine">{{Cite web |last=Drukman |first=Jon |date=February 8, 1992 |title=Interview with Chris Savino |url=http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.ren-n-stimpy/msg/c6f96c3e0d800adb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018201913/http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.ren-n-stimpy/msg/c6f96c3e0d800adb |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=December 26, 2010 |website=X Magazine, issue 10}}</ref>
==Development and history== ===Conception=== According to animator Bill Wray, John Kricfalusi created the characters Ren and Stimpy in 1978 for "personal amusement" while studying at Sheridan College.<ref name="ComicsInterview">{{Cite web |last=Novinskie |first=Charles S. |year=1993 |title=Bill Wray, Interview |url=https://comics122.blogspot.com/2006/11/bill-wray.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708031703/http://comics122.blogspot.com/2006/11/bill-wray.html |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |access-date=August 30, 2010 |website=David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview issue 122}}</ref> He was inspired to create Ren by an Elliott Erwitt photograph, printed on a postcard, titled "New York City, Circa 1950", showing a sweatered chihuahua at a woman's feet. Stimpy's design was inspired by the cat duo from the 1945 ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoon ''A Gruesome Twosome'', who had big noses.<ref name="DVDcommentary" />
Approached by Nickelodeon for ideas for a show, Kricfalusi presented three. One was a variety show called ''Your Gang''<ref name="Neuwirth">{{Cite book |last=Neuwirth |first=Allan |url=https://archive.org/details/makintoonsinside0000neuw |title=Makin' Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies |publisher=Allworth Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-1581152692 |url-access=registration}}</ref> or ''Our Gang''<ref name="ComicsInterview" /> in which children presented cartoons, each parodying a different genre. Ren and Stimpy were pets of one of the presenters, and their cartoons would be in the style of ''Tom and Jerry''. Vanessa Coffey, vice president of animation production, was uninterested in the ideas, but liked Ren and Stimpy, singling them out for their own series.<ref name="ComicsInterview" /><ref name="Neuwirth" />
Production of the pilot, "Big House Blues", began in the summer of 1989, after ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' was successfully pitched to Nickelodeon,<ref name="NYT1992">{{Cite news |last=Meisler |first=Andy |date=August 16, 1992 |title=Ren and Stimpy's Triumphant Return |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/16/arts/television-ren-and-stimpy-s-triumphant-return.html?pagewanted=2 |access-date=December 26, 2009 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=May 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524023356/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/16/arts/television-ren-and-stimpy-s-triumphant-return.html?pagewanted=2}}</ref> and it was conducted by Spümcø, Kricfalusi's Los Angeles-based animation company. A few months later, after the pilot had been screened at film festivals, it was announced that the show would be one of the channel's first Nicktoons.<ref name="NickDigilio">{{Cite web |last=Digilio |first=Nick |title=John K interview |url=https://archive.wgnradio.com:8080/ramgen/wgnam/shows/digilio_nick/audio/kricfalusi030819nd.rm |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5ibioIChV?url=http://archive.wgnradio.com:8080/ramgen/wgnam/shows/digilio_nick/audio/kricfalusi030819nd.rm |archive-date=July 28, 2009 |access-date=January 17, 2010 |website=WGN Radio}}</ref>
Kricfalusi mainly credited Bob Clampett for his series as well as other animators such as Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Jay Ward and Max Fleischer. He additionally liked the comic artists such as Frank Frazetta, Johnny Hart, Jack Kirby and Charles M. Schulz as well as Hanna-Barbera and Mad Magazine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=“When Cartoons Were Cartoony:” John Kricfalusi Presents |url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/when-cartoons-were-cartoony-john-kricfalusi-presents |access-date=2026-03-07 |website=Animation World Network |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An Interview With John Kricfalusi |url=https://www.harrymccracken.com/animato/johnk.htm#:~:text=Put%20that%20money%20into%20the,Jones%20in%20The%20Dover%20Boys. |access-date=2026-03-07 |website=www.harrymccracken.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-18 |title=Q&A: John Kricfalusi's history of animation (and what he really thought of 'Toy Story' and 'The Simpsons') |url=https://www.popcultmag.com/posts/qa-john-kricfalusis-history-of-animation-and-what-he-really-thought-of-toy-story-and-the-simpsons/ |access-date=2026-03-07 |website=PopCult: The Obsessive Journal of Quality Pop Culture |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Phil |date=2012-07-06 |title=Interview: John Kricfalusi |url=https://thatshelf.com/interview-john-kricfalusi/ |access-date=2026-03-07 |website=That Shelf |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-18 |title=Q&A: John Kricfalusi's history of animation (and what he really thought of 'Toy Story' and 'The Simpsons') |url=https://www.popcultmag.com/posts/qa-john-kricfalusis-history-of-animation-and-what-he-really-thought-of-toy-story-and-the-simpsons/ |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=PopCult: The Obsessive Journal of Quality Pop Culture |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Spümcø (1991–1993)=== The series premiered on August 11, 1991, alongside two other Nicktoons, ''Doug'' and ''Rugrats''. Spümcø continued to produce the show for the next two years while encountering issues with Nickelodeon's Standards and Practices department.<ref name="ComicsInterview" /> The show was known for its lack of early merchandising;<ref name="Dixon">{{cite book |last=Kricfalusi |first=John |editor-last=Dixon |editor-first=Wheeler W. |chapter=Creating Ren and Stimpy (1992) |title=Collected Interviews: Voices from Twentieth-Century Cinema |pages=82–94 |year=2001 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JWywnr1dNucC |publisher=SIU Press |isbn=978-0809324170 |via=Google Books}}</ref> according to Wray, the initial lack of merchandise was "the unique and radical thing" about ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'', as no toy company planned for any merchandise for the show, and Nickelodeon did not want to use "over-exploitive" merchandising.<ref name="ComicsInterview" />
Kricfalusi described his early period with Nickelodeon as being "simple", as he got along with Coffey, the sole executive of the program. When another executive was added, they wanted to alter or discard some of the ''Ren & Stimpy'' episodes, but Kricfalusi says the episodes stayed intact since he did a "trade" with Coffey: he would have some "really crazy" episodes in exchange for some "heart-warming" episodes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Troy |title=The Animated Adventures of John K. |url=http://www.ugo.com/channels/dvd/features/renandstimpy/interview.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616014231/http://www.ugo.com/channels/dvd/features/renandstimpy/interview.asp |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |access-date=February 16, 2009 |website=UGO.com}}</ref> Kricfalusi also said that the program was the "safest project [he] ever worked on" while explaining the meaning of "safe" as "spend a third of what they spend now per picture, hire proven creative talent, and let them entertain." He estimated Spümcø's run of ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' cost around $6 million to produce.<ref name="BlandMoviesMakeProfits">{{Cite web |last=Kricfalusi |first=John |author-link=John Kricfalusi |date=August 16, 2007 |title=Do All Bland Movies Make Profits? |url=https://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/08/do-all-bland-movies-make-profits.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218103350/http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/08/do-all-bland-movies-make-profits.html |archive-date=December 18, 2007 |website=johnkstuff.blogspot.com}}</ref>
The relationship between Kricfalusi and Nickelodeon deteriorated to the point where Kricfalusi would communicate with Nickelodeon only through his lawyer.<ref name="morningcall" /> News outlets and several of the series' staff ascribe the tension to episodes not being delivered promptly.<ref name="HollywoodReporter" /><ref name="WestFAQ">" {{Cite web |last=West |first=Billy |author-link=Billy West |date=2005 |title=F.A.Q. |url=http://www.billywest.com/index4.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701232031/http://www.billywest.com/index4.htm |archive-date=July 1, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dan Abrams' Interview with Jeff "Swampy" Marsh |url=http://www.title14.com/rocko/contributors/interview.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118014204/http://www.title14.com/rocko/contributors/interview.html |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |website=Title14.com}}</ref><ref name="John Staton">{{Cite web |last=Staton |first=John |date=November 12, 1992 |title=New 'Ren & Stimpy' Director Ready to Take Control |url=http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.ren-n-stimpy/msg/badaa89c3232fa8b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018201923/http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.ren-n-stimpy/msg/badaa89c3232fa8b |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |website=The Daily Tarheel, Omnibus}}</ref><ref name="USAToday">{{Cite news |date=September 25, 1992 |title='Ren & Stimpy' Go on Without Their Creator |work=USA Today}}</ref> Author Andy Mangels, writing for ''Wizard'' magazine, commented that "Kricfalusi's lax treatment of deadlines angered not only the networks, but his loyal viewers as well."<ref name="Wizard" /> However, some of the delays were attributed to Nickelodeon's prolonged approval process<ref name="morningcall" /> and withdrawal of approval from scenes and episodes that had been previously approved.<ref name="ComicsInterview" /><ref name="Wizard" /><ref name="RickMarin">{{Citation |last=Marin |first=Rick |title=Who, Where, Ren? |date=November 2, 1992 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/11/20/fighting-over-ren-stimpy-show/ |access-date=September 20, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061326/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,312442,00.html |archive-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> Another point of contention was the direction of the series. Kricfalusi cites the episode "Man's Best Friend" as the primary reason for his dismissal;<ref name="awm">{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Martin |date=September 1, 2004 |title=Dr. Toon Interviews John Kricfalusi |url=http://www.awn.com/animationworld/when-cartoons-were-cartoony-john-kricfalusi-presents |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627121302/http://www.awn.com/animationworld/when-cartoons-were-cartoony-john-kricfalusi-presents |archive-date=June 27, 2014 |access-date=May 19, 2007 |website=Animation World Magazine}}</ref> the character George Liquor is depicted in the episode as an abusive father figure, and Nickelodeon did not want the show to be so frightening and dramatic.<ref name="ComicsInterview" />{{Rp|15}}
===Games Animation (1992–1996)=== Nickelodeon terminated Kricfalusi's contract in late September 1992<ref name="USAToday" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cerone |first=Daniel |date=September 28, 1992 |title='Ren & Stimpy' and Its Creator: A Parting of Ways : Animation: John Kricfalusi Fought with Nickelodeon over Deadlines, Finances and the Ribald Nature of His Cartoon. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-28-ca-180-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203081803/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-28-ca-180-story.html |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |access-date=March 31, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035}}</ref> and offered him the position of consultant for ''Ren & Stimpy'', but he refused to "sell out".<ref name="RickMarin" /> The network moved production from Spümcø to its newly founded animation studio, Games Animation, which later became Nickelodeon Animation Studio.<ref name="Mackenzie">{{Cite web |first=Michael |last=Mackenzie |date=July 3, 2005 |title=The Ren & Stimpy Show: Seasons Three and a Half-ish Review |url=https://www.thedigitalfix.com/film/dvd_review/the-ren-stimpy-show-seasons-three-and-a-half-ish/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331234112/https://www.thedigitalfix.com/film/dvd_review/the-ren-stimpy-show-seasons-three-and-a-half-ish/ |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |access-date=March 31, 2022 |website=The Digital Fix}}</ref> Bob Camp replaced Kricfalusi as director,<ref name="PhiladelphiaInquierer" /> while West, having refused Kricfalusi's request to leave along with him,<ref name="WestFAQ" /> voiced Ren in addition to Stimpy.<ref name="ComicsInterview" /><ref name="John Staton" /><ref name="3half">{{Cite web |last=Pinsky |first=Mike |date=July 6, 2005 |title=Seasons Three and a Half-ish review |url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/renstimpyseason3.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616002630/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/renstimpyseason3.php |archive-date=June 16, 2007 |access-date=May 19, 2007 |website=DVD Verdict}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Guests: John Kricfalusi and Billy West |date=August 1, 1995 |work=The Howard Stern Show |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PheypE68BKc |access-date=September 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319102523/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PheypE68BKc |archive-date=March 19, 2017 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}</ref>
Fans and critics felt this was a turning point in the show, with the new episodes being a considerable step down from the standard of those that preceded them.<ref name="Mackenzie" /><ref name="Lacey">{{Cite web |last=Gord Lacey |date=June 24, 2005 |title=Ren and Stimpy Show, The – Season 3 and a Half-ish Review |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/reviews/Ren-Stimpy-Season-3-Half-ish/4771 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013105313/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/reviews/Ren-Stimpy-Season-3-Half-ish/4771 |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=May 20, 2007 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com}}</ref> Ted Drozdowski, resident critic of ''The Boston Phoenix'', stated that "the bloom faded" on ''Ren & Stimpy''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ted Drozdowski |title=Eye pleasers |url=http://bostonphoenix.com/archive/tv/97/05/TEN_REASONS.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203205756/http://bostonphoenix.com/archive/tv/97/05/TEN_REASONS.html |archive-date=February 3, 2008 |website=The Boston Phoenix}}</ref> Animation historian Michael Barrier writes that while the creators of the Games episodes used crude jokes that were similar to those used by Kricfalusi, they did not "find the material particularly funny; they were merely doing what was expected".<ref name="Barrier">{{Cite book |last=Barrier |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zDJXnzMh7bkC&pg=PA571 |title=Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age |publisher=Oxford University Press US |year=2003 |isbn=978-0195167290 |pages=571–572 |access-date=January 17, 2010}}</ref>
In late January 1995, Mary Harrington came to Games from New York to tell the studio that the show was "ceased indefinitely" rather than "cancelled"; production would wrap up by August 1995. By the end of the series, each segment was produced at around $500,000 each.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Komorowski |first=Thad |title=Sick Little Monkeys: The Unauthorized Ren & Stimpy Story |publisher=Bear Manor Media |year=2017 |isbn=978-1629331836 |edition=2nd |location=Albany, Georgia |page=259}}</ref>
The series ended its original run on Nickelodeon on December 16, 1995, with "A Scooter for Yaksmas", and had a total of five seasons and 51 episodes, although one episode from the final season, "Sammy and Me/The Last Temptation", remained unaired.<ref name="FinalEpisode"/> Almost a year later, the episode aired on Nickelodeon's sister network, MTV, on October 20, 1996.<ref name="Komorowski" />
==Production== ===Process=== The animation production methods used in ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' were similar to those found in Golden Age cartoons of the early 20th century, where a director supervised the entire process.<ref name="XMagazine" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael Barrier and Milton Gray |year=1970 |title=An Interview with Bob Clampett |url=http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Funnyworld/Clampett/interview_bob_clampett.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713210107/http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Funnyworld/Clampett/interview_bob_clampett.htm |archive-date=July 13, 2018 |access-date=October 15, 2010 |website=Funnyworld No. 12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Bob |year=1990 |title=New Toons on the Block: They're attending Acme Looniversity & hoping to graduate as classic cartoon characters |work=Comic Scene |pages=38 |issue=15 |quote=the classic Warner Bros. unit system (rather than the department system of other TV animation studios) in which directors oversee nearly every facet of production.}}</ref> These methods are in contrast with animation production methods in the 1980s, where there was one director for animation and a different director for voice actors, and the cartoons were created with a "top-down" approach to tie in with toy production.<ref name="NYT1992" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fred Seibert |title=Blog History of Frederator shorts (parts 1 to 22) |url=http://frederatorblogs.com/frederator_studios/category/blog-history-of-frederator-shorts/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122210905/http://frederatorblogs.com/frederator_studios/category/blog-history-of-frederator-shorts/ |archive-date=November 22, 2010 |access-date=October 15, 2010 |website=frederatorblogs.com}}</ref>
Animator Vincent Waller compared working on ''Ren & Stimpy'' and ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' in an interview: "Working on ''Ren and Stimpy'' and ''SpongeBob'' was very similar. They're both storyboard-driven shows, which means they give us an outline from a premise after the premise has been approved. We take the outline and expand on it, writing the dialogue and gags. That was very familiar."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tom Heintjes |date=September 21, 2012 |title='The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants', ''Hogan's Alley'' #17, 2010 |url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405050934/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/ |archive-date=April 5, 2013 |website=cartoonician.com}}</ref>
===Animation=== The show's aesthetics draw on Golden Age cartoons,<ref name="XMagazine" /><ref name="Time">{{Cite magazine |last=Kanfer |first=Stefan |date=April 13, 1992 |title=Loonier Toon Tales |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,975286,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081130091429/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,975286,00.html |archive-date=November 30, 2008 |access-date=March 3, 2010 |magazine=Time}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=LoBrutto |first=Vincent |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMVADwAAQBAJ&q=%22The+Ren+&pg=RA2-PA102 |title=TV in the USA: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas [3 volumes] |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2018 |isbn=978-1440829734 |pages=102 |language=en |via=Google Books}}</ref> particularly those of animator Bob Clampett from the 1940s in the way the characters' emotions powerfully distort their bodies.<ref name="Barrier" /> The show's style emphasizes unique expressions, intense and specific acting and strong character poses.<ref name="Neuwirth" /><ref name="DVDcommentary" /> One of the show's most notable visual trademarks is the detailed paintings of gruesome close-ups,<ref name="Neuwirth" /> along with the blotchy ink stains that on occasion replace the standard backgrounds, reminiscent of "holes in reality or the vision of a person in a deep state of dementia".<ref name="Eubanks">{{Cite web |last=Jessie Eubanks |date=October 7, 2005 |title=Ren & Stimpy: Season Five and Some More of Season Four |url=http://dvd.ign.com/articles/656/656198p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206183649/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/656/656198p1.html |archive-date=December 6, 2010 |access-date=October 15, 2010 |website=IGN}}</ref> This style was developed from Clampett's ''Baby Bottleneck'', which features several scenes with color-cards for backgrounds.<ref name="awm" /> The show incorporated norms from "the old system in TV and radio" where the animation would feature sponsored products to tie in with the cartoon, but in lieu of real advertisements, it featured fake commercial breaks advertising nonexistent products, most notably "Log".<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2005 |title=Future of Entertainment |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001096312 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401115404/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001096312 |archive-date=April 1, 2007 |access-date=February 16, 2009 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>
Kricfalusi cited Carbunkle Cartoons, an animation studio headed by Bob Jaques and Kelly Armstrong, for their work on the show's best episodes, improving the acting with subtle nuances and wild animation that could not be done with overseas animation studios.<ref name="DVDcommentary">{{Cite AV media |title=Ren & Stimpy – The Complete First and Second Seasons |date=October 12, 2004 |type=DVD |people=John Kricfalusi}}</ref><ref name="Cinefantastique1">{{Cite web |last=Dan Persons |date=June 1993 |title=Canadian Carbunkle |url=https://cin01.blogspot.com/2006/12/spumcos-ren-stimpy-revolution.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708031157/http://cin01.blogspot.com/2006/12/spumcos-ren-stimpy-revolution.html |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |access-date=February 18, 2010 |website=Cinefantastique volume 24 #1}}</ref> KJ Dell'Antonia of ''Common Sense Media'' describes the show's style as changing "from intentionally rough to much more polished and plushie-toy ready."<ref name="AntoniaReview">{{Citation |last=KJ Dell'Antonia |title=TV Review: The Ren & Stimpy Show |date=2007 |work=Common Sense Media |url=http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-csm-80201-television-review--the-ren---stimpy-show-t/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228022321/http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-csm-80201-television-review--the-ren---stimpy-show-t/ |archive-date=February 28, 2009}}</ref>
===Voice acting=== Kricfalusi originally voiced Ren, styled after a demented Peter Lorre from the film ''The Maltese Falcon''.<ref name="Neuwirth" /><ref name="NYT1992" /> When Nickelodeon terminated Kricfalusi's contract, Billy West, already the voice of Stimpy, took the role using a combination of Burl Ives, Kirk Douglas, and a slight "south of the border accent" for the rest of the Nickelodeon run.<ref name="PhiladelphiaInquierer">{{Cite web |last=J. Evan Reiff and Heidi S. Siegel |date=January 4, 1993 |title=Its New Creator Promises to Take 'Ren & Stimpy' out of the Doghouse |url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-01-04/entertainment/25960018_1_nickelodeon-executives-nickelodeon-spokeswoman-spumco |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426182231/http://articles.philly.com/1993-01-04/entertainment/25960018_1_nickelodeon-executives-nickelodeon-spokeswoman-spumco |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |access-date=April 8, 2011 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> West voiced Stimpy for the Spümcø and Games Animation episodes, basing the voice on an "amped-up" Larry Fine.<ref name="Neuwirth" /> Some notable artists and performers who voiced incidental characters on the show were Frank Zappa (in his final public performance before his death), Jack Carter, Stan Freberg, Tommy Davidson, Randy Quaid, Gilbert Gottfried, Rosie O'Donnell, Dom DeLuise, Phil Hartman, Mark Hamill and Soleil Moon Frye.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nick Patch |date=August 5, 2016 |title=Nickelodeon marks 25 years since Rugrats, Doug debut |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2016/08/05/nickelodeon-marks-25-years-since-rugrats-doug-debut.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806133331/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2016/08/05/nickelodeon-marks-25-years-since-rugrats-doug-debut.html |archive-date=August 6, 2016 |access-date=April 3, 2017 |work=The Toronto Star}}</ref>
===Music=== {{redirect|Happy Happy Joy Joy|the documentary film|Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren and Stimpy Story}} {{Listen |type = music |filename = The Ren & Stimpy Show Opening Theme - "Dog Pound Hop".ogg |pos = left |title = "Dog Pound Hop" |description = A 24-second portion of the iconic opening theme that contains diverse rockabilly-style elements. }} ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' features a wide variety of music, spanning rockabilly, folk, pop, jazz, classical music, jingles, and more. The opening theme, "Dog Pound Hop", was performed by a group of Spümcø employees under the name "Die Screaming Leiderhôsens"; they include developer Jim Smith, animator Chris Reccardi and production assistant Scott Huml.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ren & Stimpy FAQ – What about the music? |url=http://www.lysator.liu.se/~marcus/ren_stimpy/FAQ12.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919102022/http://www.lysator.liu.se/~marcus/ren_stimpy/FAQ12.html |archive-date=September 19, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2011 |website=Lysator.liu.se}}</ref> Three ''Ren & Stimpy'' albums have been released. In 1993, a compilation album,''You Eediot!'', was released as a soundtrack album.
Stimpy's rousing anthem titled "Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy" was composed by Chris Reccardi<ref name="XMagazine" /> and written by Charlie Brissette and Kricfalusi. A cover performed by Wax is included on the 1995 tribute album ''Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits'', produced by Ralph Sall for MCA Records.
==Controversy and censorship== The program's staff did not want to create an "educational" series, a stance that bothered Nickelodeon,<ref name="ComicsInterview" />{{rp|21}} leading to the series being criticized by parent groups.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Letters to the Editor archive |url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/letters/2002archives4.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106201155/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/letters/2002archives4.asp |archive-date=January 6, 2008 |access-date=May 20, 2007 |publisher=Parents Television Council}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Parents Television Council |date=March 2, 2006 |title=Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: A Content Analysis of Children's Television |url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/childrensstudy/childrensstudy.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605153629/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/childrensstudy/childrensstudy.pdf |archive-date=June 5, 2007 |access-date=May 20, 2007}}</ref> Some segments of the show were altered to exclude references to religion, politics, alcohol, violence, and tobacco. The episode "Powdered Toast Man" had a cross removed from the Pope's hat and the credit was changed to "the man with the pointy hat". The same episode had a segment featuring the burning of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights that was removed, while in "Dog Show", the last name of the character George Liquor was removed, being changed to simply "George, American".<ref name="Komorowski" /> Many other episodes included someone smoking a cigar, pipe, or a cigarette.
Several episodes had violent, gruesome, or suggestive scenes shortened or removed, including a sequence involving a severed head, a close-up of Ren's face being grated against a man's stubble,<ref name="lyriscuts">{{Cite web |last=David Mackenzie |date=October 2006 |title=Ren & Stimpy Uncut: Uncut |url=http://www.lyris-lite.net/rscuts.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110928131726/http://www.lyris-lite.net/rscuts.html |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |access-date=October 20, 2010}}</ref> and a scene that was shortened where Ren receives multiple punches to the stomach from a baby. In the second-season episode "Sven Höek", during the scene where Ren fantasizes about brutally murdering Stimpy and his cousin Sven after they break all of his prized possessions, his line "Then...I'm going to gouge your eyes out...yeah..." was cut. One infamous episode, "Man's Best Friend", was banned by Nickelodeon for its violent content. Neither Nickelodeon nor MTV would air the episode. Years later on Spike TV, the show's revival, ''Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"'', debuted with this banned episode as their unofficial pilot, receiving a TV-MA rating.<ref name="Komorowski" /> Games Animation, however, was allowed to include more risqué content and occasional graphic violence.{{sfn|Komorowski|2017|p=264}}
==Episodes== {{Main|List of The Ren & Stimpy Show episodes}}
{{:List of The Ren & Stimpy Show episodes}}
The series ran for five seasons, spanning 52 episodes.<ref name="TNN">{{Cite press release |title=The New TNN Signs With Animator John Kricfalusi to Produce New Original Episodes of Groundbreaking Series 'The Ren & Stimpy Show'; Series to Join the New TNN's Adult Animation Block in '03. |date=July 17, 2002 |location=New York City |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+New+TNN+Signs+With+Animator+John+Kricfalusi+to+Produce+New...-a089143084 |via=TheFreeLibrary.com |access-date=January 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022182217/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+New+TNN+Signs+With+Animator+John+Kricfalusi+to+Produce+New...-a089143084 |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |website=The New TNN |agency=PR Newswire}}</ref> The show was produced by Kricfalusi's animation studio Spümcø for the first two seasons. Beginning with season three (1993–94), the show was produced by Nickelodeon's Games Animation. The episode "Man's Best Friend" was produced for season two, but the episode was shelved and debuted with the show's 2003 reboot. Another episode, "Sammy and Me / The Last Temptation", aired on MTV on October 20, 1996, nearly a year after the original Nickelodeon run ended.<ref name="Komorowski" />
==Reception== [[File:The Ren & Stimpy Show - Happy Happy Joy Joy scene.webm|thumb|The iconic "Happy Happy, Joy Joy" scene from "Stimpy's Invention" which is praised for the song's catchiness, the characters' antics, and satirization of mental health.|thumbtime=17]] ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' received widespread critical acclaim.<ref name="Time" /> Matt Groening, creator of ''The Simpsons'', praised the show for its outrageousness<ref name="Richmond">{{Citation |last=Ray Richmond |title='Ren & Stimpy' succeeds by breaking rules |date=April 30, 1992 |work=Orange County Register |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1992/04/30/ren-stimpy-succeeds-by-breaking-rules/ |access-date=January 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202052451/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-04-30/features/1992121208_1_ren-stimpy-stimpy-show-named-ren |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and called it "the only good cartoon on TV" other than ''The Simpsons''; he was later critical of Kricfalusi's firing.<ref name="Booe">{{Citation |last=Martin Booe |title=Gag! It's Ren and Stimpy |date=August 11, 1992 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/08/11/gag-its-ren-and-stimpy/f036d306-d322-4adf-a5b0-a8811d3750b2/ |access-date=April 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330004722/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/08/11/gag-its-ren-and-stimpy/f036d306-d322-4adf-a5b0-a8811d3750b2/ |archive-date=March 30, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Terry Thoren, former CEO and president of Klasky Csupo, said that Kricfalusi "tapped into an audience that was a lot hipper than anybody thought. He went where no man wanted to go before – the caca, booger humor".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Kevin |date=March 23, 1995 |title=Not Just for Kids Anymore |work=Daily Variety}}</ref> Jonathan Valania of ''The Morning Call'' called it "high voltage yuks and industrial-strength weirdness",<ref name="morningcall">{{Cite news |last=Valania |first=Valania |date=December 18, 1992 |title=Ren & Stimpy Creator Isn't Laughing at Comic Book |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1992-12-18-2881277-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716093711/https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1992-12-18-2881277-story.html |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |access-date=March 31, 2022 |work=The Morning Call}}</ref> John Lyttle of ''The Independent'' described it as "a gooey media meltdown, absolutely grotesque and instantly recognisable" and did not consider it a children's cartoon.<ref name="Independent">{{Citation |last=Lyttle |first=John |title=Television |date=March 28, 1994 |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television--hehheh-hehheh-hehheh-beavis-and-butthead-enjoy-sniffing-paintthinner-setting-fire-to-things-and-torturing-frogs-other-interests-television-bon-jovi-and-snot-typical-lads-according-to-john-lyttle-who-ahead-of-the-pairs-arrival-on-channel-4-takes-a-look-at-their-predecessors-and-ponders-the-appeal-of-never-growing-up-1432183.html |access-date=May 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504211853/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television--hehheh-hehheh-hehheh-beavis-and-butthead-enjoy-sniffing-paintthinner-setting-fire-to-things-and-torturing-frogs-other-interests-television-bon-jovi-and-snot-typical-lads-according-to-john-lyttle-who-ahead-of-the-pairs-arrival-on-channel-4-takes-a-look-at-their-predecessors-and-ponders-the-appeal-of-never-growing-up-1432183.html |archive-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref>
As of 2026, the first season of the show holds a rare 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 12 reviews from critics, though the remaining seasons have not been rated. The site's consensus reads: "Dark and Dadaist, ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' pioneered an animation aesthetic that was undeniably disturbing for all ages."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ren & Stimpy Show |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_ren_stimpy_show/s01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115081051/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_ren_stimpy_show/s01 |archive-date=January 15, 2024 |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref>
The show came to garner high ratings for Nickelodeon,<ref name="NYT1992" /><ref name="morningcall" /><ref name="HollywoodReporter">{{Cite news |last=Paula Parisi |title=Nick Ticked by Late Stimpys |date=September 23, 1992 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=http://www.whataboutthad.com/2014/11/25/chugging-on/ |access-date=January 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111160353/http://www.whataboutthad.com/2014/11/25/chugging-on/ |archive-date=January 11, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Time" /><ref name="CartoonVoiceActors">{{Cite book |last1=Lawson |first1=Tim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0cEAOsLJad8C&pg=PA198 |title=The magic behind the voices: a who's who of cartoon voice actors |last2=Persons |first2=Alisa |publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi |year=2004 |isbn=978-1578066964 |pages=197–204}}</ref> having double the viewership of the other Nickelodeon cartoons for its first season<ref name="Booe" /> and later averaging three times their viewership.<ref name="Zurawik">{{Cite web |last=David Zurawik |date=August 14, 1992 |title=Cable's Nickelodeon hopes to lure youngsters with lineup that's Saturday night lively |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1992-08-14-1992227163-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202051026/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-08-14/features/1992227163_1_ren-stimpy-stimpy-show-kricfalusi |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=January 21, 2017 |website=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref> Due to the first season's high ratings, Nickelodeon renewed the series for twenty additional episodes in November 1991, alongside the second season of ''Rugrats'' and the second and third season of ''Doug''.<ref name="Viacom Press Release">{{Cite news |last=Geraldine Laybourne |date=November 19, 1991 |title=Nickelodeon Reorders All Three of its Original Animated Series |url=http://rugratonline.free.fr/nt91re.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224235340/http://rugratonline.free.fr/nt91re.html |archive-date=December 24, 2023 |access-date=December 24, 2023 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The show for a time was the most popular cable TV show,<ref>{{Citation |last=Ben Thompson |title=Farewell Bambi, hello Butt-head |date=March 20, 1994 |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television-farewell-bambi-hello-butt-head-forget-disney-and-his-cuddly-animals-the-new-wave-of-1430343.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television-farewell-bambi-hello-butt-head-forget-disney-and-his-cuddly-animals-the-new-wave-of-1430343.html |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> with several airings being the most-watched scripted cable TV show in 1993 in the United States.<ref name="Broadcasting">''Broadcasting & Cable'' (1993), "Top Cable Programs", April 19–25, May 10–16, May 17–23</ref> The show quickly developed a cult following in college campuses,<ref name="Wizard">{{Cite journal |last=Mangels |first=Andy |date=January 1993 |title=Hollywood Heroes |journal=Wizard |publisher=Wizard Entertainment |issue=17 |pages=32–40}}</ref><ref name="Independent" /><ref name="Zurawik" /> and was included in the launch of Nickelodeon's SNICK, a late-night block for shows that appeal to both children and adults.<ref name="Stabile">{{Citation |last=Rebecca Farley |title=Prime Time Animation: Television Animation and American Culture |pages=147–164 |year=2013 |editor-last=Carol Stabile |chapter=From Fred and Wilma to Ren and Stimpy: What makes a cartoon "prime time"? |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1136481642}}</ref>
==Legacy and influence== The immediate influence of the show was the spawning of two "clones". Kricfalusi's previous employer Hanna-Barbera produced ''2 Stupid Dogs'', to which Kricfalusi contributed jokes. Walt Disney Television Animation produced ''The Shnookums & Meat Funny Cartoon Show'' to mimic the show's success. The Disney series failed to gain any recognition and remained obscure.<ref name="Goodman" />
However, ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' had a wider influence on the future of animation.<ref name="Neuwirth" /><ref name="Eubanks" /> Mike Judge credits the success of ''Ren & Stimpy'' reruns on MTV for the network's willingness to commission ''Beavis and Butt-Head''.<ref name="LosAngelesTimes">{{Cite web |last=Daniel Cerone |date=October 17, 1993 |title=New Kings of TV's Toon Town |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-17-ca-46556-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207111414/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-17-ca-46556-story.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022 |access-date=March 31, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Writer Larry Brody credits ''Ren & Stimpy'' for leading a new golden age of animation, as other networks followed Nickelodeon and invested in new cartoons, opening the way for more adult-oriented satirical shows like ''Beavis and Butt-Head''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ted Cox |date=August 31, 2005 |title=TV's Turning Points: A New Book Looks at Pivotal Moments in TV History |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/226624/tvs_turning_points_a_new_book_looks_at_pivotal_moments/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012041510/http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/226624/tvs_turning_points_a_new_book_looks_at_pivotal_moments/index.html |archive-date=October 12, 2011 |access-date=January 21, 2011 |website=Daily Herald}}</ref>
David Feiss, an animation director on the first season of the show, went on to create Cartoon Network's ''Cow and Chicken'' and ''I Am Weasel''. John Kricfalusi became a teacher of sorts for Fred Seibert, and was the first person Seibert called while looking for new talent for the project ''What A Cartoon!''. Writer/animator Allan Neuwirth writes that ''Ren & Stimpy'' "broke the mold" and started several trends in TV animation, chiefly the revival of credits at the beginning of each episode, the use of grotesque close-ups, and a shift in cartoon color palettes to richer, more harmonious colors.<ref name="Neuwirth" />
A direct influence can be seen in the series ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' with the physically extreme drawings that contrast with the characters' usual appearance, the "grotesque close-ups". Series veteran Vincent Waller currently serves as a showrunner on ''SpongeBob''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael Barrier |date=December 11, 2004 |title=SpongeBath |url=http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Commentary/SpongeBob/SpongeBob.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217171044/http://michaelbarrier.com/Commentary/SpongeBob/SpongeBob.htm |archive-date=December 17, 2010 |access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref>
The characters became a cultural touchstone in the mid-1990s, and were featured in works such as the films ''Clueless'' (1995), ''The Cable Guy'', and ''Jack'' (both 1996).<ref>{{Cite web |last=James Barone |date=October 16, 2013 |title=There's No Formula for Success |url=http://submergemag.com/art/john-k/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403173915/http://submergemag.com/art/john-k/ |archive-date=April 3, 2018 |access-date=April 3, 2018 |website=Submerge Magazine}}</ref> ''Ren & Stimpy'' placed 31st in TV Guide's list of "Top 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time" in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 30, 2002 |title=TV Guide's 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207092859/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/index.html |archive-date=December 7, 2012 |access-date=January 15, 2012}}</ref> The cover story of the October 2001 issue of ''Wizard'', a magazine for comic book fans, listed the 100 Greatest Toons ever as selected by their readers, with ''Ren & Stimpy'' ranked at number 12.<ref name="Wizard100">{{Cite journal |date=October 2001 |title=100 Greatest Toons Ever |journal=Wizard: The Guide to Comics |issue=121}}</ref> Other entertainment journals similarly hold ''Ren & Stimpy'' as one of the best cartoons of the '90s and cartoons for adults.<ref>{{Cite web |last=J Schirle |date=January 30, 2010 |title=10 Best 90s Cartoons |url=http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-lists/10-best-90s-cartoons/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402173044/http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-lists/10-best-90s-cartoons/ |archive-date=April 2, 2011 |access-date=March 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2009 |title=Top 100 Animated TV Series |url=https://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/12.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426014946/http://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/12.html |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |access-date=January 15, 2012 |website=IGN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2006 |title=Top 25 Primetime Animated Series of All Time |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/736/736051p4.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183316/http://tv.ign.com/articles/736/736051p4.html |archive-date=May 23, 2012 |access-date=January 15, 2012 |website=IGN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ilana Diamond |date=March 19, 2010 |title=TV's 13 Best Cartoons... for Grown-Ups |url=http://www.tv.com/news/tvs-13-best-cartoons-for-grown-ups-21454/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111022743/http://www.tv.com/news/tvs-13-best-cartoons-for-grown-ups-21454/ |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |access-date=January 15, 2012 |website=TV.com}}</ref>
==Revivals== ===Spike TV spin-off=== In 2003, a reboot of the series helmed by John Kricfalusi, titled ''Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"'', was launched on a late night programming block on Spike TV and was rated TV-MA. As its name suggests, the new series is more adult-oriented than the original, and features an explicitly homosexual relationship between the main characters,<ref name="Onward">{{Cite episode |title=Onward and Upward |series=Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon |series-link=Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon" |network=TNN |date=June 23, 2003 |season=1 |number=2 |credits=Written by: Vincent Waller Directed by: John K.}}</ref> strong profanity, graphic violence and nudity.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Naked Beach Frenzy |episode-link=Naked Beach Frenzy |series=Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon |series-link=Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon" |network=TNN |date=n.d. |season=1 |number=2 (never aired) |credits=Written by: John K. Directed by: John K.}}</ref>
Billy West refused to participate in ''Adult Party Cartoon'', because he did not find the show funny and felt that it would've damaged his career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daniel Robert Epstein |title=Billy West Interview |url=http://www.ugo.com/channels/dvd/features/billywest/default.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311163612/http://www.ugo.com/channels/dvd/features/billywest/default.asp |archive-date=March 11, 2005 |website=UnderGroundOnline}}</ref> Eric Bauza subsequently replaced West as the voice of Stimpy in the series, while Kricfalusi reprised his roles as both Ren and Mr. Horse. The series premiered with the banned Nickelodeon episode "Man's Best Friend", before debuting new episodes thereafter. Much like the original series, Kricfalusi showed apparent disregard for meeting production deadlines, with only three out of the ordered nine episodes being completed on time. After the first three episodes aired, Spike's entire animation block was removed from its programming schedule.<ref name="TelevisionWeek">{{Cite web |last=James Hibberd |date=November 2003 |title=Spike Retooling Its Toon Strategy |url=http://www.tvweek.com/topstorys/11303spike.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603133953/http://www.tvweek.com/topstorys/11303spike.html |archive-date=June 3, 2004 |access-date=December 21, 2010 |website=TelevisionWeek |quote=One unexpected complication has been a lack of new episodes from Spike's most popular animated title. The network ordered nine episodes (an original order of six, then an additional three-parter) of "Ren & Stimpy's Adult Party Cartoon" from creator John Kricfalusi. The network only received three on time.}}</ref> However, three more episodes, already in production and completed by the time ''Adult Party Cartoon'' was canceled, were subsequently released three years later in 2006 on the ''Ren & Stimpy: The Lost Episodes'' DVD.
=== Canceled Nickelodeon-related projects=== In February 2016, ''Deadline Hollywood'' reported that characters from ''Ren & Stimpy'' were scheduled to appear in a scrapped ''Nicktoons'' feature-length film.<ref>{{Citation |last=Fleming |first=Mike |title=Paramount, Jared Hess Channel Classic Nickelodeon Shows For 'NickToons' Film |date=January 27, 2016 |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/nicktoons-jared-hess-nickelodeon-rugrats-angry-beavers-ren-stimpy-nickelodeon-cartoon-characters-for-nicktoons-feature-1201691542/ |access-date=February 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202034318/http://deadline.com/2016/01/nicktoons-jared-hess-nickelodeon-rugrats-angry-beavers-ren-stimpy-nickelodeon-cartoon-characters-for-nicktoons-feature-1201691542/ |archive-date=February 2, 2016 |url-status=live |publisher=Penske Business Media}}</ref> Three months later, ''Variety'' reported that Nickelodeon was in negotiations with Kricfalusi about another revival of the characters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Owen |first=Rob |date=May 3, 2016 |title=Nickelodeon Animation Studio: Pop-Culture Powerhouse Got an Unlikely Start |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/spotlight/nickelodeon-animation-studio-ren-stimpy-jon-kricfalusi-vanessa-coffey-1201766455/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403185238/https://variety.com/2016/tv/spotlight/nickelodeon-animation-studio-ren-stimpy-jon-kricfalusi-vanessa-coffey-1201766455/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |access-date=August 12, 2016 |website=Variety}}</ref> Bob Camp and William Wray revealed in an April 2016 panel discussion that Kricfalusi was developing a new ''Ren & Stimpy'' short that would be shown in theaters with the third ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' film, but stated that they were "not invited to that party" and would not be involved with the short's production.<ref>{{Citation |last=Komorowski |first=Thad |title=Interview: 25 Years Later, Directors Bob Camp and Bill Wray Remember "The Ren & Stimpy Show" |work=Animation Scoop |date=July 12, 2016 |url=http://www.animationscoop.com/interview-25-years-later-directors-bob-camp-and-bill-wray-remember-the-ren-stimpy-show/ |access-date=August 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916225618/http://www.animationscoop.com/interview-25-years-later-directors-bob-camp-and-bill-wray-remember-the-ren-stimpy-show/ |archive-date=September 16, 2021}}</ref> However, Kricfalusi later denied making such a cartoon on Twitter.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=828672331845300230 |user=JohnKricfalusi1 |title=not that I know of |first=John |last=Kricfalusi |date=February 6, 2017 |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222184222/https://twitter.com/JohnKricfalusi1/status/828672331845300230 |archive-date=February 22, 2017}}</ref> Despite this, an animatic of the short that was originally made as a promotion for ''The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water'' before being cancelled was released as a bonus feature on the ''Cans Without Labels'' DVD in May 2019.<ref>{{Citation |title=Cans Without Labels – DVD |date=May 27, 2019 |url=https://johnkstuff.com/products/cans-without-labels-dvd-1 |access-date=June 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626050352/https://johnkstuff.com/products/cans-without-labels-dvd-1 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Ren & Stimpy – SpongeBob Movie Short (Animatic) |date=June 23, 2019 |url=https://archive.org/details/RenStimpySpongeBobMovieShortAnimatic |access-date=June 25, 2019 |publisher=Steven Vargas}}</ref>
===Comedy Central reboot===
On August 5, 2020, it was announced that a new ''Ren & Stimpy'' reboot has been greenlit by Comedy Central, along with ''Daria'' and ''Beavis and Butt-Head''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title='Beavis and Butt-Head' Returning With Two New Seasons (and Spinoffs) at Comedy Central|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/beavis-butt-head-returning-two-new-seasons-spinoffs-at-comedy-central-1301344/|date=July 1, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2024|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421070804/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/beavis-butt-head-returning-two-new-seasons-spinoffs-at-comedy-central-1301344/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Tracy |date=August 5, 2020 |title=1990s kids loved the dark cartoon 'Ren & Stimpy.' Comedy Central is bringing it back |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-08-05/ren-stimpy-reboot-viacom-cbs-adult-animation-unit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203014939/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-08-05/ren-stimpy-reboot-viacom-cbs-adult-animation-unit |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |access-date=December 3, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Though a new creative staff has been employed, Billy West was expected to return along with a few of the original series' writers. Due to the sexual abuse allegations surrounding him, it has been confirmed that Kricfalusi will not be involved in the production of the new reboot, nor will he receive any compensation from it. Originally set to be produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, production on the reboot has been moved to Awesome Inc in October 2021,<ref>{{Citation |title=The Ren & Stimpy Show Returning With New Episodes |date=August 5, 2020 |url=https://consequence.net/2020/08/the-ren-stimpy-show-new-episodes-comedy-central/ |access-date=August 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805161217/https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/08/the-ren-stimpy-show-new-episodes-comedy-central/ |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |url-status=live |publisher=Michael Roffman}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Ren & Stimpy – Storyboard Artist |date=October 25, 2021 |url=https://www.awesomeinc.com/careers/ren-stimpy-storyboard-artist |access-date=October 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026004120/https://www.awesomeinc.com/careers/ren-stimpy-storyboard-artist |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |publisher=Awesome Inc}}</ref> while Snipple Animation announced their involvement in September 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snipple Animation Teases Involvement with 'Ren & Stimpy' Reboot |url=https://www.awn.com/news/snipple-animation-teases-involvement-ren-stimpy-reboot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208181911/https://www.awn.com/news/snipple-animation-teases-involvement-ren-stimpy-reboot |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |access-date=December 8, 2022}}</ref> According to West, development was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, contrary to earlier rumors that the project had been canceled.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1344342600564658176 |user=TheBillyWest |title=Not that I've heard. I think there were delays in all production and development because of Covid. |first=Billy |last=West |access-date=December 30, 2020 |url=https://twitter.com/TheBillyWest/status/1344342600564658176 |website=Twitter}}</ref> Paramount Global (at the time operating as ViacomCBS), the parent company of Comedy Central and Nickelodeon, has not responded to requests for a comment about the status of the show, though West reiterated that it was still in production.<ref name="cartoonbrew" /> On September 14, 2021, West confirmed that he was reprising his roles as Ren and Stimpy.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1437843019168817154 |user=TheBillyWest |title=@amberleahhx Yes Amber I'm reprising my roles of Ren & Stimpy for an all-new reboot! 😀 |author=Billy West |date=September 14, 2021 |bot=TweetCiteBot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1437842040960679939 |user=TheBillyWest |title=@genius013199 I will be reprising the roles of Ren and Stimpy for the brand new series! |author=Billy West |date=September 14, 2021}}</ref>
Other returning crew members from the original series include Bob Jaques, Chris Sauvé and former Spümcø alumni Robyn Byrd, who previously advocated to get the reboot canceled.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230206230041/https://awesomeinc.com/about Awesome Inc.- About]</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=de Wit |first=Alex |date=2020-08-31 |title=Petition To Halt Comedy Central's 'Ren & Stimpy' Reboot Passes 11,000 Signatures |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/petition-to-halt-comedy-centrals-ren-stimpy-reboot-passes-11000-signatures-195926.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313000230/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/petition-to-halt-comedy-centrals-ren-stimpy-reboot-passes-11000-signatures-195926.html |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |access-date=2023-03-12 |work=Cartoon Brew}}</ref>
==Home media== {{More citations needed section|date=October 2010}}
===VHS, LaserDisc and UMD=== Sony Wonder initially distributed collections of episodes of ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' on VHS, which were not grouped by air dates or season. For instance, ''The Classics Volume 1'' VHS was released in 1993 and included three episodes from Season 1 ("Space Madness", "Untamed World" and "Stimpy's Invention"), as well as the short segment "Breakfast Tips" and a "Log" commercial. Other Nickelodeon compilation tapes, including two themed after the ''SNICK'' programming block, were also released containing individual ''Ren and Stimpy'' cartoons.
Perhaps because of the show's adult following, it was also granted a LaserDisc set (the only ever LaserDisc release from Sony Wonder, and one of the only few LaserDiscs of a Nickelodeon original series), ''The Ren & Stimpy Show -- The Essential Collection: Classics I & II'', was released in 1995. This included all the episodes previously released on VHS from the Classics I and Classics II volumes, as well as the shorts included on said VHS releases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Factory |first=LaserDisc |title=Ren and Stimpy Show The Essential Collection LaserDisc Animation |url=https://dadons.com/ren-and-stimpy-show-the-essential-collection-laserdisc-animation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114151429/https://dadons.com/ren-and-stimpy-show-the-essential-collection-laserdisc-animation |archive-date=January 14, 2023 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=DaDon's |language=en}}</ref>
Eventually, the rights for Nickelodeon's programming on home video transferred from Sony to Paramount Home Video. Paramount only released one video of ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'', "Have Yourself a Stinky Little Christmas", which was a re-release of a Sony video from 1993.<ref>{{Citation |last=Sony Wonder |title=Full VHS Tape:Ren & Stimpy:Have Yourself A Stinky Little Christmas |date=1993 |url=http://archive.org/details/renstimpyhaveyourselfastinkylittlechristmas_201912 |access-date=2022-03-02}}</ref>
In 2005, Paramount released ''The First Ten Cartoons'' on UMD, only for playback on Sony's PSP portable video game system. Presumably due to poor sales of UMD movies and shows, no further episodes were released on the format.
===DVD=== {{See also|List of The Ren & Stimpy Show episodes#DVD releases}}
====United States==== Time Life released several episodes of ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' in a "Best of" set in September 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Best of Ren & Stimpy |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/8654/best-of-ren-stimpy-the/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208192025/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/8654/best-of-ren-stimpy-the/ |archive-date=February 8, 2009 |access-date=May 20, 2007 |publisher=DVDTalk.com}}</ref> This set is now out of print.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mackenzie |first=Michael |title=The Ren & Stimpy Show |url=http://homecinema.thedigitalfix.co.uk/content.php?contentid=56548 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105195428/http://homecinema.thedigitalfix.co.uk/content.php?contentid=56548 |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |access-date=May 20, 2007 |publisher=DVDTimes.co.uk |quote=An earlier 3-disc set, by Time Life, featured select episodes from the first two seasons, but suffered from several censor cuts. Long out of print, this set features something of an anomaly in its inclusion of the full-length version of "Ren's Toothache", cut on the Paramount set.}}</ref> On October 12, 2004, Paramount Home Entertainment released the first two complete seasons in a three-disc box set; although the cover art and press materials said the episodes were "uncut", a handful of episodes were edited, due to the use of Spike TV masters where Spike TV would cut some scenes from episodes to make room for longer commercial breaks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ren and Stimpy Show – The 1st And 2nd Seasons information page |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Ren-Stimpy-1st-2nd-Seasons/3862 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013105032/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Ren-Stimpy-1st-2nd-Seasons/3862 |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=May 20, 2007 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com}}</ref> One of the episodes from the second season, "Svën Höek", did have footage reinserted from a work-in-progress VHS tape, but with an editing machine timecode visible on-screen; the scene was later restored by fans. Three other episodes ("Powdered Toast Man", "Dog Show", and "Big House Blues") contain extra footage that was not originally broadcast on Nickelodeon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=John Kricfalusi |date=April 21, 2006 |title=Lost Episodes of Ren and Stimpy – sneak previews 2 |url=https://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2006/04/lost-episodes-of-ren-and-stimpy-sneak_21.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220064908/http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2006/04/lost-episodes-of-ren-and-stimpy-sneak_21.html |archive-date=December 20, 2014 |access-date=October 18, 2014}}</ref> The DVD set even includes the banned episode "Man's Best Friend" as a bonus feature. A set for "Seasons Three and a Half-ish", containing all of season three and the first half of season four up to "It's a Dog's Life/Egg Yölkeo", followed on June 28, 2005.<ref name="Lacey" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ren and Stimpy Show, The – Season 3 and a Half-ish information page |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Ren-Stimpy-Season-3-Half-ish/4771 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012214829/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Ren-Stimpy-Season-3-Half-ish/4771 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |access-date=May 20, 2007 |publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com}}</ref> ''Season Five and Some More of Four'' completed the DVD release of the Nickelodeon series on September 20.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ren and Stimpy Show, The – Season 5 and Some More of 4 information page |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Ren-Stimpy-Season-5-4/4965 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012044046/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Ren-Stimpy-Season-5-4/4965 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |access-date=May 20, 2007 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com}}</ref> Like the previous DVDs, some scenes were removed in these releases.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}
A two-disc set dubbed ''The Lost Episodes'' was released on July 17, 2006, featuring both the aired and unaired episodes from ''Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon – The Lost Episodes information page |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Ren-Stimpy-Adult-Party-Cartoon-Volume-Release/5805 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012191730/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Ren-Stimpy-Adult-Party-Cartoon-Volume-Release/5805 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |access-date=May 20, 2007 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com}}</ref>
Paramount released "The Almost Complete Series" 9-disc set that combines the individual season discs into a single package, on February 6, 2018,<ref>{{Citation |last=David Lambert |title=The Ren and Stimpy Show – Happy-Happy, Joy-Joy! It's 'The Mostly Complete Collection'! |date=December 13, 2017 |work=TVShowsOnDVD.com |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Ren-Stimpy-Mostly-Complete-Collection/23796 |access-date=February 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117210733/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Ren-Stimpy-Mostly-Complete-Collection/23796 |archive-date=November 17, 2017}}</ref> and was re-released on January 11, 2022.<ref>{{Citation |title=Ren & Stimpy: The Almost Complete Collection |asin=B09K1Z1F5G}}</ref>
====Europe==== The original series was released entirely as a 9-disc set in Germany on October 4, 2013. After people said that two episodes on the second disc were not completely uncensored, Turbine Classics offered to send everybody proof of purchase of an uncensored disc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ren & Stimpy – Turbine bietet kostenlosen Austausch an – Zwei Folgen waren nicht ganz ungeschnitten |url=http://www.schnittberichte.com/news.php?ID=6288 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728074131/http://www.schnittberichte.com/news.php?ID=6288 |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |access-date=July 19, 2014 |website=forum.cinefacts.de |language=de}}</ref> The set comprises a mix of the known US airings and the German TV airings which included some exclusive scenes of various episodes. Since the set is the first to include all scenes ever broadcast worldwide, it is considered the first truly uncensored DVD release of the series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ren & Stimpy Show Cuts |url=http://www.movie-censorship.com/list.php?o=2033 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807172055/http://www.movie-censorship.com/list.php?o=2033 |archive-date=August 7, 2014 |access-date=July 19, 2014 |website=movie-censorship.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nicktoons von Turbine: Ren & Stimpy, Rocko und Co. |url=http://forum.cinefacts.de/228707-nicktoons-von-turbine-ren-stimpy-rocko-und-co.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006153644/http://forum.cinefacts.de/228707-nicktoons-von-turbine-ren-stimpy-rocko-und-co.html |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |website=forum.cinefacts.de |language=de}}</ref>
==Other media== ===Video games=== Seven action games based directly on the television series were released between 1992 and 1995. * '''''The Ren & Stimpy Show: Space Cadet Adventures''''' was developed by Imagineering, published by THQ and released for the Game Boy in November 1992. The game's premise centers on Stimpy attempting to rescue a stranded Ren, who is simultaneously traversing alien worlds attempting to return to their ship. The game received middling reviews and was praised for its faithful humor and visuals but was criticized for its repetitive and unimaginative gameplay.<ref name="EGMSpaceCadet">{{Cite magazine |date=December 1992 |title='Ren and Stimpy' |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |page=40 |volume=41}}</ref><ref name="NPSpaceCadet">{{Cite magazine |date=February 1993 |title='The Ren and Stimpy Show' |magazine=Nintendo Power |pages=104–105 |volume=45}}</ref> * '''''The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots!''''' was developed by Gray Matter, published by THQ and released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy in October 1993. The game is composed of four stages based on episodes from the television series. Both versions of the game received middling reviews. The SNES version was praised for its faithful visuals and audio but was criticized for its repetitive stages, standard gameplay and sluggish controls.<ref name="NPVeediots">{{Cite magazine |date=October 1993 |title='The Ren and Stimpy Show: Veediots' |magazine=Nintendo Power |page=100 |volume=53}}</ref><ref name="EGMVeediots">{{Cite magazine |date=November 1993 |title='Ren & Stimpy' |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |page=46 |volume=52}}</ref> ''Nintendo Power'' commented that the Game Boy version had good graphics but poor controls and challenge.<ref name="NPGBVeediots">{{Cite magazine |date=December 1993 |title='The Ren and Stimpy Show: Veediots' |magazine=Nintendo Power |page=107 |volume=55}}</ref> * '''''Quest for the Shaven Yak Starring Ren Hoëk & Stimpy''''' was developed by Realtime Associates, published by Sega and released for the Game Gear in November 1993. It was also released for the Master System in Brazil in 1995. The game's premise centers on Ren and Stimpy's mission to return the hooves of the Great Shaven Yak. Scary Larry of ''GamePro'' praised the music as "worth the price of admission" and the graphics as "very good by Game Gear standards".<ref name="GProShavenYak">{{Cite magazine |date=November 1993 |title='Quest for the Shaven Yak Starring Ren and Stimpy' |magazine=GamePro |page=188 |volume=52}}</ref> * '''''The Ren & Stimpy Show: Buckeroo$!''''' was developed by Imagineering, published by THQ, and released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in November 1993,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 9, 2015 |title=NES Games |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2014 }}</ref> and for the SNES in April 1995. The game features twelve levels based on the television episodes "Space Madness", "Out West", and "Robin Höek". ''Nintendo Power'''s review noted that the NES version's graphics "capture the artistic flavor of the cartoon series" but criticized the poor controls and unengaging game elements.<ref name="NPNESBuckeroos">{{Cite magazine |date=December 1993 |title='The Ren & Stimpy Show: Buckeroo |magazine=Nintendo Power |page=106 |volume=55}}</ref> Conversely, the SNES version was commended for having more gameplay variety than previous ''Ren & Stimpy'' titles, but the graphics were described as "[not] very ''Ren & Stimpy''ish".<ref name="NPSNESBuckeroos">{{Cite magazine |date=May 1995 |title='Ren & Stimpy Buckeroo |magazine=Nintendo Power |page=106 |volume=72}}</ref> * '''''The Ren & Stimpy Show Presents: Stimpy's Invention''''' was developed by BlueSky Software, published by Sega and released for the Sega Genesis in December 1993.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_52/page/n244/mode/1up|title=Fact File: Ren & Stimpy Stimpy's Invention|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=52|date=November 1993|pages=244–245|accessdate=January 10, 2022}}</ref> The game's premise follows Ren and Stimpy as they travel through their neighborhood and collect scattered pieces of Stimpy's latest invention, the Mutate-O-Matic. The game features a two-player mode in which each player controls one of the two titular characters. The reviewers of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' praised the game's faithful and humorous visuals and audio but derided the two-player mode as "more aggravating than fun" and "twice as hard as a one-player [game]".<ref name="EGMInvention">{{Cite magazine |date=December 1993 |title='Ren & Stimpy' |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |page=48 |volume=53}}</ref> * '''''The Ren & Stimpy Show: Fire Dogs''''' was developed by Argonaut Software, published by THQ, and released for the SNES in March 1994. The game is split into two distinct parts; in the first part, the player controls Stimpy, who must traverse through a firehouse and gather all the equipment for a firetruck in a limited time while avoiding the Fire Chief, while the second part puts the player in control of both Ren and Stimpy, who must catch items that are thrown out of a burning building. ''Nintendo Power'' commended the game's graphics, humor, audio, and inclusion of a password feature but criticized the lack of variety, limited time allotted for collecting items, and repetition of the two levels.<ref name="NPFireDogs">{{Cite magazine |date=March 1994 |title='Ren & Stimpy Show: Fire Dogs' |magazine=Nintendo Power |page=103 |volume=58}}</ref> * '''''The Ren & Stimpy Show: Time Warp''''' was developed by Sculptured Software, published by THQ, and released for the SNES in October 1994. The game's premise centers on Ren and Stimpy's efforts to navigate through time and stop Muddy Mudskipper from ruining history. The reviewers of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' praised the game's animations and various attacks but stated that the controls "could be tweaked up a little more".<ref name="EGMTime Warp">{{Cite magazine |date=November 1994 |title='Ren and Stimpy: Time Warp' |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |page=40 |volume=64}}</ref> ''Next Generation'' reviewed the game, rating it one star out of five, and stated that "When Nickelodeon fired creator John Kricfalusi, the heart, and soul were sucked out of the pair. This game puts the final nail in the coffin."<ref name="NG">{{Cite magazine |date=April 1995 |title=Finals |magazine=Next Generation |publisher=Imagine Media |page=101 |issue=4}}</ref>
Aside from these dedicated titles, Ren, Stimpy, and other characters from the series make appearances in the Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Strauss |first=Bob |date=November 22, 1996 |title=Videogame Reviews: Making Movies on PCs |url=https://ew.com/article/1996/11/22/videogame-reviews-making-movies-pcs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023080152/https://ew.com/article/1996/11/22/videogame-reviews-making-movies-pcs/ |archive-date=October 23, 2018 |access-date=October 22, 2018 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> ''Nicktoons Racing'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Craig Harris |date=May 8, 2002 |title='Nicktoons Racing' |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/08/nicktoons-racing-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023080300/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/08/nicktoons-racing-2 |archive-date=October 23, 2018 |access-date=October 22, 2018 |website=IGN}}</ref> ''Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots'', ''Nicktoons MLB'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jack Devries |date=August 1, 2011 |title=''Nicktoons MLB'': The Basics |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/01/nicktoons-mlb-the-basics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023080310/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/01/nicktoons-mlb-the-basics |archive-date=October 23, 2018 |access-date=October 22, 2018 |website=IGN}}</ref> ''Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix – PlayStation 4 |url=https://www.target.com/p/nickelodeon-kart-racers-2-grand-prix-playstation-4/-/A-80177913 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611190819/https://www.target.com/p/nickelodeon-kart-racers-2-grand-prix-playstation-4/-/A-80177913 |archive-date=June 11, 2020 |access-date=June 14, 2020 |website=Target.com}}</ref> ''Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2021 |title=Ren & Stimpy Are Coming to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2021/09/14/ren-stimpy-are-coming-to-nickelodeon-all-star-brawl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009054509/https://blog.playstation.com/2021/09/14/ren-stimpy-are-coming-to-nickelodeon-all-star-brawl/ |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |access-date=September 15, 2021 |website=Playstation.Blog}}</ref> ''Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway'', and ''Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2''. In a February 1993 article, a ''Ren & Stimpy'' game developed by Acclaim Entertainment was planned for the Atari Lynx but never released.<ref name="CA">{{Cite magazine |date=February 1993 |title=Coming Attractions |url=https://archive.org/details/LynxUserIssue6/page/n3 |magazine=Lynx User |publisher=The Hide-Out |page=2 |issue=6}}</ref>
===Comic books=== Marvel Comics optioned the rights to produce comic books based on Nickelodeon properties in 1992. The initial plan was to have an anthology comic featuring several Nicktoons properties.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} Marvel produced 44 issues of the ongoing series, along with several specials under the ''Marvel Absurd'' imprint. Most of these were written by comic scribe Dan Slott.
One ''Ren & Stimpy'' special #3, ''Masters of Time and Space'', was set up as a "Choose Your Adventure" and with a time travel plot, took Slott six months to plot out in his spare time. It was designed so that it was possible to choose a path that would eventually be 20 pages longer than the comic itself. Issue #6 of the series starred Spider-Man battling Powdered Toast Man.
The editors named the "Letters to the Editor" section "Ask Dr. Stupid", and at least one letter in every column would be a direct question for Dr. Stupid to answer.<ref>"That's Life", ''Rocko's Modern Life''. Marvel Comics. Volume 1, Issue 5.</ref> This comic series lasted from December 1992 – July 1996.
'''Issues''' {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |- ! Issue # !! Caption !! Release date |- | 1 || The Ren & Stimpy Show || December 1992 |- | 2 || || January 1993 |- | 3 || Make Way For El Supremo Ren! || February 1993 |- | 4 || Crash Dummies || March 1993 |- | 5 || In Space || April 1993 |- | 6 || The Amazing Spider Man Vs. Powdered Toast Man || May 1993 |- | 7 || Kid Stimpy || June 1993 |- | 8 || The Maltese Stimpy! || July 1993 |- | 9 || Native Son || August 1993 |- | 10 || Bubble Bath? || September 1993 |- | 11 || || October 1993 |- | 12 || I Scream Clones! || November 1993 |- | 13 || Hokey Halloween Horror! || December 1993 |- | 14 || Wanted Brain Dead Or Alive || January 1994 |- | 15 || Black Mail, White Christmas, Green Moulah || February 1994 |- | 16 || Return to Sender || March 1994 |- | 17 || This Year's Model || April 1994 |- | 18 || War is Heck || May 1994 |- | 19 || || June 1994 |- | 20 || Here's Muddy! || July 1994 |- | 21 || I'm the Cat || August 1994 |- | 22 || Badtime Stories || September 1994 |- | 23 || Madcap Rasslin' Issue! || October 1994 |- | 24 || Box Tops! || November 1994 |- | 25 || || December 1994 |- | 26 || || January 1995 |- | 27 || Raiders of the Lost Yak || February 1995 |- | 28 || Ren and Stimpy Match Wits With an Ape ... Guess Who Won? || March 1995 |- | 29 || Defective Detective Issue Starring Sherlock Hoek || April 1995 |- | 30 || Ren's Birthday || May 1995 |- | 31 || Weiner Barons || June 1995 |- | 32 || Circus Smirkus || July 1995 |- | 33 || || August 1995 |- | 34 || I'm Feelthy Rich! || September 1995 |- | 35 || History of Sports || October 1995 |- | 36 || Crabby Cabbies || November 1995 |- | 37 || Aliens Abduct || December 1995 |- | 38 || Toilet Trouble || January 1996 |- | 39 || Impersonal Hygiene! || February 1996 |- | 40 || || March 1996 |- | 41 || || April 1996 |- | 42 || || May 1996 |- | 43 || || June 1996 |- | 44 || Last Issue (as seen on TV) || July 1996 |}
===Cancelled film adaptation=== In May 1993, Nickelodeon and 20th Century Fox signed a two-year production deal for the development and production of both animated and live-action feature-length films based on their new or existing properties; ''Ren & Stimpy'' was mentioned as a possible property for development, alongside ''Rugrats'' and ''Doug''. However, the show's "cynical and gross humor" was a poor fit for a conventional, "warm and fuzzy" family film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Catherine Hinman |date=May 19, 1993 |title=Nickelodeon Adds Movies To Its Credits |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/05/19/nickelodeon-adds-movies-to-its-credits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030004240/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-05-19/business/9305190485_1_beece-production-facilities-nick |archive-date=October 30, 2017 |access-date=January 18, 2011 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=King |first=Thomas R |title=Nickelodeon, Fox Film, Chase Family Viewers |date=May 1993 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> After the deal expired with no films produced, Nickelodeon later started its own film studio after parent company Viacom purchased Paramount Pictures, which would distribute Nickelodeon's films instead of Fox, with only ''Rugrats'' and ''Doug'' having their films made (''Rugrats'' released its own film in 1998, while ''Doug'', already moved to Disney with its own show on ABC, having a separate film of its own under the Walt Disney Pictures banner in 1999, leaving ''Ren & Stimpy'' to have no film adaptation of its own at all).
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{Cite book |last=Neuwirth |first=Allan |url=https://archive.org/details/makintoonsinside0000neuw |title=Makin' Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies |publisher=Allworth Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-1581152692 |chapter=Auteur! Auteur! Those creative geniuses who can do it all |ref=none |url-access=registration}} * {{Cite book |last=Langer |first=Mark |title=Nickelodeon Nation: The History, Politics, and Economics of America's Only TV Channel for Kids |date=2004 |publisher=New York University Press |isbn=978-0814736524 |editor-last=Hendershot, Heather |chapter=Ren & Stimpy: Fan Culture and Corporate Strategy |ref=none}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commons category-inline}} * {{Cite web |date=August 10, 1991 |title=The Ren & Stimpy Show |url=https://paramountplus.com/shows/the-ren-and-stimpy-show/}} * {{IMDb title|0101178}} * {{Toonopedia|/renstimp.htm}} {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130731222938/http://toonopedia.com/renstimp.htm|date=2013-07-31}} * {{Cite web |last1=Caseen Gaines |last2=Mathew Klickstein |date=June 17, 2016 |title=The Oral History Of 'Nicktoons', Part IV: 'The Ren & Stimpy Show' Was A Triumph Of Cultural Subversion |url=https://decider.com/2016/06/17/the-oral-history-of-nicktoons-part-iv-the-ren-and-stimpy-show/ |access-date=June 19, 2016 |ref=none}}
{{The Ren & Stimpy Show}} {{Spümcø}} {{Former Nickelodeon original series}} {{Rough Draft Studios}} {{Comedy Central programming}} {{Comedy Central animation}}{{Portal bar|Animation|Television|United States|Cartoon|Comedy|Los Angeles|1990s}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ren And Stimpy Show, The}} Category:The Ren & Stimpy Show Category:1991 American animated television series debuts Category:1996 American television series endings Category:1990s American animated comedy television series Category:1990s American black comedy television series Category:1990s American children's comedy television series Category:1990s American satirical television series Category:1990s American sitcoms Category:1990s American surreal comedy television series Category:1990s Nickelodeon original programming Category:American children's animated adventure television series Category:American children's animated comedy television series Category:American children's television sitcoms Category:American animated sitcoms Category:American television series revived after cancellation Category:Animated television series about cats Category:Animated television series about dogs Category:Animated television series set in Los Angeles Category:Animation controversies in television Category:Censored television series Category:Comedy Central animated television series Category:Counterculture of the 1990s Category:English-language American television shows Category:Films produced by Jim Ballantine Category:Nicktoons Category:MTV original programming Category:Postmodern television Category:Spümcø Category:Spike (TV network) original programming Category:Television controversies in the United States Category:Television shows adapted into comics Category:Television shows adapted into video games Category:Television series created by John Kricfalusi Category:Television series by Rough Draft Studios Category:Nickelodeon sitcoms Category:Children's television series about talking animals Category:Surreal comedy