Spümcø, Inc. was 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.Aditham, Kiran (3 December 2007). "John K. Joins Hoytyboy" . Hoytyboy Pictures. Retrieved on 27 March 2010. It has won several awards, including an Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject, for the Björk music video, "I Miss You".I Miss You : It's Like Christmas!. Bjorkish.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
On August 11, 1991, The Ren and Stimpy Show premiered on Nickelodeon, serving as the company's flagship property.The Ren and Stimpy Show - Show Information. TV.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010. 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. 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.The Ripping Friends - Show Information. TV.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010. The series premiered on September 22, 2001, and would last for only one season. 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".Ren and Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon - Show Information. TV.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010. 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. The show was cancelled in July 2003, one month after it premiered.
During 1997, John Kricfalusi and his staff at Spümcø launched their web site, which aimed to deliver cartoons to audiences without television networks' censorship. 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. The series premiered on October 15, 1997, and was the first cartoon series to be produced exclusively for the Internet. In 1999, Spümcø created their second Internet-only cartoon series, Weekend Pussy Hunt. at the Big Cartoon Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010. 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.Boo Boo Runs Wild - Production information . inBaseline. Retrieved on 1 April 2010. 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. 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.A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith - Production information . inBaseline. Retrieved on 1 April 2010. 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.Videography. Bjork.com. Retrieved on 28 March 2010. It was animated by the entire staff at Spümcø. It premiered on MTV, as well as Canada's MuchMusic channel. In 2001, Spümcø produced their second music video production for Tenacious D, "Fuck Her Gently".Tenacious D: The Complete Masterworks at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010. 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.
Although the company originally closed down in 2005 due to a lawsuit from Bob Jaques, it was revealed in 2016 on Tumblr that Kricfalusi and Cartoon Network storyboard artist Gabe Del Valle were reopening the company, under the name Spümtwø, to produce bigger projects and are now looking for employees. 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, with Bob Camp and Bill Wray slated to return to work with the crew, and a potential possibility of reviving the series. However, Kricfalusi denied all of this his Twitter post on February 2017. However, an animatic of the short was released as an easter egg on the Cans without Labels DVD in May 2019, revealing it as a crossover with SpongeBob SquarePants.
Animation productions
Televised animated series TitleDate of PremiereSeasonsCo-production withOriginal broadcasting stationNotesThe Ren & Stimpy ShowAugust 11, 19915Games AnimationNickelodeonSeasons 1-2 only; remaining seasons were produced by Games Animation (now known as Nickelodeon Animation Studio).The Ripping FriendsSeptember 22, 20011CambiumAnimagicFox Kids (United States), Teletoon (Canada)Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"June 26, 20031Spike Animation StudiosSpikeAn adult-oriented revival of The Ren & Stimpy Show.
Internet-exclusive series and shorts TitleDate of PremiereCo-production withBroadcasting method (Web site)The Goddamn George Liquor ProgramOctober 15, 1997John K’s Guide to Surviving the End of Television . Cold Hard Flash. 23 April 2007. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.N/ASpumco.com (now defunct)What Pee Boners Are For1998A George Liquor ChristmasWeekend Pussy Hunt1999MSNSpumco.com (now defunct)IceBox.com
Cartoon Network short films TitleDate of PremiereDirector(s)Boo Boo Runs WildSeptember 24, 1999Boo Boo Runs Wild at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.John KricfalusiA Day in the Life of Ranger SmithSeptember 24, 1999A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.The Jetsons: Father & Son DayMarch 19, 2001The Jetsons: Father & Son Day at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.Gabe SwarrThe Jetsons: The Best SonMarch 10, 2002The Jetsons: The Best Son at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.Boo Boo and the ManApril 25, 2002John Kricfalusi
Feature films TitleRelease dateDirectorNoteTroop Beverly HillsMarch 24, 1989Jeff KanewDesign the opening titles and credits with Kroyer Films.
Music videos YearTitleArtistDirector(s)1997"I Miss You"BjörkJohn Kricfalusi2001"Fuck Her Gently"Tenacious DGabe Swarr
Television and online commercials YearTitle Client(s)Summary and notesRef(s)1992"Peacock Project"NBCTwo 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."1995"Fanta Cave"The Coca-Cola CompanyNever-materialized commercial starring Jimmy the Idiot Boy, a character created by John Kricfalusi. Produced in association with Will Vinton Productions.1996"Lick"Aoki's PizzaCommercial starring characters Jimmy the Idiot Boy and Sody Pop, created by John Kricfalusi."You Want Some?"Barq's Root BeerCommercial starring characters George Liquor and Jimmy the Idiot Boy, created by John Kricfalusi. 1997"Big Bad Wolf"NikeInspired 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, but was later materialized by Red Rover Studios."Rooster"Village Pantry 1998"Cadbury Land"Cadbury"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. 1999"Treat Your Dog Right"Wagwells Dog Treats"Rice Patooties"Commercial starring Wally Whimsy, a character created by John Kricfalusi. Animated in Flash."Quisp"Quaker OatsAnimated in Flash.2000"Tony Mora Pizza"The RequestLines SystemStarring Stephen Worth as Mr. DJ. Animated in Flash by Tony Mora.
Video games TitleReleaseDeveloperPublisherNoteYoake no MarikoDecember 6, 2001Yoake no Mariko. GameFAQs. Retrieved 5 December 2008.Sony Computer Entertainment JapanSony Computer EntertainmentCharacter designs and animationYoake no Mariko 2nd ActJanuary 24, 2002Yoake no Mariko 2nd Act Updates. GameSpot. Retrieved 5 December 2008.Go! Go! HypergrindNovember 18, 2003AtlusAtlusCharacter designs
Unrealized projects TitleAnnouncement dateCreator MediumNoteRen and Stimpy untitled film 1993 John Kricfalusi Animated feature film Nickelodeon and 20th Century Fox made a three-picture deal agreement to produce original movies and ones based on Nickelodeon products, with Ren & Stimpy a potential idea. Of the Nicktoons made as feature films, Ren & Stimpy was never made, with an idea of a "warm and fuzzy" family film adaptation of the show's "cynical and gross" style of humor deemed unfit. Plus, would have likely ran into creative issues with creator, who would be forced out several months after the deal was announced. Fox's film deal with Nick expired when Viacom purchased the network, along with Paramount Pictures, in 1994 leaving Paramount to distribute and co-produce the network's theatrically released films. Untitled The World's Manliest Men film The film wasn't picked up, but the characters were used in The Ripping Friends."Ripping Friends ," ABCTerrytoons animated shorts 1994 Animated shorts A revival pitch series of shorts for CBS, which would feature such characters as Mighty Mouse, Gandy Goose, Sourpuss and Deputy Dawg. This would have also been Kricfalusi's second effort at a Terrytoons property following Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures.He-Hog the Atomic Pig 1995 Animated series Concept pitched to USA Network and developed for a 1995 airdate, before being scrapped and was pitched to MTV, in co-produced with MTV Animation, for a 1999 airdate, which had also turned down.Nutty the Friendly Dump 1997 Concept pitched to Comedy Central and developed for a Fall 1997 airdate, but was turned down.Green Monkeys1999Betty ParaskevasMichael Paraskevas Co-produced with Disney Television AnimationHarveytoons online animated shortsJohn KricfalusiAnimated shortsSeries of online shorts commissioned for the official Harvey Entertainment website. Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost, Little Audrey, Little Dot and Herman and Katnip would make appearances.The Heart AchesAnimated seriesPilot sold to Fox Family, following the adventures surrounding a girl band. It was slated to air for a September 2000 airdate alongside The Ripping Friends on Fox Kids, but was immediately cancelled with the network focusing on The Ripping Friends instead, which was delayed twice from May 2001 to eventually September 2001.Flintstones animated shorts2001Animated shortsCo-produced with Cartoon Network Studios
References
External links Spümcø's Wonderful World of Cartoons! at the Internet Archive Spümcø at the Internet Movie Database ASIFA-Hollywood: The International Animated Film Society Spümcø at the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive