Grade A+
Ladies and gentlemen, make way, make way for Pixar on crack and Simpsons on smack - Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation has come to town and anyone looking for a healthy dose of disturbing humor can get their fill and more Friday at Madstone.
Spike and Mike premiered their works in the Classic Festival of Animation alongside greats like Tim Burton, Nick Park who did "Wallace and Gromit" and John Lasseter of Pixar who directed "Tin Toy."
Their festival began in 1990, giving a home to those cartoons that are a bit too outspoken for the well-to-do classic festivals.
"I think it's awesome," said Kurly Tlapoyawa, owner of kung-fu central, Burning Paradise. "It's a great venue for independent animators, who would otherwise not have their work seen. To get their stuff out there in the theaters, that's something denied to most of them."
Cartoons like "Beavis and Butthead," and the first "Powerpuff Girls" short, "Whoop Ass Stew," found a place in Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"It's a good outlet for those people that have been doing this for a while as well as those who are just getting their feet wet," said Astro Zombies owner Mike D'Elia.
Spike and Mike's is not for the weak-stomached or those upset by all the dirty things on TV.
During the fest, Cartoon Network's well-known cartoonists will violate and shock audiences far and wide.
Craig McCracken, the beloved creator of the "Powerpuff Girls," "Dexter's Laboratory" and "Samurai Jack," got his first paying animation gig from Spike and Mike. Now, he offers viewers "No Neck Joe," whose amazing tongue compensates for his no-neck with the ladies.
The people that brought America "Courage: the Cowardly Dog" also take a more masochistic edge to their pens with "The Mousachist."
Spike and Mike have it all: an ode to a boy's first boner, Grandpa propositioning the mailman, marshmallow Peeps getting down, Ninjews - complete with Ninja Stars of David - and the death of Tinky Winky, the last Teletubby. There are even shorts for all the education buffs out there: "Stick Girl's Guide to Safe Sex," "How to Cope with Death" and "Momma, I'm a Thug."
And for all "Happy Tree Friends" fans out there, disappointment is not in the cards. "Happy Tree Friends" was a little known Internet show that Spike and Mike took under their less-than-angelic wings and have including in their festival. Three never-seen-before episodes add their insanity to the festival's mayhem.
"It's a great way to get exposed to new stuff," D'Elia said. "Especially of this particular genre, away from the mainstream."
Everything from psycho dolls hopped up on under-the-sink chemicals to juggling grenades can be found at Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation.
Not a fan of animation? That's no excuse. Anyone into disturbing, inappropriate, offensive humor will be beyond sobbing with laughter or groaning in disgust by the time the first "Happy Tree Friends" short rolls around.
Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation is probably one of the lewdest, crudest animation festivals ever conceived, and it's even illegal to show to minors without a parent or guardian present.
This alone should urge audiences to bring their first dates, because, if all else fails, at least they'll have something to talk about after the show.
