John Kricfalusi

Infobox actor


imagesize = 140px
name =John Kricfalusi
location =Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada
height = unknown
birthdate = September 9, 1955 (age 53)
death =
birthname =Michael John Kricfalusi
othername =Raymond Spum, John K.
homepage =http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/
Creator of, Ren & Stimpy, The Ripping Friends, &
notable role =Ren Hoek in "The Ren and Stimpy Show and its spin-off Ren and Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon

John Kricfalusi (pron. "Kris-falusi") (born Michael John Kricfalusi), better known as John K., is an Emmy-nominated Canadian animator.

He is creator of "The Ren & Stimpy Show" and "The Ripping Friends" animated series, "The Goddamn George Liquor Program", the first animated series made using Macromedia Flash, as well as the founder of animation studio Spümcø International. When Kricfalusi did not completely approve [cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.ren-n-stimpy/browse_thread/thread/af02f6fb42b681af/c6f96c3e0d800adb?lnk=st&q=%22ren+and+stimpy%22+controversy&rnum=111#c6f96c3e0d800adb|title=Interview with Chris Savino - X Magazine] of one of his cartoons, he would credit himself as Raymond Spum.cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471136/|title=John Kricfalusi|publisher=IMDB.com |accessdate=2007-01-28] As of May 2008, this has only occurred in the Ren and Stimpy episode Nurse Stimpy.

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Career

Work with Ralph Bakshi

For many years, Kricfalusi drew low-end studio television cartoons (the best one in Kricfalusi’s opinion was the "The Jetsons" revival) before being "rescued" around 1985 by director Ralph Bakshi (whom Kricfalusi had worked for before during two brief periods in 1981 and 1983). Kricfalusi and Bakshi were going to make a film called "Bobby’s Girl", but that film fell through when Tristar’s president stepped down. Kricfalusi’s first finished project was directing the animation for The Rolling Stones’ 1986 music video of “Harlem Shuffle” Fact|date=March 2007 . Kricfalusi’s most famous project under Bakshi was "", based on the classic Terrytoons character. Kricfalusi directed eight of the twenty-six episodes and supervised the series."Who's Who in Animated Cartoons". [http://books.google.com/books?id=FVShFCjVzvIC&pg=PA192-IA7&lpg=PA192-IA7&dq=%22George+Liquor%22+unfunny&source=web&ots=TZU8FggYK_&sig=iVrlq5YR8fau-itvIg9ViSdR5a8#PPA192-IA8,M1 187] .] Kricfalusi also worked on another cartoon series at the time called "Galaxy High", providing character designs for some of the aliens in the series.

"Ren & Stimpy"

Kricfalusi founded his Spümcø International animation studio with partner Jim Smith, creating the controversial "Ren & Stimpy Show". Spümcø sold the show to Nickelodeon in 1988. Nickelodeon and Kricfalusi disagreed regarding the production, including the level of violence in the show as well as the fact that Kricfalusi continuously missed production deadlines with his series. Kricfalusi points specifically to the episode "Man's Best Friend", which features a violent climax where Ren brutally assaults the character George Liquor with an oar, as being the turning point in his relationship with Nickelodeon. cite web |url=http://mag.awn.com/?ltype=pageone&article_no=2214 |title=Dr. Toon interviews John Kricfalusi |accessdate=2007-05-19 |publisher=Animation World Magazine] Nickelodeon fired Kricfalusi from production of the series in 1992, leaving the production of the series in the hands of Nickelodeon and Games Animation, who continued work on the series for three more seasons before the series was cancelled. Kricfalusi returned and worked on the series for unaired episodes.

Web-based cartoons, music videos, Hannah-Barbera cartoons, and "The Ripping Friends"

In 1996, John Kricfalusi created the first internet cartoon series using Macromedia Flash, "The Goddamn George Liquor Program." He followed this with "Weekend Pussy Hunt", the second Flash cartoon.

Since then, Kricfalusi has worked on various projects including some web-based cartoons, Björk and Tenacious D music videos, some "Yogi Bear" cartoons (including "Boo Boo and the Man", "A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith" and "Boo Boo Runs Wild"), two "Jetsons" cartoons (' and '), and the short-lived FOX Kids TV series "The Ripping Friends".

The return of "Ren & Stimpy"

Most recently he has written, directed, and starred in a new "Ren & Stimpy" show, entitled "Ren and Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon" produced for Spike TV, a network which has allowed the animator much more freedom to work with the lewd and bizarre themes that make his art distinctive. Most of the stories were based on fan ideas and original scripts that were rejected by Nickelodeon during the show's original run. However, John's inability to fulfill his deadlines for production of his cartoons resurfaced as only three of six episodes would see broadcast. This combined with negative critical reaction towards the new episodes, led to Spike TV cancelling the series. The revived series would ultimately be released on DVD with the remaining (and ultimately completed) three episodes that never aired.

"The Looney Tunes Golden Collection"

Kricfalusi provides several audio commentaries in the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection" Volumes and (DVD sets of classic Warner Bros. "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" cartoons) and appears in some of the bonus featurettes as well. Typically, Kricfalusi does commentary on the Bob Clampett cartoons, whom Kricfalusi often praises for his fast-paced and nutty style. John refused to do any more commentaries after volume 3 because of artistic integrity. He disapproved of the method of restoration for the cartoons through DVNR (Digital Video Noise Reduction), which tends to erase parts of the artwork, and the oversaturation of the colors. However, he provided commentary on one cartoon on the : Buckaroo Bugs.

2000s

On February 13 2006 Kricfalusi started his own weblog, [http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/ "All Kinds of Stuff"] , containing knowledge about animation history and frequent criticisms of modern animated shows.

In September 2006, his animated music video for “Weird Al” Yankovic’s “Close But No Cigar” [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymzIkSpBxEI Music Video] ] from the album "Straight Outta Lynwood" was featured on the DVD side of the DualDisc album. The song is about a man who ends relationships with women who have one minor flaw he cannot get past. The video features John K’s animated cat, Cigarettes. He also animated a THX logo parody for Tenacious D’s movie "", as well as a music video for their song “Classico”. As of 2008, he is in development of a webtoon starring George Liquor. It will be sponsored by Pontiac Vibe. [ [http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2008/03/george-liquor-pilot-sketches.html all kinds of stuff: George Liquor Pilot Sketches ] ] Also in 2006, he served as an art director for a segment for "Class of 3000" entitled "Life Without Music."

Influences

Kricfalusi says his heroes are Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones, Frank Sinatra and Kirk Douglas. [" [http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/09/kirk-greatest-hollywood-actor.html Kirk Douglas, The Greatest Hollywood Actor] ," "John Kricfalusi's Stuff" at Blogspot] His Myspace page also mentions Milt Gross, Tex Avery, Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Elvis, Don Martin and Robert Ryan as heroes.

Criticisms

Though widely praised for his work in the field of animation as far as mainstreaming more adult-themed content in animation, Kricfalusi has been subject to much criticism over the years by critics and colleages within the animation industry.

Criticism include complaints about Kricfalusi's work ethics, most notably his infamous inability to meet deadlines with regards to production of his various cartoons. He has also been criticized for his ego and for over-the-top self-promotion, most of which stems from his removal from "Ren and Stimpy". In the wake of his firing, Kricfalusi underwent a massive public relations campaign where he blamed Nickelodeon for his firing and proclaiming that the success of the show was the direct result of his creative genius.

Billy West, who worked with him on the earlys 1990s Ren & Stimpy series, has become one of Kricfalusi's most vocal critics. According to West, Kricfalusi made numerous attempts to convince West to quit Ren and Stimpy when he was fired from the series, under the logic that if West quit, that Nickelodeon would have no other choice but to hire him back and cave into his demands. West also has refuted Kricfalusi's longstanding claim that he was fired from his own series over issues involving content, citing that it was his chronic lateness in meeting contractually mandated deadlines for the completion of new episodes that ultimately caused Nickelodeon to fire him. [ [http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/06/15/billy-west-the-tv-squad-interview/ Billy West: The TV Squad Interview - TV Squad ] ]

When the series was briefly revived by Spike TV, West refused to work with Kricfalusi on the new series. [ [http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/06/15/billy-west-the-tv-squad-interview/ Billy West: The TV Squad Interview - TV Squad ] ]

PictureBox

On June 13, 2008, the Brooklyn based publishing company, PictureBox, stated on their website that production for an art book about Kricfalusi has started. They say the release is planned for late 2009. [ [http://www.pictureboxinc.com/news PictureBox Inc. — News ] ] Animation historian Amid Amidi sais this: "Next year, they’re [PictureBox is] releasing what is shaping up to be one of the must-have animation books of the year. And I’m not just saying this because I’m the editor of the project. This book is about one of the most influential figures in contemporary animation, and everybody involved is working hard to ensure that it turns out properly." [ [http://www.cartoonbrew.com/books/picturebox-in-san-diego Cartoon Brew: Leading the Animation Conversation » San Diego: PictureBox ] ]

ee also

* Spümcø
* Ren & Stimpy
* George Liquor and Jimmy, The Hapless Idiot Boy
* Wild Cartoon Kingdom
* Sheridan College

References

External links

* [http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/ All Kinds of Stuff: John K.’s Blog]
* [http://www.myspace.com/jkricfalusi John K. on Myspace]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Robr4Q_Gsk John K. Interview style promo for Ren and Stimpy on The New TNN]
*
* [http://www.johnkricfalusi.net The John K. Archives]

Interviews and Articles

* 04/2000: [http://www.geocities.com/jasonchimera/Johnk Jason Chimera’s interview with John K.]
* 08/2003: [http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/digilio_nick/audio/index.html Nick Digilio’s interview (WGN Radio in Chicago) with John K.]
* 08/2006: [http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=5759 "John K. Gets Cartoony at L.A. Gallery"]
* 04/2007: [http://www.coldhardflash.com/2007/04/john-ks-guide-to-surviving-end-of.html John K's Guide to Surviving the End of Television]
* 06/2007: [http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/john_kricfalusi The Onion AV Club]