"Son of Stimpy" (a.k.a. "Stimpy's First Fart") is the 12th episode of the second season.
Characters[]
- Stimpy
- Ren Höek
- Stinky
- Stinky Whizzleteats (narrator only in the beginning)
- Magic Nose Goblins
- Santa Claus
- Police Officer
- Mr. Horse (briefly)
Summary[]
Before Christmas, Stimpy breaks wind, he believes that he has given birth. He tells Ren about the incident, but Ren won't believe him. Soon, "Stinky" runs away and Stimpy searches for his butt stinkiness friend, Stinky, in his snowy adventure.
Plot[]
While watching TV, Stimpy rips a nasty fart, creating a creature made of gas named Stinky. Stunned by what he saw, he runs to the living room to tell Ren about what happened. However, Ren doesn't believe the news. Stimpy tries to make another fart, but fails. Stimpy tries a second time, and fails again. On the third try, Stimpy strains as hard as physically possible and his butt cheeks flex and swell up bigger and rounder than they had been the previous two times as Stimpy screams from the effort. Then his butt cheeks burst and deflate like a pair of balloons losing air as Stimpy gasps in defeat.
After lightly kicking the limp remains of Stimpy's butt, Ren tells him that it isn't real. After realizing that his fart is missing, he searches around the house for his fart, even going as far as trying to ask his nose goblins if they seen Stinky, but they don't understand Stimpy. Stimpy reminds his nose goblins to keep an eye for the fart before sadly walking away.
Later that afternoon, Stimpy becomes increasingly distraught over not being able to search for his fart. Feeling concerned for him, Ren tries to cheer him up in many different ways, such as using a TV guide to tell him when his favorite shows are on and giving him a new catnip mouse to play with, but Stimpy doesn't go for them. Ren thinks of another option: giving Stimpy his litterbox, and walks off to get it. However, the moment Ren leaves the room, Stimpy erupts into tears when the litterbox reminds him of his missing fart. Ren eventually tells Stimpy to get over it, but then he angrily storms off after Stimpy refuses. That night, while Stimpy struggles to sleep, Stinky is shown staring at Stimpy from a window's view before leaving their house.
On Christmas Eve, Stimpy decides to go out and look for his missing fart. Ren decides to convince him to come in and help him decorate their tree, but Stimpy refuses and sets off on a search. Shortly after, Ren prays for Stimpy to return home safely before going back inside in tears. While searching for his missing fart, Stimpy tries to ask nearby citizens such as Santa and a police sketch artist if they seen Stinky, but they don't believe him. As Stimpy continues search, a cold and miserable Stinky is seen again, lamenting over abandoning his home. As he tries to find somewhere to stay warm, two homeless men try to kill him with matches. He eventually escapes and retreats into the sewers.
Meanwhile, on Christmas morning, Ren dolefully gives a present to a picture of Stimpy, hoping his friend returns home. He hears a doorbell ring, and is overjoyed to find Stimpy, who has returned from his search and is frozen like a block of ice. After a heartwarming reunion, he takes Stimpy to the fireplace to warm up. As the still upset Stimpy sulks in the living room, his mood quickly shifts when Ren shows him a gas cloud with turns out to be Stinky, who has finally returned home. After the two apologize for abandoning each other, Stinky marries Cora, a fish skeleton he found in the sewers. The episode ends with Ren and Stimpy celebrating Christmas.
Production[]
The episode's story was thanks to John Kricfalusi, Vincent Waller, & Richard Pursel, storyboarded by Peter Avanzino, and directed by the show's creator John Kricfalusi. John Kricfalusi originally conceived "Son of Stimpy" as a parody/critique of popular Hollywood melodramas (Bambi, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial) and "fake pathos", which he describes an act of manipulation performed by film directors that involves using audio-visual cues and tricks, mainly music and cinematography, to trigger melancholy emotions in audience members. Kricfalusi, infuriated by this practice, referred to it as "cheap", "contrived" and "a dirty trick", while asserting his belief that real drama should come from engaging characters and believable acting, not from editing techniques. He also vented his frustration that dramatic features of this type ultimately gain more acclaim and recognition than simpler comedic films, which are generally seen as inferior. When writing this episode, he deliberately gave it the most ridiculous premise he could think of (Stimpy not being able to fart a second time) and used as many of the aforementioned filmic tricks as he could think of, to prove how easy it is to force viewers into crying over something that has little to no real substance.
Reception[]
This episode is well received and critically acclaimed for its story and visceral nature. It received a 7.810 on IMDB.com. Nickelodeon was about to ban the episode, but Vanessa Coffey loved the episode so much, Nickelodeon decided to keep the episode, in which, this episode became even more famous by old fans. Like "Stimpy's Invention", Sven Hoek” and "Stimpy's Fan Club" for example, this episode was also a fan favorite.
Trivia[]
- This is the first episode to air in 1993.
- This is the first Christmas-themed episode of the series, the second one is "A Scooter for Yaksmas", which was an episode from season five.
- This is the only two-part episode that doesn't have any other cartoon segments.
- John Kricfalusi made this episode as an exchange: if he made heartwarming stories, Nickelodeon would let him make more gross stories.
- During production of the episode, it was sent to Carbunkle Cartoons as the transition from Spümcø to Games Animation occurred. resultantly becoming the final episode of the original series to be timed under Kricfalusi's supervision. The episode would ultimately undergo post-production at Games.
- When Stinky is floating past after he leaves Stimpy (not knowingly sitting on him), you see a box in the background in the dumpsters with "SPUMCO" labeled on it, a reference to John K's company.
- An Adult Party Cartoon episode "Stimpy's Pregnant", is similar to the Son of Stimpy episode. Both episodes involve Stimpy treating his rancid excrement like a newborn child, and the latter episode also has Stinky making a brief cameo appearance.
- The Splat aired this episode uncut for the first time in years on November 18, 2015.
- This episode was nearly banned like "Man's Best Friend". However, Vanessa Coffey loved the episode so much that she prevented Nickelodeon from banning it. But, due to the network's apprehension, the episode premiered on MTV instead of Nick. Eleven months later, an edited version eventually aired on Nickelodeon on December 11, 1993 during the third season's run (in between "Circus Midgets"/"No Pants Today" and "Ren's Pecs"/"An Abe Divided"). It aired on Nickelodeon a year after Kricfalusi's firing.
- The scene where Ren and Stimpy reunite is a reference to "The Big Shot!", except in this episode Stimpy can't deliver his lines because he is encased in a block of ice.
- The scene with Stimpy trying to fart can be seen on the menu for disc 3 of The First and Second Seasons DVD.
- A scene from this episode was ranked #96 during the "Top 100 Greatest Moments in Nicktoon History" when it was rerun as part of "Superstuffed Nicktoons Weekend" in November 2007.
- The snowfall effects in this episode were done by layering live-action "snowflakes" onto the animation, a technique Disney often used for their animated features and shorts until the mid-1990s.
Censorship[]
- The mistletoe scene, in which Ren tries to lure Stimpy inside by the mistletoe, caused much controversy and criticism in America, and before the episode aired, this scene caused much dispute and conflict between both John Kricfalusi and Nickelodeon who objected to its "homosexual overtones".
One of many deleted scenes. Ren pushing a present to a picture of Stimpy.
The infamous mistletoe scene. Ren tries to lure Stimpy back in the house with a kiss under the mistletoe.
- A short scene where Ren pushes Stimpy's Christmas present towards a picture of him is missing from the "Season One and Two" DVD. It is however shown on the Sony Wonder/Paramount VHS release of "Have yourself a stinky little Christmas", Hulu/Paramount+ streaming versions, Nick airings, and as well as current MTV airings and airings of this episode on The Splat.
- Another scene that was shortened in the DVD release was where Ren and Stimpy were both shown in bed; Ren is sleeping peacefully, and it then pans over to Stimpy who's still laying awake in the dark. The extended version of the mentioned scene can be seen on international airings such as the Japanese version of the episode on the Nickelodeon Japan airing. It also appeared on Canadian and German airings of the episode.
Screenshot from Nick Japan airing
- The mistletoe scene was going to be edited out at Nickelodeon's request. According to Kricfalusi's commentary on the DVDs, he talked producer Vanessa Coffey into it after Kricfalusi argued that a homosexual Spümcø artist caught wind of the scene being cut and "was in tears" over it. Because of this, the scene was reinstated.
- Nickelodeon as well as current airings on MTV and The Splat cut the part where Stimpy goes to the police to find his missing "son", only to be violently thrown out. This was shown when it aired on Spike TV and is included on the DVD. It was, however, included on some international airings such as the Nickelodeon Japan airing to name one, and was on the original MTV premiere.
Innuendo[]
- While looking for "Stinky", Stimpy "gooses" Santa (you actually see him looking directly at Santa's butt, saying, "Stinky").
- Ren tries to lure Stimpy by looking up at the ceiling, where the mistletoe is. It then cuts to Ren, who has a coy look on his face with visible eyelashes.
- Stimpy's butt is portrayed in multiple shots as full, voluptuous and womanly.
Production Music[]
- Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah – George Handel (title card)
- Symphony #6 “Pastoral” – 1st Mvt. – Ludwig Beethoven, Fiachra Trench (“Hello, boys and girls, this here is a true story that we just made up!”)
- Dramatic Impact 5 – Ivor Slaney (Stimpy farts)
- Dramatic Impact 6 – Ivor Slaney (post-fart)
- Drama Link (d) – Hubert Clifford (Stimpy’s shocked)
- Drama Link (a) – Hubert Clifford (“REN!!!”)
- Dance of the Hours – Helmuth Brandenburg (“Ren, you’ll never believe what happened!”)
- Coriolan Overture – Ludwig Beethoven (Stimpy trying to fart)
- Light-Hearted Links (1-6) – Eric Spear (“Stinky is NOT a fantasy.”)
- Shopping Spree – Laurie Johnson (Stimpy runs off)
- Holiday Playtime – Cedric Palmer (Stimpy searches for Stinky)
- Trombone Slides – Dick Walter (Stimpy hits his head on the piano bench)
- Clair De Lune – Helmuth Brandenburg, Claude Debussy (Stimpy sad at the TV)
- Willy Nilly – Cyril Watters (Ren in the litter box)
- Linked Romantic Movements – Sam Fonteyn (Stimpy cries)
- Links and Interjections (II – 1 -10) – Alan Braden (“I’m not listening to this anymore.”)
- Smouldering Fury (c) – Trevor Duncan (“He’s real, he’s real, he’s real.”)
- Heavy Affliction – Cedric Palmer (Ren tries to comfort Stimpy)
- Colour Bridges (1) – Sidney Kay (“Fine! Sit here and wallow, you fat, you stupid, you AGGH! Who needs ya?”)
- String Quartet #2 – Nocturne – Aleksandre Borodin, Fiachra Trench (Stimpy laying awake in bed)
- Bella Mia Fiamma Addio – Aria for Soprano and Orchestra – Wolfgang Mozart, George Wilson [CPM] (Stinky looks in the window)
- Tender Affair – Mike Sunderland (Stimpy calls for Stinky outside)
- Changing Moods – Sam Fonteyn (“Gosh darn it, Ren!”)
- Symphony #6 “Pathetique” 1st Mvt. – Peter Tchaikovsky, Fiachra Trench (Ren prays at the house when Stimpy leaves)
- Symphony No. 5 (3rd Movement) – Ludwig Beethoven (Stimpy looking for Stinky in the city)
- Jingle Bells (d) – Simon Benson (Santa Claus)
- Symphony #6 “Pastoral” Movement 4 – Ludwig Beethoven (montage of Stimpy looking for Stinky)
- Timpattern – Sammy Burdson (drums when Stimpy crawls around the corner)
- Lifeblood E – Mladen Franko (Stimpy sees the manure)
- Heavy Affliction – Cedric Palmer (Stimpy falls to the ground)
- Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor: Stranger in Paradise – Aleksandre Borodin (Stinky sits on Stimpy’s butt)
- Bits and Pieces – Ronald Hanmer (Stinky chased by bums)
- Drama Link (o) – Hubert Clifford (Stinky in the sewer)
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Ren sings it)
- Romeo & Juliet Overture; Symphony #6 “Pathetique” 1st Mvt. – Peter Tchaikovsky, Fiachra Trench (Ren answers the door to find Stimpy)
- Silent Night – Tim Renwick (Stimpy warming up by the fire)
- Romantic Legend – Eric Swan (Stimpy hugs Stinky)
- Poetic Love Theme B – Mladen Franko (fish wife)
- Wedding Procession – Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Leslie Pearson (Stinky and fish get married)
- Joy to the World – Alec Gould (ending)