Here’s another comparison between John K. and post-John K. Ren & Stimpy. The differences this time are slightly less pronounced than in the previous one, partly because neither cartoon is reaching for the psychotic extremes found in Sven Höek and Hermit Ren and therefore the character poses are less outlandish. Still, although more subtle, I think it’s clear that a definite shift has taken place. Both cartoons illustrate a similar scenario - Ren’s growing irritation at the sounds of Stimpy’s bedtime grooming habits - but one is executed with considerable flair and appeal, whereas the other seems to revel in being as gross as possible simply for the sake of grossness. A lot of people think Ren & Stimpy was just about being as disgusting as possible, but in my opinion part of what made the earlier episodes so successful was that they were able to combine the revoltingness of bodily functions and, at times, pain, with a certain type of appeal unique to cartoons. The first cartoon has this in abundance. The second… well, I’ll let you see for yourselves.
