John Kricfalusi is a Canadian animator, director and producer best known as the creator of The Ren & Stimpy Show. The cult classic cartoon aired on Nickelodeon from 1991 to 1996. Kricfalusi provided the voice of Ren Höek, one of the main characters. After Ren & Stimpy ended, Kricfalusi worked on various animation and art projects. He also faced allegations of sexual misconduct, leading Nickelodeon to sever ties with him. So what is John Kricfalusi up to now, over 25 years after Ren & Stimpy first aired?
The Success of Ren & Stimpy
The Ren & Stimpy Show premiered on Nickelodeon in 1991, becoming an instant hit. The offbeat humor and bizarre characters resonated with both kids and adults. Ren Höek, an emotionally unstable chihuahua, and Stimpson “Stimpy” J. Cat, a good-natured yet dimwitted cat, got into various adventures and misadventures.
Kricfalusi created the characters and world of Ren & Stimpy. He directed the pilot and served as an executive producer for the first two seasons. The show broke the mold for Nickelodeon cartoons, ushering in a new era of innovative, creator-driven animation.
At its peak, Ren & Stimpy reached an average rating of 2.2 million viewers per episode. It was influential in shaping the tone and style of future Nicktoons. The series won several awards, including multiple Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program.
Departure from Ren & Stimpy
Behind the scenes, tensions arose between Kricfalusi and Nickelodeon over creative differences. Nickelodeon fired Kricfalusi from the show in 1992, but he returned briefly as a consultant for season 3. Ultimately, he had little creative control in the later seasons and did not approve of the direction the show took.
After leaving Ren & Stimpy, Kricfalusi worked on several cartoon shorts and mini-series through his production company, Spümcø. These included Weekend Pussy Hunt for MTV and The Ripping Friends for Fox Kids. However, none replicated the success of Ren & Stimpy.
Revival Attempts
Kricfalusi made several attempts to bring back Ren & Stimpy over the years. In 2003, Spümcø produced three new episodes for Adult Swim based on the original concept and characters. Kricfalusi had full creative control and did not have to comply with the standards and practices of children’s networks like Nickelodeon. However, Adult Swim ultimately passed on ordering more episodes.
In 2011, Kricfalusi relaunched the Ren & Stimpy “Adult Party Cartoon” on Spike TV, with the promise of raunchier content aimed at adult audiences. The show was beset by delays and mixed reviews, failing to find an audience. It was canceled after airing just three episodes.
Despite the lack of success, Kricfalusi remains passionate about Ren & Stimpy and determined to bring the characters back someday. As recently as 2018, he was reportedly still pitching a brand new Ren & Stimpy series. However, no networks have picked it up so far.
Animation Projects
In the years following Ren & Stimpy, Kricfalusi focused much of his work on animated shorts, commercials and music videos. Some notable projects include:
- The Goddamn George Liquor Program – A 1997 series of cartoon shorts about an alcoholic “All-American” dog, produced for MTV.
- Cartoon commercials – Kricfalusi directed animated ads for companies like Coca-Cola and Toyota in the 1990s and 2000s.
- Music videos – He created music videos for artists like Miley Cyrus, Tenacious D, Bjork and “Weird Al” Yankovic.
- Cans Without Labels – A series of CGI animated shorts released on YouTube (2013-2014).
- Cuckoo’s Nest – An animated series created for Adult Swim (2005), unreleased to date.
Through Spümcø, Kricfalusi also did animation work for shows like The Simpsons and provided consulting for features like The Nut Job (2014). He continues to work on select small animation projects, though none have achieved mainstream success post-Ren & Stimpy.
Comics and Artwork
Beyond animation, Kricfalusi has directed his talents toward artwork and comics:
- The Haunted World of El Superbeasto – A comic book series created by Kricfalusi that spawned an animated film in 2009.
- John K. Stuff – His personal blog since 2002, focused on animation and his opinions on the industry.
- Art books – Kricfalusi authored two books about his animation techniques, John K. Stuff’s Cartooning Philosophy (2014) and The Official Goddamn George Liquor Program Maifesto (1997).
- Fine art – He has created and sold various pieces of artwork over the years, maintaining an interest in drawing and illustration.
Kricfalusi sometimes uses his website and social media to promote his artwork and auction off custom pieces for sale. Art and blogging give him an outlet beyond traditional animation projects.
Sexual Misconduct Allegations
In March 2018, Buzzfeed News published an article in which two women accused Kricfalusi of sexually harassing and grooming them for relationships while they were underage. One of the women said Kricfalusi sexually abused her when she was only 14 to 16 years old.
Many former collaborators and colleagues spoke out to condemn Kricfalusi and voice zero tolerance for such conduct. Nickelodeon quickly removed all references to Kricfalusi from their marketing and merchandise for Ren & Stimpy.
Kricfalusi initially responded by denying he had a 16-year relationship with the underage girl, while acknowledging a “brief” relationship when she was “about 18.” However, he later released a fuller apology admitting to sexual misconduct and the abuse of power.
The reports effectively ended Kricfalusi’s career, leading networks and studios to sever all ties. The misconduct revelations cast a shadow over his past creative work as well. While Ren & Stimpy maintains its cult following, its legacy is now complicated given the actions of its creator.
Recent Years
Since the allegations surfaced in 2018, Kricfalusi has largely withdrawn from public life. He no longer has any known active projects in the works. His once frequent social media posts declined drastically in 2019 before stopping altogether by 2020.
According to former associates, Kricfalusi has been selling his residence and various artwork, potentially facing financial difficulties without incoming work. Reportedly he still hopes to revive Ren & Stimpy someday, but no network or studio would partner with him now given his toxic reputation.
In 2021, the ACLU announced Kricfalusi made a substantial donation to a fund for the two women who accused him of sexual abuse as teenagers. While some saw it as an attempt to make amends and help the victims, others criticized it as too little too late.
Kricfalusi has otherwise not publicly commented on the allegations or his career since 2018. He does not seem to have any major forthcoming projects in animation, art or otherwise.
Legacy
The influence of John Kricfalusi on animation is undeniable, even if his personal reputation is now marred by controversy. Through Ren & Stimpy, he pushed the artistic boundaries for cartoons and influenced generations of animators. He championed a style of humor and visuals that were edgier and more artist-driven compared to previous children’s fare.
However, Kricfalusi has struggled to recreate the magic or success of Ren & Stimpy in the decades since the show went off the air. Various revival attempts have disappointed, while his other projects are little remembered today compared to the impact of his Nickelodeon classic.
While Kricfalusi was once considered an innovative genius in animation, his personal conduct toward young girls behind the scenes ruined his legacy. Given the severity of the accusations, his chance for any kind of career comeback seems nonexistent. He will remain inextricably linked to Ren & Stimpy, even if the disturbing actions that ended his career forever changed how people view his creative contributions.
Conclusion
John Kricfalusi rose to fame as the creator of the wildly influential animated series Ren & Stimpy in the 1990s. After being fired from Ren & Stimpy and unable to find similar success with later projects, his animation career stalled. In the 2000s and 2010s, he focused more on artwork and online blogs before sexual abuse allegations surfaced in 2018.
Kricfalusi admitted to preying on underage girls early in his career, leading to widespread condemnation. Networks and studios severed all ties, essentially ending his professional life. In recent years, he has withdrawn from public view aside from selling off artwork. While Ren & Stimpy remains a landmark show, its creator’s personal reputation is irredeemable. Kricfalusi will remain best known for the Nickelodeon hit that launched his career, even if his actions after its success were morally reprehensible and career-ending.