Violence in animation has been present since the first days of the medium. The animated world is a fantastic extension of the human psyche in which dreams can be realized, hidden desires materialize and the most impossible depths of the human imagination can be explored.
It is only natural for violence to emerge in animation. Just as animation allows man to build cities in the sky and traverse their cloudy distances with the wings of his own imagination, so too does it give a stage to humanity’s darker fascinations.
With all of the above in mind, it is safe to say there is not an excuse in the world for the existence of a cartoon called “Happy Tree Friends.”
What started as a series of Internet animation shorts has found its way onto a DVD collection in the form of “Happy Tree Friends Volume 1: First Blood.”
The disc contains 14 cartoons, each lasting roughly two minutes. The formula for each scenario is simple. Credits open with a picture of a large tree in the background — possibly the same tree from which our tree friends were spawned. During the opening credits, the audience is introduced to the adorable woodland creatures, which will momentarily be maimed beyond recognition.
To get an idea of what follows, one might imagine the aesthetic of “Hello Kitty” and the plot line of “Itchy and Scratchy,” the murderous cat-and-mouse duo often featured on “The Simpsons.” After the carnage, closing credits roll followed always by a positive message such as, “Remember to eat your vegetables.”
The real joke is the opening credits that begin and end every short sketch are longer than the actual feature, rendering the DVD unwatchable.
In the first episode, three adorable woodland creatures laugh with delight as a large blue moose named Lumpy spins them on a merry-go-round. “Faster,” they shriek in ecstasy. The moose complies, and carnage ensues. Limbs are ripped from their sockets, fur and blood fly and one of the unlucky critters is impaled.
The violence is not what is objectionable. The sheer mindlessness of it is.
The humor of these skits is supposed to be derived from the unexpected violence that is continually wreaked upon these unsuspecting creatures as they frolic in the outdoors. It is a little jarring at first, but the novelty fades quickly. The plot lines become predictable.
The “Itchy and Scratchy Show” is the obvious inspiration for this type of humor, but the “Tree Friends” pale in comparison. The satirical context in which Itchy and Scratchy are presented is what gives theantics humor. These shorts grow old fast and leave the viewer searching for a point to the whole mess.
Despite the complete and utter idiocy of the whole thing, there are some points actually worth mentioning.
Animation of any kind is difficult. Ask anyone who has tried to draw a simple flipbook. The animation on this DVD is pleasing, and the layout is competent. The viewer is also given the opportunity to learn something about small mammal anatomy with all of the disembowelments and accidental amputations.
The goal of the “Happy Tree Friends” creators seems to be simple: random violence to cute animals. Without proper vision and imagination, even this goal is not satisfactorily met. The mechanics are there; the content is not.
