The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991)

The Ren & Stimpy Show is a wildly surreal, offbeat animated comedy from 1991 that follows the mismatched duo Ren, a volatile, hyperactive chihuahua, and Stimpson J. “Stimpy” Cat, a good-natured but empty-headed Manx. Episodes are short, punchy, and episodic: the pair stumble through absurd, often disgusting adventures—selling rubber nipples, hunting for a new homeland for Canada, spending a night in a haunted house, or simply searching for a job—while encountering bizarre creatures like “magic nose goblins” and other grotesque oddities. Watching the show is a roller-coaster of slapstick, dark humor and gross-out gags delivered with exaggerated animation and unpredictable timing. Expect extreme facial expressions, surreal visual setpieces, and jokes that range from childlike silliness to borderline shocking — all tied together by Ren’s manic hostility and Stimpy’s lovable stupidity. It’s fast-paced, frequently repulsive (hairballs, filthy litterboxes, jars of spit and the like), and unapologetically strange, making it memorable for viewers who enjoy anarchic, boundary-pushing cartoon comedy.

Actors: John Kricfalusi, Billy West, Harris Peet

Genres: Adventure, Animation, Comedy

7.5 /10 7.5 /10