The Critical Frog: Don't Hug Me I'm Scared

I know it's not in my nature to discuss things other than film, but I wanted to take some time and take a break following last week's unfortunate news and talk about something that doesn't normally get brought up in the world of criticism: the independent online series.

It's hard to believe independently-funded film can overpower big budget blockbusters, but with a little creativity and a sense of understanding when it comes to the material, something made cheaply or by a small group can easily run circles around the creations of Hollywood. And while quite a few independently begun projects have admittedly flopped on their faces, the ones that do succeed become legends in their own right by defying the circumstances or otherwise turning into something special. Whether it's an indie video game that gets by on simplistic graphics to tell a meaningful story (Undertale) or a film that manages to pull it's weight despite a pathetic budget, the world of kickstarted or independently funded projects is something amazing. And today's discussion topic is a great example of this: the intelligent and horrific world that is Don't Hug Me I'm Scared.

Where does one begin with a series that has sparked so many theories and fan interpretations? I imagine we begin with the main premise of the series. Hold on to your sanity and lunch as we delve into my favorite online series of all time.

The original video of Don't Hug Me I'm Scared was released 4 years ago as a short independent film project, and quickly sparked an internet phenomenon with it's bizarre and sometimes nightmarish ideas and melodies. A Kickstarter campaign to revive the series for five more episodes quickly captivated the internet, and surely enough, episode 2 of the series, Time, came out three months later as promised. Since episode 2's release, new episodes were released at the rate of one every three months until the final episode aired last month on this very day. And what better way to commemorate the end of the series than by giving my thoughts on it?

Let me start by saying that despite the looks, this is  DEFINITELY not a kid-appropriate series. It starts off harmless, sure, but oh boy, does it get dark quick. If you've got a weak stomach or are freaked out easily, let me say that this is most certainly not the series for you.  But if you've got the stomach, I urge you to give it a shot. If you can stand the imagery, it's quite the find.

Anyways, to begin the story, it centers around these three:
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I call them (left to right) Red Guy, Yellow Guy and Duck, because I'm pretty sure those are their names. They live day-to-day lives while learning about different aspects of life, such as creativity, time or love, all of which seem normal until things slowly become more horrifying (it's all fun and games until someone makes a cake out of organs). Things go from bad to worse when the puppets disappear one by one and the lessons become more and more demented. But what seems to be an ordinary horror show takes a strange turn as we start to notice some errors in the logic of the characters and begin to wonder what exactly it is that goes on in this bizarre world.

I first want to start with the characters. What ages are they? One can tell by looking at not only them, but the common date in every episode of the series: the 19th of June, and as we later learn, the year 1955. Red Guy is sarcastic, refuses to participate in the lessons, and outright talks back to the teachers (flat-out telling the teacher of lesson four to shut up)- very similar to that of a typical teenager, close to adulthood. If we consider the dates an aspect hinting to the ages of the characters, we could say he was about 19- close to moving out and not willing to listen. Yellow Guy wears childish clothing, misspeaks his words, and cries easily- like a 6-year old. And due to the slight clues in episode 2 (carrying a pocket watch, a picture of him in military dress) and the process of deduction, we can deduce the Duck is approximately 55 years old. A teen, an old man, and a young boy. These are the main characters of our story, and who are the targets of the never-ending horror ride that is Don't Hug Me I'm Scared.

The lesson of the first episode is creativity, and how being creative is a good thing. The teacher, a notepad, teaches our three puppet friends about some ideas to help them get creative. This is offset by the fact that she seems to have a problem with the puppets whenever they decide to do something they want to that they see as creative. When Yellow Guy decides he wants to paint a picture of a clown, the notepad gleefully destroys it by covering it in a black goo. And when she asks them to arrange sticks and leaves in the shape of their favorite colors, she objects to the fact that Yellow Guy loves the color green, stating that it's not a 'creative' color.

This pattern continues for the next episodes- the teachers suggest some topic or another to the puppets, who usually draw their own conclusions from the lessons. But when they do interpret the lesson their own way or try to think about it differently, the teachers get mad and decide to distract the characters with something else (when the puppets have some questions about time in episode two, the clock who teaches them about it never actually answers the characters and instead lets out an ear-piercing shriek).

If you've got a taste for the macabre like I do, or just want to see a good example of dark messages done right. then I highly recommend Don't Hug Me I'm Scared. It's not too long (the entire series put together is about thirty-two minutes), and if you can stomach some of the grisly scenes, it's definitely worth a look if you're in the mood for something twisted and intelligent. Check it out- it's sure to leave an impression. Or at least, make you want to get creative.

OVERALL RATING: 9/10
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I've watched these videos over and over, and every time, I find something new. The amount of Easter eggs and little details that bring so much to the show is astounding, especially in the later episodes.

What's your favorite idea? Grab your computer, some 'healthy' snacks, and maybe your special one- and make some time to find out.

What I Learned From Buddy

Death is a curious thing. There are those who embrace it and those who fear it, but none understand exactly what it is or why it instills the feelings it does. All we understand is that it takes things we love away from us. For most, the fear of death comes not from death itself, but from what it entails. And for me, the fear comes not from death, but from the feeling of hopelessness it brings. There is no stopping it. Once death begins it's descent, nothing can hold it back. And it took me a great loss to not only understand the inevitability of death, but the concepts of unconditional love and inner calm. The loss of my beloved corgi Buddy has moved me to emotional levels I did not think were possible.

Buddy was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, adopted from a cattle farm in Florida before I moved to my current residence. While a tad aggressive at times, he was kind and protective, loving and sweet. No matter how bad my day was, Buddy was always there with the same smile on his face. He took care of my mother while I was away for months at a time. He was her protector, and the family's guardian. Everyone loved Buddy, and Buddy loved everyone- but especially my mother. He would never leave her side.

A few months ago, I began to notice some strange differences in Buddy's behavior. He began angrily snapping and barking at nothing in particular. His demeanor changed from happy and loving to cautious and afraid. 

It was two weeks later when his right hind leg stopped moving. A month passed and it became both hind legs. I had looked at the reports, studied the corgi biology, and had Buddy seen by a vet. He was diagnosed with a paralysis disorder unique to Pembroke corgis. His front legs would be the next to go, and eventually his entire body would be paralyzed. 

We could keep him alive. Some drugs. an IV....it would be fine. But it wasn't Buddy. His eyes said more than words ever could. He was in pain. And he was ready to go. We scheduled an appointment for him to be put to sleep that week.

A few nights ago, my mom called me into her room. She informed me that his heart rate was quickening. I rushed into the room to see a slumped over Buddy with my mom crying over him. Buddy was alive, but still in pain. He was dragging his limp hind legs along the carpet. He walked over to me, and did something I will never forget: he placed his head in my arms and began to lick.

I'll always remember what happened with Buddy when I was younger. I made mistakes. I was cruel to the dog, if unintentionally so. What reason did he have to love me?

But there he was, licking my arms and face for what seemed like ages. I wondered what I had done to deserve this treatment from the dog, but realized something: Buddy didn't care. He loved me unconditionally. And for that, I will always be grateful. 

Buddy is gone now. He passed away peacefully. But I'll never forget him. He taught me about love, friendship, and unrequited compassion. In a way, I learned more from him than any amount of writing could put into words. And so I offer my simple thanks.

My uncle believes that dead animals go to a special place, known as Rainbow Way. His cat is there. So is my dad's dog. And now my own beloved pet joins them in what is hopefully a happier place. And so I say goodbye to my long time friend, the one who was always there for me and loved me no matter what atrocities I committed. 

Bye, old pal. You'll always be my best Buddy.

TCF: Announcement

I'm really sorry for the delays, everybody, but a lot has happened lately. My computer broke down, for one, I was away at a camp and will be for a few more weeks, and to top it all off, I'm going to college in the fall. I may have to put the Blog on hiatus, sad to say, but I've got quite a bit in the works- including some personal stories and another SCP or two along with my usual reviews. I guess this is goodbye for now- at least for a few weeks until I can get this all straightened out. Thanks for always following me!