See that guy on the right? That's you, once you know the sordid history of John Kricfalusi's Ren and Stimpy. The show certainly started with a bang, as Nickelodeon's fledgling lineup of animation had a new champion almost immediately following its August 1991 premiere. Though the success of Ren and Stimpy lasted longer than its creator's time with the network, his 1992 departure resonated deeply with fans. Spümcø---the animation company Kricfalusi founded, named after industry pioneer Raymond Spum---was a fountain of ideas, so a few of them were built upon for later episodes. Bob Camp, a friend and colleague of Kricfalusi's, eventually took the helm (much to the dismay of many Spümcø employees), with Nickelodeon eventually controlling the show's production completely. It was all legal, of course--after all, John K. sold the rights for Ren and Stimpy to Nick before the first episode aired---but it quickly proved to be the show's downfall.

Many fans cite the first season (and a good deal of the second) as the "true" adventures of the lovable cat and demented Asthma-Hound Chihuahua, and for good reason: it firmly set the foundation that Nickelodeon would "borrow" after most of the original team departed. After John K. and company left, most of the new team didn't make much attempt to establish its own style. As a show that relied on gross-out humor and disgustingly memorable characters, Ren and Stimpy just became too comfortable with its formula. Many unfinished episodes created by Spümcø were completed by Games Animation (Bob Camp's company)---and honestly, they do a decent job of keeping things up to par. Unfortunately, the well of Spümcø soon dried up; and while there were still a few gems to be unearthed, it didn't take a genius to figure out the business was under new management.

For these reasons, it's no surprise that the first two seasons of Ren and Stimpy---currently available in a convenient 3-disc set from Paramount---showcase the series' best moments. Still, there's some comedy gold yet to be mined in the latest release: it's called Seasons Three and a Half-ish, and it's the perfect example of a once-proud juggernaut's last few gasps of fresh air. Surprisingly, Ren and Stimpy kept on going through a fifth season, but this uncomfortable middle ground proved to be the show's final stand. A brief episode guide for this 3-disc DVD release can be found below---as well as a few mini-summaries for each one---so let's get started, shall we?

Disc One (9 shorts total)

To Salve And Salve Not (Original Airdate: 11/20/93) - Stimpy buys what the salve salesman's selling.
No Pants Today* (Original Airdate: 11/27/93) - ...Or, "Stimpy's Big Nude Adventure".
A Yard Too Far (Original Airdate: 11/20/93) - Our heroes brave a deadly path in search of hog jowls.
Circus Midgets* (Original Airdate: 11/27/93) - Hitchhiking goes awry (big surprise there).
Ren's Pecs* (Original Airdate: 12/18/93) - Ren gets buff from Stimpy's butt fat. Good times!
An Abe Divided (Original Airdate: 12/18/93) - The dynamic duo find buried treasure in Lincoln's head.
Stimpy's Cartoon Show* (Original Airdate: 1/18/94) - Ren produces Stimpy's new animated movie.
Jiminy Lummox* (Original Airdate: 2/19/94) - Stimpy generously lets Ren borrow his conscience.
Bass Masters (Original Airdate: 2/19/94) - Our heroes embark on a dangerous fishing expedition.

Disc Two (8 shorts total)

Ren's Retirement* (Original Airdate: 4/2/94) - Ren celebrates his 70th birthday (in dog years).
Jerry The Bellybutton Elf (Original Airdate: 4/9/94) - ...Or, "Journey to the Center of the Navel".
Road Apples (Original Airdate: 4/9/94) - Ren and Stimpy, meet Husband and Wife.
Hard Times For Haggis (Original Airdate: 4/16/94) - Our heroes replace a fading cartoon star.
Eat My Cookies* (Original Airdate: 10/8/94) - A fun-filled trip to Girl Scout Boot Camp.
Ren's Bitter Half (Original Airdate: 6/4/94) - Ren's personality splits in two...so who wins?
Lair Of The Lummox* (Original Airdate: 1/30/94) - Our heroes explore the dark forests of Ignoramia.
Hermit Ren (Original Airdate: 10/1/94) - Tired of Stimpy's antics, Ren goes off to live in a cave.

Disc Three (12 shorts total)

House Of Next Tuesday* (Original Airdate: 10/8/94) - What's that you say? Giant ants rule the world?
A Friend In Your Face! (Original Airdate: 6/4/94) - The title says it all, but Ren doesn't believe it.
Blazing Entrails (Original Airdate: 10/22/94) - Ren goes inside Stimpy's head to restore brain activity.
Lumberjerks (Original Airdate: 10/22/94) - Our boys meet the Great Outdoors (and a Tree Lobster).
Prehistoric Stimpy (Original Airdate: 11/12/94) - Gather 'round for the story of the Stimpysaurus...
Farm Hands (Original Airdate: 11/12/94) - Our heroes try farm life for a change. Things go smoothly.
Magical Golden Singing Cheeses* (Original Airdate: 11/5/94) - A surreal outing chronicling the adventures of Stimpleton & Renwaldo.
A Hard Day's Luck (Original Airdate: 11/5/94) - Mr. Haggis longs for a head of hair. Can he find it?!
I Love Chicken (Original Airdate: 11/19/94) - Stimpy falls for Ren's dinner. Will true love be eaten?
Powdered Toast Man vs. Waffle Woman (Original Airdate: 11/19/94) - An epic struggle between the forces of good and evil...for breakfast, of course!
It's A Dog's Life (Original Airdate: 12/3/94) - Rescued from the pound by a "sweet" old lady.
Egg Yolkeo* (Original Airdate: 12/3/94) - Renwaldo, the Egg Smithee, makes a son out of egg yolk.

* - Indicates optional audio commentary (more details below)

As a sidenote, this collection rounds out the end of the 1994 calendar year. While it's already been mentioned that the series would continue for two more years, there's no doubt that the strongest moments of Ren and Stimpy were already in the past by this point. This 3-disc collection proves to be a hit-or-miss affair, though it's safe to say that the first two discs are the strongest overall. At best, it's a modest shadow of the series at its most eye-popping; at worst, it's still a little more entertaining than some animation that makes it on television. Still, it's always sad to see a truly memorable show fade out...especially before it even got a few great years under its belt.

Though Ren and Stimpy travelled a rocky road during its original production, it's been enjoying decent DVD treatment thus far. Time Life didn't exactly get the ball rolling with their 3-disc "Best Of' compilation; besides for a sub-par technical presentation, there weren't many bonus features to speak of. However, Paramount really delivered with last year's collection of the first two seasons---though they weren't always "uncut" as advertised, a remastered A/V presentation was finally paired with some interesting supplements. This second collection treads similar ground: though a few supplements have been done away with, it proves to be a satisfying effort that die-hard fans can enjoy.

The appropriately-themed menu designs are smooth and simple, offering easy navigation and clean layouts. The shorter 12-minute episodes are presented with two chapter stops (one for the opening theme, and one for the actual short), while the longer 24-minute episodes are presented with roughly double the amount. Speaking of the packaging, Seasons Three and a Half-ish follows suit with the first collection: each of the three discs is packaged in its own slim case, with everything squeezed snugly inside a colorful, glossy slipcase. Only a promotional insert has been included, though each slim case offers a complete episode listing and summary.

Of course, it's great that some of the original creators have been given the means to defend their creation...but long-time fans of the show are the real winners here. Future commentaries may be few and far-between---as Spümcø's fingerprints unfortunately grew smaller during the show's final years---so enjoy these tracks while you can. There's even a commentary hosted by Ren and Stimpy in character (presumably voiced by John K.) that's full of poignant reflection, casual observation, and a decent amount of swearing. Overall, it's one of the few times a commentary-only release couldn't have been improved much...with the exception of even more commentaries, of course.

Nickelodeon may insist that Ren and Stimpy was always as fresh as the early days, but long-time fans know better. Seasons Three and a Half-ish show a gradual decline in quality, but that's certainly not to say this is a bad collection of shorts. There's no "Space Madness" or "Stimpy's Invention" anywhere, but the creepy, crawly influence of the original Spümcø team can still be felt on occasion. Paramount's DVD offers a decent technical presentation, but the trimming down of the extras doesn't hurt this release as much as you'd think. This 3-disc collection may not contain the series' strongest moments, but it's still a fascinating landmark in Ren and Stimpy's troubled history. Recommended.