Gus heads: 3

The Happy Tree Friends combine Saturday morning goodness with horror flick gore

Happy Tree Friends - Episode I: First Blood

Mondo Media

Cartoons and animation in general have taken a greater turn toward catering to adult interests. Cartoon Network now has a late night slot dedicated to cartoons for mature audiences. And now a web-based media company is placing its main adult animation resource out on the open market.

The increasingly poplar Happy Tree Friends have been released from the constraints of cyber space and are appearing in DVD form with "The Happy Tree Friends - Episode 1: First Blood."

The "Happy Tree Friends," which is being produced by Mondo Media out of San Francisco, is an ongoing series about some small, furry, cuddly animals that live in a forest and carry on daily interaction with one another. Some of these interactions range from playing on a merry-go-round to going camping and even having fun at a carnival. At first everything is peaceful and happy, but that's when the ultra-violence begins, and things end up going horribly wrong.

The "Happy Tree Friends" began with a simple sketch by co-creator Rhode Montijo and was further developed with Aubrey Ankrum. The sketch, which is viewable in the "accessories" section of the new DVD, features a black and white crayon drawing of a bunny on yellow construction paper. Below it reads: "Resistance is futile."

Perhaps there is some hidden meaning behind that statement. Although the episodes are relatively short, they are jam-packed not only with adorable little animals, but also with virtual bloodbaths. What is so compelling about this show is the mixture of "The Itchy and Scratchy Show's" gore factor with the sweet, cuteness of Sunday morning Easter specials. In fact, Montijo and Animation Director Kenn Navarro have created a special Easter animation feature on the HTF website at www.happytreefriends.com.

Watching all 14 episodes on "Episode 1: First Blood" is like watching one horrible accident after another. Some of the scenes depict the animal characters having their limbs ripped off, their brains being splattered, and in one instance, a character being thrown through a jet engine.

And yet it's hard to not continue watching it, because there's the perpetual curiosity as to what will happen next. What other possible scenario and horrible death sequence that happens next is really the driving force behind seemingly insane world of the "Happy Tree Friends."

Some might argue that these cartoons could be harmful to children, especially with the main characters being pastel-colored cuddly bunnies, squirrels and beavers. Montijo and Animation Director Kenn Navarro said in a recent interview with the Pulse that it is not their intent to ever direct this cartoon at children.

On the front of the DVD case, it specifically indicates it contains cartoon violence and is "not intended for small children or big babies." The direct distribution copy, which is available at Best Buy and online at www.happytreefriends.com, features an illustration of Cuddles the Bunny about the stick a fork into an electric outlet.

According to Navarro and Montijo, their influences come from most classic cartoons, including Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, the various Hanna-Barbera cartoons, Ren and Stimpy; and Itchy and Scratchy.

Mondo Media Representative Christina Chavez also noted that the page for "Happy Tree Friends" on the company's main site is not linked to any site frequented by children. Other adult-oriented shorts like "Hard Drinkin' Lincoln", a "what if" look at the life of Abraham Lincoln, and "Poker Night", an animated sitcom about dogs playing poker, are also on the site.

HTF's "Episode 1: First Blood" contains roughly two hours of bone crunching, blood curdling entertainment that at times is actually rather humorous. But because each episode is so short, and there are so many of them, the ultra-violence gets a little monotonous. Other than that, this DVD is certainly worth $19.99, since it contains unreleased episodes and e-cards that are no longer available online. Watching it in "selected scenes" mode is best for optimum viewing enjoyment.

For more information on the Happy Tree Friends, go to www.mondominishows.com or www.happytreefriends.com.