History WesternAnimation / TheRippingFriends

''The Ripping Friends'' (2001-2002) was a ''very'' short-lived animated series created by Creator/JohnKricfalusi of ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' fame. It was about four brothers who are superheroes: Crag (the leader), Rip, Slab and Chunk Nuggett. Their chief is their mother, He-Mom, who is a [[LadyLooksLikeADude very masculine woman]]. Their servant and biggest fan is Jimmy the Idiot Boy from ''WebAnimation/TheGoddamnGeorgeLiquorProgram'' (and the "Spumco" production card at the end of the John K-produced episodes of ''Ren and Stimpy''): a brain-dead, idiotic 8 year old who can't speak properly. Their RoguesGallery included Citrocet, a MadScientist; the Indigestible Wad, a living wad of gum; Flathead, a sapient tapeworm; and Frictor, the ElementalEmbodiment of friction.

* BizarreHumanBiology: In "Stinkybutt", the Ripping Friends' plan to defeat Citrocet requires Chunk to [[FantasticVoyagePlot sneak inside his body]] and sabotage a "fart gland", since Citrocet has acquired {{Fartillery}} superpowers. However, the mission is nearly jeopardized when it turns out that Cirtocet's new powers have dramatically altered his biology, rendering Chunk's map of the human body useless.

* OffModel: {{Averted}}, unlike most of John K's other shows. ExecutiveMeddling caused the animators to keep the characters on-model at all times.

* BadassBaritone: Crag as voiced by Creator/MarkDailey.

* TheAce: Rip. In a thirteen episode series where every character has at least one spotlight, Rip is the central character in at least three episodes. He's often shown as the strongest, angriest, and most impulsive in a universe where brute strength and anger are superpowers.

* {{Fartillery}}: The seventh episode features Citrocet magically gaining flatulence-based powers and calling himself "Stinky Butt the Foul". His farts are [[GreenLanternRing all-purpose]]: not only are they noxious, but he can fly, create monsters, and [[ArsonMurderandJaywalking skywrite]] with them.

* TheAce: Rip. In a twelve episode series where every character has at least one spotlight, Rip is the central character in at least three episodes. He's often shown as the strongest, angriest, and most impulsive in a universe where brute strength and anger are superpowers.

The series aired on Creator/FoxKids in the twilight years of the block (and of Saturday morning cartoons in general), and once aired on Creator/AdultSwim (since this show was considered to be too gross and sexual for "children's entertainment") in 2002.

Intended to be Kricfalusi's SpiritualSuccessor to ''Ren and Stimpy'', its production (much like ''Ren and Stimpy'' when it was on Nickelodeon ''and'' when it was remade as ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpyAdultPartyCartoon'') was stymied by his usual creative differences with network and studio heads, who [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/10/maintaining-guts-from-department-to.html dismissed his trademark off-model custom poses]] for something more conventional, spoiling his vision for the show [[CreatorBacklash until he came to outright loathe it]], resulting in its short run.

The series aired on Canada's Creator/{{Teletoon}} and, in America, on Creator/FoxKids in the twilight years of the block (and of Saturday morning cartoons in general), and once aired on Creator/AdultSwim (since this show was considered to be too gross and sexual for "children's entertainment") in 2002.

* AchievementsInIgnorance: Jimmy, an ordinary moron, is able to fly perfectly while emulating Pooperman. It's possible that the Ripping Friends let a complete moron wear an anti-gravity device, but... yeah. To be fair he is a 8 year old, but looks like a teen.

* {{Fartillery}}: The seventh episode features Citrocet magically gaining flatulence-based powers and calling himself "Stinky Butt the Foul". His farts are[[GreenLanternRing all-purpose]]: not only are they noxious, but he can fly, create monsters, and [[ArsonMurderandJaywalking skywrite]] with them.

* TokenMinority: The Ripping Friends are brothers, yet Slab is black. Of course, since they're all not very bright, Slab has to remind them of it sometimes. Characteristically, Slab went from doing Creator/MrT-esque one liners to saying a thing or two that might raise a few eyebrows.

* PermaStubble: Rip. Frictor reduces him to tears by [[TramauticHaircut giving him a clean shave using his friction powers]].

''The Ripping Friends'' (2001-2002) was a ''very'' short-lived animated series created by Creator/JohnKricfalusi of ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' fame. It was about four brothers who are superheroes: Crag (the leader), Rip, Slab and Chunk Nuggett. Their chief is their mother, He-Mom, who is a [[LadyLooksLikeADude very masculine woman]]. Their servant and biggest fan is Jimmy the Idiot Boy from ''WebAnimation/TheGoddamnGeorgeLiquorProgram'' (and the "Spumco" production card at the end of the John K-produced episodes of ''Ren and Stimpy''): a brain-dead, idiotic 8 year old who can't speak properly. Their RoguesGallery included Citrocet, a MadScientist; the Indigestible Wad, a living wad of gum; Flathead, a sapient tapeworm; and Frictor.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: No, there is no such thing as a "fart gland", even forgiving Stinkybutt's in-universe BizarreHumanAnatomy.

* BizarreHumanAnatomy: In "Stinkybutt", the Ripping Friends' plan to defeat Citrocet requires Chunk to [[FantasticVoyagePlot sneak inside his body]] and sabotage a "fart gland", since Citrocet has acquired {{Fartillery}} superpowers. However, the mission is nearly jeopardized when it turns out that Cirtocet's new powers have dramatically altered his biology, rendering Chunk's map of the human body useless.

Intended to be Kricfalusi's SpiritualSuccessor to ''Ren and Stimpy'', its production (much like ''Ren and Stimpy'' when it was on Nickelodeon ''and'' when it was remade as ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpyAdultPartyCartoon'') was stymied by his usual creative differences with network and studio heads, who [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/10/maintaining-guts-from-department-to.html dismissed his trademark off-model custom poses]] for something more conventional, spoiling his vision for the show until he came to outright loathe it, resulting in its short run.

The series aired on Canada's Creator/{{Teletoon}} and, in America, on Creator/FoxKids in the twilight years of the block (and of Saturday morning cartoons in general) and once aired on Creator/AdultSwim (since this show was considered to be too gross and sexual for "children's entertainment") in 2002.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: '''''No''''', there's no such thing as a fart gland.

* BlackAndGreyMorality: The Ripping Friends stand for Excessive American Vigilantism, which usually means buttloads of destruction, excessive and abusive violence on all beings, and a general pandering to Right-Wing Extremists. Still, they're definitely the heroes compared to their archenemy Citrocet, Yugoslavia's most famous Villain/Torture Expert/Tyrant.

* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: There are superpowered heroes in the show's universe, but the Ripping Friends themselves got as strong and tough as they are by training. ''Really hard''. Rip in fact dislikes superpowers because he thinks they're a cheap way to fight crime.
* ChildSoldier: Citrocet deploys these to take over Europe. They're better fed and healthier than they claim to be, but that's still a ''two-year old girl using an assault rifle'' in a poverty-stricken war-zone. It's about as [[{{Bathos}} funny-disturbing]] as you'd expect.

* CruelMercy: He-Mom was once so mad that she punished the Ripping Friends by ''not'' punishing them. Their response is that this is a really nasty punishment.
* DarkAgeOfSupernames
* ADayInTheLimelight: Each of the Ripping Friends had an episode devoted to them.
* DestructiveSavior: The Friends' usual modus operandi.

* DitzyGenius [[GeniusBruiser Bruisers]]: In-universe, the Ripping Friends are hailed as scientific geniuses in dozens of fields, but are often portrayed as clueless, easily distracted, and having no concept of tactics. They, in their mid-thirties, do not understand the physical differences between men and women.

* {{Fartillery}}: One episode features Citrocet magically gaining flatulence-based powers and calling himself "Stinky Butt the Foul". His farts are[[GreenLanternRing all-purpose]]: not only are they noxious, but he can fly, create monsters, and [[ArsonMurderandJaywalking SKYWRITE]] with them.
* GrossoutShow: Not as much as ''Ren & Stimpy'', but there were moments of this (and there would have been a lot more if John Kricfalusi had more control of the show).

* HumanoidAbomination: In one episode, The Ripping Friends accidentally mutate their foot calluses into Frictor, a malevolent friction [[ElementalEmbodiment elemental]] who really wants to marry He-Mom.

* InvoluntaryShapeshifting: Rip turns into various depictions of "JerkAss" when he feels guilty about Jimmy getting kidnapped.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Rip is the most violent of the Ripping Friends (which is saying something) but he loves his family a hell of a lot.

** Chunk seems to get this treatment from his brothers due to being 35-and-a-half, compared to 36 for Crag, Rip and Slab.

** Riptonite, created by bombarding the Ripping Friends' DNA with radiation. It's actually a ruse Crag created when fighting The Man From Next Thursday; the villain was getting all his info from a comic book, so Crag had the comic print the baloney story about their weakness.
** A more logical [[AchillesHeel weakness]] for The Ripping Friends is lack of meat. If they're not gorging themselves regularly with meat products, their muscles shrink and they become skinny frail wimps.

* ManChild: All four of The Ripping Friends are like this, though Chunk especially qualifies due to his love of comic books, cartoons, candy, and the carnival.

* OffModel: {{Averted}}, unlike most of John K's other shows. ExecutiveMeddling caused the animators to keep the characters on-model.
* SeriousBusiness: Meat

** Guess who "[[Franchise/{{Superman}} Pooperman]]" is a CaptainErsatz of.

* TokenMinority: The Ripping Friends are brothers, yet Slab is black. Of course, since they're all not very bright, Slab has to remind them of it sometimes. Characteristically, Slab went from doing Creator/MrT-esque one liners to saying a thing or two that might upset the more politically correct audience.
--> '''Slab:''' Jimmy's still smooth! Not smooth like [[Music/JamesBrown James Brown]] but still smooth! - Frictor
--> '''Slab:''' Brothers! I have set you free! - To the kidnapped cows in "Ovulator"
--> '''Slab:''' That's not flesh color, that's some sort of off-pink...THIS is flesh color! - Said while pointing to a chocolate bar in "Man-Man and Boy-Boy"
* TooKinkyToTorture: Pain resistance is part of their extreme physical training, but Rip seems to enjoy it.
** Averted in the episode "Jimmy's Kidnapped": Jimmy might be a moron who gets beaten up by his family on a regular basis, but even he knows what torture is, especially when it's performed by Citrocet and his Gorilla Head Examiner. Rip and company feel his pain.
** In the following episode "The Infernal Wedding" Citrocet writes off torture as a plan to defeat The Ripping friends, because "The Ripping Friends LOVE pain!"
* TrainingFromHell: The Ripping Friends dive on live grenades ''as part of their daily workout''. They bathe in cement afterwards. And God forbid they cry about it, or [[TheLadette He-Mom]] will have a FIT.
* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Parodied by The Man From Next Thursday where next Thursday is depicted as being highly futuristic; the Ripping Friends themselves come from "next Tuesday", another futuristic place that is less advanced than next Thursday.

The series aired on Canada's Creator/{{Teletoon}} and, in America, on Creator/FoxKids in the twilight years of the block (and of Saturday morning cartoons in general) and once aired on Creator/AdultSwim (since this show, like ''Ren and Stimpy'',[[note]]the Nickelodeon episodes[[/note]] looks way too gross and sexual to be considered "children's entertainment") in 2002.

''The Ripping Friends'' (2001-2002) was a ''very'' short-lived animated series created by Creator/JohnKricfalusi of ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' fame. It was about four brothers who are superheroes: Crag (the leader), Rip, Slab and Chunk Nuggett. Their chief is their mother, He-Mom, who is a [[LadyLooksLikeADude very masculine woman]]. Their servant and biggest fan is Jimmy the Idiot Boy from ''WebAnimation/TheGoddamnGeorgeLiquorProgram' (and the "Spumco" production card at the end of the John K-produced episodes of ''Ren and Stimpy''): a brain-dead, idiotic 8 year old who can't speak properly. Their RoguesGallery included Citrocet, a MadScientist; the Indigestible Wad, a living wad of gum; Flathead, a sapient tapeworm; and Frictor.

The series aired on Canada's Creator/{{Teletoon}} and, in America, on Creator/FoxKids in the twilight years of the block (and of Saturday morning cartoons in general) and once aired on Creator/AdultSwim (since this show, like ''Ren and Stimpy''[[note]]the Nickelodeon episodes[[/note]], looks way too gross and sexual to be considered "children's entertainment") in 2002.

* [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer When All You Have is]] DumbMuscle: While they have some impressive tech back at base, the Ripping Friends rely on brute strength to solve most of their problems.

* TokenMinority: The Ripping Friends are brothers, yet Slab is black. Of course, since they're all not very bright, Slab has to remind them of it sometimes. Characteristically, Slab went from doing Creator/MrT-esque one liners to saying a thing or two that [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar might upset the more politically correct audience]].

''The Ripping Friends'' (2001-2002) was a ''very'' short-lived animated series created by Creator/JohnKricfalusi of ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' fame. It was about four brothers who are superheroes: Crag (the leader), Rip, Slab and Chunk Nuggett. Their chief is their mother, He-Mom, who is a [[LadyLooksLikeADude very masculine woman]]. Their servant and biggest fan is Jimmy the Idiot Boy from ''The George Liquor Show'' (and the "Spumco" production card at the end of the John K-produced episodes of ''Ren and Stimpy''): a brain-dead, idiotic 8 year old who can't speak properly. Their RoguesGallery included Citrocet, a MadScientist; the Indigestible Wad, a living wad of gum; Flathead, a sapient tapeworm; and Frictor.

Intended to be Kricfalusi's SpiritualSuccessor to ''Ren and Stimpy'', its production (much like ''Ren and Stimpy'' when it was on Nickelodeon ''and'' when it was remade as ''Ren and Stimpy: Adult Party Cartoon'') was stymied by his usual creative differences with network and studio heads, who [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/10/maintaining-guts-from-department-to.html dismissed his trademark off-model custom poses]] for something more conventional, spoiling his vision for the show until he came to outright loathe it, resulting in its short run.

''The Ripping Friends'' (2001-2002) was a ''very'' short-lived animated series created by Creator/JohnKricfalusi of ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' fame. It was about four brothers who are superheroes: Crag (the leader), Rip, Slab and Chunk. Their chief is their mother, He-Mom, who is a [[LadyLooksLikeADude very masculine woman]]. Their servant and biggest fan is Jimmy the Idiot Boy from ''The George Liquor Show'' (and the "Spumco" production card at the end of the John K-produced episodes of ''Ren and Stimpy''): a brain-dead, idiotic 8 year old who can't speak properly. Their RoguesGallery included Citrocet, a MadScientist; the Indigestible Wad, a living wad of gum; Flathead, a sapient tapeworm; and Frictor.