South Park’s “Woodland Critters” Return!

Posted December 15, 2025 by vulpesffb
Categories: absurdities, alternative realities, anthropomorphic, fantasy, furry, furry television, humor, imaginary animals, strange, television, twisted reality
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We haven’t seen the Woodland Critters on South Park in 21 years, and although many thought that we’d never see them again, they make a roaring return to the finale of South Park’s Season 28!

Now the Critters were originally created as part of a Xmas story dreamed up by 4th grader Eric Cartman for a twisted Xmas story that he wrote, and while they appear cute, lovable, and child-like are really satanic creatures with dark powers including the ability to summon demons and hellfire. They engage in murderous and sadistic acts, including the torture and murder of Strawberry Shortcake.

There are a dozen Woodland Critters that include a bear, deer, rabbit, squirrel, and a fox. All are named simply by adding a “y” to their species name, so here we have Foxy the fox. (We foxes do struggle to control our dark side, you know.) Despite their apparent innocence, the Critters are quite sadistic, and use their dark powers to engage in violent and despicable acts that I don’t wish to even describe in a blog that tries hard not to venture beyond PG-13 territory. This time, the Critters are all excited because Donald Trump has impregnated Satan, who is going to give birth to the Anti-Christ. Things get very strange in a show that includes a talking towel prone to getting high, Towelie…

I know of no other show that has an anthropomorphic, marijuana-addicted talking towel as a recurring character. In Towelie’s defense, however, the government created him, and he’ll do the right thing when he knows what’s going on. He’s actually saved the boys from an evil towel on one occasion…

South Park at its best reverses and confounds our expectations, and the re-appearance of the Woodland Critters after a long absence from the series is an example of that, mixed in with the saga of satirizing the Trump administration and its key players for several seasons.- – Y’all have a Merry Xmas now, ‘ya hear?

Comments: 3 Comments

NJM’s Backlot “Mascots” Commercial…

Posted December 3, 2025 by vulpesffb
Categories: advertising, anthropomorphic, Brilliant but twisted, commercials, furry, furry commercials, fursuits, television
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NJM Insurance had earlier in a commercial shown us a tourist tram pulled aside in a backlot to observe a mascot commercial being filmed that involved costumed shark mascots, and now we are shown the same busy backlot where a number of mascot commercials are being filmed, necessitating a kind of traffic control function to stop pedestrians in order to allow mascots to pass…

…and a glorious and diversified mascot parade it is, too! There’s some kind of roller skating flamingo, what appears to be a catfish, my favorite, a fox, and a number of others. The mascot handler shouts corrections and admonishments to the mascots as they pass, such as “missing a fin,” and “get to it, fox!” Normally, we foxes would consider such comments rude, but work is hard to find…

The NJM commercial of course is to proclaim the fact that their company does not have mascots or jingles, but just great insurance…

Comments: 3 Comments

Xfinity’s “Imagine That: Rabbits

Posted November 27, 2025 by vulpesffb
Categories: advertising, anthropomorphic, furry, furry commercials, television
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Rabbits sure can multiply; employ algebra and calculus, not so much. And so when Papa Rabbit enters his home, he finds it jam-packed with his progeny, all moving about and enjoying internet-dependent activities like gaming, streaming, and on-line learning. Papa Rabbit desperately needs to run an internet search on “birth control…”

When Papa Rabbit manages to weave his way around the legion of offspring and trudge upstairs to see his missus, she is knitting tiny infant outfits, a universally-understood sign that she has a “bun (pun intended) in the oven,” three actually…but then, Momma Rabbit flips the top row to show that she has prepared six tiny outfits!

Papa Rabbit is devastated, his eyes big as saucers and his jaw dropping! Guess it’s too late for a vasectomy now. Good thing that Xfinity will lock in his internet price for five years, because he’ll need every bit of money he can muster to maintain his growing brood…

The commercial is rendered in the stop-motion style of Fantastic Mr. Fox, which lends a certain charm. Other ads in the Imagine That series have featured the Frankenstein monster and Jeff Goldblum. The song playing is The Green Grass Grows All Around, performed here by Louis Jordan…

Comments: 1 Comment

“Drive Like An Animal” Progressive Commercial…

Posted November 15, 2025 by vulpesffb
Categories: absurdities, advertising, alternative realities, anthropomorphic, Brilliant but twisted, commercials, furry, television
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In a CGI Progressive Insurance commercial, we are shown animals driving. Human nature is seldom seen at its best when behind the wheel of a car, and the roadways can truly be seen as a jungle of sorts. The question that then emerges is, What kind of animals will you encounter while driving? And inevitably, What kind of animal are YOU when driving?!

We can largely imagine how a sloth might drive, but how about a deer? They freeze in headlights, of course! A lion drives ferociously, roaring and embodying road rage. Hyenas laugh as they zip across lanes. A ram drives true to his name…

And not to be forgotten, Progressive’s own spokesperson Flo voices a llama safely from curbside, reassuring that with Progressive that you won’t be held responsible for other people’s mistakes. In a reference to another llama commercial featuring a llama at a hairstylist, she asks also if people are staring at her because of her hair…

Comments: 2 Comments

Breathing New Life into “Frankenstein…”

Posted November 12, 2025 by vulpesffb
Categories: horror, iconic, movies, noteworthy
Tags: , , , , , ,

I have to admit that I was not the biggest fan of the earlier video tales of Frankenstein and his monster. The story was old, crafted by Mary Shelley in 1816 as part of a friendly literary competition with her husband, friend Lord Byron, and one other to create a horror story, with hers published in 1818 likely the best and most enduring effort. I just grew tired of the repeated version of the Frankenstein monster as a powerful but lumbering dolt of limited intelligence and expressive capabilities…

That version of the Frankenstein monster was revised in the underrated movie, Van Helsing, with Hugh Jackman portraying a younger, dynamic version of the great monster hunter. The Frankenstein monster in that film was still appearance-impaired but quite articulate…the dude read poetry, for cripe’s sake! This was a thinking man’s Frankenstein…

Now enter Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstine! This monster is distinctly easier on the eyes, almost to the point of being ruggedly handsome. The creature can move, and as a muscular big guy (played by a 6’5″ actor), when we first encounter him basically naked he reminded me in appearance of the Engineer species in the Alien movie franchise..

This “monster” is more sinned against than sinning, and is underestimated grossly by his arrogant and egotistical creator, who tries to destroy his creation with fire. Fortunately, the “monster” proves both resourceful and resilient, and appears to have a “healing factor” capability at least as good as Marvel’s “Wolverine,” with bullets only slowing him down temporarily, and even explosions incapable of destroying him. Pursuing his creator into the arctic, this juggernaut in his cowl even projects kind of a “Phantom of the Opera” appearance at times, evolving into an articulate but tormented being who struggles against his own nature. You’ll find yourself rooting for this “monster,” really, even if he could use some cosmetic work!

We do see some classic elements of the original Frankenstein movie touched upon in this version with revisions, such as the blind hermit who befriends “The Monster.” When he returns to the hermit’s abode to find his friend under heavy attack by wolves, Frankenstein’s creation takes on an entire wolf pack by himself, weaponless but able to use his great strength and outrage to devastating effect on the wolves, hurling, crushing, and breaking them like a true avenger. A surviving wolf wisely runs away!

With great atmospherics and mood and attention to detail as well as proper respect shown to the source material, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a masterpiece, and may be seen on Netflix…

Comments: 7 Comments

A Halloween Nod to “Witch Hazel…”

Posted October 30, 2025 by vulpesffb
Categories: anthropomorphic, cartoons, classics, furry, furry classics, furry horror, spooky, television, Vintage
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With Halloween nigh, I thought it might be appropriate to pay a Foxsylvania tribute to Witch Hazel, one of Warner Bros. mildly darker characters lightened by her humor and self-parody of witches in general. Witch Hazel is almost reminiscent of the Warner Bros. character of Granny, but turned slightly to the dark side…

Created by Chuck Jones in 1956, Witch Hazel was reportedly inspired by the witches of Shakespeare in Macbeth, but considerably more comic. Viewers knew that Witch Hazel would never actually eat children, nor defeat Bugs Bunny. Hansel and Gretel did actually appear in Bewitched Bunny featuring Witch Hazel, but Bugs handily thwarted her, masquerading as a truant officer to gain access to the witch’s abode. Hazel then tried to feed Bugs a poisoned carrot, but that didn’t go as planned for her, either…he’s apparently unintentionally rescued by Prince Charming in another crossover from fairy tales!

At the end of that episode, Bugs employs an accessed magic powder to turn the witch into a rather winsome female rabbit, walking off arm in arm with her. Breaking the fourth wall to address the viewing audience, Bugs informs us that he knows that this is a witch, but asks us if they (females) aren’t all witches inside! (*breath-taking gasp!*) Dialogue like this would probably not pass muster in today’s politically correct age…

( I don’t care, the female rabbit is still hawt! )

Comments: 5 Comments

The Glories of Vintage Cartoons…

Posted October 16, 2025 by vulpesffb
Categories: absurdities, alternative realities, anthropomorphic, cartoons, furry, humor, Vintage
Tags: , ,

I have always had an interest in and appreciation for vintage cartoons, not to disparage the modern product ( although some “limited animation” ‘toons are poorly drawn and abominable). It’s just that when we look back on some of these efforts stemming back to the early days of animation, we can appreciate how clever, wildly creative, and groundsbreaking they truly were…

One such example is the 1935 Looney Tunes cartoon Hollywood Capers (featuring Beans). Now Beans (one of the Boston Beans, he tells us) is a black cat properly attired in overalls and a too-small hat who sneaks into a production studio, and we meet cartoon versions of Charlie Chaplin and W.C. Fields along the way.- – How sad that such classic characters are becoming increasingly unknown to many people!

Now Beans creates all kinds of mischief in the studio, even meeting the Frankenstein Monster, who was almost a current issue at the time that this cartoon was made…

So take the time to view some early vintage ‘toons, which can have the sensation of being an acid trip sans drugs. They are wildly remarkable for their time…

Comments: 1 Comment

Rehabilitate Pepe Le Pew!

Posted October 11, 2025 by vulpesffb
Categories: anthropomorphic, cartoons, classics, controversial, furry, humor
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I, for one, think that it’s time that Warner Bros. rehabilitates and brings back Pepe Le Pew, the hopeless romantic French skunk. Created by Chuck Jones and first appearing in 1945, the character was caught in a firestorm a few years back for his signature behavior of foisting his unwanted amorous intents upon females, specifically one Penelope Pussycat…

I get it! What was perfectly laughable and largely acceptable behavior in 1945 isn’t now, and Pepe needs to be and could be re-imagined and re-introduced, perhaps as a defender of women or as a bonded mate to a now equally-loving Penelope; portray him as a chastened now successful relationships counselor, even! We just lost a lot when we Pepe was banished to cartoon purgatory…

Pepe was lovable, and had a certain charm. He satirized French culture and the stereotype of the great French lover, blinded by his own misperceptions of his desirability; the joke was always on Pepe, who because of his skunk-odor wasn’t desirable, and was hitting on a member of another species entirely, failing to discriminate such. Pepe had a cluelessness that was relatable and even endearing. He never successfully scored, unless you count unreciprocated kissing as that…and face it, there are very few cartoon skunks in the field! Heck, with his repellent scent, re-brand him as a kind of superhero or police officer. Imagine, for a moment, the Pepe and Penelope crime fighting team!

So how about it, Warner Bros? Why does Pepe Le Pew suffer harsh sanctions when the Mango Mussolini does not? Free Pepe Le Pew from his cartoon prison, and re-introduce the boy as someone who’s learned his lesson, and changed! – – It can be done!

Comments: 2 Comments

In Praise of “Gossamer…”

Posted October 10, 2025 by vulpesffb
Categories: aliens, anomalies, anthropomorphic, cartoons, furry, television, twisted reality, Vintage
Tags: , ,

With Halloween coming, our attention turns (more than usual) to monsters, and an underrated cartoon monster is Gossamer, a creation of Chuck Jones who first appeared in the 1946 Warner Bros. cartoon, Hair-Raising Hare. Gossamer has a heart-shaped head and face, and is completely covered in reddish-orange hair, his only clothing a large pair of white or gray-white tennis shoes…

Now Gossamer is a creature of indeterminate species and sex, originally intended as an antagonist to Bugs Bunny, who quickly exploits Gossamer’s attraction to girly-type things like manicures and hair make-overs. Gossamer is also handily defeated even by Porky Pig in his space-cadet identity in service to Daffy Duck, calmly using a monster hair-clipper…of Acme manufacture, of course! And surprise…Porky’s clipper reveals that Gossamer is entirely made of hair!

Gossamer is essentially a paper tiger, so to speak, and while usually a hulking giant seen lurking in Gothic-type castles or even on Mars, he actually has a hidden shy and sensitive nature, and is more scared of people than you are of him. Enjoy the following compilation of Gossamer’s greatest moments that follows, and watch for a cartoon version of Peter Lorre right at the beginning!

Comments: 6 Comments

“Screwball Squirrel’s” Short, Memorable Run…

Posted September 17, 2025 by vulpesffb
Categories: cartoons, furry, furry art, furry satire, humor, twisted reality, Vintage
Tags: ,

Tex Avery was an animation genius who rebelled against many traditions, creating in Screwball Squirrel a deliberately unlovable character who was intended to be a satire of cute, sentimental cartoon characters such as were often seen in Disney productions. Also known as Screwy Squirrel, this rodent was aggressively chaotic and obnoxious, and appeared only in five theatrical shorts between 1944 and 1946 before being discontinued as Avery himself grew to find the character annoying, and disliked him! This was not an affable, cutesy, or nice squirrel…

Screwy was really manic and wild, and so you might say that there were elements of Daffy Duck and the much later Roger Rabbit in him, but without any redemptive or likeable features. Screwy would actively torment a dim-witted dog called Meathead, and bring about the unseen but clearly implied destruction of other characters that he found offensive…

(“Disney-esque” squirrel versus “Screwy…”)

Screwball Squirrel meets his apparent death in a 1946 cartoon when he is crushed to death by a hug from a spoiled, dim, and emotionally-needy dog called Lenny. Since death is seldom permanent in cartoon characters, however, Screwy who “don’t move no more” appears at the end of the feature holding up a sign reading, “Sad ending, isn’t it?” The aggressively chaotic character would much later be seen in the 1990’s TV series “Droopy, Master Detective” and “Tom and Jerry...”

Comments: 6 Comments

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