FANART: Rocko's Modern Life

[brendala]

Unlike most people my age, I didn't discover Nicktoons until I was in my late teens (before that, my family couldn't afford cable :P). Aside from syndicated holiday specials and occasionally watching them at my friends' houses, I didn't get to grow up with any of the cartoons that aired on cable. So I don't have a huge nostalgic attachment to most of the 90s Nickelodeon shows.

So, when I finally saw Rocko's Modern Life, I couldn't believe the stuff it got away with! I marathoned a bunch of episodes this week (thanks, Netflix!) and it's 1,000 times funnier when you're a grown up who has actually had to deal with evil bosses, laundromats, the DMV, moocher friends, bigoted weirdos, and watching your pals get married & have kids.



I have a soft spot for Filbert and Dr Hutchinson. Partly because it's REALLY rare for cartoon characters to have character arcs where they date, get married, and have kids. But mainly because they're just such a fun, bizarre couple. And the episode where they got married managed to make a point about mixed marriages while still remaining funny and avoiding any preachiness.

So, during the marathon, the urge to doodle this hit me. And I made them humans because that's the hip thing to do with animal characters these days (and I suck at drawing anthro characters):




I thought it would be cute to make Human-Filburt a Black dork and Human-Dr Hutchinson a crazy Jewish girl. Yeah, I know the other way around makes more sense (because Cartoon-Filburt embodies every "Nebbish Jew" stereotype out there). But I think changing it up makes it funnier.

Comments

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

It really is one of those shows that makes way more sense and is ten times funnier when you're older. One of the episodes I remember the most was when Rocko's cow friend (his name escapes me at the moment) finally clues in that he's adopted in a family of wolves. I also remember the episode when the neighbor's son who is a cartoonist comes home for a visit. I recall that one being rather touching.


Also, good doodles. You've captured their personalities well.

[brendala.livejournal.com]

The cow's name is "Heffer". :)

I remember not liking this show the few times I caught it as a kid. Probably because I assumed it was in the same vein as Ren & Stimpy (a show I still HATE because I have no tolerance for gross out humor). I avoided it for a long time before I gave it another chance and realized that it was actually funny.

The cartoonist episode is a favorite of mine, too. Mainly because of the intentionally awful TV series that they ended up creating.

[amelia-seyroon.livejournal.com]

I loved the episode when Heffer found out he was adopted.

And I remember when Rocko and Heffer went to visit his uncle (I forget his name) out in the Middle of Nowhere (which was the actual name of the town).

But I don't remember the cartoonist episode...I was more fond of this show way more than the way-more-controversial Ren & Stimpy. I can't believe I wasted my childhood years watching that crap.

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

I still recite Filbert's fortune cookie fortune every time I get one. ^_^

I loved this show when I was a teenager, and I love it even more now that I get a lot more of the jokes. It's like Danger Mouse. DM was one of my very first loves when I was 4. Three years ago I was given the boxset as a gift, and I began to watch it again and appreciate all of the grown-up dry humor they got away with.

[bonemarch.livejournal.com]

Your style is developing really well. I really like the lines (and folds) on Heaffer.