By Annie Holub
Arizona Daily Wildcat
January 23, 1998

'Sick and Twisted' back again

Photo courtesy of Mellow Manor Productions Arizona Daily Wildcat "Oh my God! They killed Kenny!" The "South Park" gang witnesses what will become a tradition for the very first time in "The Spirit Of Christmas." The animated short features a fight between Jesus and Santa Claus.

Late at night is when the real cartoons take over. Shows that would leave the Muppet Babies shuddering in their cribs. "Beavis and Butthead," "South Park" and the like - the best of them take to the big screen each year at "Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation," which begins a two week stay in Tucson tonight.

"We have a reputation of premiering great short films that have gone on to be legendary," says Craig "Spike" Decker, one half of the gruesome twosome, Spike and Mike. The nightmare of every suburban mother, the festival consists of 23 short films that are, needless to say, extremely sick and twisted. Spike himself boasts that this year, "We've achieved a new low."

Hailed as the funniest and most disgusting animation festival accessible to the general public, the films that comprise "Sick and Twisted" are "on the cultural cutting edge of animation," Spike says. Imaginative debauchery in vivid colors, this year's offerings include 13 premieres, which bear titles like, "Yes Timmy, There is a Santa Claus," and "Jurassic Fart." It's the kind of humor that highly cultured and educated people don't like to admit they laugh at - but they just can't help it.

Also included are animated shorts such as "Home, Honey, I'm High" and a soon-to-be TV show entitled "Hut Sluts": Meet Summer and Tiffany, two new animated epitomes of sleaze, who pick up where Cornholio and his sidekick left off. "It's pretty funny," Spike warns, "nothing that's ever been seen on television."

A definite festival highlight is (calm down, kids) the "Spirit of Christmas." Yes, the famed five-minute short that spawned "South Park," which has been circulating around on the Internet for months, is hitting the big screen for the first time. The folks over at Mellow Manner Productions, the outfit that runs the Spike and Mike endeavors, have a relationship with "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and seized the opportunity to screen that illustrious fight between Jesus and Santa Claus in huge, pixelated, uncensored splendor. Those of us whose modems choked and died when we tried to download the short can finally get back to the "South Park" roots.

Photo courtesy of Mellow Manor Productions Arizona Daily Wildcat "Smoking," an animated short by Neil Ishimine (UCLA), is one of thirteen films that make their premieres at this year's "Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation." The festival runs through Feb. 5 at The Loft Cinema.

"Sick and Twisted" strives to show the best animation and to be well-rounded - offering everything from "quality humor to rankness." If they're gonna try to gross you out, they want to make darn sure they do it thoroughly. "Sloaches Funhouse," which Spike describes as the "most rank," is probably the most likely to induce usage of the free barf bag provided upon entry.

Other short-attention span snacks include "Sea Slugs" (think about it: slugs start fizzing and disintegrating when you pour salt on them), "Devil Went Down to Georgia" (featuring music by Les Claypool of Primus fame), "Little Rude Riding Hood" (get the feeling she won't be bringing her grandma treats?), and "Lloyd's Lunchbox" ("Hey Suzie, wanna trade some flesh-eating leeches for that chocolate pudding?"). "Ah L'amour" is a parody on dating that "people really identify with," says Spike.

"Sick and Twisted" is the dumping bin for all the 'toons too tasteless for the original "Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation" that has showcased the cream of the animated crop for the past 20 years. The two-hour long festival, running tonight through Feb. 5 at the Loft, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd., is a "very strong show," says Spike. Lest there be any doubts about the merits of being both sick and twisted on screen, take it from Spike himself: "It really kicks ass, that's for sure."

Tickets are $7, with proof of age (18 & up). Those who want to get in free can stick a "Sick and Twisted" flier on a refrigerator and cart it to the show (Seriously; as it says in the promotional flier, "People tell Spike that their flier is stuck up on their refrigerator. Spike says 'PROVE IT.' Bring your 10 cubic foot or larger refrigerator to the show, with flier on the door, and receive FREE ADMISSION for yourself and a friend.) Early arrival is also advised, as these shows often sell out. Call the Loft at 795-7777 for show times.