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| In reality, the short bears very little resemblance to the ] style which ] in Russian animation at the time. The idea bears more similarity to the rather ] (on which ] is ]) produced in ] by animator ] in the early 1960s. | In reality, the short bears very little resemblance to the ] style which ] in Russian animation at the time. The idea bears more similarity to the rather ] (on which ] is ]) produced in ] by animator ] in the early 1960s. | ||
| The cartoon opened with some ]-looking credits, which account for nothing in real Cyrillic. The cartoon itself was quite unintelligible, featuring a crudely drawn cat and mouse chattering incoherently and bouncing around to the tune of random, depressing background music. Worker and Parasite are first seen in a factory (where a wrench and sickle are visible as well); they then move in front of a line of identical, miserable-looking ]s who are lining up for supplies of some sort, and then within a nest of squiggly lines, possibly |
The cartoon opened with some ]-looking credits, which account for nothing in real Cyrillic. The cartoon itself was quite unintelligible, featuring a crudely drawn cat and mouse chattering incoherently and bouncing around to the tune of random, depressing background music. Worker and Parasite are first seen in a factory (where a wrench and sickle are visible as well); they then move in front of a line of identical, miserable-looking ]s who are lining up for supplies of some sort, and then within a nest of squiggly lines, possibly meant to represent a pit of ]. The cartoon concludes with the screen reading "ENDUT! HOCH HECH!" Afterwards, Krusty's on-air response (before a vacant studio) was shocked silence, a limp cigarette hanging from his mouth, then promptly, "What the hell was ''that''?!" | ||
| ''Worker and Parasite'' has not appeared on the show since, but they have made a few appearances in ], this time speaking somewhat intelligible ]. | ''Worker and Parasite'' has not appeared on the show since, but they have made a few appearances in ], this time speaking somewhat intelligible ]. | ||
Revision as of 01:20, 9 March 2007
Worker and Parasite (Рабочий И Паразит) was a fictional cartoon in The Simpsons episode "Krusty Gets Kancelled." When the popular cartoon Itchy and Scratchy, featuring a very violent cat and mouse, leaves the Krusty the Clown Show for Krusty's new competitor, Gabbo, "Eastern Europe's favorite cat and mouse team, Worker and Parasite," was a cheap replacement. According to the title screen, it was made in 1959, while the Khrushchev regime was in power in the USSR. Simpsons creator Matt Groening maintains that their appearance on the show is one of the best parts of the series.
In reality, the short bears very little resemblance to the socialist realism style which was prevalent in Russian animation at the time. The idea bears more similarity to the rather unusual set of Tom and Jerry cartoons (on which Itchy and Scratchy is based) produced in Prague by animator Gene Deitch in the early 1960s.
The cartoon opened with some Cyrillic-looking credits, which account for nothing in real Cyrillic. The cartoon itself was quite unintelligible, featuring a crudely drawn cat and mouse chattering incoherently and bouncing around to the tune of random, depressing background music. Worker and Parasite are first seen in a factory (where a wrench and sickle are visible as well); they then move in front of a line of identical, miserable-looking peasants who are lining up for supplies of some sort, and then within a nest of squiggly lines, possibly meant to represent a pit of snakes. The cartoon concludes with the screen reading "ENDUT! HOCH HECH!" Afterwards, Krusty's on-air response (before a vacant studio) was shocked silence, a limp cigarette hanging from his mouth, then promptly, "What the hell was that?!"
Worker and Parasite has not appeared on the show since, but they have made a few appearances in Simpsons comic books, this time speaking somewhat intelligible English.
Other references
The title of the cartoon Worker and Parasite is a reference to social parasitism, which was a crime in the Soviet Union.
There has been some speculation as to what "Endut! Hoch Hech!" means. The Season 4 DVD audio commentary for the episode however claims that writer John Swartzwelder had no intended meaning for the phrase in question.
See also
- History of Russian animation
- Krusty Gets Kancelled
- Social parasitism
- Ren and Stimpy
- Nikita Khrushchev