Don't Hug Me I'm Scared: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:43, 9 July 2025

Revision as of 20:57, 9 July 2025

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'''''Don't Hug Me I'm Scared''''' is a British [[Surrealism|surrealist]] [[Adult puppeteering|adult puppet]] [[Musical film|musical]] [[comedy horror]] web series created by Becky Sloan and Joe Pelling that consists of six short episodes released on [[YouTube]] between 29 July 2011 and 19 June 2016.<ref name="Beckyandjoes">{{cite web |last1=Sloan |first1=Becky |last2=Pelling |first2=Joseph |work=Becky & Joe's Art |title=Awards. Festivals. Talks. |date=3 March 2014 |url=http://beckyandjoes.com/where/}}</ref> It is notable for blending surrealism and [[black comedy|dark comedy]] with [[psychological horror]] and musical elements. Its production is diverse, combining [[puppetry]] and [[live action]] with styles of animation including [[stop motion]], [[traditional animation]], [[flash animation]], [[claymation]], and [[computer animation]]. A [[Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (TV series)|follow-up television series]], also consisting of six episodes, was released on [[All 4]] and [[Channel 4]] on 23 September 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Guide |first=British Comedy |title=Don't Hug Me I'm Scared - C4 Sitcom |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/dont-hug-me-im-scared/ |access-date=2022-02-21 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}</ref>

Each episode of the series starts like a typical [[Children's television series|children's programmenprogramme]], consisting of [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] puppets skinakin to those featured in ''[[Sesame Street]]'' or ''[[The Muppets]]''. The series parodies and satirises these programmes by juxtaposing its inhabitants and their childlike, colourful environment against disturbing themes; each episode builds up to a [[plot twist]] that incorporates psychological horror, surreal imagery, dark comedy, extreme [[graphic violence]], and [[existentialism]], before returning the traumatised characters to their original situation with an altered outlook as a result of their experience.

The six episodes of the web series explore creativity, time, love, technology, food, and dreams; the television series touches on jobs, death, family, friendship, transport, and electricity. Both have received widespread critical acclaim for their story, production design, psychological horror, humour, hidden themes, lore, and characters.