Alrighty friends, fans and lovers of Happy Tree Friends, you dark messiah has arrived. And by dark messiah, of course, we mean HTF director and mastermind Kenn Navarro.

Just in time for the new season of this animated fun-time massacre show, G4 had a chance to chat with director Kenn about those lovable and dangerous creature, the history of the show, and why violence is so cuddly!

You axed for it, so read on…

G4: When and how did you come with the idea for Happy Tree Friends?
 
KENN: Around 1999-2000, we here at Mondo Media worked on various animation projects for clients and other companies. On the side, fellow artist and co-creator, Rhode Montijo and I would joke about the idea of having these cute, quirky characters in the most bizarre and horrible situations. We would sketch on napkins and paper plates and whatever else was on hand and tell each other bizarre scenarios and situations just to make the other guy laugh. There seemed to be an endless slew of ideas. When we got the opportunity to pitch a series we thought of taking that idea and framing it into an actual show. What could go wrong?
 
Getting Happy Tree Friends green-lit the very first time was a little hill we had to climb. A lot of people didn't really get the concept and had a hard time wrapping their heads around it. Originally, we wanted to call the show Happy Tree Friends Bonanza and we would change the name of the show every episode and jumble around the title. So, in one episode it would be Tree Friends Happy Bonanza and the next would be Friends Bonanza Friends Tree. There was no real reason other than we thought it would be funny. As you can imagine, that idea didn't go very far. Luckily, Rhode and I slipped in a dollar bill (true story!) into the pitch documents which, I think helped grease a lot of wheels. That's right, we're not above that sort of thing...
 
G4: Nor am I. You’ll find a dollar bill attached to the questions I sent ya. Anyways, what is your background as far as writing and animation? 
 
KENN: I went to San Francisco State University where I majored in design and animation. I bounced around at various places doing animation work before I arrived at Mondo Media. While here, I worked on numerous projects doing animation, art and directing chores. I cut my teeth (pun intended) on all the shows we produced until one day we got to do Happy Tree Friends. Now all of my time is dedicated to coming up with ways to maim and mutilate these little creatures. It's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it!
 
G4: Who are your inspirations?
 
KENN: There are soooo many, I don't think I can pin it down to a list. I get inspired and learn something from everything. Movies, TV shows, comics... heck, even a nice little design on a coffee cup can turn into something. You just never know when lightning can strike. Specifically relating to Happy Tree Friends, the look and feel of the show is inspired by Mary Blair, a legendary Disney artist who designed the Small World ride at the park. We also used the classic Golden Books series as a basis for the opening of the show.
 
Animation wise, the show obviously owes a lot to The Simpsons. That show is such an institution that it would be hard NOT to be influenced by it. I also love Ren & Stimpy and John K.'s whacky take on things. Also can't deny that South Park's brand of unabashed and unforgiving comedy has seeped its way into the show. We're just standing on the shoulders of giants and trying to kick it up to the next level.
 
As for film, I love horror, action, sci-fi...pretty much anything good. Again, it's hard to distill it because I'll watch anything as long as it's interesting and well put together. Even bad movies are fun to watch and, like everyone else, I've got my own personal list of guilty pleasures when it comes to bad movies. If you look closely, we actually make nods to all our favorite films, shows and comics in the show.
 
G4: What were your favorite cartoons as a kid?
 
KENN: Again, I don't think there was any cartoon I didn't watch. I'm just a sponge for all that stuff! From the classic Tom & Jerry and Popeye cartoons to Rainbow Bright and Care Bears... I admit, I watched everything that I could. My faves would have to be Warner Brother's Looney Toons, He-Man, G.I. Joe, Transformers, Thundercats, Super Friends and Macross.
 
G4: What are your favorite cartoons nowadays?
 
KENN: Family Guy cracks me up! I also love SpongeBob SquarePants. Watching that show brings back that old warm and fuzzy "Saturday Morning" feeling. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends is just a beautiful show to watch. I got onboard The Venture Brothers boat a little late but now I can't get enough of it! More action oriented shows like Justice League and Naruto are also main TiVo staples. Good times!
 
G4: Tell me about how HTF first started? Did you make it for the Net or was it a pilot for a TV show?
 
KENN: Happy Tree Friends was originally intended just for the Internet. Back "the Internet" was still the new, cool thing on the horizon (I sound like an old coot) we thought it would be a great idea to make these little short and highly energetic shows that the viewer could watch anytime they wanted.
 
G4: Was the goal to eventually get it on TV as a show?
 
KENN: It was never really our original goal. We just had a good time making the show and cracking each other up and we wanted to share that experience with other people and the web provided a great medium to get the show directly to the audience. I don't think the show would have gotten past the initial pitch if we had tried to go directly to TV. We would've been burned at the stake and branded as witches! Broadcasting the show online afforded us more creative freedom in making the show the way we thought it should be and remains that way to this day.

G4: What is your favorite episode of the show so far?
 
KENN: From the internet series, if all the episodes were in a burning building and I had to save one or two, I'd point the water hose in "Eye Candy" and "Out on a Limb." Those are just quintessential and classic Happy Tree Friends episodes that are simple and straight to the point.
 
With the new, longer format of the TV series, we're able to expand and add a lot more depth and character to our cast of misfits and misanthropes that we were never able to do before. I love the new episodes like "Wishy Washy," where we get to explore Petunia's Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and how that leads to trouble. In "A Change of Heart," we find that Disco Bear really isn't in the greatest of shape and has really bad eating habits. We also see why Lumpy shouldn't be given any type of medical job (or any job!) at all. "Aw, Shucks!" is a heart warming tale of a Moose's relationship with his favorite vegetable. All real fun episodes that still crack me up whenever I watch them.
 
G4: What HTF character do YOU most identify with?
 
KENN: Sometimes I feel like Lumpy, especially when I stub my toe or pour hot water on myself... intentionally, of course. Some days, I feel more like Nutty 'cause I loves me my sugar! Most of the time though, I'm Cuddles simply because I do his voice. If that's nepotism then so be it! Besides, the ladies LOVE bunnies... 
 
G4: Are there ever idea where even you say, “Geez maybe that’s a bit too gory and insane?”
 
KENN: That's when we know we're doing something right! When somebody flinches, that's a sure sign that we hit a nerve...which is always a good time, in my book. The only thing that comes close to that was the original ending for the "Chip Off the 'Ol Block" episode which called for Pop purposefully hiding and then burning Cub's body in the pile of leaves after he discovers he had just murdered his own son. We thought that was a little too malicious and changed it so that he's more oblivious to the fact that he just killed and burned his son.
 
G4: You mentioned you are a fan of horror movies too...
 
KENN: LOVE it! I remember being terrified of horror movies as a young lad but I have since conquered my fears and now revel in the genre. It's easy to see where a lot of the deaths and gags in Happy Tree Friends are inspired by the outrageous, over the top and sometimes elaborate deaths that horror movies do.

G4: Are you a big comic book fan?

KENN: I've been reading and collecting the X-Men books since John Byrne and Chris Claremont's classic run on the series. Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's Planetary is one of my perennial faves. I'll have to cry myself to sleep now that series is wrapping up. I also love Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch's Ultimates and Ultimates 2 run. Just a great power-house of a book! For a good time look no further than Marvel Zombies! Just a fun, fun read! Besides, who doesn't love zombies? I'm really digging Civil War and the re-launched Green Lantern and hoping the rest of the ride is enjoyable. 
 
G4: What can we expect in the future from you and the HTF team?
 
KENN: We've got an X-Box Live Arcade game brewing out there that will hopefully see the light of day some time soon. Also, we're hoping to get back to our roots and do more internet shorts as well.
 
G4: What else do you have up your sleeve, animation-wise or otherwise?
 
KENN: If I'm not elbow deep in blood and guts you can probably catch me on X-Box Live playing Chromehounds or Dead Rising.
 
G4: Anything you wanna plug?
 
KENN: Come on by www.happytreefriends.com and kick up your feet and hang out with us. Everybody is welcome!