If you find Sesame Street or the Muppets too childish, there might be another option. Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared is a musical puppet show for adults. It follows three characters who spontaneously encounter ‘teachers’ that bestow knowledge about the world. The show debuted on YouTube and eventually made its way onto television. Now, it has returned to the Internet but in a new way.
YouTube’s Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared
Created by Joseph Pelling and Becky Sloan, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared debuted in 2011. The first episode focused on the protagonists: Red Guy, Yellow Guy, and Duck Guy. They’re minding their business until a sentient sketchpad starts singing about being creative. It’s a cute melody, but things take a hard right turn into grim horror territory. The characters decorate detached organs and eat a cake filled with bloody flesh. As it ends, you are left shocked and speechless, wondering what you just watched.
The first Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared became a viral hit. It gathered a massive fanbase quickly, leading to it appearing at the Sundance Film Festival. This notoriety led to the creation of five additional episodes. Every installment of this YouTube miniseries proved to be as popular as the last. The entire collection has over 216 million views, and more are still coming. Its fame eventually led to a change of venue with brand-new stories and characters.
Moving From YouTube to Television
Surprisingly, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared became a television series produced by Blink Industries. Pelling and Sloan were still involved, so it kept the charm of the original. This new adaptation debuted on All 4 in 2022, attracting new fans. At the same time, devotees got to witness new adventures featuring their favorite Muppet-like trio. The show also followed the original program’s formula of new mentors periodically visiting the protagonists.
Of course, many changes came when Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared moved to television. A noticeable alteration was the episodes lengthening to be about 22 minutes long. This modification allowed for more development within the stories and world-building. It also allowed for more songs rather than just one, like in the YouTube videos. The main characters, still unnamed, received complementary personalities that made them less two-dimensional. Despite these revisions, critics praised this series for being just as good as the source.
The DHMIS New Website
Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared went pretty quiet after the television series ended. Pelling and Sloan confirmed there wouldn’t be a second season but aren’t ready to quit. They expressed interest in creating more content, albeit self-maid, similar to the YouTube videos. Despite this revelation, DHMIS fanatics haven’t seen anything new online. That changed when an announcement film appeared on the Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared channel. It revealed the creation of a website dedicated to the critically acclaimed show.
The Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared site has three main sections: Watch, Shop, and Memory. For the Watch category, people can view episodes from the television show. The sad part is a pass from the online store is needed to play them. Alongside the viewing pass, the Shop section offers merchandise like shirts, artwork, and stickers. There’s not much in the Memory area except for behind-the-scenes photos from the television program. There’s not much, but that’s okay since the site is still young.
Final Thoughts
Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared is a fantastic dark comedy that many adults can enjoy. The YouTube series is charming, while the television program enhances its best qualities. The DHMIS website doesn’t offer much, and its videos are pay-to-view. However, this might be good since it’ll mean funds for new videos. They’ll help because Pelling and Sloan aren’t working with a studio.
As a longtime fan, I hope to see more Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared videos. There’s something oddly appealing about puppets getting into adult-centered situations like mental trauma. The gore can sometimes be shocking, but it adds to the experience. If more content does come around, hopefully, it will be similar to the television program. There’s nothing announced, though subscribing to the YouTube channel might help.
