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"In the Army" is the first episode of Season 2. 

Characters[]

Summary[]

Ren and Stimpy enlist in the army, unaware of all the obstacles to overcome with a big, bossy sarge, though they end up passing and entering a war.

Plot[]

Ren and Stimpy go to an induction office to register for the army. Compared to the stronger, taller men, Ren and Stimpy are weak. To register, they must take an eye test, and Ren believes that it is a message, as it reads 'This will hurt you' before he is given a mega shot. He sadly shows Stimpy his throbbing arm, and it is revealed that Stimpy got a shot on his tongue. Next, is a buzzcut. Both have the tops of their head shaved off. They then go to get uniforms and are administered into training camp. Ren thinks that it is not so bad, and both begin to scratch themselves, until they meet the Drill Sergeant. Ren is unable to understand his yelling to turn and walk, but Stimpy is able to, Ren struggling to keep up. Ren gets berated by the sergeant for not following orders. The Drill Sergeant orders them to 'drop and give twenty', Stimpy following the order to do pushups, but Ren thinks that they need to give him money and Ren gives him twenty dollars, which the Sergeant destroys. In the mess hall, the two are forced to peel potatoes for this, although Stimpy has to peel far less than Ren. Stimpy thinks that this means that the Sergeant likes Ren best.

Later, they are called for tear gas training in the tear gas room. They smell it and see it bad. They will not go inside, until the Sergeant orders them. They put on breathing masks and enter the room, which is filled with foul smelling cheeses. They are told to take the masks off and smell the gas, which causes Stimpy to cry, his skin to turn green, and his eyes to pop out. Ren does not smell anything, having kept his breath closed. When Stimpy asks why, Ren reveals that he cheated. Ren says that he is smarter than Stimpy and knows how to get around the Sergeant. Ren walks into a tank, being piloted by the Sergeant, and are told to go back into the room. Later, they are made to peel watermelons as punishment.

Later, they are told to carry large sacks, Ren constantly falling into the mud and unable to get up. Ren yells at Stimpy, who has managed to keep up his endurance. Ren sits and tells Stimpy to walk, but the Sergeant overhears them and scares Ren. He must now carry the Sergeant. They go to their bunks, exhausted. Both are exhausted and take off their boots, their feet swollen and stinking. Ren says that he needs sleep and tries to, but he gets woken up. Getting driven into insanity from insomnia, the next morning he takes an ax and tears up his bed, laughing manically. The Sergeant yells at both and tells them to walk. They have to peel war heads, although Ren gets more of a punishment.

Later, the two sit outside the bunks, Ren still tired. He confesses to Stimpy in a short monologue his fears, stating that he is the 'keeper of the cheese' meaning that Ren is heavily important, and that Stimpy is the 'lemon merchant' meaning that he is just as important. Ren thinks that the Sergeant is aware and is going to kill them for it, so they must desert before he 'lets loose the marmosets.' Ren picks up Stimpy and tries to escape, before the Sergeant stops them. He shakes Ren's arm and says that they graduated and are now tank paratroopers. Ren is happy, as they get a tank, uniforms, and become members of an elite fighting force. The two sing the national anthem, as we see that they are being dropped from a plane into a fiery war zone.

Trivia/Notes[]

  • This was the first episode done mostly by Bob Camp and one of the first of the series to have John Kricfalusi do little creative work. His only role was the voice of Ren (however, John sketched the wild take of Ren when the Sergeant emerges from the mud). This is also the first episode in which John K. doesn't get a director credit.
  • This episode was designed as a "generic" cartoon. It was a way to allow John Kricfalusi to work on his more complex episodes for the season in production at the time including "Powdered Toast Man", "Son of Stimpy", and "Sven Hoek".
  • When the episode "In The Army" was first aired on TNN, the scenes where Ren and Stimpy get a haircut, along with receiving their shot, were cut.
  • This episode is a parody of the Abbott and Costello movie Buck Privates.
  • This is the first episode to feature animation services by Rough Draft Studios. They would continue providing animation for the show even after it eventually moved over to Games in 1993 following John K.'s firing.
  • In the scene where Ren and Stimpy take their boots off, Stimpy has three human toes on each foot. However, in the next shot, he has four toes, still looking human.
    • Technically, this is the proper number of toes on a dog or cat (excluding the dewclaw).
  • The Ask Dr. Stupid segment was reused from "Stimpy's Invention".
  • This is the first episode where Stimpy has human toes on his feet.
  • This is the first episode of Season 2.
  • Ren's singing voice in "America the Beautiful" was done by Bob Camp.[1]
  • This episode is not on Paramount+, due to the presence of a Raymond Scott music track ("The Toy Trumpet") and the music clearance rights involving it.
  • This episode is most famous for the scene in which Ren laughs while carrying an axe.

Music[]

  • Cha-Cha-Cha (GM-519) - Ib Glindemann
  • You're in the Army Now - Bob Camp, Charlie Brissette
  • Drama Link (i) - Hubert Clifford
  • Holiday Playtime - Cedric Palmer
  • Hollywood Romance - Peter Yorke
  • The Toy Trumpet - Raymond Scott
  • Blood in the Gutter - Laurie Johnson
  • The Swinging Parade - Alan Moorhouse
  • Links and Interjections (I - 1 - 12) - Alan Braden
  • Backporch Blues D - Richard Myhill
  • The March of the Ants - Sidney Crooke
  • Bits and Pieces - Ronald Hanmer
  • Holiday Playtime - Cedric Palmer
  • Funeral March - Fiachra Trench, Frederic Chopin
  • Backporch Blues D - Richard Myhill
  • Drama - Van Phillips
  • Roman March - Robert Sharples
  • Maniac Pursuit – Trevor Duncan
  • Terror by Night - Hubert Clifford
  • Just a Closer Walk with Thee - William Carter, Henry Stinson, Richard Sackett, Don Rouse, Wesley Butts, David F. Robinson Jr
  • Catfish Row - Benny Carter
  • Cradle Song (Brahms' Lullaby) - Fiachra Trench, Johannes Brahms
  • Reveille - Bob Camp, Charlie Brissette
  • Aboriginal Chants A - Garry Hardman, Brian Beamish, Peter Benson; Snake Charmer's Tune 1 - Yasotha Somasundram
  • Bits and Pieces - Ronald Hanmer
  • Battle Hymn of Republic A - Graham De Wilde
  • Backporch Blues D - Richard Myhill
  • Smouldering Fury (a) - Trevor Duncan
  • Hit and Run - Ralph Dollimore
  • Drama Link (b) - Hubert Clifford
  • Knight Errant - Sam Fonteyn
  • America the Beautiful - Bob Camp, Henry Porch, John Kricfalusi
  • Cha-Cha-Cha (GM-519) - Ib Glindemann [Capitol Records]

References[]

Episode List
Pilot
Big House Blues (Pilot)
Season 1
Stimpy's Big DayThe Big ShotRobin HöekNurse StimpySpace MadnessThe Boy Who Cried RatFire DogsThe Littlest GiantMaroonedUntamed WorldBlack HoleStimpy's Invention
Season 2
Ren's ToothacheRubber Nipple SalesmenSven HoekHaunted HouseMad Dog HoekIn The ArmyMan's Best FriendBig Baby ScamDog ShowMonkey See, Monkey Don'tPowdered Toast ManFake DadOut WestStimpy's Fan ClubThe Great OutdoorsThe Cat That Laid the Golden HairballSon of StimpyA Visit To AnthonyThe Royal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen
Season 3
To Salve And Salve NotA Yard Too FarCircus MidgetsNo Pants TodayRen's PecsAn Abe DividedStimpy's Cartoon ShowJimminy LummoxBass MastersRen's RetirementJerry the Bellybutton ElfRoad ApplesHard Times for HaggisEat My CookiesRen's Bitter HalfLair Of The Lummox
Season 4
Hermit RenHouse of Next TuesdayA Friend in Your Face!Blazing EntrailsLumber JerksPrehistoric StimpyFarm HandsMagical Golden Singing CheesesA Hard Day's LuckI Love ChickenPowdered Toast Man vs. Waffle WomanIt's a Dog's LifeEgg YölkeoDouble HeaderThe Scotsman in SpacePixie KingAloha HöekInsomniac RenMy Shiny FriendCheese Rush DaysWiener BaronsGaloot WranglersRen Needs Help!Superstitious StimpyTravelogue
Season 5
Ol' Blue NoseStupid Sidekick UnionSpace DoggedFued For SaleHair of the CatCity HicksStimpy's PetRen's BrainBell HopsDog TagsI Was a Teenage StimpyWho's Stupid Now?School MatesDinner PartyBig FlakesPen PalsTerminal StimpyReverend JackA Scooter for YaksmasSammy and MeThe Last Temptation
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