‘Out on a Limb’ -- Popularity of HTF

It really makes me wonder what it is that makes the Happy Tree Friends series so popular, to the extent that fan clubs and online stores selling a whole range of HTF products have been established, in addition to a handful of websites featuring HTF online games and podcasts. Looking at an episode with one of the highest view count and ratings (reference to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO7Q1tMGE7g) – ‘Out on a Limb’, the following few factors might be the attraction.


Violence and Gore

The gore within the scenes is no doubt the main appeal. In this episode, Lumpy’s right leg was stuck under a fallen tree (which he himself chopped), and tried to free himself by amputating his right leg, all with a spoon. Lumpy let out cries of agony as he slowly cut his limb of bit by bit with the tiny spoon. As much as how this is awfully disturbing to some, it appears to be entertaining to others who need an outlet for the pent-up frustrations or displeasure, or simply those who are psychopathic. Many see violence and bloodshed in shows as a high level of entertainment though considerably fearful of them in real life, and hence cartoons being a less realistic option possess a higher appeal.



Amusement derived from the stupidity of the characters

Right from the start of the episode when Lumpy made the tree fall on himself, a whole chain of hilarious happenings were sparked off. First, the axe actually flew off when he tried to cut a branch to free himself, and then he finally realised that he had dismembered the wrong leg, after all the agony he went through. This inevitably provokes tremendous laughter despite the pre-existing disturbing elements. Humour coupled with violence and gore, makes HTF no doubt a compelling source of entertainment.


Absurdity

Cartoons itself is absurd, but HTF is even more absurd, with all possible and impossible misfortunes befalling on the characters. Lumpy can actually get moronic to the extent where he did not realise that he cut off the wrong leg, not to mention that he could have used other methods to escape (like using the spoon to dig a hole in the ground) than to mutilate himself. It is, however, such absurdity, things absent in real life, which draws audience to the shows.


Quoting a few YouTube viewers:
"lol thats sick but its soo irresistably funny!" – dd23432
"Its so funny but it looked so painful! I Laughed softly with a sad and painful Tear in my eye!Its funny but it hurts! " – bloodybird2k6
"This makes me SICK!I hate it, but I love it too HTF 4EVA! " – MeaganWood

"these are all bloody cartoons they are not even happy tree friends they are more like bloody tree friends! cause every single episode has blood! Why did mondo even make this?" – princessperky276

The last comment received a rating of -4, so does that actually mean that people are charmed by HTF, that they no longer see anything wrong in the violence and bloodshed, and are even cheering for it?




*Picture captured from video "Happy Tree Friends - Out On a Limb" by MondoMedia on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO7Q1tMGE7g