Ren & Stimpy: The Complete First & Second Seasons

Color, 418 min. plus supplements, Dolby Digital, fullscreen, Street: Oct. 12, $38.99; First Run: TV, 1991-92

PARAMOUNT

Were the Peter Lorre-sounding chihuahua Ren and dimwitted, overweight cat Stimpy gay? None of his business, says creator John Kricfalusi in an engaging featurette on the creation of the series. He notes, however, the characters resonated with gay viewers, who liked how they'd argue and then wind up in the sack together. The 12-minute documentary, produced by Jon Barbour and Gary Khammar, is one of several extras to be found on this set, which compiles 31 episodes of the show. Known for its gross-out animation, with an emphasis on bodily functions, some episodes had to be edited or were even unaired but are restored here in their entirety. Kricfalusi and some of the other creative talent deliver commentary on six of the episodes, and they're clearly the biggest fans of their own work. At times, their discussions are hilarious. As ancillary character Powdered Toast Man is sworn in as president, promising to "relieve the American people of their basic human rights," writer Jim Smith comments, "That's Rumsfeld right there." Other extras are ho-hum, comprised mainly of character pencil tests and stills and storyboard galleries, but the fans who bought Ren & Stimpy T-shirts in the early '90s will be popping in this set strictly for the nostalgia and belly laughs. --Gary Frisch