Pop Smart - Plaza’s Sick & Twisted fest features Dr. Tran””
From June 20-26, The Plaza Theatre will present Spike & Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation, billed as a 25th anniversary compilation of the perennial collection of raunchy cartoons. Originated by Craig “Spike” Decker and the late Mike Gribble, the touring show presents short animated films that range from embarrassingly sophomoric to ingeniously creative.
The current collection includes favorites from previous shows, including Don Hertzfeldt’s “Rejected,” which may be one of the best short films I’ve ever seen of any kind. Other items on the line-up are “Save Virgil,” starring “The Man Show’s” Adam Carolla providing the voice of a animated guy born in a live-action world, plus some new adventures of “Happy Tree Friends,” cute forest creatures who suffer grisly, unfortunate mishaps. The evening reportedly concludes with director Breehn Burns’ “Roybertitos,” the latest appearance from the amusing Dr. Tran, American’s #1 action star — or is he?
The character originally appeared in “Here Comes Dr. Tran,” an extremely funny (if overly drawn out) short from 2003 with an online cult following. If you like “South Park,” you’ll love it.
I’m especially intrigued by Dr. Tran Doles Out the Harshness.
Spike & Mike’s Sick and Twisted Animation Festival plays at 7:45 and 9:45 p.m.