Cans Without Labels (Johnsonverse)

Cans Without Labels is a 2013 American animated short cartoon written, produced, and directed by animator John Kricfalusi. It follows the character George Liquor attempting to feed his nephews Ernie and Slab disgusting food from unlabeled cans, with mini-adventures following each. This was the last voice acting role for Michael Pataki, who recorded his lines as George Liquor before his death in 2010; this short was dedicated in his memory.
Inspired by Kricfalusi's childhood memories, Cans Without Labels began pre-production in 2008 and was successfully crowdfunded via Kickstarter in 2012. Released on February 1, 2013 to backers with the DVD and digital download tiers, the short was critically acclaimed. Its success led to a revival of The Ren & Stimpy Show in 2017 for Cartoon Network, as well as a spin-off series on Adult Swim called George Liquor, American the following year.
==Plot==
Ernie and Slab are playing a video game. Slab teases Ernie about losing when George calls out to them, announcing he's home with food. The boys groan but come to the dinner table when George mentions food. George carries the cans up the stairs and puts them on the table. Ernie and Slab run to their seats, curious about the cans. George explains the lesson on frugality, saying he buys unlabeled cans cheap.
Ernie and Slab wonder how George knows what's in the cans. George demonstrates his method, describing the can's features and performing a "slosh test." He declares the contents to be beef stew, which excites Ernie and Slab. George sets a rule: once they open a can, they must eat whatever's inside. Ernie is horrified to find a human face in the can instead of beef stew. George insists they eat it, despite their protests.
George gets angry when the boys refuse to eat the face and threatens to take his belt off. He calms down, saying he’ll go to the bathroom and expects the face to be gone when he returns. Ernie and Slab hear a cat meowing and decide to give the face to Cigarettes the Cat, but even the cat refuses to eat it.
As George nears the end of his bathroom break, Ernie and Slab dump the face in the trash. George returns, believing the boys ate the face and congratulates them. As a reward, he offers to open another can, suggesting it might contain a foot. The boys scream and run away.
Ernie and Slab encounter Jimmy the Idiot Boy, who has bought an unlabeled can. They smash it open to find blueberry syrup with pregnant grasshoppers. They trace the can back to a dealer who sells cheap, unlabeled cans. As they confront the dealer, George arrives and discovers they didn't eat the face. George drags the boys back home, but officers burst in and arrest the dealer for jaywalking. George then suggests they go get burgers, leaving Jimmy behind, who is pecked by a crow.
=== Backer rewards ===
=== Alternate ending ===
==Voice cast==
* Michael Pataki as George Liquor
* Gabe Swarr as Ernie
* Eric Bauza as Slab and Shimmy Shack Narrator
* Eddie Fitzgerald as Cigarettes the Cat
*Billy West as Dealer
* John Kricfalusi as George Liquor (some lines) and Jimmy the Idiot Boy
==Production==
Cans Without Labels began pre-production in 2008, when Kricfalusi unveiled several pieces of concept art. Around this time, future Johnson Industries CEO Tim Johnson, a fan of Kricfalusi's, encouraged him to make his screenplay longer and make several changes such as removing Donald Bastard (Kricfalusi's parody of Donald Duck), as well as adding additional cans that George Liquor forces Ernie and Slab to eat. Michael Pataki (the original voice of George Liquor) recorded some lines for the project, which ended up being his final voice acting role before his 2010 death.
===Crowdfunding===
In 2012, Kricfalusi began a Kickstarter campaign to fund the short. He described it as the first project where he would have full creative control without interference from executives. $219,853 was pledged by 6,418 backers to the project. In January 2013, the short was announced as completed, and in February, digital and physical copies were shipped to backers.
==Reception==
The short was widely acclaimed upon its release.
== Follow-ups ==
During the Kickstarter campaign, Kricfalusi hinted at another cartoon starring Sody Pop, Jimmy the Idiot Boy's girlfriend, if enough money was made; that goal was eventually met. This short, titled Jimmy's Big Date, was released in September 2014. A third short focusing on Cigarettes the Cat, Cigarettes A-Blowin', was released in December 2015.
== See Also ==
* Transcript
Category:Johnsonverse