References

## Movies

### An Inconvenient Truth

The title to the episode *An Inconvenient Tooth*, is a direct reference to the 2006 documentary film, **An Inconvenient Truth**, which is about Al Gore's campaign to spread the word about global warming. Considering how the HTF episode is about plants the episode may share a few similarities with the movie.

### Back to the Future

There is a small but obvious reference to **Back to the Future** in the episode *Blast from the Past*, during the scene when Sniffles is watching TV, there is a DeLorean time traveling in the same way as in the movie.
The reference to Back to the Future.

### The Birds

This 1963 horror film by Alfred Hitchcock is referenced in *Pet Peeve*. A scene where Lumpy is surrounded and attacked by hungry birds bears similarities to one of the film's most popular scenes.
Original scene.

### Child's Play

**Child's Play** is parodied in *A Vicious Cycle*, where Flippy gets struck by lightning, and his soul continues to live on in a tricycle owned by Cub, similar to Charles Lee Ray, the main antagonist of the movie by transferring his soul into a doll.

Flippy got struck by lighting.

The possessed tricycle making a kill.

### Evil Dead II

There is a big reference to **Evil Dead II** in the episode *Remains to be Seen*, with Lumpy having his arm chewed off by zombie Flippy, he goes into a shed, and he attaches a leaf blower to his arm, like how Ash attached a chainsaw to his arm.

Lumpy with a leaf blower instead of his arm.

### The Exorcist

**The Exorcist** is parodied in *Read 'em and Weep*, with Cub being possessed by a demon.

The demon.

"Eww!"

### Fantastic Voyage

This 1966 science-fiction film is largely referenced in *I've Got You Under My Skin*.

Sniffles' shrinking sub.

Preparing to fight off some germs.

### Final Destination 3

The plot of the TV episode *The Wrong Side of the Tracks* is a reference to the beginning of the movie Final Destination 3.

### From Here to Eternity

The episode *From Hero to Eternity* is a reference to the 1953 drama film **From Here to Eternity**.

### Godzilla

**Godzilla**, a main character in a popular series of Japanese monster movies, is referenced in *Wingin' It* three times, with two onscreen cameos, and an off-screen one.

Godzilla attacks the plane.

Toothy watches Godzilla movie.

### Ice Age

A possible reference to the Ice Age franchise appears in *Snow Place to Go*. The ice cracking because of Flaky's lawn gnome might be a reference to Scrat accidentally cracking ice with his acorn, both scenarios leading to destructive results.

The original Ice Age (movie).

It's like Ice Age, but with more gore!

### Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Both the Pod Lumpys and the episode in which they appear are both an homage to the 1978 science fiction film.

Pod Lumpys, a reference to Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

"What?"

### Jaws/Orca

The *Jaws* films are referenced in *Wipe Out!*. A tune resembling the films' popular theme song can be heard as The Sharks attack Flaky.

Another reference may lie in *Snow Place to Go*, as a similar tune plays when The Orca pursues Russell. Then again, it could be a reference to the 1977 horror film *Orca*, considering it involved an orca rather than sharks.

Dun Dun...Dun Dun...

The orca's fin.

### Lady and the Tramp

In *Remains to be Seen*, there's a scene where Cuddles and Giggles slurp a brain similar to the familiar "Spaghetti Kiss" scene.

Romantic if not gruesome.

### Raiders of the Lost Ark

There are many references to **Raiders of the Lost Ark** throughout Happy Tree Friends. The most prevalent is the The Cursed Idol which makes multiple appearances through out the series. It has a very similar appearance to the fertility idol in the movie. In the episode *Treasure Those Idol Moments*, Cub is crushed by a boulder, which could be a reference to the boulder chase scene in the movie. In *Easy For You to Sleigh*, when Shifty is trying to escape from Flippy, he swaps a candle-holder with a bag of sand, which parodies the same scene from the movie, then plays part of the tune to the theme song. There is even a piece of the score that sounds similar to the theme of the movie. Another big reference to the movie is *Idol Curiosity* which is a loosely based parody of the movie , with Sniffles traveling to a remote jungle ruin to get an idol, and take it to a museum.

The Cursed Idol.

Sniffles and The Cursed Idol.

A reference to the boulder chase scene.

Another reference to the movie.

The idol from Raiders of the Lost Ark

### Rocky

The movie is directly referenced in *Ipso Fatso* when Disco Bear is punching meat in a meat locker.

### Saw III

In *Out on a Limb* Lumpy breaks his leg with a spoon to free himself from the tree he is stuck under. The whole episode is similar to when Detective Eric Matthews broke and shattered his foot with a toilet lid to break free from his shackle.

### The Shining

**The Shining** is referenced in a scene in *Aw, Shucks!* where the crow goes into a bathroom, and Lumpy uses an axe to chop a way into the bathroom, and when he breaks in, he says, "*Here's Lumpy!*". The movie is referenced again in the title of the season four episode *All Work and No Play*, which is a part of a famous quote from the the movie, "**All work and no play** makes Jack a dull boy".

"Here's Lumpy!"

### Sin City

The episode *Without a Hitch* parodies the Sin City-esque style of color use, which is mostly black and white, with splashes of color, like blood, through out the episode.

Flippy in the Sin City-esque style.

Flaky in the Sin City-esque style.

Fliqpy in the Sin City-esque style.

### Spider-Man 2

In *The Wrong Side of the Tracks* there's a scene where Lumpy tries to stop the roller coaster cart Giggles and Petunia are in, only for his body to file down against the track's ties and lead the girls to their deaths. This is a reference to the subway scene from **Spider-Man 2**.

### Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

The title of the episode *Wrath of Con*, parodies the title of this film from 1982.

### Star Wars

In *Wrath of Con*, Giggles is dressed as Princess Leia and playing with a lightsaber, while Petunia is dressed as an ewok.

Giggles with a lightsaber.

That appears to be a real lightsaber.

### Superman (1978)

In *Better Off Bread*, Splendid references this superman film when he turns back time on the Earth by rotating around it in the opposite direction.

## Television

### The Ant and the Aardvark

Episodes starring Sniffles and the Ants could be a direct reference to the 1969 cartoon called The Ant and the Aardvark, which involves an aardvark who constantly tries to capture a sly ant, only to fail miserably. The Aardvark himself has a few similarities to Sniffles, particularly they are both blue and have a craving for the ants they can't catch.

### Bewitched

A reference to this 1960s series was briefly referenced in *As You Wish*, in the scene where Lumpy wiggles his nose to grant Disco Bear's wish, similar to how Samantha wiggles her nose to cast spells.

### The Flintstones

At the end of the episode *Peas in a Pod*, Lumpy drives a car operated by two of his clones in a similar fashion to the prehistoric vehicles in the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon.

### George of the Jungle

In Dream Job, Sniffles swings on a vine until hitting a tree. The background music played during the scene sounds similar to the **George of the Jungle** theme song.

Sniffles swings on a vine.

Watch out for that tree!

### How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

The entire plot of the episode *Easy For You to Sleigh* is based on this 1957 children's book written by Dr. Seuss, which was then turned into an animated half-hour special in 1966.

They're even green like the Grinch! What a coincidence.

Trying to pull a Christmas tree up the chimney, just like in the story.

### The Itchy & Scratchy Show

The violence and brutality in this cartoon is often compared to this fictional cartoon from The Simpsons. The *Happy Tree Friends* series itself is inspired from it.

### Looney Tunes

A reference appears in the episode *Party Animal*. Nutty, after tasting one drop of sugar, spins into a whirlwind, just like the *Looney Tunes* character Taz (or the Tasmanian Devil). The show in general has also been inspired from the Looney Tunes along with old 'sappy' cartoons like Care Bears and The Smurfs.

Doesn't this look familiar.

### Mission: Impossible

The title of *Pitchin' Impossible* is a reference to the TV show **Mission: Impossible**.

### Peanuts

The ever famous comic book series/television specials has been referenced in the episode *Eyes Cold Lemonade*, during the scene where Giggles and Petunia sit at their lemonade stand in a similar fashion to Charlie Brown and Linus leaning against a brick wall. Kenn Navarro has stated that Peanuts served as some inspiration for *Happy Tree Friends*.

Female versions of Charlie Brown and Linus.

Notice the similar hand gestures between this photo and the previous one?

Kenn Navarro confirming that Peanuts served as inspiration for Happy Tree Friends.

### The Price Is Right

There is a small reference to **The Price Is Right** in *Dream Job* during the scene where there is a wheel that has fruit on it, which looks very similar to the wheel on the show.

Sniffles and the wheel from the show.

"Hey, it's a nice dream!"

### The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show

Splendid and Lumpy, respectively, were inspired from the characters Rocky and Bullwinkle.

Rocky and Bullwinkle

Splendid and Lumpy

### Star Trek

In *Something Fishy*, Sniffles and Mime wear Vulcan ears and sweaters and use the Vulcan salute. Sniffles wore that same outfit in an earlier episode, *Remains to be Seen*. If one looks closely when Mime and Sniffles perform the Vulcan salute, they are seen with four fingers and a thumb. This was probably done intentionally, as they needed this amount of fingers to perform the salute correctly.

Sniffles wears Vulcan ears and sweater.

Sniffles and Mime wear Vulcan ears and sweaters.

### This Is Your Life

The title of the episode *This Is Your Knife* is a reference to the reality documentary This Is Your Life.

### Whose Line Is It Anyway?

The title of the episode *Whose Line Is It Anyway?* is a direct reference to the show **Whose Line Is It Anyway?**.

## Books/Stories

### A Christmas Carol

The episode *We're Scrooged!* is named after the protagonist of the Charles Dickens novel. Lumpy is also portrayed as greedy and selfish just like Ebenezer Scrooge, the main character/anti-hero of the story. The beginning text "*Based on a true story*" may refer to the original story.

### Jack and the Beanstalk

The episode *Dunce Upon a Time* gives its own spin on the story with Nutty as Jack, at first. The role switches over to Giggles as she is the one who climbs the beanstalk, even though Nutty traded for the beans, and Lumpy is the giant.

### Little Golden Books

Starting with *Wrath of Con*, the end credits for the majority of episodes reference the back designs of the **Little Golden Books** series.

The Season 3/4 end credits (left) compared to the *Little Golden Books* back cover (right).

### Pinocchio

There are about two references to **Pinocchio** in the episode *Get Whale Soon*. After Russell is engulfed by the whale, the camera pans through the creature's stomach, revealing a wood doll resembling Pinocchio as one of the swallowed objects. Also, Russell and Lumpy try to escape by lighting a fire in hopes the whale will sneeze them out, just like in the story.

Pinocchio.

Lumpy and Russell try to escape just like in the story.

### Rapunzel

The character of **Rapunzel** is referenced through Petunia in *Dunce Upon a Time* as she has long yellow hair which Giggles uses to leave the tower.

### Rumpelstiltskin

The story is briefly referenced in *Dunce Upon a Time* as Petunia is rolling her hair through a spinning wheel.

### Twilight

**Twilight** was parodied twice in the episode *Breaking Wind*: the book Splendid was reading throughout the episode parodied the first book in the saga, "Twilight", and the episode title parodied the fourth book in the saga, "Breaking Dawn". Splendid was shown crying over this book but was dissatisfied with the ending.

Anything familiar about that book cover?

Here's a closer look.

### The Monkey's Paw

The events of the episode *As You Wish* is similar to this supernatural short story written in 1902 by W.W. Jacobs. In the story, a family receives a monkey's paw, and says that the possessor can wish for anything they want, and the wish will come true. However, every wish will have a catch.

In this episode, Lumpy gives wishes for people who have summoned him, but every one of the wishes he grants will give a disastrous consequence for the character who made the wish.

## Comics

### Astro Boy

The special episode *Cubtron Z* is a homage to this manga series, as it involves Pop rebuilding Cub into a robot following the latter's death from a vehicle.

A bigger, more destructive form...

...but still the same Cub.

### Batman

Nutty could be seen wearing a Batman mask in *Wrath of Con*, during the scene in which Splendid prepares to make his speech.

Nutty is the night

### Ghost Rider

**Ghost Rider** is briefly parodied in the episode *Brake the Cycle*, where Lumpy prepares to do a motorcycle stunt, when suddenly, he is set alight by Toothy, who has the back wheel of his bike on fire, and the fire touches some spilled gas below him. At the end of the episode, Lumpy looks similar to Ghost Rider, since all of his flesh is burnt away to the bone, and his body is still on fire. They even mentioned this in the Blurb version of this episode by saying "Get ready to be sued by Marvel," as Ghost Rider is property of Marvel.

Lumpy or Ghost Rider?

### Superman

Aside from Splendid being based off of **Superman**, there are a few other references. In *Better Off Bread*, Splendid turns back time by spinning the Earth backwards. Also, in *Gems the Breaks*, Splendid's weakness is Kryptonut, a parody of Kryptonite. A third reference lies in *See What Develops*, where Splendid has a job as a news reporter and wears a disguise similar to Superman's secret identity Clark Kent. He is also seen attempting to use a phone both to change out of his disguise, which Superman is known to use most often. There is also a fourth reference in *Wrath of Con*, where Splendid lifts a chunk of the convention building and standing (in a more detailed version, other chunks appear to form a cliff-like appearance, which Splendid steps on).

Kryptonut.

Splendid turning back time.

Splendid is Clark Kent.

Splendid lifts the chunk in the regular art style...

...and in a detailed art style.

### Watchmen

Three references appear in *Wrath of Con*. Sniffles carries a badge that very much resembles the blood-stained smiley face. A Generic Tree Friend is dressed as one of the protagonists, Rorschach. Lumpy is also briefly seen dressed as Doctor Manhattan.

Look at the side of Sniffles' backpack.

Look at the right of the screen.

Now look at the top left.

## Video Games

### Anteater

A possible reference to the *Anteater* arcade game appears in *Crazy Ant-ics*, when Sniffles sends his tongue down the anthill.

A reference to the Anteater game.

### Do​nkey Kong/Whac-A-Mole

In the *False Alarm* episode, The Mole gets trapped in a barrel as it rolls toward Nutty. Aided with a mallet, Nutty smashes the barrel several times, killing The Mole.

"Hey, I know this game!"

Nutty is about to smash the barrel with The Mole inside.

### Grand Theft Auto

In the *False Alarm* episode, Nutty carjacks Cuddles' after seeing Lifty and Shifty drive off with tons of game consoles. Carjacking is a typical reference to GTA games where the payable character can steal a car within their vicinity (hence the name **Grand Theft Auto**). Furthermore, Cuddles' car resembles the car Peyote, which is from the game series.

Get out the car you yellow rabbit!

### Pac-Man

Yet another video game reference from the False Alarm episode occurs when Lifty and Shifty are killed. Their heads are sliced to resemble Pac-Man being chased by a ghost.

A reference to Pac-Man.

Pac-Man and the ghost.

### Paperboy

In the *False Alarm* episode, Petunia is shown delivering newspapers along a suburb, in a similar fashion to the 1985 game **Paperboy**.

Petunia the paperboy- err... girl.

### Tetris

**Tetris** is referenced in *Chore Loser* and in the *False Alarm* episode. Which both scenarios, body parts from one of the characters (respectively Cub and Petunia) form into the shape of Tetris pieces.

"Is it Tetris?"

Cub's body parts look like Tetris pieces.

## Music

### Deck the Halls

Pop hums this song in *Easy For You to Sleigh* and *Clause For Concern*. Played in the background of *Ski Kringle*. The song is also titled and sung in *Deck the Halls*.

### Dueling Banjos

In *Banjo Frenzy*, Lumpy plays this song on his banjo during the episode. It can also be heard during the credits. It is best known from being used in the film Deliverance.

Lumpy plays Dueling Banjos.

### For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

Flaky, Cuddles, Toothy, and Sniffles are heard singing this in *Party Animal* while celebrating Flippy's birthday. Like some cases, it was chosen instead of the "Happy Birthday" song to avoid copyright issues, as that song was not in the public domain at the time.

For he's a jolly good fellow... until he flips out.

### Greensleeves

Plays at he beginning of *Kringle Karols*.

### Helter Skelter

The title of the episode *Swelter Skelter* is a reference to this song by The Beatles.

### Joy to the World

Plays in the background of *Reindeer Kringle* and *Star Kringle*.

### O Christmas Tree

Toothy sings this song for a school play in *Class Act*. The song is titled and sung in *Oh Xmas Tree*. The song can even be heard on The Mole's phonograph in *No Time Like the Present*. The song also plays in the background of *Sight Kringle* and *Kringle Tree*.

### Stayin' Alive

Disco Bear's debut episode is named after this song by the Bee Gees, a band known for their performances during the disco music era.

Life going nowhere, somebody help me.

Somebody help me, yeah...

### Silent Night

Cuddles, Giggles, Toothy, and Lumpy sing this song in *Kringle Karols*.

### We Wish You a Merry Christmas

The song can be heard in the background at the beginning of *Class Act*. It is titled and sung in *We Wish You*. It also plays in the background of *Kringle Presents*.

### Whole Lotta Love

The episode titled *A Hole Lotta Love* is a reference to the song **Whole Lotta Love** by Led Zeppelin.

## Miscellaneous

### Arthur Read

Sniffles could possibly be based off of the fictional aardvark Arthur Read, a notable clue being the characters' glasses. Coincidentally, both characters started off with long snouts which gradually got shorter.

### Care Bears

Almost every known main character in *Happy Tree Friends* has a heart-shaped nose, just like the ones the Care Bears have. The series was, in fact, inspired partly by the Care Bears.

The Care Bears and their heart-shaped noses.

Cuddles, Giggles, Flaky, and Flippy with their heart-shaped noses.

### Coppertone

When Whistle tears the skin off Giggles' buttocks, the scene clearly references the logo and an old advertisement for **Coppertone** sunscreen.

The HTF Coppertone ad.

The real life Coppertone ad.

### Hello, Dolly!

The episode called *Hello Dolly* is a direct reference to the 1964 musical with the same name.

### Keep Calm and Carry On

This Internet phenomenon, inspired from motivational posters produced during World War II, is briefly referenced in the *Take a Hike* Blurb.

Keep Calm and Carry On!

### Larry Walters

Lumpy's act of getting a baby bird to its nest by tying a bunch of balloons to a lawn chair to lift himself is similar to a real life event that occurred in 1982, where a trucker named Larry Walters tied 45 weather balloons to a lawn chair to take flight. According to Walters, he says that this stunt was a lifelong dream he wanted to accomplish.

### RMS Titanic

A scene in *Idol Curiosity* involved The Mole crashing a large ship into an iceberg, causing it to sink and kill everyone onboard except Sniffles. This is a clear reference to the British ocean liner the *Titanic* sank after colliding with an iceberg in 1912.

The Titanic all over again.

### San Diego Comic-Con International

The episode *Wrath of Con* mostly parodies real life convention centers and gatherings, most notably, the Comic-Con event held annually in San Diego, California.

### Winnie-the-Pooh

A possible reference to the popular teddy bear character may lie in *Take a Hike*, in a scene where Nutty becomes obese devouring honey from a bee hive.