Monkey Dust
Monkey Dust (2003) is an animated series that satirizes the darker side of life in the United Kingdom. It deals with taboo subjects and has drawn controversy for its portrayal of murderers, paedophiles and single parents. It was aired originally on BBC THREE in February 2003 and there have been three seasons to date – the third began airing in January 2005.
Each episode features animation by several different companies, but is linked by recurring themes and jokes, and by seamless transitions between sketches. The episodes are untitled but instead are known by the characters introduced or the one-off sketches included. With the second season there were some changes to the writing team. Contemporary worries about Child Protection following the Soham Murders lead to a number of characters and skits being eliminated. A short reprisal of the main sketches, usually set in the bedroom with no speaking and a depressing accompanying song, precedes the final section.
The animation goes alongside contemporary music which helps the scenes to flow, with numerous songs by Goldfrapp and introduction music by Eels. The inclusion of music from Goldfrapp during the first series pre-dated the commercial release of their debut album, on which all the tracks can be found – the album went on to become very successful.
On 8 November 2004, the first series of Monkey Dust was released in the UK DVD.
Characters
The show is based on regular returning characters, along with one-time sketches.
Season one
Labia
A consultancy company which is very morally dubious opens each show. The company charges large amounts of money to rebrand companies and other things, e. g. renaming cancer as "Closure" and advertising it as an attractive end-of-life option. The man who invents their new brand names is an international adventurer who looks like Lord Byron. The company's offices are in the shape of their logo, just like the former Nat West Tower (Tower 42).
Liar Clive
Each episode Clive returns home late, and when questioned by his wife as to his previous whereabouts his excuses turn into plots of well-known fiction (for example The Lord of the Rings) before revealing the truth, usually something horrible like having small boys in the boot of his car. He is drawn with an overly-tall head, attributed to a drawing mistake
Ivan Dobsky (a.k.a. space hopper man)
Ivan Dobsky is the meat-safe murderer, "only he never done it see". Dobsky has the mental age of a four year old. Released and pardoned from H.M. Crowmarsh Prison each week, he is a throw-back to the seventies and joyfully rides out of jail only to find the world has changed, and he really preferred prison to the point he ends up murdering someone by the end of the show. He'll never let "Mr Hoppy", his space hopper, leave his side. Mr. Hoppy sometimes seems to have a mind of his own, and may even be the real murderer – assuming that his murderous tendencies are not in fact a fabrication of Dobsky's own insanity. In the second series Ivan marries a prison visitor who "Mr Hoppy" then murders.
Jon Swoon
TV presenter/lawyer who tries to have Ivan Dobsky released from prison. He ends up murdered by Dobsky's security robotic arm. Hosts a programme called Beyond Reasonable Doubt.
Daisy Harris press conference
A bumbling police force investigating a young girl's murder appear alongside her family in a seemingly endless series of televised press conferences, but are unable to spot her step-father's obvious guilt or mothers choice to ignore the fact.
Divorced dad (with Timmy)
Timmy usually lives with his mother and Roger. Each week Timmy comes to visit his father but always just talks about what Roger has done for him. The dad doesn't feel that he can impress him and ends up committing suicide each episode, but as he goes off to kill himself, Timmy always explains how Roger can never compare to his real dad. Roger remains an unseen character until episode 5, when Timmy shows his father a photo of him – revealing that he looks like an older version of Timmy himself. Realising the truth, Timmy's father decides not to kill himself but to be a good father to Timmy anyway.
Chatroom pervert
A paedophile attempts to lure children via a chat room, but usually ends up giving the game away – for instance, by correcting the child's grammar.
The Clubbers
A group of pseudo-intellectuals make increasingly pretentious statements about art, culture and life in general. This usually leads to their being barred from clubs and restaurants, or just beaten up.
Jeff the first-time cottager
Jeff is a wimpy office worker who constantly tries to pluck up the courage to fellate strange men in toilets or parks, but is always thwarted somehow.
Sven-Göran Eriksson
A television shows a stock crowd scene from history or nature, for example, a herd of stampeding wildebeest, and a voice-over says 'And of course, no surprise to see England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson in the crowd'; a reference to his ubiquitous appearances at football matches throughout the UK.
The classically-trained actor
A man who constantly speaks in the emotionless, non-commital style of a TV voice-over, including during sex.
Theme pub
A man walks into his local which although he is the only patron has on each occasion been transformed by orders of "the brewery". Themes include Crack House and S&M bar.
Season Two
Islamic terrorist
A fanatical Islamic terrorist recruits two teenage boys to carry out suicide bombings in the name of Allah, but the plans always fail. They are avid supporters of West Bromwich Albion F.C. and live in Birmingham.
Essex man and London man
Two large men discuss the relative merits of Essex and London. This usually ends with them shouting "ESSEX!" and "LONDON!" at each other.
"Your hair looks nice"
Girlfriend is having her hair done. Boyfriend tries to remember to compliment her on her new style, but is always distracted by some extraordinary event such as an alien invasion. By the time Girlfriend arrives, all evidence of the strange event has disappeared, and Girlfriend thinks the speechless Boyfriend just doesn't care.
The paedofinder general
A parody of the film Witchfinder General. Executes alleged paedophiles on dubious evidence – a swimming pool attendant whose Speedo trunks are mis-read as Peedo is dissolved in acid.
Mail order bride man
A grotesquely fat middle-aged man with a quiff, sideburns and poor personal hygene greets his asian mail order bride who turns out to be both beautiful, intelligent, adoring of him and completely impervious to his disgusting lifestyle. Each episode when he demands sex and she refuses because she wants their love to grow stronger by waiting he kicks her out.
Relationship-seeking girl
A girl in a bar walks over to a handsome man and starts dreaming of the future. She imagines a bleak future, slaps the man and walks away.
Season three
Fran Chappell
An ordinary mother who uses her daughter's disappearance as the springboard to launch a showbiz career. When the girl comes back Fran is caught up in her career and pays her £100 to leave again.
Noodles
A toon laboratory rabbit.
Broody woman
A woman in denial that she wants a child despite evidence to the contrary, such as dressing kittens in baby clothes and pushing them around in a pram.
Prime Minister
A caricature of Tony Blair who makes a speech infront of the American flag, making ludicrous promises such as "Magic beans for every family" as well as more satirical ones ("Post to be delivered on time").
Mr and Mrs Daily Mail
A husband and wife constantly interrupted by the noise of 'kids from the estate', who are performing such absurd acts as disproving the theory of gravity, and coaxing Vin Diesel to fight a bear.
Quotes
"By the power vested in my by that bloke I met in the pub – who is *sure* – I now pronounce you...a paedophile — Paedo-Finder General
External links
Categories: British television comedy | Animated television series