Softly Softly Catchee Munty Flumple: Ricky Gervais Goes Hunting For Flanimals
Written: Dec 30 '04 (Updated Dec 30 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Loopy Brit-wit, illustrations full of whimsy
Cons: The Flanimals aren't real
The Bottom Line: Things to do today: catch a falling Print, batter a Munge Fuddler, snack on a Gum Spudlet
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| mfunk75's Full Review: Flanimals Books |
Ricky Gervais
(Homo Hyenicus)
"This beardy member of the middle-managerling family is best known for its refined sense of humour, and even more repulsive habit of laughing at its own jokes. Overexposure to fame may cause extinction. Self-defense mechanism calls for getting out while the getting is good."
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Gervais -- the man, not the sub-species -- is best known for the cult-BBC2 series, "The Office". In an attempt to cash in on his fame, or quite possibly to rid his brain of some loony detritus, he's published "Flanimals", a picture-book detailing the trials and tribulations of some of England's lesser known -- and entirely fictional -- bottom feeders.
The book is helpfully divided into three chapters. The first, a Spotter's Guide, lists 26 Flanimals, their Flanimal classification, a brief summary of their behaviour, their specialized body features, and how this all effects their psychology. It's that last bit I like best. The Flanimals turn out to be a rather sad species. For most, their life is but a torment, a pain that only ends with sweet, sweet death. Pity the poor Wobboid Mump (Lumpus Chuck-Goggler). It looks like a giant lump of eyeball, and it "spends most of its time looking around trying to find reason in its existence. It never finds it as it is blind." Or thank your maker you're not an Offledermis (Gibletous Oderis). "Born completely inside out", this offensive little beast "lives inside itself to avoid its own smell."
We're also treated to an illustration of each Flanimal, lovingly rendered by Rob Steen (Homo Illustratus). Steen's drawings are boldly cartoonish, showing each blood-shot eye or slobbering tongue in all its gross glory. The Splunge (Jello Snurbloid) looks like a sentient pile of molten lava, while the Clunge Ambler (Humpulous Lug) could be mistaken for a big toe, except for its patch of red hair and tortured facial expression.
Chapter 2 concerns itself with Flanimal Behaviour. Here we're treated to scenes of Flanimals interacting with other Flanimals. Watch as a couple of Mernimblers (Grunting Flumpamorphis) rip apart a Flemping Bunt-himler (Guzzle Sprout Flemper), or cheer wildly as a Grundit (Grundoidian Yobjammer) stamps out a Coddleflop (Ovarian Fliphanger). Flanimal behaviour is not all violent, though; you'll coo with glee at the site of a sleeping Honk (Hagen Splurg-Klanger), or a Baby Munty Flumple (Lumulous Blump). Just don't squeeze the latter's head or bite its face, so advises the book.
In Chapter 3 all the learning you've been doing will pay off, as it offers up some Flanimal Testing. Practice identifying Flanimal footprints, or test your knowledge of Flanimal behaviour. "If a Puddloflaj's (Blobbulous Boinglubber) eyes pop out, why can't it pick them up?" asks question 13. Don't know? Why then "Flanimals" is just the book for you!
Gervais indulges in a Jabberwockian style of wordplay, to bring the world of the Flanimals to life. It makes for slightly absurd reading. Completely lacking in any sense of narrative, theme, or overriding point, "Flanimals" still manages to be an amusing little picture book, throughout its scant 96 pages.
[Special thanks to Gracef for adding this item to the Eps database, and to Dave for helping cultivate my Ricky Gervais fetish with this thoughtful gift of chilled-out entertainment.]
Recommended:
Yes
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mfunk75
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Member: Mike Stone
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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