Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (TV series)

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared is a 2022 British comedy-horror television series created by Joseph "Joe" Pelling, Rebecca "Becky" Sloan and Baker Terry, and produced by Blink Industries. It was released on All 4 and is based on the web series of the same name. Its six episodes are themed around surrealism and dark humour, and revolve around three characters&mdash;Red Guy, Yellow Guy and Duck.

After the release of the original YouTube web series from 2011 to 2016 and its resulting popularity, the creators planned a new television series and developed a pilot in 2018 which was eventually scrapped. A new series was announced in 2020 and released on All 4 on 23 September 2022. Episodes 1–2, 3–4 and 5–6 aired on 30 September, 7 October and 14 October respectively on Channel 4.

Premise
The series revolves around the lives of Red Guy, Yellow Guy and Duck, whose names are not explicitly stated in the series. Each episode starts off with the three getting a lesson from a teacher about topics including jobs, death, family, friendship, transport and electronics. The teachers are usually manipulative and malicious, and as the episode goes on, it becomes more horrific. At the end, the teacher fails and usually dies, with the three shown to have not learned anything.

Previous works
From 2011 to 2016, Joe Pelling and Becky Sloan, later along with Baker Terry, created Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, an art project and web series on YouTube. The series consists of six horror-themed puppet videos.

In 2018, a video titled "Wakey Wakey..." was uploaded to the official channel, and teased an upcoming television show, and the pilot premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. However, the series was later scrapped. In an interview, Terry stated that "we were going to have to actually write jokes that functioned as jokes without a prop in every single instance".

Release
In July 2020, it was announced that the television series was picked up by Channel 4. In September 2021, Becky Sloan announced that production had finished. On 19 June 2022, a teaser trailer titled "FLY" was uploaded to the YouTube channel, announcing the release date of September. The video gained over 2 million views within 24 hours of release and reached No. 1 trending on YouTube.

The series was released on All 4 on 23 September 2022. It was originally scheduled to be released on 12 September 2022, but was postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Episodes 1 and 2 aired on 30 September, episodes 3 and 4 aired on 7 October, and episodes 5 and 6 aired on 14 October, all on Channel 4. As of January 2024, there has been no confirmation of a second series.

Pilot (2018)
A long-form TV pilot was produced in 2018 with Super Deluxe, Conaco and Blink Industries. The pilot premiered at 2019 Sundance Film Festival, appearing in the "Indie Episodic Program 1" alongside other short films. The idea, which involved "current affairs", was later scrapped, and the trailer was removed from the YouTube channel. The setting, which Sloan attributed some roots to South Park, did not have "the timelessness and claustrophobia of the originals". On May 13, 2024, it was announced that the unaired pilot would be screened at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in London during June 6th-9th. However on May 14, 2024, it was revealed that this announcement was a mistake. The screening will actually feature the first episode of the web series, not the unaired pilot.

Sundance pilot cast

 * Baker Terry as Yellow Guy, Duck, Key, Mayor Pigface, The Key, Policeman, Big Ian, and Fizzy Milk
 * Joseph Pelling as Red Guy
 * Becky Sloan as Mrs. Grenald, Mud Man, and Ladder

Channel 4 series cast

 * Baker Terry as Yellow Guy, Duck, Briefcase, Andy, Duncan, Bin, Lucky Mo, Family Tree, Roy Gribbleston, Warren The Eagle, Yumpherdinker, Dr. Bushman, Choo Choo Train, Tony the Talking Clock, Steak, Big Duck and Bigger Duck
 * Joseph Pelling as Red Guy, Colin the Computer, Brain Friends Theme Singer, Brain Friends Announcer, Big Red Guy and Bigger Red Guy
 * Becky Sloan as Unemployed Brendon, Stain Edwards, Grolton's Chicken Family Tub Discount Commercial Announcer, Brain Friends Theme Singer, First Tooth, The Lump and Electracey
 * Vivienne Soan as Lesley
 * Leila Navabi as Claire
 * Amy Gledhill as Wet Floor Sign
 * Kath Hughes as Printer
 * Phil Wang as Vending Machine
 * Jen Ives as Free Vending Machine
 * Chris Cantrill as Safety Video Announcer
 * Lolly Adefope as Lift and Mrs. Grelch
 * Charlie Perkins as Jenny
 * Kevin Eldon as Coffin
 * Sue Eves as Brain Friends Theme Singer (uncredited)
 * George Fouracres as Lamp, Grolton and Hovris
 * Sam Campbell as ID Card and Apple
 * Katy Wix as Tissue Box
 * Freya Parker as Grandma and Bread
 * James Stevenson Bretton as Lily and Todney
 * Liam Williams as Market Man
 * Emma Sidi as Bubble Bath Memory
 * Kiell Smith-Bynoe as Saturdavid
 * Johnny White Really-Really as Shy Imaginary Older Brother
 * Charlie Pelling as Brain Friends Theme Singer
 * Chris Hayward as Instructional Tape Announcer
 * Katie Kvinge as GPS
 * Jimmy Slim as Time Child
 * Jamie Demetriou as Safe
 * Michael Stranney as Mirror
 * Beattie Hartley as Experimented Creature
 * Jason Forbes as Boundary Hand
 * Natasha Hodgson as Rock
 * Nathan Foad as Toilet

Reception
Don't Hug Me I'm Scared was commended by critics for its use of surreal humour and horror.

Lucy Mangan from The Guardian stated that the series is "clever, bleak, charming, grotesque and funny." Sean Mullins from Webster Journal called it a "wonderfully weird puppet show". Toussaint Egan from Polygon stated that "the series hasn't missed a single beat in its transition from Internet shock humor du jour to a full-fledged animated series". Nicholas Vidal from The Montclarion stated that "it is one of the most interesting and creative things to release this year". Brittney Bender from Bleeding Cool gave the series a 10/10, saying that it "perfectly encapsulates the absurdity and horror of the modern world through the lens of a multi-colored puppet nightmare of epic proportions".

The Guardian ranked Don't Hug Me I'm Scared as the No. 31 best television series of 2022.

Awards and nominations
! rowspan="5"| 2023
 * rowspan="2"| British Academy Television Craft Awards
 * Best Production Design
 * Joe Pelling, Becky Sloan
 * Won
 * Best Costume Design
 * Joe Pelling, Becky Sloan
 * Annecy International Animation Film Festival
 * Best TV Production
 * Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (for "Family")
 * National Comedy Awards
 * Best Scripted Comedy Series
 * Don't Hug Me I'm Scared
 * Broadcast Awards
 * Best Original Programme
 * Don't Hug Me I'm Scared
 * National Comedy Awards
 * Best Scripted Comedy Series
 * Don't Hug Me I'm Scared
 * Broadcast Awards
 * Best Original Programme
 * Don't Hug Me I'm Scared
 * Broadcast Awards
 * Best Original Programme
 * Don't Hug Me I'm Scared
 * Best Original Programme
 * Don't Hug Me I'm Scared