Doug TenNapel found stardom after creating the iconic Earthworm Jim series in the ’90s, which he announced he was reviving in 2019, but it’s hard to find much excitement in its return when, for the last two decades, he’s been wading in controversy after controversy after controversy.
From opposing same-sex marriage and regularly appearing on Breitbart News (described by the Anti-Defamation League as representing “white nationalists and unabashed anti-Semites“) to purposefully misgendering a trans journalist and taking part in the infamous Comicsgate scandal, claiming that “Transphobe (like homophobe) is a made up word used to slander conservative people”, TenNapel isn’t exactly a popular figure these days.
When Interplay Entertainment announced a spin-off series in 2021, it made sure to stress that “the original creator is not involved at all”, and the official X account even posted, “I say trans rights are human rights, baby!” But we haven’t had a whiff of EWJ since the show was put on hold three years ago… until now. This weekend, TenNapel posted an AI video of the titular hero in a heated message to the “woke animation community”.
“I’ve drawn more than anyone who has ever said, ‘Pick up a pencil.’ They’re hacks and are stuck in a cult,” he said. “Just because many artists have acted like s*****s doesn’t mean being a hysterical s*****c makes you an artist. I’ll pick up a pencil when you make a rational argument.”
“AI Doesn’t Steal Art Because Online Digital Slop Isn’t Fine Art”
Inundated with backlash, TenNapel claimed that his 15-second AI clip would have cost $500,000 to make if done “the traditional way”, and that if he “fired up a production the applications to join the team would be a mile long”. When that only incurred yet more backlash, TenNapel said, “Artists should have fun and AI is a great tool for that. The best fun is often to make the anti-AI crybags have a period.”
“It’s a mystery why the animation community doesn’t want to associate with you,” X user Lord Scruff replied.
But what’s even more bizarre is that during this unprovoked thread about “woke” artists, “totalitarians”, and “crybags […] regurgitating tribal sentiments”, he started throwing strays at Sonic.
“Dude, this fu**ing franchise is cursed to damnation,” one Earthworm Jim fan replied.
Earthworm Jim Should Stay In The ’90s Where He Belongs
As nostalgic as the property might be, Earthworm Jim and his creator, Doug TenNapel, should remain in the ’90s where they belong.
“EWJ isn’t going anywhere,” TenNapel said, even though Earthworm Jim 4 was reportedly cancelled because Intellevision didn’t have the rights. “You’re still posting that image after 35 years. My character also didn’t have the cheat that Sonic got by being the mascot of the Sega Genesis with a cartridge of the character delivered in every box. EWJ started from zero as a complete unknown, but it was so original and high quality that it’s important to you (the villain) that he meets his demise. Go create something from nothing and get Game of the Year then come complain in my yard… after you mow the lawn.”
And when one fan said that “Earthworm Jim definitely deserves getting his TV stolen by Sonic,” TenNapel responded, “Sonic is an empirically worse character than EWJ”.
- Released
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December 16, 1994
- ESRB
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e
- Developer(s)
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Shiny Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
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Interplay
