When is the planned Don't Hug Me I'm Scared TV show hitting the screens in the U.S.? Don't Hug Me I'm Scared has started generating a lot of discussion online in 2022. It's a brilliantly dark and comedic subversion of preschool-friendly shows like Sesame Street. Unlike the wholesome adventures of Big Bird and Elmo, the world Yellow Guy, Red Guy, and Duck exist in is pure nightmare fuel. The sense of unease is masterfully crafted throughout each episode, and the sense of dread that builds watching the puppets navigate problems like the inevitability of death is as harrowing as it is inexplicably watchable.
Running from 2011 to 2015, the original Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (or DHMIS) consisted of six YouTube episodes. Following DHMIS' cult success it was destined to reach TV screens sooner or later, and the U.K.'s Channel 4 premiered the full-length Don't Hug Me I'm Scared show in September 2022. Unfortunately, it's not clear whether Don't Hug Me I'm Scared will be seeing an official release in Canada and the U.S. However, there are other ways to catch this surreal comedy, as first-time viewers hoping to catch up on the series can still see its original episodes on YouTube. Here's everything audiences need to know about Don't Hug Me I'm Scared.
What Is Don't Hug Me I'm Scared?
Created by Becky Sloan and Joseph Pelling, Don't Hug Me I'm Scared has all the trappings of a fun children's educational show - but every episode takes a Lynchian turn into surrealism and horror. Evocative of boat ride in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Flashing images of decaying matter (among other things) convey vivid reminders of mortality, culminating in the three protagonists aging rapidly against a truly disturbing noise-scape. This madness continued as Don't Hug Me I'm Scared moved to television, albeit in a more refined way with a higher budget.
The Don't Hug Me I'm Scared TV Show Release Date
The Don't Hug Me I'm Scared TV show premier landed on Channel 4 in September 2022. As of now, there's no word whether the DHMIS television series will make it to streaming services, or if it will be available to see in countries outside of the U.K. An international release will probably depend on how popular the TV show becomes — and, going by the success of the web series – this is a pretty likely proposition. Many British shows have been brought to U.S. audiences through platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime, so an overseas Don't Hug Me I'm Scared could happen relatively quickly if enough demand picks up.
A Don't Hug Me I'm Scared TV Show Pilot Was Created In 2018
In 2018 - around two years after the release of Don't Hug Me I'm Scared's sixth episode - a trailer dubbed "Wakey Wakey" arrived teasing a potential Don't Hug Me I'm Scared TV show. It was later confirmed that Sloan and Pelling had created a 20-minute pilot to pitch to networks, and in 2019 it had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The synopsis from Sundance's site cryptically read nothing except for, "In the small town community of Clayhill, roommates Red Guy, Yellow Guy, and Duck live simple, uneventful lives — until Mayor Pigface disappears." It's safe to say that Sundance audiences unfamiliar with the DHMIS YouTube series went in expecting something very different based on this short description.
ATheChannel 4 Don't Hug Me I'm Scared TV Show Was Confirmed In 2020
Don't Hug Me I'm Scared fans had a four-year wait following the pilot's announcement, but in July 2020, it was finally confirmed a Don't Hug Me I'm Scared TV show was going ahead on Channel 4. Curiously, Don't Hug Me I'm Scared's 2022 television premiere proved to be starkly different from the original series, as it went in a more evergreen and abstract direction rather than the original's topical and political fare. This proved to be the correct decision as it was quickly embraced by long-time viewers, and it also proved that Don't Hug Me I'm Scared can tackle basically anything with its bizarre premise.
Where Can I Watch Don't Hug Me I'm Scared In The US?
With Don't Hug Me I'm Scared currently having no plans to air in the U.S., the show can only be seen by using a VPN, or through the aforementioned episodes that are still racking up views on YouTube. At the moment, the closest that the show has gotten to actually airing on American television is The Amazing World of Gumball's DHMIS crossover. Yet, this is a clear indication that the show has an audience in Canada and the U.S., particularly through platforms like Adult Swim, or possibly even through HBO Max. With the growing popularity of absurd and surreal dark comedies in the U.S., it could just be a matter of time before Don't Hug Me I'm Scared gets picked up by a streaming or television network like Netflix. For now, the series is only officially available through Channel 4's streaming service, which is only accessible to those with an address in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
