#imp inc

Process shots! :]

(Process shots below! The sketch stage, the flat colors and sketched BG layer, and some shading with a lighter yet cleaned/finished background!)

Anyways! Essay time!

On this day (June 22nd) in 2001, a short pilot episode was made by artist Chris Reccardi and Charlie Bean about 3 small demons (imps) who want to work "upstairs" for "The Big Boss" in charge of everything. They're given a few chances, and their job is to grant wishes while piloting a shooting star in the night sky! (Which is actually their space ship!Outer space is something of a neutral zone.)

They try their best to prove to everyone that they're good enough to work alongside the angels, and well-meaning chaos ensues! They make silly mistakes, but their hearts are always in the right place, always wanting to help the humans down on Earth. Though it was never picked up to be a series, the pilot episode still stands as a sweet little short about a team of rejected misfits trying their best to help others. With it's slightly-less-than-vague christian iconography being used as a setting without name-dropping terms like God, hell, or heaven, it tells a story about wanting to be good and helpful when you're already judged as not being enough as you are. More over, it's about friendship, getting up after falling down time and time again, and taking second chances. It's about hope, perseverance, and laughing along the way.

As it stands, it means a lot to me. There's a lot to be said about the characters being seen as "below" the high and mighty, something every human being as probably felt at some point; all while trying their best despite being flawed adult creatures. Sounds a lot like humanity to me! Also, the fact that one of the main characters, Net'l, (the tall green one) is heavily gay coded and also voiced by openly gay actor and comedian Jim J. Bullock, also drives home those deeper themes even further. (I wrote more about that in this post!)

The creators clearly had a lot they wanted to say despite it being a casual show pitch for Cartoonetwork in the very early 2000s, and it could've been a lot of fun! It had everything it takes to have become a CN cult classic, but it was never picked up.

Despite being a "failed" project pitch, it's done so much to help me get my creative drive back during a particularly difficult time in my life. I clicked with the idea, characters, and settings SO MUCH, I went so far as to create an entire dramatic story of my own! (See more HERE, HERE, and HERE) Along with a lot more art! (See more HERE, HERE, and HERE) And yes, even memes! That's not even everything! (Here's my whole tag!)

This forgotten piece of animation, which only has 7 minutes to it's name, has cemented itself as one of my all time favorite pieces of largely forgotten media. The characters are fun to draw, and the setting and premise is endlessly fascinating!

Chris Reccardi passed away in 2019. IMP INC was never made, and will never be made. Despite that, it's got a few people here and there who really love and connect with it. I know I sure have! I'm glad I got to see it again after all these years again and FINALLY have it click into place with me, and I'm so glad I can use the characters as I please to tell fun and chaotic stories. Despite never being made, it will never be a failure to me; not when it brings me this much creative motivation, inspiration, and absolute joy.

Chris Reccardi, this one's for you. All the art and work that I've done with your forgotten characters are dedicated to your memory. Thanks for making such a fun little short, and I hope you're resting easy knowing there's a least a few of us who truly love your original work. I love and appreciate the project that never was, and I'll make sure it's not forgotten ever again, even 25 years later.

Thank you, Mr. Reccardi.

(I put the pilot in the highest quality I could find on the Internet Archive, by the way! Check it out if you're curious!)

Sketch stage and text-less version! :]