DHMIS Videos
- Locked due to inactivity on Aug 4, '16 4:35pm
Thread Topic: DHMIS Videos
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Okay, I'm kind of obsessed with these videos, and I'm curious to see what you guys think of them. DHMIS stands for 'Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared'. There are currently four videos, but it has been confirmed that there will be six total when the series is completed.
I can't post links here, but you should be able to find all four on youtube easily.
I want to know what you guys think of them, any ideas or theories you have on the plot, symbolism, or themes.
**Warning- All four videos are pretty creepy. The first one is gory, and the second one gets pretty gruesome at the end, so I wouldn't watch if you don't like that stuff.Or if you're afraid of puppets.
This might turn into one of those threads that everyone ignores, but since I'm a dork and I've been wanting to sort out my thoughts on the videos for a while, I'll post again with everything I think. -
Okay, to keep from confusion, I'm gonna list the characters here, so you guys know who I'm talking about.
Harry- the red mop-like puppet, one of the main three characters
Robin- The green bird puppet, one of the main three characters
Manny- the small yellow human-esque puppet, one of the main three characters
Paige- the notebook teacher from 1
Tony- the clock teacher from 2
Shrignold- the butterfly teacher from 3
Colin- the computer teacher from 4
Moneyman- large green-brown monster puppet, the supposed kidnapper of the main three (or at least Harry and Manny from what's shown). Only appears in the two 'HELP' videos.
Alrighty, so, I've done a bit of research and the idea that had crossed my mind originally seems to be the theory widely accepted by the fandom- The videos (most noticably the 1st and 4th) represent today's media being too controlling over kids. This is shown as Paige tells the main three what to look for in the clouds, pours ink over Manny's clown painting, and says what might be the series' most well known quote: "Green is not a creative color."
It's shown again in 2, when Tony repeatedly sings over Harry. Also shown when he quickly changes the subject when Manny notices the death of the old man, insisting on only focusing on the positive aspects of his theme, time. When they're walking and Tony says "Don't be stupid, friends!" it shows him firmly telling the puppets to do things his way, the 'right' way, but still trying to keep up a cheerful and encouraging demeanor.
In 3, it's when Shrignold quickly corrects Manny, insiting on the unspoken rule of society's media that everyone needs love to be happy. "Like I'm hungry?" And Shriggy immediately corrects with: "No, you're lonely." There's also King Malcolm being quite literally a figurehead, showing that, despite Shrignold and the rest of the Love Cult (the unicorn, rabbit, and other inhabitants of the cloud world)'s devotion, Malcolm (or societal pressure) isn't real.
It's obvious in 4, the influence of the internet and how amazing it is. Colin remains happy and cheerful, until Harry attempts to touch his mouse. He screams not to touch him and his voice escalates into a screeching, robotic, auto-tuned wail. Again, media insists on doing it their own way, showing kids or people in general what's acceptable, without ever letting them have a say. It's shown throughout the whole episode, even subtley. There's one second where Manny and Robin flicker. Harry remains the same, but Manny and Robin are shown as creepy, boxy, electronic versions of themselves- plugged into the computer. -
Okay, aside from all that "deeper meaning" stuff, there's a lot of speculation about the videos' mysterious plot.
One theory, known as the Moneyman Theory, only makes sense if you accept the two short 'HELP' videos as part of the series as well.
These videos, both less than a minute, are also pretty creepy. The first one is a static-y, flickering camera, showing a small, dark room. Harry sits in a chair, recoiling as Moneyman growls incoherently at him. He glances down at a paper in his hands, then looks straight into the camera and says one sentence before the video ends. "If you're seeing this, we need your help."
The second one is similar, but with no words. It shows Moneyman grunting angrily into phone, then flickers to Manny tied up in a chair, a paper bag over his head.
Both videos were made to urge fans to donate money so that the two creators could continue to make new DHMIS episodes, but some people wonder if the events in these videos are considered canon with the four full episodes.
The Moneyman theory basically says that Moneyman kidnapped the main three, forcing them to continue to act out horrific episodes to make him money. He's the one behind the camera. This is supported by the missing poster shown at the beginning of DHMIS 3. This is one of the few fully developed theories in the fandom.
One other theory is that the main three are actually all mentally detatched children, sharing a room in a mental hospital of some sorts. Because of their unstable state, they see everything as twisted and unnatural, ex: The food they eat is always raw, the clock on the wall sings to them, their computer can talk.
But besides the plot, probably the biggest mystery surrounding DHMIS is the significance of the date of June 19th. It appears in every episode, on calanders, on the missing poster, even on Colin's number chart. The creators have said that we'll know what it means by the time the series is over, which is a relief, because no one seems to have any idea what it means.
That's pretty much all I have to say on the series, besides that Tony's song is irritatingly catchy and that Shrignold is adorable. I'm really interested to hear what you guys think (and even more interested to see if anybody read all that jfc). -
I think I scared you all away oops
You really only need to read the first post lmao -
cmon why doesn't anyone want to talk about these mentally scarring videos with me
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