Happy Kitty Bunny Pony: A Saccharine Mouthful of Super Cute

by Michael J. Nelson, Charles S. Anderson Design Company, Pop Ink

From turn-of-the-century novelties and Depression-era distraction, through wartime comfort, to Hello Kitty and Jeff Koons, a collection of more than two hundred images of cute things is spiked with fun and curious facts, bits of sarcasm, and dry and not-so-dry wit as surprising and bizarre as the images themselves.

Genres: Humor, Art, Nonfiction, Animals, Design, Art Design, Pop Culture

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2005

About the author

Michael J. Nelson is an actor, writer, director, and musician who served as head writer for ten seasons, and on-air host for five seasons, of the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000. He was also the composer of most of MST3K's original music, and is coauthor of The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide (1996).

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to legend, even the deadliest poison will be neutralized if you drink it from the horn of a unicorn. While fascinating, this fact is of little use, because really, how many times do people offer you a glass of poison, and after doing so allow you to transfer it to your own unicorn horn? Beyond that, it should be pointed out that unicorns do not exist, which pretty much kills this helpful tip right out of the gate. (102)

Aside from this woefully misleading "fact" of unicorns' nonexistence, this book presents an amateurish hesitation to push beyond the realm of paint-by-numbers. An engaging introduction to cuteness in keeping with the author's designation of this collection as only "A Saccharine Mouthful of Cuteness" (my emphasis), but not exactly a comprehensive anthology.

Additionally, the title itself, Happy Kitty Bunny Pony, says nothing of the deer, raccoons, skunks, cows, sheep, and evidently extremely well-groomed Appalachian mountain women that permeate these fuzzy-wuzzy pages. Am I to blindly swallow this nuanced brand of cultural hegemony? I wonder. The beavers should be up in arms over this.

Oversights aside, I added a star simply for page 123: A trifecta of joyful, murderous animals, including a bunny with an ax, a skunk with a 2X4, and a kitten with a chainsaw. Charming, and appropriate for children of all ages.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Kitty Bunny Pony is a collection of images owned by Charles Anderson, a "designer and pop culture junkie". It's supposed to be a collection of the super-cute, but it's actually a collection of the super-cute that are so cute that they've gone over the edge and become evil. As in, they might knife-you-in-your-sleep evil. That or frightening, or garish, or simply in poor taste.

This is not the kind of cute that I want to see! I was expecting the kitten hanging from the tree limb with the phrase "Hang Ten, Good Buddy!" Or maybe some of the cute 70s Valentines I traded with classmates in the second grade...

NO. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO MY EYES.

Many of the images are accompanied by captions such as:

Ponies scare easily. If you open an umbrella near a pony, it is likely to startle and stomp you to death. Ponies are far less enchanting when you are beneath them, being crushed by their hooves.

or

In the real world, animals don't smile, nor do they frown. They show their displeasure or pleasure by either attacking you or not.

If you want to maintain your enjoyment of cuteness, stay away from this book. If you're the type of person that already sees the potentially twisted nature in every picture of a bunny, kitty, pony or cute stuffed animal that you see: Welcome. This book is for you. Enjoy!

[Sibelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witty book about art of cute animals. Some of the comments made me chuckle

[Charissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This guy thinks he's so funny. He isn't. 2 stars because I'd like to tear out the images and use them to decoupage some furniture.

[Rosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Our modern ideas of cuteness have evolved far past our ancestors'. Most of these little animals are, sadly, downright unappealing.
As for the writing, it ain't Lileks. In fact, it's one of the least funny things I've ever read (of things that were supposed to be funny), right up there with Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction. And, like that book, this one is also beautifully laid out. That's pretty much all it has going for it, even if you like midcentury fabric and wallpaper designs, which I do—just not like this.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few things concern me about this book. First, why is it catalogued as Teen? Second, is it meant to be ironic? Third, or is it a popart book seriously made by a design company. Not sure of the answers but felt confused and weirded out by this book. The pictures remind me of birthday cards from my grandmother and the text reminded me of getting stuck next to a bitter old librarian at a work event. I don't know. If I knew the intent, maybe I could appreciate it for what it is....

[Laura]

this book is a great antidote to feeling old and stupid and grumpy. There is really nothing as sinister as adorable kittens and bunnies.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what the title says it is. Major squee!

[Honesty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saccharine pictures, snarky writing. This book is just the laugh I was needing!
4.5 stars.

[Jeremiah (Star struck and VERY smitten Cowboy) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disapointed. It is funny and clean until it mentions a hare is ready to "kick *ss".☹☹☹

[Aneesa]

Yuck

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heard of: read previous book by this author

Happy Kitty Bunny Pony is the best title of any book, of any genre.

I rated it high because, quite frankly, I'm in love with Michael J Nelson. As I read the book, I could just picture him saying each line, that smug look of satisfaction on his face--that smarmy look that says, "I know I'm funny". On anyone else, this look would disgust, but Michael J. Nelson pulls it off again and again.

Some of the lines in it felt a little contrived, but then again, if you ever get a copy of this book, flip through it and see the material he had to work with. There were a few photos left commentless by the author that seemed to be screaming for something. But the sugary cuteness does seem to overwhelm even the casual reader, so I forgive him.

[Dionisia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A light read that asks little of the reader.

I was curious but wasn't quite sure what to expect. It's image heavy. The pages are full of big-eyed cutesy, and sometimes creepy, creatures of all shapes and sizes. Some light text is peppered throughout the book and I gather that it was supposed to add comic relief. Not a very success attempt at humor as I barely managed to break into a grin while reading. Ho-hum.

"A Saccharine Mouthful of Super Cute" At least the title is fun to say. It has that going for it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It just has a ton of super cute images, all dating from the Depression era to the 60's and everything in between. Also includes some sassy and oh so witty commentary from a bunch of advertising types. It is quite savvy. The first time I looked at this, I was seriously on the floor laughing my guts out!

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you were a little girl anywhere between 1959 and 1989, these images will be instantly recognizable to you: cutsey kittens, poodles, pandas, and other critters so lame they're hip, so sincere they're ironic. They scampered across our pencil boxes, paint-by-number kits, and wall plaques--and now they're collected together in this delightfully bizarre book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is difficult to rate. It is a collection of pop art of cute little critters with captioning and commentary by Michael J. Nelson of MST3K fame. Not all comments are a home run, but some of the art is downright creepy in its cuteness. A quick and sometimes funny/sometimes bonechilling read.

Note: Despite its cover, this is not a children's book.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book drives me crazy - it's too cute - almost scary cute. Really quirky images with funny comments.

[Gina Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book puts together "cute" images from the 1950's through the 1970s with Mike Nelson's (MST3K and RiffTrax) commentary. So, so excellent.

[Sarah Fulmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so fab, you got a problem with adorable?

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a crib with this these kitshy decals all over it. Just got this book while in a reminiscent mood.

[MaryAnn Harlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

read closely, there is more going on than you think

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a warped sense of humor. There's an image of a bunny with a chainsaw and kitties sniffing each others' rears.

If you laugh at that sort of thing, this book is for you!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sickeningly cute illustrations and graphics of adorable critters coupled with quirky and often grotesque captions. This is a great coffee-table book

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series.

[Emily Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

MIKE NELSON ROCKS.

[Erica Chang · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book's so cute i actually paid full price for it

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still don't really have any idea what this book was actually about, but it sure was fun!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for the illustrations, 3 stars for the humor.

[Siiri Cressey · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUCKED UP AWEWOME! A must-read for anyone with lots of snarkiness who pukes a little inside at cutesy stuff.

[Mrs Reddy Katzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another WEIRD book by popink - pictures are really good for the kids but whatever you do dont read the content to them !