Cans Without Labels (Johnsonverse)

Cans Without Labels is a 2013 American animated short cartoon directed by animator John Kricfalusi. It follows the character George Liquor attempting to feed his nephews Ernie and Slab various cans with faces and other human body parts inside of them. This was the last voice acting role for Michael Pataki, who recorded all of his lines as George Liquor before his death in 2010.

Inspired by Kricfalusi's childhood memories, Cans Without Labels began pre-production in 2008 and was successfully crowdfunded via Kickstarter in 2012. Released on February 1, 2013 to backers with the DVD and digital download tiers, the short was critically acclaimed. Its success led to a revival of The Ren & Stimpy Show in 2017 for Cartoon Network, as well as a spin-off series on Adult Swim called George Liquor, American the following year.

Plot
George Liquor comes home with a bag full of cans. He calls Ernie and Slab, who are playing a video game, to the dinner table once he comes to the door. Liquor reveals that the cans he lays out are unlabeled cans that he bought for cheap as a lesson on frugality. When Slab asks how they know what's inside, George says that each can "gives (them) clues", and shakes the can. He claims that beef stew is inside, and tells them that when the can is opened, they have to eat what's inside. George opens the can, and hands it to the boys. Ernie looks inside the can and sees a disgusting face, and tells George about it. However, George insists on eating the face anyway, threatening them with corporal punishment. The boys try to eat it, but are too disgusted. George angrily orders them to eat it, making Ernie and Slab cry.

George calms down, and tells them that he's giving them a break and is going to the store. He also tells them that by the time he gets back, the face needs to be gone. Ernie and Slab throw away the can in the city dump, encountering Cigarettes the Cat on the way. A few minutes later, George comes back and, thinking the face has been eaten, rewards them with the other cans, containing stewed marsupial claws, exotic bird-bill soup (which George thinks is "funny-lookin' peaches"), pregnant grasshoppers in blueberry syrup, pickled iguana tails, a whole plucked chicken carcass, and a dead kitten. Ernie and Slab try to eat the pregnant grasshoppers, but are too grossed out, and Slab faints. The cartoon ends with George realizing what he's doing and chasing the dealer who gave him the cans.

Voice cast

 * Michael Pataki as George Liquor
 * Gabe Swarr as Ernie
 * Eric Bauza as Slab
 * Eddie Fitzgerald as Cigarettes
 * John Kricfalusi as Dealer and George Liquor (some lines)

Production
Cans Without Labels began pre-production in 2008, when Kricfalusi drew several pieces of concept art. Around this time, future Johnson Industries CEO Tim Johnson, a fan of Kricfalusi's, encouraged him to make his screenplay longer and make several changes such as removing Donald Bastard (Kricfalusi's parody of Donald Duck), as well as adding additional cans that George Liquor forces Ernie and Slab to eat. Michael Pataki (the original voice of George Liquor) recorded some lines for the project, which ended up being his final voice acting role before his 2010 death; the short is dedicated in his memory.

Crowdfunding
In 2012, Kricfalusi began a Kickstarter campaign to fund the short. He described it as the first project where he would have full creative control without interference from executives. $136,723 was pledged by 3,562 backers to the project.