Guff 8: String Theory for Dummies

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From the Editor

Guff 8

So it turns out using anthropomorphic strings to try to teach pre-schoolers string theory is a bad businesses idea. The kids liked the pictures, but they got a little disoriented by the field equations. Lesson learned. We’ll be scrapping the picture book inventory (Tyler Trefoil & the Theory of Everything), and the ads on NOVA, and Inky is putting down the screenplay for now. But we’re keeping the plush dolls. The focus group feedback so far, while urging us away from the advanced physics curriculum, has been pretty positive about the string characters themselves. They’re “cute”, “interesting”, “strangely provocative”, we’re told. So we gave the whole thing another go. We just needed a different backstory for them that doesn’t involve unifying general relativity and quantum mechanics. So back to the focus groups we went.

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Concept of the Week

Guff 8: String Theory for Dummies

Below are the three possible ideas for the world these strings might inhabit. As always, your votes and thoughts were invaluable to the content development process. As a reminder, the contending Backstory Options were:

1. A rogue string terrorizes Tangletown, viciously untying knots at random. The most recent case involving the famous actress Tether Marlingspike, draws Detective Tyler Trefoil and his trusted sidekick Threddy Tassel deeper into the frayed relationship between Tangletown’s mayor and his twisted political enemies.

2. Two surgeons—one a dedicated cat’s paw and one an unscrupulous bowline—who built their practice fastening wealthy, fraying knots undone by gravity and time, strive to maintain their integrity in the face of a clientele willing to pay anything to be completely re-tied in exotic and dangerous surgeries.

3. Peanut Zapata, a young girl in suburban San Diego, has recently learned to tie her shoes. But, inexplicably, her new Stride Rites keep coming undone at the worst possible times. Unbeknownst to her, her bedroom is now the latest battleground in an inter-dimensional war between fugitive strings and tyrannical knots from the 11th Dimension.

And the winner is… #3, “Peanut Zapata”. The team is onboard (see “Meet the Macguffins”, below) , and development is now underway. We could use an advisor for Quantum Mechanics who can explain it to us like we’re grade school children, so please spread the word. Progress will be posted over on the team page. -Ed.

Storyboard in development by Justin Horn

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Press Room

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Featured Submission:

“There’s a Monster Under the Bed of the Monster Under My Bed”

Now open for Redlight/Greenlight voting, a monster under the bed tale - comps to Monsters, Inc, and The Never-ending Story. Vote below…. -Ed.

Vote to Redlight/Greenlight here.

Katherine Belle

“When a sleepless young boy discovers a monster under his bed, he finds the monster is terrified of a monster under its own bed, which leads to the discovery of a chain of ever smaller monsters lurking under ever-smaller beds.”

— There's a Monster Under the Bed of the Monster Under My Bed

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Job Board

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In the Offing

Offering Terms:

Minimum Investment: $10.00 /

Security Type: Revenue Share /

Raise: $20,000 - $50,000 /

Planned Launch: Feb 2024 /

Offering Terms: Minimum Investment: $10.00 / Security Type: Revenue Share / Raise: $20,000 - $50,000 / Planned Launch: Feb 2024 /

In Offering news, the votes are in, the focus groups have spoken, and we’ve moved Chicken, Pickle, Duck & Bob from concept to pilot stage. Without the narwhal. Or the polar bear. But this means we’re now “Testing the Waters” for for an official Offering of revenue shares to investors. You can RSVP for the anticipated offering now on the franchise pilot page. -Ed.

Testing the Waters: No money or other consideration is being solicited, and if sent in response, will not be accepted.  No offer to buy securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received until an offering statement is filed and only through an intermediary's platform. A person’s indication of interest involves no obligation or commitment of any kind.

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Concepts in Development

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Character Review: Mr. Mytzlplk

Mr. Mxyzptlk

If you’re a fan of classic cartoons, you’ve encountered plenty of characters that have tickled your funny bone. But, for my money, few can match the absurdity of Mxyzptlk, a character that originally hails from the DC Comics universe, but made a memorable splash in the The Flintstones. Today, apropos of Peanut Zapata, and as part of our effort to get up to speed on the multiverse, we're diving deep into the quirks and charms of this strange little character and what made him such a standout among the prehistoric antics of Bedrock.

Who is Mxyzptlk?

First things first—Mxyzptlk is a character that originated in the Superman comics, created by writer Bill Finger and artist John Sikela in 1944. He is a mischievous imp from the fifth dimension, notorious for his whimsical, often mischievous antics and his penchant for causing trouble for the Man of Steel. His name, pronounced "Mix-yes-pit-il-ick," and his ability to manipulate reality make him a unique villain and agent of chaos.

But how did this interdimensional trickster find his way to the Flintstones? In the 1960s, The Flintstones animated series embraced a crossover episode featuring Mr. M, and it was, sort of surprisingly, a match made in cartoon heaven.

The Flintstones Episode Featuring Mxyzptlk

In the episode titled "The Return of Mxyzptlk," Mxyzptlk first appears in Bedrock, bringing his antics to pre-history. The episode opens with Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble going about their everyday lives when suddenly, the fabric of reality begins to warp—thanks to the meddling of our fifth-dimensional friend. With Mxyzptlk’s arrival, the mundane quickly transforms into the extraordinary, and Bedrock becomes a playground of nonsensical fun.

What’s delightful about Mxyzptlk's appearance in The Flintstones is how seamlessly he fits into the prehistoric landscape. With his colorful attire, playfulness, and a knack for turning the ordinary into the absurd, he becomes an instant source of chaos for the residents of Bedrock. The episode captures the spirit ofThe Flintstones while introducing a character that embodies pure whimsy.

Mxyzptlk's Antics: A Recipe for Laughter and some Lessons for “Peanut Zapata”

Throughout the episode, Mxyzptlk pulls all sorts of pranks that leave Fred and Barney scrambling to keep up. From transforming their homes into towering structures of candy to making animals talk, his antics are a blend of slapstick humor and clever wordplay. The magic of Mxyzptlk lies in his unpredictability—just when you think you know what he’s going to do next, he flips the script.

One of the standout moments involves Fred and Barney trying to outsmart Mxyzptlk to get him to say his name backward, a trick that would send him back to the fifth dimension. This clever twist on the classic “name game” is a testament to the wit and creativity that The Flintstones is known for, and it provides laughs that age-up - i.e., for audiences of all ages.

The Legacy of Mxyzptlk in Animation

Mxyzptlk's appearance in The Flintstones is a good -and early - example of how characters from (literally) different universes can collide in unexpected, but winning ways. While he wasn’t a regular fixture in the series, his brief foray into Bedrock left a mark. The episode serves as a reminder of the possibilities that come with bending the rules of reality.

Beyond his Flintstones cameo, Mxyzptlk has become a beloved character in the DC Comics universe, often popping up in various storylines and adaptations. His unique charm and knack for mischief allow him to transcend the pages of comics and find his way into the hearts of fans across generations.

Check out the video below… .-Ed.