Mondo Media is a leading innovator in the use of new media platforms for the delivery of high-quality animation targeted at teens and young adults. "Mondo Mini Shows" are distributed as an ad-supported, virtual animation channel via the Internet, podcasts and mobile. Mondo's most successful show "Happy Tree Friends" has evolved into a global franchise, and has been adapted into a TV series, home video line, mobile phenomenon, video games, and line of merchandise.
Original Mondo Mini Shows logo used from 1998 to 2012.
Mondo Media was founded in 1988 by John Evershed and Deidre O'Malley. Mondo initially created content for tech companies, then developed two video games, Critical Path (1993) and The Daedalus Encounter (1995) under the name Mechadeus. The latter half of the 1990s saw Mondo focus its efforts towards animation, including Mondo Mini Shows created in 1998 for the Internet which eventually became Mondo's main business.
Filmography
- Kevin Spencer Shorts (1997-1998)
- Tech Sergeant (1998; produced for Macromedia Shockwave)
- Zoog Disney (1998 - 2002)
- Happy Tree Friends (1999 - present)
- Ka-Pow! (2008 - 2011)
- Dr. Tran (2003 - present)
- The God & Devil Show (1999 - 2001)
- Piki & Poko: Adventures in Starland (1999 - 2001)
- Queer Duck (2002 - 2004)
- Absolute Zero (2000 - 2001)
- Hard Drinkin' Lincoln (2000 - 2002)
- The Carpal Tunnel of Love - Fall Out Boy (2007)
- Baman and Piderman (2009 - present)
- This Modern World (based on the comic strip of the same name) (2000 - 2001)
- Zombie College (2000 - 2001)
- Larkmart (2010 - present)
- Dick Figures (2010 - present)
- Heavy Metal Guy (2000 - 2007)
- Inspector Beaver (2002)
- Like, News (1999 - 2001)
- Poker Night (2000-2002)
- Trailer Trash (2011)
- Thugs on Film (1999 - 2001)
- Gone Bad (two short films published in 2001 and 2002) (2001 - 2002)
- Goodwin vs. Badwin (2012 - present)
- DestructoBox (2011 - present)
- Gundarr (2011 - 2015)
- Trapped in technology (music show) (2012 - present)
- Kung Fu Karl (2012-present)
- Off The Curb (2012-present)
- DJs in PJs (2012)
- Papercuts (pilot) (2012)
- Vileville (pilot) (2012)
- Deep Space 69 (2012-present)
- Dick Figures: The Movie (2013)
Mobile
Mondo To Go
The HTF section of the page,as depicted on an iPhone 3GS.
Mondo To Go is a website specially designed for all iOS devices except the iPad, certain Blackberry phones, and many touchscreen Android phones like the HTC Evo 4G.
About
Usually, Happy Tree Friends episodes require Flash to view them. Because the iOS's Safari browser does not include Flash, Mondo Media altered the episodes in order to make the episodes compatible with the device. However, several other Mondo Mini shows, like Dr. Tran, is also available on this webpage. It works on all EDGE, 3G, and Wi-Fi networks. Android phones have integrated Flash lite in their browsers, but it is recommended that users go to the mobile site as Flash lite plays video in a rather unstable way.
Access to the web page
iPhone: The web page is accessed by tapping 'Safari', then, in the address bar, type the link "www.mondotogo.com" and this should let you choose the show you want to watch.
Android: Tap a web browser and in the address bar,type "www.mondotogo.com".The browser should show the page shown on the right.
Blackberry: Follow the same steps for Android phones as both OS are similar.
Trivia
- This can only be accessed on touchscreen-enabled phones.
- Despite having no Flash, the show plays in high quality.
- Several episodes are available on iTunes, but the website provides TV episodes.
- Most users prefer to watch them on YouTube as YouTube is compatible with all smartphones with an internet connection.
Applications
Currently there are four Happy Tree Friends application for the iPhone.
Slap Happy
A rather amusing way to pass the time...
Released on the 30th of August, 2009 by Publisher X, Slap Happy is, according to Mondo Media, the first of many HTF iPhone applications to come. Slap Happy seems to take advantage of the touch screen to find many ways (i.e. a slap across the face) to abuse poor Cuddles in an average living room environment. Currently, Cuddles is the only character available. This application is rated as 9+, and is available to download at the App Store for $0.99. Unfortunately, the app has been recently pulled from the App Store due to lack of updates and poor reviews. Amazingly however, the app has been recently put back in the store. But only in the US.
Strandead
Released on the 8th of December, 2012 by TreSensa, Inc., Strandead is the second HTF iPhone app. This, at first, was only playable on Mondo's official site in HTML5 format, unlike many other HTF arcade games which used swf (Flash) format. Strandead is based on a HTF episode Happy Trails Pt. 2: Jumping the Shark, where the characters are stranded on an island and have to escape. Unlike the episode, Sniffles is shown to find a way to escape from the island by making use of a fire extinguisher and a huge catapult. The objective of the game is to launch Giggles across the sea until she reaches a land (at 3,000 feet distance). This application is also rated 9+, but unlike the first app, Strandead can be downloaded for free.
Run and Bun
The app icon.
Released on the 21st of August, 2013 by the same developer behind Strandead, Run and Bun is the third HTF iPhone app, but it's the first to be uploaded on Google Play store, which can be installed for free. This game can also be played in Mondo's official site, also in HTML5 format. Run and Bun is based on a HTF episode Buns of Steal, which was released to the official site at the same time as this game's full version. When the episode was still in development, this game came out early in its beta phase, only having two playable characters, two stages, and lacking other features that the full game has. Despite this, the full version was already available on Facebook and for iOS early.
This game involves you playing as one of the six available characters (though only one is available as a starter) in one of the six available levels (again, only one is available as a starter), collecting buns and avoiding hazards. By collecting buns, you can unlock more characters and levels, as well as being able to equip power-ups for later use. Your total score depends on how far you go through the level and how many buns you've collected.
Like the other HTF apps, Run and Bun is also rated 9+.
Dynamite
Dynamite in iPhone.
The very first Happy Tree Friends game, which was available as an iPhone/iPad app. Developed by Christian Gull, this game involves you keeping the dynamite on air by clicking/tapping it, otherwise it explodes and kills the tree friends below it.
While the gameplay is still the same, there are some other differences shown between the online version and the app version. Instead of taking place in a room (online version), the app version shows that the game takes place in the middle of the desert. This version also features levels. The only change in the characters is that Nutty is present with his usual lazy eye instead of having pac-man pupils (though he's still shown without a tail).
Like the other HTF apps, Dynamite is also rated 9+.
After Amok
Flippy's mission
Another Happy Tree Friends game developed by Christian Gull. It is based on Remains to be Seen. The game has players controlling Flippy and using various different arsenal to kill Zombified versions of the Main Characters. While some Zombie characters simply walk and attack Flippy at close range, other Zombie characters have abilities to combat against Flippy, such as Zombie Nutty and Zombie Mime who are able to throw candies and bones respectively, or even Zombie Splendid who is able to fly around the level and shoot lasers from his eyes. Players are able to score points, obtain health, or even unlock new weapons as they kill the Zombies.
There were 2 versions of this game, one which was an online Flash game made for htfgames.com and one which was a more expansive version made for iOS. The gameplay was also different depending on the version the player was playing. The Flash version was an endless survival game that ends whenever Flippy runs out of health, while the mobile versions have level progression and added more Zombie characters in the game.
Like the other HTF apps, After Amok is also rated 9+.
Websites
The following websites are official Happy Tree Friends websites.
Happy Tree Friends Atom
Back then, Mondo was an Atom site. Its web address was http://htf.atom.com. Although the website has the name 'Happy Tree Friends', there are many other shows to watch (eg: Baman Piderman). The website has games, episodes, and DLCs. Currently, there's no screensaver. This website works on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, and Opera. It requires Flash 8 or later for episode viewing and gaming. It supports Mac OS X and Windows for wallpapers.
Now, all Happy Tree Friends and other Mondo contents have been moved into a renewed Mondo site: http://mondoshows.com/.
Happy Tree Friends Social
The website on Mac OS X.
Happy Tree Friends: Social was a social webpage developed by Mondo Media under the platform "Ning." It's website was http://social.happytreefriends.com/, though the link now directs users to Mondo Media's renewed site since it no longer exists. However, you are able to view this website using the Wayback Machine.
Content
The webpage was basically a 'socialized' version of the Atom site and included certain features such as, chat, rules, and photos. Kenn Navarro and Warren Graff used the social webpage.
Chat
The Chat tool was the place where people could interact with other fans of Happy Tree Friends, allowing them to have general discussions, role-play, and hang out. Some bugs were encountered in chat and it frequently crashed.
Photos
The Photos tab was the place to upload photos. Users could upload any pictures to the site (with the exception of images that could be labeled pornographic). It supported many formats. Users had to note what kind of photo they're uploading and avoid uploading the wrong photo.
Rules
The Rules tab was recommended for every new user to the site. Users could see the rules and how they should behave. This is added by admin Warren Graff.
A user's page with an open chat in HTF Social.
Trivia
- The word "Mondo" means "World" in latin.
- According to its founder, the idea of creating flash animations was inspired by Spumcø's flash shorts.
External links
- Mondo Media official website
- Mondo Media on YouTube
- Mondo Media on Facebook
- Mondo Media on Twitter
- Mondo Media on Instagram
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