In this alternate history scenario, we explore a timeline where John Kricfalusi's aspirations to become a cartoonist are thwarted early in his career. Instead of moving to Los Angeles in 1978, he faces a series of setbacks that prevent him from entering the animation industry altogether.
After struggling to find work, Kricfalusi becomes disillusioned with the animation field and decides to pursue a different path. He takes a job as a graphic designer for a small advertising agency in Canada, where he utilizes his artistic skills but feels creatively stifled. Over the years, he becomes increasingly frustrated with the limitations of commercial art and yearns for the freedom of animation.
Key characters in this narrative include a supportive mentor who encourages Kricfalusi to keep pursuing his dreams, and a rival animator who achieves success in the industry, serving as a constant reminder of what Kricfalusi could have accomplished. Themes of ambition, regret, and the impact of creative expression are woven throughout the story.
As Kricfalusi navigates his new life, he finds solace in underground comic scenes and begins to create a cult following for his unique style, but he never achieves the mainstream success he once dreamed of. The narrative culminates in a poignant moment where he reflects on his choices, realizing that while he may have missed out on fame, he has carved out a niche that allows him to express his creativity on his own terms, albeit with a sense of loss for what could have been.
