A yellow boy in overalls, a dapper duck and a tall man with a red mop for hair — If you grew up on the internet as I did, these characters are probably quite recognizable to you.

Originally appearing from 2011-2016, these three caused a global phenomenon as the main characters of the web series “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared,” directed by Becky Sloan and Joseph Pelling. 

The web series, made up of six episodes that only lasted a few minutes each, became an internet favorite for its shocking twist on “Sesame Street,” featuring brightly colored puppets and happy, educational songs that suddenly metamorphosize into a nightmarish horror of blood and guts.

More than a decade after the first “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” webisode appeared, the horrifically delightful series has now been brought to the small screen.

The runtime of the episodes is longer but the general plot remains the same: three roommates, known to the fandom as Yellow Guy, Duck Guy and Red Guy are visited by teachers who give various lessons about the world. 

The lessons progressively become more creepy, furthering the feeling of dread.

It’s shocking and scary, silly and absurd, and fun to watch even if you don’t quite understand.

The shock factor and charm of the original internet series are still present in the television show. The original “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” was a passion project for Sloan and Pelling. The release of the television series proved their passion is still alive.

Everything in this show is made with love. The puppets and props used are handmade and stitched with care. The characters are charming and the story of the episode is always entertaining.

Usually, when a small-scale project is given the opportunity to grow into something bigger, it’s never as good as it once was. The heart is lost and fans are ignored for corporate gain.

“Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” does not disappoint. 

It was like nothing had changed from when I was little and watched the series for the first time. The only real change was the episodes’ runtime going from three minutes online to 23 minutes on television. 

The longer episodes enhanced the experience and were all the more exciting by greatly benefiting character and story development. The bigger budget doesn’t hurt either.

The “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” TV series is enjoyable for new fans and veterans of the show, and you don’t have to watch the web series to understand the TV series. Although I highly recommend the web series. 

If you like psychological horror, dark comedy and “weirdcore” — a surrealist internet aesthetic made up of bright colors and uncanny images — this show is for you.

Unfortunately, “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” is a British series and is currently only airing on British television. However, generous fans of the series overseas have recorded the show and have uploaded episodes for American audiences to enjoy on YouTube.