Steamed Hams but it's Clutch Cargo

Seymour Skinner was a pioneering animated television series that aired in the late 1950s. It featured a unique production technique called "Syncro-Vox," where live-action human lips were superimposed over the illustrated characters' faces. The show followed the adventures of the titular character, elementary school principal Seymour Skinner along with his sidekick superintendent Chalmers.
Behind the Scenes: • The Making of Steamed ...
Thanks to my lovely patrons for their support:
Stephanie Carrin
Marina C
Rose Abrams
Sam Aisen
Griffo
NO AI POLICY:
It is well known the models powering generative AI platforms contain the work of many artists, often without consent or compensation. This questionable provenance aside; it is arguable that the most effective use cases for these tools are misinformation, manipulation, defamation, theft, and fraud. There is also an environmental impact to expending massive amounts of computational power on something of such dubious value. Until these ethical, economic, social, and ecological issues can be resolved - I will not use content or imagery generated by these technologies in my videos.

[@LtHurwitz]

Skinner’s covering of his mouth with his hand from :48 to :55-thereby saving a few bucks on mouth animation-was a brilliant touch, very true to the original cartoons.

[@Enriquito445]

Add a zero to both of those timestamps for them to work

[@LtHurwitz]

@@Enriquito445 THANK YOU. I never did learn how to do that. Lemme try: 0:48 to 0:55

[@LtHurwitz]

Hot damn! Thanks again!

[@Bruhtatochip742]

Yes, and you call them mouth animations despite the fact they're obviously syncrovoxed.

[@LtHurwitz]

@@Bruhtatochip742 - uh, sure, OK.

[@DrOcsid]

I swear, the older the Steamed Hams meme gets, the higher quality the parodies get.

[@SpellboundWolf]

I think it's because people are given more time to come up with more creative things to do with it. :)

[@ArchibaldClumpy]

It's not low-hanging fruit anymore so only the truly dedicated, talented, wonderful maniacs are still doing it

[@HungerGamesFan00]

it has matured. all the low-effort immediate hits of dopamine have been created, leaving only the ideas that are harder to land and take longer to hit but are often more worthwhile in their own newer ways tldr the easier/more obvious ideas have been done already, so now the pool of ideas that are left is the shit that makes you feel like plato

[@6Drummer6Devil6]

I was just thinking the same, this is getting better every time.

[@eoretaspace]

the real ones are left

[@gibbons9599]

The Krusty Burger being remodeled as a period style McDonald’s is amazing lol

[@coledakers6127]

0:45

[@GustavoBlanco-x2e]

Old film overlays

[@trouty606]

I love the bizarre irony of putting more effort into making a Clutch Cargo meme parody than ever went into the making of the real Clutch Cargo

[@Cyberbrickmaster1986]

Clutch Cargo's art style was used in pretty much every prime time TV cartoon before The Flintstones was a thing.

[@Mordecrox]

​@@Cyberbrickmaster1986ironic how the style was rather difficult but in good "back then materials were expensive but workers were cheap" fashion, they still did it 5-10x cheaper than Hanna-Barbera which was already the benchmark for "good enough" cheap animation

[@stevendobbins2826]

@@Cyberbrickmaster1986 It was only used by one studio: Cambria Pictures. And they weren't necessarily on prime time, channels had the choice of either a full 25-minute episode weekly or split 5-minute segments to air daily.

[@BananaPhoPhilly]

@@Cyberbrickmaster1986Wrong lol

[@dogeymon83]

I can’t believe all these masterpieces are being made

[@arlo4607]

“Art is never finished, only abandoned.” - Leonardo Da Vinci

[@IronCurtaiNYC]

Actually, that quote was by Paul Valéry. I thought it was by someone else until I looked it up on Wikiquote.

[@answers_to_penguin]

Paul Valéry

[@simonhick9124]

Thank god it was

[@classicforreal]

Some art is prematurely abandoned....

[@heart04winds19]

"I never said haft the shit people say I did" - Gourge Washington

[@DingDongVG]

You absolutely nailed the style.

[@zachwilson768]

Funny seeing you here DingDong!. Hope you and Jules are well.

[@mistermoo7602]

The linework, the audio filter, the film grain, and the lack of music sans the title recaps combined make this truly seem like a film reel from back in those days. The mouths aren't even oversized or pronounced.

[@ComedyIsCoolTelevision]

@@mistermoo7602it’s so perfect. You can really tell they studied clutch cargo a ton before making this

[@bumpersincapped]

i thought you got kidnapped by federal agents

[@yumyumpancakes5025]

Wth is dink donk doing here 😭

[@shackslocatedinafghanistan6401]

Words can't express how much I fucking love the fact that a 7 year old meme has transcended memedom and became a full on artistic movement. Please keep this up!

[@undermind0657]

It's not an artistic movement

[@shackslocatedinafghanistan6401]

@@undermind0657 🤓

[@Smile200-z4y]

But it is.

[@bob2600]

It's an Albany expression

[@manchildunbound2154]

I know right? I get excited for every new iteration. My favorite so far has been the Soviet cartoon version. 😆

[@WooogaTooga]

"grilled about the cooking method of his steamed hams" Perfect 👌

[@D0NU75]

the show's theme is the jingle song, i'm dying

[@lazymansload520]

A nice touch that you used the 50s Golden Arches for krusty burger

[@Strike_Raid]

I think they bought an old Krusty Krab joint and converted it into a Krusty Burger place.

[@JAdg75oo00]

Keeping it real 😎🤘

[@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051]

I was pleasantly surprised when Pulp Fiction featured this episode playing in the background of the Gold Watch scene

[@michaelslowmin]

That's how I learned what Clutch Cargo was lol

[@Pinwheelsystem]

Same lmao ​@@michaelslowmin

[@anthonymcglinch7503]

I went to the McDonald's over in Shelbyville the other day.

[@Beaubeau-mr3ke]

I learned about it because of the Max Headroom Incident

[@scottmccurdy6493]

I normally don't agree with a filmmaker re-editing their films after the fact, but Tarantino needs to edit this video into that scene.

[@chimerschang]

There are entirely not enough Clutch Cargo parodies out there.

[@Redfern42]

Imagine...Clutch Cargo Star Wars!

[@chimerschang]

@@Redfern42 I was thinking more along the lines of an Adult Swim original series using the Clutch Cargo style.

[@thedukeoffunk]

One of my favorites: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKi8kpimf7WHarMsi=7JWemjd98rlyFRkx

[@foxtoons1999]

The Incredibles has one on their bonus features DVD. And its own commentary by Mr. Incredible and Frozone!

[@CadanHartleyElliott]

Probably because my generation (Gen Z) doesn't know about it.

[@mightyfilm]

Who could forget the infamous signal intrusion incident where a video pirate wearing a Max Headroom mask hummed the theme to Seymore Skinner and shouted "they're obviously grilled?"

[@KurisuYamato]

I still see the tire fire!

[@mightyfilm]

@@KurisuYamato "I just made a giant masterpiece for all the Springfield Shopper Nerds."

[@dylanmcfarland8356]

That would've been one of the _real_ Max Headroom's little one-liners.

[@Mrenderboyo]

“Yeah i think i’m better than kent brockman, frickin liberaaalllll”

[@XJamesM2001X]

“Catch the d’oh?”

[@ImpossibleCakePro]

This probably took more effort to make than any single Clutch Cargo episode

[@JoshuaKennedy321]

That is amazing. Clutch Cargo was before my time but I've seen enough episodes to appreciate how accurate this parody is.

[@Superkuh2]

Thank you for including the firetruck scene. It really tied this excellent meme implementation together.

[@djackmanson]

GOTTA have the firetruck

[@franciscomolina8970]

It’s so disappointing when the fire truck isn’t included.

[@gustavgnoettgen]

​@@franciscomolina8970 🚒

[@doorhanger9317]

With an accurate siren too

[@genericname2747]

The fire truck is necessary

[@kefkafloyd]

I love fully-assed effort like this. You nailed all the aesthetic components, but I think the real cherry on top is the new arrangement of the Seymour and the Superintendent theme. It's perfect. No notes. It's very hard to do "bad aesthetics" well, and you've shown pure artistry here. Thank you.

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Keep in mind, the same animation technique that Clutch Cargo was known for (called it Synchro-Vox) is later used for _Annoying Orange,_ of all things, just decades prior, which explains about the uncanny looks of the character's face. Let's just sink in.

[@ZacabebOTG]

It was also used in the music video for Robin Scott's Pop Muzik '89. There it looks even more uncanny. Michel Gondry used a similar approach in the music video for Light and Day/Reach for the Sun by The Polyphonic Spree made for promoting his movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Not to forget the Bim Bam Boom scene from The Forbidden Zone. 😄

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

@@ZacabebOTG And the pirate painting, Painty the Pirate, from the theme song to SpongeBob SquarePants...

[@arandompasserby7940]

The newly acquired knowledge that The Annoying Orange is just a modern day Clutch Cargo has ruined my day. Please never post that again

[@TheAlexSchmidt]

Annoying Orange adds the eyes though which IDK if Clutch Cargo ever did

[@peckenhamm123]

Kids these days don't even KNOW about Thumb Wars or Thumbtanic

[@nimbusco8956]

German expressionism, Soviet animation, and now Clutch Cargo? You’re hitting all the 20th century’s most important artistic movements.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

We need a Zagreb School of Animation approach!

[@apo18llo]

@@ChristopherSobieniak It's time to put Steamed Hams in 'H'.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@@apo18llo Zagreb ebnen zloty dien!

[@stationminute]

Clutch Cargo always gave me the creeps when I was a kid. So does this. Well done.

[@spookysugar]

What started as a meme, has shown your truly amazing talent in several different animation styles, not to mention your creativity. Incredible work as always, my dude

[@TyroneDeise]

Thank you so much 😀

[@cannedworms1814]

The 1987 Max Headroom signal hijacker approves

[@olliegoria]

But I can't still see the X!

[@BokBarber]

Just when you think those hams are running out of steam... bam, second encore.

[@Larry]

Ah wow, this is amazing!!! You really nailed the authenticity here dude, kudos!!!

[@TiegonBerry]

funny how all the cool people are showing up here.

[@michaelmartin9022]

Is this the place for an 'Ello you

[@YouMissedAgainTimes32024]

Ello you.

[@mariic2]

"Why does everybody got lady lips? Are those human lips? Whose lips are those?"

[@Wurfenkopf]

Ooh! Those aren't lips. They're microphones. Microphones from the theatre they are acting in. Yup! Theatre microphones!

[@mariic2]

@@Wurfenkopf r/whoosh

[@chuckmcluckin6082]

​@@mariic2they were doing a steamed hams joke, clown

[@nobodyinparticular9640]

​@@mariic2yes, r/whoosh Because the joke completely flew over your head

[@DynamiteManEXE]

"I was told it was a new process- a breakthrough!"

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I am...I'm stunned, lost for words even by the attention to detail in this. It feels EXACTLY like Clutch Cargo, down to a tee. Well done!

[@Karmy.]

Love how there are still incredible Steamed Hams parodies being made in 2024

[@lotusbandicoot]

Insanity. This is perfect. I did just one shot in this style in my own Steamed Hams edit (the "No" at 3:43) so it's rewarding to see the entire thing done flawlessly in this style. I love all the little details.

[@BottomOfTheDumpsterFire]

1:16 I just noticed that Chalmers' collar wasn't coloured in, I don't know if that was a genuine mistake or if you're trying to be faithful to Clutch Cargo

[@jaimebustillofernandez3901]

I dont know why you are putting this much effort into steamed hams memes in 2024, but I love it

[@jeremytitus9519]

If you need reasons to steam a good ham then you simply are not steaming ham enough.

[@galaxycamerata]

A talented chef cooks with their whole soul, no matter the dish.

[@RESIST_DIGITAL_ID_UK]

Probably because it took him like 3 years to make this lol

[@rdubbing]

I love how much effort you put in those Steamed Hams skits.

[@sfighter0085]

Just re-watched the "Mr. Incredible" short also inspired by the "Clutch Cargo", which I saw before I ever heard of Clutch Cargo. This was amazing. From the intro, the narration, and the stilted animation and movement. Not to mention the lips, so spot on. 👄

[@Gojiro7]

The Simpsons creators are both amazed and befuddled by the pervasiveness of this meme and the many creative folds it's taken

[@jr2904]

The Simpsons writers are also befuddled at how good the show was 20+ years ago and haven't been able to write anything as good since

[@Gojiro7]

@@jr2904 that's because most of the writers are very egotistical and think extremely high of themselves and the show, even the bad seasons. Sadly that mentality is there even for the writers who went off to make their own unsuccessful shows before crawling back, so humility didn't occur

[@Xhepyxopila]

​@@jr2904omfg get over it dude

[@JonNargodian]

The detail of dirt on the sliding window's cell is just **chef's kiss**

[@ayebraine]

I love the fact that that they use precisely TWO animation cels per character so much. They express everything. Smug satisfaction covering insecurity, scepticism and incredulity, stone-faced calmness and begging, craftiness and embarrassment, accusation and concentration.

[@lakeswirl6985]

i am obsessed with your dedication to nailing all these different styles of film and using this power to steam hams

[@aken1861]

I think this might be the best version of Steamed Hams

[@manchildunbound2154]

Check out the Soviet cartoon version.

[@cinnamonnoir2487]

I love how even though Clutch Cargo was about as low-budget a form of animation as you could get, the producers _still_ felt the need to make things even cheaper by zooming out every now and then or having someone cover their mouth up so they wouldn't have to overlay the live-action footage of somebody's lips moving. That's a level of dedication that one rarely sees these days in anything. True craftsmanship. Thanks for this video, by the way. It's appealingly surreal.

[@ohfudge]

And that was a selling point, too. They'd talk about how their "animation" was cheaper than Hanna-Barbera.

[@KlD_B]

I saw Clutch Cargo on a dvd of old cartoons in my grandparents attic when I was very young. The style freaked me out and for a while I thought I dreamt the whole thing. This is certainly an interesting way to re-experience that memory

[@Oppiesss]

Insanely insanely obscure i cant believe i knew what u were referencing. Thank you

[@SimonCallahan]

These just keep getting better. I'll never turn down a good steamed ham.

[@genericname2747]

1:57 you can see them moving the layer Seymour is on to simulate walking.

[@codenameeclair]

Steamed Hams is the only meme that matters, and you are the only artist that does it justice.

[@d4n737]

The amount of effort put into making a parody of Clutch Cargo here is.... Wow, must be more than they actually put into clutch cargo. - Art style perfectly replicated - Hand-drawn stills over hand drawn backgrounds - Character covers their mouth while speaking to save budget - Krusty Burger has a 50's McDonald's golden arches design, fitting for the era - Character not moving their mouth at all

[@lazymansload520]

It takes a lot of effort to make something look as cheap as clutch cargo

[@vaclavmacgregor2464]

I watched it as a Kid and I have to admit the effort put into recreating the style is phenomenal and the result shows!(I still like Clutch Cargo it may not look the best persay but It had great stories and had great characters to carry it)

[@jaredtomlin85]

This is without a doubt the most creative and innovative parody of Steamed Hams I have ever seen.

[@executor45]

This is amazing. The fact that you incorporated the song into the commercial buffers intros and outros is flawless and seamless!!!

[@JayStrang1]

Incredible. Every detail, immaculate. 10/10

[@turkeysamwich00]

I love that you went through the extra effort of adding pauses and taking out the musical stings

[@officialwatershieldchannel3858]

Always gotta give props to the Steamed Hams that remember to include the fire truck

[@DarteihStooigmal]

Honestly I'm so impressed by the sound design/music on these. You nail it. Especially in that soviet one.

[@jobrown95]

I've just watched this three times. Truly impressive. You've absolutely elevated this silly meme. Also at "obviously grilled", Chalmers' mismatched jacket sleeves slayed me for some reason.

[@Pangloss6413]

You are one of the few genuine artists on KZbin left

[@mkparsons]

Animation craft salute. I am glad to see the live lip performance done and composited. There are many steamed ham style redos but I never thought I'd see this method demoed. I grinned the whole time watching.

[@-AirKat-]

I’ve been learning a lot about story telling art styles from this channel

[@Asterra2]

This deserves way, way more views than it's getting. In fairness to the audience, I myself only learned about Clutch Cargo when researching the Max Headroom hijacked broadcast event. It's probably just a bit too before most people's time, mine included. Just be aware that there's at least one person who deeply admires the craft you put into this and your earlier one. Perfection is its own reward as long as somebody besides you yourself gets it, right?

[@Litiocandic]

I like all the attention to detail here. Really nailed the look!

[@atdynax]

I never heard of Clutch Cargo, but seeing the original makes this very impressive.

[@SbevenGaming]

Bro makes tf animations 🪑🪑🪑

[@LuC-k777]

The art continues to evolve

[@LIES666]

I love that the krusty burger looks like one of the really early McDonald's buildings.

[@Handington]

I love everything about this! From skinner covering his jaw when talking so they didn't have to do the mouths, to the lips not quite syncing with the audio all the time, to having the faraway mouths be pictures so its harder to see it isnt animated - its perfect. And the clever use of interpreting the transition sitcom opening as the beginning and end of a short episode was brilliant!

[@iamalittler]

I’ve never heard of this Clutch Cargo thing before, but I know this looks great regardless.

[@nakamaswarrior292]

As someone who watched Clutch Cargo and loves Steamed Hams....I see this as an absolute win.

[@mathieuleader8601]

A very retro lunch was had by all

[@NathanWood23]

This was freaking amazing! Well done!

[@SpruceReduce8854]

I learned about Clutch Cargo from the Max Headroom incident, and it's disturbed me ever since

[@KingDenominator]

I love you for this, Clutch Cargo is such an underrated obscure forgotten media

[@MrAlterface]

This is incredible

[@Talge879-wc3ts]

Jesus, looks like someone deserves a big W for capturing the show accurately

[@SpellboundWolf]

Gasp! Is that Clutch Cargo? Gimme, gimme, gimme! Who preformed the lips? Is that you & a buddy?

[@TyroneDeise]

It was a friend of mine.

[@SpellboundWolf]

@@TyroneDeise Thank you! I really am enjoying this.

[@yanikotavov385]

Skinner is such a giga in every shot.

[@claytonandres1194]

Oh that’s way too upsetting to watch on a Monday morning. Excellent job!

[@TyroneDeise]

nice

[@adamsinclair1959]

I love how this meme can still result in such creative content!

[@cybercop0083]

2:23 He said the title!!!

[@rhapsodyshadow_]

2:23 Roll credits.

[@KeysAndCrumbs]

A Clutch Cargo parody??!! At this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the internet, localized entirely within your uploads???

[@MinscFromBaldursGate92]

Yes!

[@sprocket2566]

This is the greatest thing I have ever seen

[@masonrose6754]

This has more frames of animation than the actual Clutch Cargo

[@DarrenMainas]

Good lord the sheer talent continues to stagger me

[@luizzeroxis]

I have no idea what this is parodying but it's freaking great. Now this is art.

[@thepokemonguru75]

"DID YOU OK THE STEAMED HAMS?!" "I KNEW *NOTHING* ABOUT THE STEAMED HAMS, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WERE GONNA BE STEAMED HAMS!!" "WELL *SOMEBODY* OKAYED THE STEAMED HAMS!!"

[@Paul_M_Bradley]

Referencing a commentary track on a short special feature on the back end of the incredibles dvd release. Congratulations, you have won this comments section 😂👌

[@thepokemonguru75]

@@Paul_M_Bradley is my prize steamed hams ;3

[@mjjoe76]

I’m not old enough to remember Clutch Cargo, but watching a few episodes makes it clear that you were faithful in your recreation. Well done.

[@DeliveryDemon]

You just unlocked part of my childhood i forgot. Bro i used to watch this when i was suck as a kid. On those "500 classic cartoons" DVD's

[@Rayman1971]

The production values are top notch!!!

[@hotelmario510]

Just when I think this meme has finally run its course, I see yet another fresh new take on it

[@MyScorpion42]

Small detail but very cool that you directly credit bill oakley

[@Omegajunior2658]

That's really good. This moment never gets old. I'd say the classic era of The Simpsons like from between seasons 1 and 9 is definitely way better than that modern era of The Simpsons. Greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@GeedawgOG]

"...and his pal, Superintendent Chalmers..."😂😂😂😂

[@WDC_OSA]

Phenomenally close to the source material. Amazing work. The goth lipstick looks killer on them.

[@spanglezekankleplushapalooza]

"I still see the borealis!"

[@xpehkto]

That is great! You are teaching us all the history of animation by your videos!

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

The Master is back.

[@anthonymcglinch7503]

I like how even the sound quality matches. Real time and effort put into this. Excellent!

[@pilpyfimbleton8918]

My absolute favorite part of this video is the hand-moved "cels"; it's so accurate to the source material. Particularly at 0:55, when the smudges and hairs move along with the cel. It's such commendable attention to detail.

[@TyroneDeise]

That’s because they are real cels. It was all hand drawn and painted, and captured in camera.

[@Chocolatenigma]

Your videos continue to be a masterclass on how an art style transforms a work

[@taxman3749]

I have watched this about 20 times now and it keeps getting better every time I watch it.

[@jeiku5041]

As someone who loves old animation, I love the absolute attention to detail.

[@MangetsuSAMURAI]

Goddang, I never thought I would see the day Clutch Cargo would become a widespread meme.

[@jackmonaghan8477]

Tune in next week when Skinner once again faces down his nemesis Bart Simpson in 'It's the Children Who Are Wrong'.