The Adventures Of Kung Shu

I’m not sure when these were made, but some time before Ed, Edd n Eddy, Danny Antonucci made commercials. One commercial, The Adventures of Kung Shu, is very interesting because it features characters and animation that seems like an early prototype of Ed, Edd n Eddy. I believe I remember an interview where Danny said the idea for the show started with a commercial, but I may be thinking of someone else because that kind of creation process happens a lot.

Here we have an athletic kid wearing cool shoes. His backwards hat with hair sticking out, bright green shirt, shorts, cool guy demeanor, interest in sports, and clearly advantaged rivalry with the trio we’re about to meet reminds me of Kevin…

Even the background seems like a simplistic early EEnE background.

Anyway, he sees these guys…

The middle guy is voiced by Eddy (Tony Sampson), and sounds kind of like Muscle Man from Regular Show.

What does each member of this trio have in common with the Eds?

Ed/left guy - VERY similar head design, head dots, no chin, unibrow, looks vacant, jacket, normal shirt, shoes and pants, does unattractive stuff like scratch his armpit.

Edd/right guy - Similar nose but head is mostly like Jimmy’s, the shirt seems similar to me but is more like Kevin’s, shorts, blue shoes.

Eddy/middle guy - If Eddy had realistic hair I think it would look like this, ability to have unibrow (this guy’s face works more like Rolf’s, though), same voice actor, is the leader (he’s the only one who does anything in this commercial, really), short sleeved shirt, acts tough in a trio, very similar pants/wallet chain design.

Also, can I just mention that the outlines wiggle in this commercial, just like in the show? The inking is very similar if you haven’t noticed. Plus weird colored tongues.

Middle Guy wants Sporty Kid’s cool shoes!

Middle Guy threateningly says “I think you’re gonna GIVE ME THOSE SHOES” and then turns to his lackeys for backup.

And then Sporty Kid’s shoe does this…

It shouts “BUY YOUR OWN” at him in a voice that sounds to me like Billy West.

Left Guy’s unibrow separates. Awww…

Left and Right abandon Middle. Middle did not see the crazy shoe and advances on Sporty.

Middle makes a very Eddy pose and a very Rolf face.

Sporty makes a very Kevin (and oddly Jimmy) pose/face.

Kung Shu flips out.

Kung Shu strikes menacing poses as childishly drawn pain stars (like the ones from EEnE) flash behind him. He doesn’t actually touch Middle.

By the way, the sound effects in this commercial are clearly by the same company as EEnE’s sound effects, but I think AKA always works with them.

Middle faints the same way Edd does in the theme song.

He’s paralyzed.

Sporty kid: “I shoulda told ya… I know Kung Shu…" (in a real kid’s voice; it reminds me of Hey Arnold!)

Sporty’s shoe painfully twitches into frame, so I imagine the kid’s leg is bent ridiculously for this shot, hahaha

AVAILABLE AT KIDS FOOT LOCKER!!!!

Also, I’m not gonna analyze this whole commercial, but this one uses the wiggling outline style as well and the middle aged man’s design would clearly later inspire Eddy’s design:

This commercial also mentions the number 62, which is Eddy’s Brother’s number… probably a coincidence, though…