Greeny Phatom (fictional)

Greeny Phatom (fictional) is an American animated web series created by Crystal Stainton for Argosy New Media. The pilot was posted on August 13, 2007, on YouTube, and the series proper started on March 16, 2008, with the episode “Little Guy’s DOL Weapon”. The series is known for its random plots (often bordering on nonsensical), strange character designs, and (according to a popular urban legend) allegedly driving people insane.

History
The title of the series, as well as the character designs, names, and general plot, allegedly came to Crystal Stainton in a dream.

Production
Storyboards are made in full colour using Microsoft Paint (in later seasons, Paint.net), and the show itself is animated using authentic Rotanimation machines; these machines were formerly used for other Argosy series including The Aaron Show during the 1990s.

Urban legend
A popular urban legend says that watching multiple episodes of Greeny Phatom in order makes one go insane. The legend originated in 2009 on an Argosy fan forum, and may have been originally a tongue-in-cheek claim; however, it eventually spread and was taken seriously, leading to some schools and libraries banning Greeny Phatom from their computers. In the 2013 trial of Gabriel Delapava, a psychopath suspected of raping, murdering, cooking, and eating his wife and children in 2011, he claimed that “internet cartoons made me do it”, bringing new attention to the Greeny Phatom insanity rumour. Later, when Delapava’s search history was leaked, it was found that he mainly watched creepypasta videos before the rapes and murders happened, and had only ever watched 1 episode of GP; however, Phatom is still widely associated with the Delapava incident. Argosy Media’s Latin America office has released a handwritten letter from a fan known as Ulises Tobar, claiming that he attempted to watch all episodes of Greeny Phatom in order, ended up becoming irrationally angry and paranoid, and eventually took apart his PC and monitor with his bare hands. Argosy has taken advantage of the series’ reputation, openly marketing it as “that show that makes people go insane”.