Meat or Die

Meat or Die debuted in 2009 as a series of short-form original net animations produced by Mondo Media. Designed to capitalize on the internet's appetite for rapid-fire, surreal, and dark humor, the series follows the desperate and often grisly attempts of a hungry wolf to catch a savvy, nearly indestructible rabbit. The animation style is deliberately minimalist and kinetic, emphasizing slapstick violence and absurdity over complex narrative, reflecting the broader trend of web-based cartoons that prioritized viral potential and punchy comedic beats.

The creative direction for the series leaned into the classic predator-prey dynamic seen in mid-century cartoons, but subverted it with a gritty, adult-oriented aesthetic that became a staple of the Mondo platform. By utilizing a stripped-down visual palette, the animators focused on fluid movement and the repetition of the protagonist's failed plans. It was well-received within the online animation community of the late 2000s, gaining a cult following for its relentless pace and willingness to push the boundaries of standard gag-cartoon conventions.