Joke Sketches

Four friends act out a famous joke every episode.

Show name

Length

Resolution

Frame

Schedule

Art style

Cartoon Anime

How each episode is written

Theme: every episode acts out ONE joke that already exists and gets passed around — a two-liner, a one-liner, a pun, a text-post joke, a phrase taken literally, a pickup line that backfires, an everyday misunderstanding. Never invent one from nothing; retell it with our cast, in our words, in a fitting setting.

Freshness: the famous jokes are worn out. Never use the stolen-tent stargazing joke, the burger ordered in a library, 'my greatest weakness is honesty', the doctor with bad news and worse news, the dog that isn't mine, the 'copy that' cop, the six-or-eight pizza slices, or the toddler puzzle box. Reach into the long tail — the joke a friend sends saying 'never heard this one' — from every corner of life: work, dating, family, money, food, tech, pets, travel, gym, neighbours. But it must land on first viewing with no explanation: prefer a punchline you can see or an unmistakable twist; skip dry anti-jokes and obscure wordplay.

How episodes connect: each episode stands alone — same cast, a new joke. Never repeat a joke or the same kind of trick twice running, never refer to other episodes. Name the joke in the subjects.

The joke is the whole episode, and its own shape decides it: a two-line joke is those two lines, no more. No goal, backstory or lesson added, and nobody on screen ever explains or corrects the punchline.

Payoff: if the punchline can be seen, end on that picture; if purely verbal, say it after a split second of silence, then hold the one reaction that fits. Never the same reaction twice running.

Opening: start mid-situation on the setup line; no establishing shot or title card.

Scene notes: their first sentence names the joke and where the laugh is ('A comedy sketch of the joke where ... — the laugh is that ...'), so the video model plays the timing and faces for comedy.

Who plays what: the fixed four are Theo, Brody, Mia and Jess, plus one guest when the joke needs someone else. Every episode has at least one of the women on screen, and most mix guys and girls. Mia has the savage comeback, Jess takes things literally, Brody is dumb and overconfident, Theo is the one the joke usually happens to. Rotate who leads and who is paired: Theo and Mia trading lines is only one of many pairings — Brody and Jess being literal together, the two girls, the two guys, one of them against a stranger. A friend roasting a friend is only one kind of joke; most episodes should be a different kind. Two or three speaking parts at most.

Looks: faces never change, clothes always do. The first beat each of the four appears in states what they wear THIS episode — a full outfit that fits the place and the joke, never last episode's. Mia and Jess always dress to turn heads — on-trend, fitted, figure-flattering, a different look every time: think a bodycon mini dress, a satin slip dress under an oversized blazer, a crop top with low-rise cargo pants, a leather mini skirt with knee boots, a sequin top for a night out, tennis whites at the club, a tailored suit at the office — never the same twice, never plain basics — but normally dressed for where they are: no lingerie, no swimwear unless at a pool or beach, no camera lingering on bodies, no posing for the viewer. Attractive, never sexualized. Dating and flirting jokes are fine. Name everyone's outfit in the summary, so later episodes can see what was already worn and never repeat it.

Camera: cut to whoever is talking on every line — close-ups, medium shots, shot/reverse shot, plus a quick insert of any object the joke turns on. Cuts are allowed.

Language: English dialogue, casual and spoken. One speaker at a time, lines under twelve words.

Sound: voices over light room tone, plus one small comedic sting on the punchline. No music.

Setting: wherever the joke happens — a new place each episode, no café unless the joke needs one — softly blurred and real-looking behind the characters.

Never: sexual jokes or innuendo, suicide or self-harm, slurs, jokes about real people, real brand logos, song lyrics or film quotes spoken word for word, on-screen text, captions or subtitles.

Other requirements

Character

Appearance · drawn from this every episode — the more exact, the more consistent
A 2D cartoon young man in his early twenties: slim, average height. Messy dark-brown hair with a cowlick at the crown, big round hazel eyes, thick expressive eyebrows, a small nose, a wide mouth. Face, hair and build never change; clothes change every episode and are written in the script — the reference sheet fixes the face and hair only, never copy its clothes.
Personality · for the script — keep it to the core
The lead, he. Earnest, a beat too slow, painfully normal. The joke usually happens TO him — he is the one who asks the innocent question, takes the setup at face value, or is left standing there when the punchline lands. When he does deliver the punchline, he says it completely deadpan.
Reference sheet· keeps their look consistent across episodes
Appearance · drawn from this every episode — the more exact, the more consistent
A 2D cartoon young man in his early twenties: tall and broad-shouldered, athletic. Spiky bright-blond hair, square jaw, small squinting blue eyes, a big confident grin. Face, hair and build never change; clothes change every episode and are written in the script — the reference sheet fixes the face and hair only, never copy its clothes.
Personality · for the script — keep it to the core
Theo's best friend, he. Loud, overconfident, not very bright. Says the dumb thing with total conviction, or takes a line completely literally.
Reference sheet· keeps their look consistent across episodes
Appearance · drawn from this every episode — the more exact, the more consistent
A 2D cartoon young woman in her mid-twenties: tall, with a curvy hourglass figure — full bust, narrow waist, wide hips. Long wavy copper-red hair past the shoulders, big green eyes with long lashes, light freckles across the nose, a confident smirk, small gold hoop earrings. Face, hair and build never change; clothes change every episode and are written in the script — the reference sheet fixes the face and hair only, never copy its clothes.
Personality · for the script — keep it to the core
The sharp one, she. Sarcastic, quick and hard to impress. She has the savage comeback — delivers the punchline deadpan, or turns the joke back on whoever started it. Theo has an obvious crush on her that she pretends not to notice.
Reference sheet· keeps their look consistent across episodes
Appearance · drawn from this every episode — the more exact, the more consistent
A 2D cartoon young woman in her mid-twenties: petite, with a curvy hourglass figure — full bust, small waist, round hips. Glossy black hair in a high ponytail with a few loose strands, big warm brown eyes with winged eyeliner, rosy cheeks, a bright smile, a thin silver necklace. Face, hair and build never change; clothes change every episode and are written in the script — the reference sheet fixes the face and hair only, never copy its clothes.
Personality · for the script — keep it to the core
The sweet one, she. Bubbly, warm and a little airheaded — she takes things literally and says the dumb-innocent line with total sincerity. Brody's girlfriend; together they are equally clueless.
Reference sheet· keeps their look consistent across episodes
Appearance · drawn from this every episode — the more exact, the more consistent
A different person each episode — whoever the joke needs (the bartender, a cop, a date, a scientist, a judge, a stranger at the next table) — so their appearance is pinned down inside the script: the first beat they appear in states age range, build, skin tone, hair, face, and the colour and cut of every garment, plus any uniform or prop of their role. Drawn in the same 2D cartoon style as the others.
Personality · for the script — keep it to the core
Plays the other half of the joke — the one who sets it up or the one who says the punchline. Played completely straight, never winking at the audience.
Written fresh by each episode’s script — no reference sheet needed
Appearance · drawn from this every episode — the more exact, the more consistent
Ordinary people of the place the episode is set in, drawn in the same 2D cartoon style. The beat they appear in states how many and what they are doing.
Personality · for the script — keep it to the core
Only in the background, reacting. They never speak.
Written fresh by each episode’s script — no reference sheet needed

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