Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared EXPLAINED : the TRAUMA THEORY pt.1

Finally, a solution to ‘Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared’ that is intuitive, realistic, and consistent within the DHMIS world — this is the TRAUMA THEORY. In this video, I debunk mainstream theories like MatPat’s Media Theory on the The Film Theorists channel and Inside A Mind’s Growing Up Theory, and begin to build evidence for the Trauma Theory.

You will never look at DHMIS the same way again.

Thanks for watching! ^_^

#dhmis #donthugmeimscared #traumatheory #filmtheory #theory

— credits —

— music —

[TisTheDamnStickSeason]

"I've read most of the many DHMIS theories being suggested online, and none of them are wrong" - Becky Sloan

[mechamanw]

The TV show kinda supports the dream theory too. One in one of the intros where Red says "we live in an actual NIGHTMARE" and in an episode where Yellow gets depressed and retreats to his mind to spend time with his imaginary friends

[zombidino]

Also!! In the kickstarter yellow guy asks “why are we in my dads house?” While duck and red just dismiss him

[Haykace]

Im not even gonna lie the way you describe and word things in the style of a kitchen is charming af
Stay well
keep making stuff like this pls
-꓃

[crusader]

Idk if this has been said now but the D on yellow guys shirt could stand for David. David being the name on the grave that duck guy lies in the new series
Edit: very good theory btw ggs

[Orangutanluvr]

You gotta make another one of these when they come out with the TV show in September!

[jokernoob]

The DHMIS crew gets kidnapped in the kickstarter HELP videos, videos that came out right before EP 3. Where the missing poster first appeared.

Yellow Guy also mentions that the house looks like his dads.

[tennenyt]

I honestly think that the media theory, this theory, the brain theory etc are all true. I think at the end of the day they put a lot of different themes and references and commentaries in the internet series and now the new series and that they deliberately make the details line up with many different theories and interpretations at the same time. The creators are rejecting the idea of one silver bullet that is THE truth (The Book at the end of the series) behind the show because there are multiple simultaneously true interpretations. At the end of the day even if a theory isn't intended, if it happens to line up then it lines up and is true, that's the kind of attitude I feel like thr creators have anyways

[the-white-eye]

has anyone ever consideed that red guy "waking up" is actually the dream part of the episode? esepcially with what we know now that the new show is out, i feel that everything after the dreams song is actually his dream instead.

[kobybeefpizza]

Unrelated, but I love the detail of the fake mustache on your avatar still having the price tag, lol

[callmecrookedjack]

On the note of Roy as an abusive father-many actors are forced into roles from abusive pageant type parents. I don’t see it as complicating manners. I don’t see why that would complicate it as in my mind the media theory (while incomplete) definitely works better in that it gives credence to Roy in a way you did not.

[saucepan]

I’m really interested in this, and some of your points i really agree with, but I feel this ignores a lot of the other themes present. Personally i completely agree that the series is an abstract dream, with parallels to an upsetting event, however, I feel the kidnapping idea has very little depth, and the images of missing posters may simply be a motif, hinting at the evils which are in plain sight, yet remain unaddressed.

I feel aspects of the three theories have significance in some aspects. Although I disagree with an idea of an overarching story, instead of an abstract sequence conveying the creators ideas. However if there is context, I feel it’s likely that, the red character, represents a hopeful television program writer, who’s idea gets lost, taken from BBC, to ITV and has his dreams crushed before his eyes, becoming something which is full of contradictions, pushed agendas, and advertising. If I where to draw a parallel, it would be to the Ricky Gervais and Stephan Merchant program “Extras” in which the main characters dream of a sitcom, is torn apart, each episode, his creation getting further and further from what he wanted, going from the English “The Office” to something resembling “Mrs Browns Boys”, i think it’s very likely the creators drew inspiration from this series - any British comedy show writer would probably be familiar with Extras.

I feel the way in which the characters behave is also incredibly important to the programmes plot, the yellow one being a representation of the younger generation, effected by the profit-chasing behaviour of the older generation. Yellow is always the first to ask simple questions, and is shown time and time again that he is impressionable, and vulnerable.

The duck is a difficult character to figure out, but, he seems to be a bystander, to the harm caused to children by the way they are raised. He is the first to join the digital dancing, usually compliant with the teacher’s lessons, and sometimes just as harmful, such as his killing of the pesky bee. Personally I believe him to represent a generation between Roy and Yellow, one which does not recognise their own ability to change the future for the good, and, possibly a younger version of Red, who does not realise the harm in the media he is participating in, until it’s too late (episode five) in which he tries to escape, yet is torn up by this action, ripping him into the red spaghetti seen at the end, clearly meant to resemble Red, yet shown to be made of duck’s meat, I believe this represents the hopeful yet irresponsible creator’s shift into becoming the tired, cynical and “really boring” Red guy.

The Red guy represents the person left behind, someone frustrated, or possibly even traumatised by his own actions leading to the abstract, nightmare of DHMIS. It may be worth mentioning that Red is shown to have outgrown his past, and become something bigger and better, yet does not realise this, although not pictured as a puppet (the significance of puppets perhaps suggesting us to be puppets of the way we are raised), he is not pictured as a human either, presenting how the character has not realised how he has grown from his mistakes, and continues to sit in his misery, instead of moving onward.

Roy, represents the older generation, and the way they shape their youth, weather that be through media or fatherhood. Roy is a warning, of the harm that can be done through raising a child in a selfish manner, and may possibly link to how Red feels he has treated his “brain child” in a selfish way, or at least has been careless with it, and now addresses this with the image of a crooked yellow guy (an innocent child) which serves as a careless father.

Each episode represents a lesson (a moral that the creators want to share) shown as a nightmare of the programs creator, reflecting on a mistake they made, acted out by their current self, their past self, and the one in which this creation is exposed to, the teacher being an embodiment of the guilt and anger Red bares over the mistake.

I feel the idea of self reflection and progression of character over time is shown effectively in many instances one of which is the motif of birthdays, referencing the idea of coming of age, and inevitably changing as a person. The idea that “The past is behind us, the future doesn’t exist” also exposes a hopeful message, that change can still come, and better decisions can be made, yet this is contrasted with the fixed date of June the 19th. The significance of the date being Father’s Day perhaps relating to the idea that we are conditioned to grow up and become just like those who have influenced our growth.

Finally, I wish to highlight point that no one has really brought up, the motif of the word “boring”, not only is this the first line of Red, the characters dull demeanour is one of his most recognisable qualities. This is seen yet again in “07494795709” where a grey machine points an arrow at all three characters, (stages of growth, and conformity to the all “boring” Red guy society, seen in ep6) with the subtitle “boring” perhaps suggesting that the way in which media conditions children to grow into a certain mould of what is correct, is “boring”. And the correct and creative way to raise the next generations is to give them room to become their own people, not just boring echoes of their teachers.

DHMIS is a piece about how we are shaped as people, and the importance of being creative, and having dreams instead of falling into the belief that life is dull, similar to the computer’s digital world, in which there’s only three things to do.

Cool video and looking forward to what comes next, feel free to use any of my ideas:) I’m always happy to discuss such a well crafted piece.

[peachymunmagenta]

16:21
The kickstarter thing, whilst noncanon, had a kidnapping theme.

[ajsguineapigs]

I always thought that in the media theory the dark gory segments at the end was supposed to be in a child’s mind as they watched and thought about the TV show. I particularly thought it might be in yellow guy’s mind since he is also a kid. But I guess Matt Pat did not talk about this at all.

[slothwaffles]

Bro you are so underrated! Even though you only have a few videos, they are so professional! Your channel is going to eventually skyrocket if you keep this up, as these are amazing!

[lilkingg]

Also, Also.
Yellow is characterized as the dumb one. But he isn't. Listen to the things he says. In this Season and the next. The "Little Baby Pigeon" gets overlooked because Hahaa. He called a Butterfly thing a Pigeon. But, this is one of many elements of his own trauma. I won't argue against Roy not actually being Yellow's dad, but Yellow has an understanding of the world Around the world we see here. Just keep that in mind.

[zach]

I used to be a big supporter of the growing up theory but this has really changed my mind. great video, i hope to see more from you in the future

[speedykoala]

ok because of the new series i support this i think something like dhmis did actually happen but not in the creepy way we see it and the OG series is red guys mind and the new series is yellow guys mind and clayhill the one we were meant to get was ducks mind but something happened to duckl and as we hear in the new series ep 5 Red Guy:"what about that place *points to clay hill on the GPS *" GPS: "that place doesnt exist anymore "

[novemberstella]

I think that the theory is really good but it is a possibility that yellow guy was Roy's son and because of that he helped Roy kidnap duck and red guy like one of those situations where they ask for help and lead them somewhere

[TheInfiniteGears]

I wonder how this is gonna apply to the tv show, unless you see that as a separate thing