Cartoons just got a little more real with The Three Thug Mice, an online series set in New York City. The 35 animated shorts follow the tales (and tails!) of three rodent crooks named Vic, Tik and Brik. Described as an "ongoing ghetto saga" set in some of the seedier sectors of the concrete jungle, the trio's home turf is light years away from Disney World. (Though that is the Hotel Chelsea in the background, which isn't so seedy; wonder if that frog jumped after BD Hotels took over management.)

Created by NYC artist Steve Marcus, and featuring the voices of rappers and street artists, a new episode will be available each week so you can keep up with the anti-heroes of the underbelly. Be prepared for encounters with the porcine police and the cockroach cocaine cartel; this sort of sounds like a vermin version of Grand Theft Auto (yes, there's even a game).

Launching as we enter the Chinese Year of the Rat, you can view the webisodes online, here. Complex has more on the cast and a special t-shirt created by Orchard Street.