According to the website , the idea for Happy Tree Friends was created by Rhode Montijo when he drew a yellow rabbit , slightly resembling the character Cuddles , on a piece of paper and wrote `` Resistance Is Futile '' underneath it . According to the website , the idea for Happy Tree Friends was conceived by Rhode Montijo when he drew a yellow rabbit slightly resembling the character Cuddles on a piece of paper and wrote `` Resistance is futile '' underneath it .