Adventure Time is the reason DVRs are the greatest thing to happen to TV since the remote control. There’s no science behind Cartoon Network’s air dates — unlike most shows, which follow a week-to-week, fall-to-spring broadcast schedule, episodes of Pendleton Ward’s wildly imaginative, vividly bright, existential crisis of a kids show randomly appear on the DVR. And whenever they do, it’s a delightful treat, like finding a Cookie Crisp in your box of Fiber One. Adventure Time is the kind of wonderful cartoon that makes adults say “it’s too good for kids,” which isn’t giving nearly enough credit to children, and it’s remained remarkably consistent over seven seasons.
Unfortunately, there are only two more to go.
Cartoon Network announced today that the Emmy-winning Adventure Time is ending after season nine. That’s the bad news. The good news? That won’t happen until 2018. “Adventure Time changed the definition of what a kids’ TV series could be, and it’s had a resounding impact upon popular culture around the world,” Cartoon Network chief content officer Rob Sorcher said in a statement. “Cartoon Network Studios is proud to have brought together this group of brilliant artists and animators who helped make Adventure Time one of the most critically acclaimed TV series of a generation.”
Creator Ward added, “Adventure Time was a passion project for the people on the crew who poured their heart into the art and stories. We tried to put into every episode something genuine and telling from our lives, and make a show that was personal to us, and that had jokes, too! I’m really happy that it connected with an audience for so long. It’s a special thing, I think.”
One of the more remarkable things about Adventure Time is how the “best TV series ever made” followed the emotional maturity of 19-year-old Jeremy Shada, who started voicing Finn the Human when he 12 years old. In season one, Finn was a silly pre-teen who just wanted to hang out with his best bud, Jake the Dog; by season seven, he was severely lovestruck, confused, and desperate to know his place in the universe. It’s a complexity you don’t find in most shows, let alone one starring a talking dog and a horny elephant.
Now let’s name the moments that made us cry. I’ll start!
(Via the Hollywood Reporter)
