Adventure Time Season 1 Review

25/12/2012

Adventure Time 
Season 1

Adventure Time (AT) is one of the greatest animated shows produced in the past decade and if you're not watching it yet, you're missing out. The show in its simplest form is the adventures of Jake the Dog and Finn the Human as they travel the world of Ooo, doing whatever they want. They essentially live in a tree house, playing video games and hanging out. Finn has a platonic but quite interesting relationship with Princess Bubblegum, monarch of the candy kingdom. Jake is in love with a flying fluorescent rainbow Unicorn who speaks Korean, Lady Rainicorn (Niki Yang). And there’s an evil Ice King constantly trying to thwart plans and kidnap princesses.

Like I said, simplest form.

At a more complex and interesting look, the show is about the earth after nuclear destruction and the metaphysical presence of heaven and hell colliding.  There is a lot to AT but it never weighs itself too far down in the complexities by focusing on what all great cartoons have: heart. The show focuses on the importance of friendship, how things need to be talked out and sometimes the best discussions can turn into the greatest adventures.

The first season is slow to start but a few episodes in you'll get into the swing of things. Highlights from AT's first year include the introduction to Lumpy Space Princess, the perfect representation of adolescent ignorance and selfishness in the episode ‘Trouble in Lumpy Space’. Ricardo the Heart Guy (voiced by Star Trek's George Takei) is a frightening example of the original and creative character designs that creator Pendleton Ward can pull out in almost every single episode.

The show takes on a weird philosophical interest with episodes such as ‘What is Life’, when a robot is invented and begins to contemplate its own existence and where morality originates. Another great example of blurring right and wrong is ‘What Have You Done’ as our two adventurers capture and interrogate The Ice King. The show's personal moral quandaries test the usual status quo of animated action shows. What truly makes a hero good and where do they draw the line when things get chaotic?

The show's animation is slick yet loose with a style reminiscent of mid to late 90's cartoons such as KaBlam! or Oh Yeah Cartoons. The show varies in tone on many occasions depending on the episode title and content. While some of it can be bleak or dark in nature, it often tries to balance it out with crude or informal comedy, which always works. There is so much to find enjoyable in the amount of colour and creativity abound in this series, it's hard not to feel overwhelmed by the end of an AT marathon.

The voice acting is top-notch from Finn's fifteen year old voice actor, Jeremy Shada. The voice breaks and nervous pitches bring an innocence and honesty to his character that you don't find in many protagonists. Jake is voiced by cartoon great John DiMaggio, known for his work on Futurama and an infinite amount of video game and animated voice work. Hayden Welch as Princess Bubblegum teeters on the edge of being passive-aggressive and bossy but also has a sweetness to her voice on multiple occasions; seeing how quickly she can turn is a delight. Classic voice actors such as Tom Kenny (Spongebob) and Dee Bradley Baker (Appa) make appearances from time to time and bring out the personality in their characters.

I know Christmas has come and gone, but if you've got a bit of money, I highly suggest checking out this DVD, its 26 11-minute episodes and the pretty awesome special features. You will not be disappointed in the slightest. This first season DVD is set to rock any AT fans face off. It's adventure time!

Notable DVD extras

• Behind the scenes featurettes
• Animatics featuring commentary by Ward, Adam Muto, Pat McHale and Derek Drymon for the ‘Rainy Day Daydream’, ‘Slumber Party Panic’, ‘Dungeon’ and ‘The Enchiridion!’.
• Select episode commentaries from cast members and special guests including:
  • ‘Prisoners of Love’ with John DiMaggio, Jeremy Shada, Tom Kenny and Ward;
  • ‘Ricardio the Heart Guy’ with George Takei, Hynden Walch, Kenny, Shada and Ward;
  • ‘Tree Trunks’ with Bettie Ward and Polly Lou Livingston;
  • And ‘Trouble in Lumpy Space’ with DiMaggio, Shada, Kenny and Ward.
• Music Video
• Finndemonium
• The Wand

Favourite Episode: ‘Rainy Day Daydream’

Score: 9/10

Written by HE