| Adventure Time: Distant Lands | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Science fantasy Action-adventure Comedy drama |
| Based on | Adventure Time byPendleton Ward |
| Developed by | Adam Muto |
| Directed by |
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| Voices of | |
| Theme music composer |
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| Opening theme | "Adventure Time Main Title"(performed by Pendleton Ward; episode 3) |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Scott Malchus |
| Running time | 45–50 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO Max |
| Release | June 25, 2020 (2020-06-25) – September 2, 2021 (2021-09-02) |
| Related | |
Adventure Time: Distant Lands is an Americananimated televisionlimited series developed byAdam Muto and produced byFrederator Studios andCartoon Network Studios forHBO Max. It is aspin-off of theCartoon Network seriesAdventure Time (2010–2018), which was originally created byPendleton Ward. The series consists of four hour-longstreaming television specials; the first special premiered on June 25, 2020,[1] followed by the second on November 19, 2020, the third on May 20, 2021, and the fourth on September 2, 2021.
The series at large follows the adventures ofFinn (a human boy) and his best friend and adoptive brotherJake, a dog with magical powers to change shape and size at will. Finn and Jake live in thepost-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, where they interact with the series' other main characters, includingPrincess Bubblegum,Marceline the Vampire Queen, andBMO.Distant Lands focuses on new and returning characters in previously unexplored areas of theAdventure Time universe.
Adventure Time follows the adventures ofFinn the Human (a boy), and his best friend and brotherJake, a dog with magical powers to change shape and size at will. Finn and Jake live in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, where they interact with the other major characters, such asPrincess Bubblegum,Marceline the Vampire Queen, and BMO. Common storylines revolve around Finn and Jake going on the titular adventures, discovering strange creatures, and battling monsters to help others.[2]
On September 29, 2016,Cartoon Network officially announced thatAdventure Time would end.[3] Storyline writing for the initial series ended in mid-November 2016,[4] and the show's final script waspitched tostoryboarders on November 28.[5][6][7] Voice recording for the initial series ended on January 31, 2017.[8][9][10] Several of the show's crew members were then hired for Cartoon Network'sSummer Camp Island, created byAdventure Time storyline writerJulia Pott.[11] TheAdventure Time finale, "Come Along with Me", aired on September 3, 2018, to a largely positive reception.[12][13][14][15]
Unlike the previous seasons, the specials debuted onHBO Max, thevideo on demand service fromWarnerMedia Entertainment.[16] TheDistant Lands specials have their origin during the production of the show's tenth season. Because the show had had success with specials and miniseries in the past (such asStakes andElements), the writers started to pitch a number of stories that could be told in longer formats. Two big ideas that emerged during this time were storylines focusing on BMO in space, and another focusing on Marceline and Bubblegum's relationship. Production for these longer stories, however, was halted when the series was cancelled. Later, when HBO and Cartoon Network began to revive the series for the HBO Max streaming service, theAdventure Time writers went back to these old ideas, and in time they generated the fourDistant Lands specials.[17]
Many of the cast from the original series returned for the specials, includingJeremy Shada asFinn the Human,[18]John DiMaggio asJake the Dog,Niki Yang as BMO,Hynden Walch asPrincess Bubblegum,Olivia Olson asMarceline the Vampire Queen, andSteve Little as Peppermint Butler. New characters included Glory Curda as Y5[19] andSimone Giertz as CGO;[20] both of them were already fans ofAdventure Time before joining the cast.[21][22] Guest voices include returning cast membersMaria Bamford,Ashly Burch, andRon Perlman, as well asRandall Park,Stephen Root,John Hodgman,David Bradley,Chris Fleming,Isabelle Fuhrman,Andy Daly,Ron Lynch,Tom Scharpling,Bill Hader,Julia Butters,Patti Harrison,Toks Olagundoye,Edi Patterson,Bex Taylor-Klaus,Dana Snyder,Duncan Trussell,SungWon Cho, andAnthony Head.[23]
LongtimeAdventure Time executive producerAdam Muto returned to oversee the production of the specials, withJack Pendarvis, Anthony Burch,Jesse Moynihan, Christina Catucci, Charley Feldman, and Kate Tsang serving as part of the writing staff.[24][25][26] Storyboard artists who worked on these specials included Ashlyn Anstee,[27] Jim Campbell, Iggy Craig,[28] Megan Fisher,[29] Laura Knetzger, Hanna K. Nyström,[30] Maya Petersen,[31] Anna Syvertsson, Mickey Quinn, and Serena Wu.[32] Miki Brewster served as supervising director for the specials. From June to September 2019, Jenny Goldberg briefly served as art director for the specials,[33] after which original series art director Sandra Lee served in that role.[23] On April 21, 2021, HBO Max announced that the airing sequence of "Wizard City" and "Together Again" would be switched, with the latter airing before the former.[34][35] After this announcement, Adam Muto explained that, initially, only three specials had been ordered, but that "Wizard City" was added on later and was the actual last special to be made.[36][37]
The end credits of the final special "Together Again"[23] feature a dedication to four deceased members of the show's cast and crew:Polly Lou Livingston,[38][39]Miguel Ferrer,[40][41] Michel Lyman,[42] and Maureen Mlynarczyk.[43] Livingston and Ferrer had provided the voices for Tree Trunks and Death, respectively; Lyman and Mlynarczyk, on the other hand, had been sheet timers on the original series.[44][45]
| No. | Title | Supervising direction by | Written and storyboarded by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "BMO" | Miki Brewster | Hanna K. Nyström, Iggy Craig, Laura Knetzger, Anna Syvertsson, &Adam Muto | June 25, 2020 (2020-06-25) | |
| 2 | "Obsidian" | Miki Brewster | Hanna K. Nyström, Anna Syvertsson, Iggy Craig, Mickey Quinn, Maya Petersen, Jim Campbell, & Ashlyn Anstee | November 19, 2020 (2020-11-19) | |
Marceline the Vampire Queen, withPrincess Bubblegum, travels to the Glass Kingdom, which is under threat of the dragon, Molto Larvo, trapped inside a furnace of the kingdom. While currently in a romantic relationship, Marceline has to deal with her past conflicts.[48][49][50] | |||||
| 3 | "Together Again" | Miki Brewster | Hanna K. Nyström, Anna Syvertsson, Iggy Craig, Maya Petersen, & Serena Wu | May 20, 2021 (2021-05-20) | |
Finn dies as an old man and arrives in the Dead Worlds, and he attempts to reach the 50th Deadworld and be reunited withJake. Finn's search is hampered by the involvement of New Death, the son of Death and Life, who has taken over the Dead Worlds with a tyrannical rule. After thwarting New Death's scheme, Finn asks to bereincarnated into another life, having spent much of his mourning Jake's death. Jake decides to follow, this time "just coming back for fun", and the two go into their next lives together.[51] | |||||
| 4 | "Wizard City" | Jeff Liu & Miki Brewster | Maya Petersen, Hanna K. Nyström, Anna Syvertsson, Aleks Sennwald, & Haewon Lee | September 2, 2021 (2021-09-02) | |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 82/100[54] |
Reception to "BMO" has been mostly positive. Rollin Bishop ofComic Book wrote that the special's biggest strength is that BMO is "the most innocent and also the most prone to misadventure" compared to the otherAdventure Time characters, which made the special itself a "solid watch from start to finish."[55] Others called "BMO" a "blend of dream logic, comedy, and surreal heroism".[56] Other reviewers praised the show for recapturing the magic of the original show,[57] with Petrana Radulovic ofPolygon arguing that it shared the same "melancholy feeling" as its parent series.[58] Other reviews were not as positive. Grace Z. Li ofVulture called the special "disappointing" even while praising the performance of BMO.[46] Dave Trumbore ofCollider singled out the pacing for critique, writing that the special seemed rushed "when it comes to story beats and character development."[59]
A number of reviewers commented on the episode's social commentary. The voice-actress for Y5, Glory Curda, argued that Y5's story has a lot of context and is representative of coming out into one's identity, defining the self with whatever terms are comfortable for a person.[60] Alexander Sowa ofCBR argued that Hugo is afuturist akin toElon Musk orSteve Jobs, whose characterization is "a clear satire of modern-day corporations andcapitalists."[61] Sowa also argued that contra Hugo—a capitalist and colonist who "destroys the world around him"—Y5 can be seen as a fighter for equity who pushes for a new form of social organization that is fairer to the inhabitants of the Drift. Joe Matar ofDen of Geek noted similar themes, saying that the story is about those living in Drift realizing that "their Elon Musk-esque tech capitalist overlord [Hugo] is destroying their world," which forces them to come together and rely on one another.[62] Robert Lloyd of theLos Angeles Times likewise noted that the special hints at social commentary toward the end, referring to the destruction of Earth, the nature ofresource management, the importance of cooperation, and "the way that certain humanbillionaires look at space as an escape pod."[63]
Writing forThe A.V. Club, William Hughes gave this episode an A, calling it "fan service at its finest" with "plenty of the usual lovelyAdventure Time touches".[64] Additionally, Rebecca Long also gave a positive review of the episode forPolygon. She wrote that the episode gives fans the "emotional payoff and answers" they have been yearning for and that the special uses the plot to explore Marceline's childhood trauma, her romantic history with Bubblegum, how the two are interconnected, and fills in gaps about her past. Long also stated that while the special is not "as offbeat" asBMO, it is heavier in terms of emotional weight and plot, and making clear that "romantic subtext" in the original show has "always been straight-up text." At the same time, she states that not all interactions between Bubblegum and Marceline are loving, that the special has flaws due to a conventional structure and storytelling, even with some "inconsistencies in Princess Bubblegum's character design," but is still heartfelt and effective, complete with new music, with Marceline and Bubblegum having "a shared future that feels real."[49] The episode was nominated for aGLAAD Media Award, taking place in 2021, for Outstanding Kids & Family Programming,[65][66] praised for using the plot to explore Marceline's childhood trauma, her romantic history with Bubblegum, how the two are interconnected, and for giving Marceline and Princess Bubblegum a "shared future that feels real."[67][68]
Rosie Knight ofIGN wrote that the special was a "perfect example of why [Adventure Time] made such a huge impact." Knight contended that the special's strongest asset was "how accessible it is to new viewers", given that both "hardcore fans" as well as new viewers who had little understanding of the characters could still come together and "enjoy this fantastical romp about aging, falling in love, and settling down". Knight further complimented the special for its message that Marceline's power comes from her love of Bubblegum. Knight also applauded the "Monster", which she argued is as iconic as "I'm Just Your Problem" (from season three's "What Was Missing") and "Everything Stays" (fromStakes). Knight concluded her review by noting that while the special could be seen as mere "fan service", it is "fan service of the highest order", "a wonderful animated episode", and "a fitting addition toAdventure Time's legacy."[68] Petrana Radulovic ofPolygon argued that 2020, when it came to all-ages animation, was a "glorious gay celebration that was unheard of just five years ago," the development of Marceline and Bubblegum's relationship in the "Obsidian" episode.[69] She specifically said that Obsidian was a "perfect end to this big gay year in animation," while noting that there is still work to do going forward.
Alexander Sowa ofCBR described the episode as "a story about time," including various flashbacks, and is a story about immortals, with Sowa saying that Bubblegum and Marceline will "remain young at heart" even as their human companions die.[70] Sean Cubillas had a similar description. He stated that the episode had "plenty of emotion and heart," adding that the episode showed that Marceline has grown up from what she was like in the original series, how Bonnie and Marcy met one another, and how they broke up in the past.[48] At the same time, Princess Weekes ofThe Mary Sue, before the episode aired, said she found it reassuring because for queer representation "it is important to acknowledge that loving someone doesn't fix emotional issues or personality flaws."[71] At the close of 2020,The New York Times named "Obsidian" one of "best TV episodes" of the year, calling it "the best excuse for [HBO Max's] existence."[72]
The episode was received positively. Rollin Bishop ofComicBook described it as a whirlwind "tour through fantastical worlds," with jokes, callbacks, and brotherly love.[73] Bishop also called it an "emotional roller coaster" and compared it to the previous special "Obsidian." Caroline Gao ofDen of Geek described the episode as well-adjusted to the long format with a dark tone.[74] Gao also compared the relationship between Finn and Jake in the episode, to the relationship between Princess Bubblegum and Marceline in "Obsidian," concluding that while it is not as profound as the series finale "Come Along With Me," it "fits into the middle of an Adventure Time season" rather than a bonus episode that follows the series finale. Eric Kohn ofIndieWire argued that the episode is "endearing, nice-to-have fan service" that isn't as ingenious as the show, but there is plenty to enjoy, with the reappearance various characters, and said it has a touching moment that resembles Pixar's movie,Soul.[75] Petrana Radulovic ofPolygon noted that while "BMO" and "Obsidian" specials have showcased emotions and tried to answer deeper questions, this special begins with a quest, then turns into "something poignant," and becomes an "emotional rollercoaster."[76] Radulovic said that other than the character reappearances, the special is visually gorgeous," and serves almost a metaphor for the journey that Finn and Jake undertake in the show itself, calling the episode a "beautiful, powerful, poignant ending" which captures the emotional depth ofAdventure Time itself. Reuben Baron ofCBR called the special "pretty much perfect," with the biggest adventure in the episode as death, with the Jake and Finn going on an "epic heroic adventure," willing to give each other's lives so they can reincarnate.[51] He also called the special a great "ending to Finn and Jake's story."
Compared to previous episodes, critical reception to "Wizard City" was more mixed. Kyle Logan ofCultured Vultures felt that the special was tonally disconnected from the original series, and he argued that while "Wizard City" is ostensibly focused on Peppermint Butler, the special fails to portray the character in a way that made him a fan-favorite in the first place. Logan ultimately argued that the special fails to deliver on its story potential.[77] Alejandra Bodden of Bleeding Cool was surprised by the number of deaths in the episode; she wrote that while she enjoyed Peps, she found the special's plot to be "kind of a fucked up story and situation to be in." Although she felt that "Wizard City" was the weakest out of the fourDistant Lands episodes, Bodden wrote that it was still an enjoyable experience overall.[78] Writing forBubble Blabber, David Kaldor wrote that the episode was a strange conclusion to theDistant Lands specials. Kaldor felt that, in terms of writing, the special was "pretty adequate", but he felt that it lacked the emotional punch of the previous three episodes.[52]
Reuben Baron ofComic Book Resources contrasted the episode to thesixth-season episode "Gold Stars" and theninth-season episode "Whispers," given similar themes in all three; despite the runtime of the latter two episode being around 20 minutes, Baron felt that they were more interesting than the 40-minutes "Wizard City", which he argued was derivative.[53] In addition, a side character named Blaine is anon-binarycyclops and a rival of Peppermint Butler.[79]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Kidscreen Award | Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie | For "BMO" | Won | [80][81] |
| GLAAD Media Award | Outstanding Kids & Family Programming | For "Obsidian" | Nominated | [65][66] | |
| Daytime Children's Programming & Animation Emmy Awards | Outstanding Special Class Daytime Animated Series | Nominated | [82][83] | ||
| Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Animated Program | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Original Song for a Preschool, Children's or Animated Program | "Monster" | Nominated | |||
| 4th Annual Gay Emmy | Outstanding Animated Series | For "Obsidian" | Nominated | [84] |
The album, "BMO's Mixtape (Gilligan Moss Mix)" was released on September 18, 2020.[85] It is not a soundtrack of the "BMO" special, but features remixed music from the original series, as well as a mix of the song "Eternity With You" from the "Obsidian" special. The album is mixed by the American musical duo Gilligan Moss.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Robot Cowboy" (Niki Yang) | 2:59 |
| 2. | "Summer Swamp Boogie" | 2:11 |
| 3. | "Good Little Girl" (Donald Glover,Madeleine Martin, &Roz Ryan) | 2:05 |
| 4. | "Dropdown Rainbow/All Gummed Up" (Jeremy Shada) | 4:04 |
| 5. | "Fries" (Jeremy Shada) | 1:26 |
| 6. | "Bacon Pancakes" (John DiMaggio) | 2:03 |
| 7. | "Oh BMO" (Niki Yang) | 0:53 |
| 8. | "Juke Bug" | 1:15 |
| 9. | "Sleepy Puppies" (Jeremy Shada) | 3:30 |
| 10. | "Time Adventure" (Niki Yang) | 2:22 |
| 11. | "Eternity With You" (Michaela Dietz & Gilligan Moss) | 3:50 |
| Total length: | 26:34 | |
The soundtrack to "Obsidian" was released on November 20, 2020.[86] The album also features a promotional cover of the song "Monster" sung by American singer-songwriterKing Princess. This track was released as a single on November 13, 2020.[87][88]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Welcome to the Glass Kingdom" | 1:59 |
| 2. | "Glassboy Meets the Dragon Larvo" | 2:08 |
| 3. | "It's Funny" (Charlotte Nicdao) | 1:02 |
| 4. | "Glassboy on the Run" | 0:56 |
| 5. | "Marceline and Princess Bubblegum Domestic Bliss" | 1:07 |
| 6. | "I'm Too Old to Die" | 0:36 |
| 7. | "Marceline and Princess Bubblegum Visit the Glass Kingdom" | 0:55 |
| 8. | "Marceline Breaks into the Glass Kingdom" | 1:44 |
| 9. | "Marceline Came to Play Hard" | 0:32 |
| 10. | "Woke Up" (Olivia Olson and Zuzu) | 2:21 |
| 11. | "Marceline Appears Victorious" | 2:05 |
| 12. | "Young Marceline" | 1:09 |
| 13. | "Red Light" (Audrey Bennett) | 0:29 |
| 14. | "Princess Bubblegum Discovery During a Glassassin Attack" | 0:48 |
| 15. | "Flashback Marceline and Princess Bubblegum Argue" | 0:53 |
| 16. | "Marceline Returns to Her Bunker" | 1:11 |
| 17. | "See Through" (Michaela Dietz) | 0:33 |
| 18. | "Plan to Defeat Larvo" | 0:30 |
| 19. | "Marceline's Reckoning" | 1:26 |
| 20. | "It's Me Glassboy!" | 0:32 |
| 21. | "Larvo Strikes" | 2:51 |
| 22. | "This Thing Really Hates Me" | 2:50 |
| 23. | "Monster" (Olivia Olson and Half Shy) | 1:39 |
| 24. | "I Love You, OK!" | 2:57 |
| 25. | "Simon to the Rescue" | 0:35 |
| 26. | "Eternity with You" (Michaela Dietz and Zuzu) | 2:22 |
| 27. | "It's Funny (Demo)" (Aleks Sennwald and Pete Toms) | 1:03 |
| 28. | "Woke Up (Demo)" (Zuzu and Kurran Karbal) | 2:22 |
| 29. | "Monster (Demo)" (Half Shy) | 2:50 |
| 30. | "Eternity With You (Demo)" (Zuzu and Kurran Karbal) | 2:41 |
| 31. | "Monster" (King Princess) | 2:51 |
| 32. | "Eternity With You (Gilligan Moss Mix)" (Michaela Dietz and Gilligan Moss) | 3:49 |
| Total length: | 51:46 | |
The series was released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 8, 2022.[89]
| Adventure Time: Distant Lands | |||
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| Release dates | |||
| Region 1 | Region 4 | Region A | Region B |
| March 8, 2022[89] | TBA | March 8, 2022[89] | TBA |
storyboard artist/writer. Adventure Time // Summer Camp Island // Rumble JawNote: "Rumble Jaw" was the secretive name used during the production of these specials.
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