Spanning over eight years, “Adventure Time” is one of the most iconic Cartoon Network shows of all time. The show’s success is apparent due to the numerous spinoffs and countless fans. The show is actually still being continued through its most successful spinoff, “Fiona and Cake.” I think that many will agree with me when saying that “Adventure Time” is the greatest show to come from Cartoon Network. Its interconnecting themes, plot and cast make it one of the most sincere and passionate shows ever animated.
The show’s plot follows Finn the Human and Jake the Dog as they travel The Land of Ooh and interact with other characters. Being honest, the first season does feel a little hollow, but that just has to do with it being new and still finding its footing on Cartoon Network. The real meat and potatoes of the show come in seasons two and three as the viewer learns more about the universe.
My first reason as to why I think “Adventure Time” is so good is because the creators were never afraid to discuss complex themes in their plots. The biggest themes of the shows are definitely that of growing up and how to maintain healthy relationships.
“Adventure Time” actually takes it a step further by allowing themes to grow more complex as the show progresses. They do this by aging up the characters as the story runs. The creators also keep the same voice actors throughout the entirety of the series. This adds to the immersion of the story. It also allows the audience to grow up with the characters.
The beginning seasons focus on a young, eleven year old Finn, and the plot is simple. As Finn grows up with the show, the plots evolve into more complex themes. Now instead of just focusing on a simple hero saves the day plot, episodes were bunched into arcs and told deep lessons about emotions.
A good example of how the show evolved can be seen through the Ice King, or Simon. In the early seasons, Ice King is a silly villain who serves as a recurring character for cheap gags. Towards the later season his backstory is revealed and the viewer understands that his silliness is just a front for the fact that he lost his mind and all memories of his family and life prior to finding the Ice King when his name was Simon.
Finn’s romantic relationships are another thing that makes the show so good. Watching Finn grow as a character through his love interests is really satisfying, as the audience watches him mature and understand emotions more.
I think that the decision to let Finn grow up alongside the audience was a great move. It felt so natural growing up with the show. As I got older the show matured with me, and I think that sense of relatability and immersion is what makes it the best thing released on Cartoon Network.
