I don’t know what to say about Adventure Time. It’s such a kitschy piece of animation. I avoided watching it for a long time because previews of it just did not look appealing to me. However, its longevity and Cartoon Network constantly promoting it lead me to finally look into it. I was a little surprised that it received quite a bit of acclaim over the course of its run. Equally surprising is that the show lasted 3 seasons with a 4th on the way and a 5th in the works.

So, I finally got around to watching the first season…

It’s a weird show. The animation is either crappy or retro, depending on how you want to look at it. The storylines are nonsensical, but still manage to be entertaining. Each episode is about 10 to 12 minutes minus commercials.

The show is about Jake the dog and Finn the human going on adventures of all types…and occasionally breaking out into dance. It’s fantasy themed, and these adventures usually consist of the main characters saving a princess of one of the many kingdoms or just fighting against evil in all its many forms. Some of the storylines are ridiculously imaginative and the show is very genre savvy. The main character Finn knows that he is a hero and lives up to it in every sense of the word. If he hears a cry for help, he will answer it. More than anything, you may get caught up in Finn’s enthusiasm and Jake’s flights of whimsy.

The show is very random, however, there are a few moments that approach pure genius and various parts that will cause you to laugh out loud.

One thing I wished for in this show is longer story arcs. I found myself giddy at the thought of these characters in an epic adventure that spanned several episodes. The first season does not do this, but there is some cohesion. For example, the stories involving the Ice King do have a bit of chronology to them. The stories involving Finn and the vampire Marceline also have a little bit of arc to them. Overall, each episode is a standalone that does not really need you to know anything about the show to enjoy them.

As I said, I am not sure how I feel about this series. It’s just so odd. However, as I write this, I am watching the second season.

I’m not sure who this show appeals to. It seems like the type of show that a friend would recommend to you for those times when you are more…elevated. It appeals to me as a fantasy series because of its imaginative inventiveness, its genre savviness, and its charismatic characters. The retro styling and RPG elements appeal to me personally, but maybe it will turn others off. I think it could be much more epic than it is, but I’m not sure if the show is headed that route. We will see when I’m done checking out Season 2.

You can get Adventure Time Season One on Amazon – They have it as both DVD and by Digital Download

I also found the Adventure Time DVD at Barnes and Noble

There’s an Adventure Time Youtube Channel as well with hundreds of clips: https://www.youtube.com/show/adventure-time

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Read my review of Adventure Time Season Two