My new favorite kid's cartoon is Adventure Time and it's on the Cartoon Network on Mondays at 8pm. I feel a little shame watching a kid's cartoon, but this one is so good. I'm not sure why .. I think it's because the cartoon is so unexpectedly violent and anarchic that makes it so much addicting to watch. My daughter put on the cartoon and I thought well this is just silly, but then I got lost in the mayhem - almost hypnotized.
There are real twists in the plot and the characters are deterministic, yet vibrant and chaotic. It's just really cool okay.
The cartoon focuses on two main protagonist. Finn (a 12 year old boy) and his dog Jake (28 years old - dog years).Finn is a kind of Peter Pan character. He is a maverick and dramatic and above all chivalrous. Finn is skilled in all kinds of combat, including the psych attack where he looks like he's going to kick but at the last moment does an upper cut.
Jake is wise, at times apathetic and the moral compass for the team. Jake also has magical powers such as growing super large, long stretching appendages (including nose). And to top it off the dog speaks fluent Korean.
Together they go on wild and adventurous quests. Their goal is to defeat and vanquish the main antagonist the Ice King.
The Ice King and his disembodied heart are the only antagonist so far. The Ice King is old and corrupt. He lusts after the Bubblegum Princess. He has magical powers in his frozen kingdom. He can throw ice-lightning bolts and freeze characters and objects in ice.
Sound interesting? Here is a trailer for the cartoon.
Adventure Time Epic Trailer
The setting and characters do remind me somewhat of Homestar Runner. Maybe it's that Princess Bubblegum and the Ice King in Adventure Time remind me of King of Town and Marzipan in Homestar.
As you can see in the trailer the cartooning is excellent. The character are so fluid and the animator have a way of breaking every boundary but still keeping it real. I especially the rubber hose arms and legs.
Like Ren and Stimpy from time to time there is a close up / freeze frame to show more detail or the convey a strong emotion.
Adventure Time takes absurd to a whole new level and I like it.
