Adventure Time is without a doubt one of the most, if not the most, iconic cartoons of the 2010s. It influenced the tone of what modern cartoons would be for the rest of the decade, and it also happens to be a really good show.
Adventure Time has accumulated a ton of fun trivia during its 10-season long run, and some of them are things that only the most hardcore of Adventure Time fans would be aware of. From celebrity voice actors to strange origins for character designs, Adventure Time's production can be just as odd as the show itself.
All-Star Guest Characters
Adventure Time has pulled in some shockingly huge names in its 10 season run. Many of these guest actors do some off-the-wall performances that fit perfectly with the Land of Ooo. Some of the most obvious ones would be George Takei as Ricardio, Mark Hamill as the Fear Feaster, and Justin Roiland as the Earl of Lemongrab.
Some more subtle performances would be Neil Patrick Harris as Prince Gumball, Donald Glover as Marshall The Vampire King, Andy Samberg as Party Pat, Weird Al Yankovic as the Banana Man, Ron Perlman as the Lich, and way too many more to mention. For some fun, try looking up how many guest voice actors Adventure Time has had.
The Post-Apocalypse Wasn't Actually Intended
While producing the show, the show was intended to be fully fantastical in setting and story. However, when the episode "Business Time" was released, that cheeky little iceberg full of businessmen sank that "fully fantastical" idea. The writers decided they liked the shockingly darker premise for Adventure Time so much that they decided to roll with it.
From that point, little clues like old crashed satellites, random bits of machinery, abandoned cars, and other very modern things would crop up in the background of the show. This subtle background detail would eventually become a huge plot point later in the series.
The Writing Game
One of the fun things that the show's writers would do was a game called "Exquisite Corpse". One writer would write out a segment of a story, the next writer would follow it up, and so on. It does explain a lot of the "random" vibes the show has.
That said, the writers were all very honest about the fact that a lot of these ideas were never used as the actual final episode draft. Oftentimes they would simply take out the best bits because the finished stories came out terrible.
Some Stellar Influences
Pendleton Ward has cited works such as My Neighbor Totoro, Home Movies, and Dr. Katz as major influences on Adventure Time's unique style. The blend of subversive and unorthodox humor mixed with the slow, relaxing atmosphere of beautiful landscapes are thanks to the vibe of these influences.
In addition, the eventual post-apocalyptic aesthetic was inspired by the Mad Max franchise, thus all the nuclear and gas-guzzling technology. Lastly, the opening sequence was inspired by the Simpsons and Pee-Wee's Playhouse, as seen with the panning over unique locales, then adding what Ward called "silly character stuff".
The Title Theme Is a Scratch Take
Speaking of the title sequence, Adventure Time's title theme is an iconic part of the 2010s. What most people don't know is that it was the genuine first take of that song. The song was recorded in a random animatics room with a bunch of ambient office noises in the background.
When they tried to do other takes of the song, they were not at all happy with it. Eventually, they listened back to the first "temporary" take and found it was the best one, and that's what became the theme song we know and love today.
The Stepping Stone For Several Awesome Creators
Adventure Time molded the cartoons 2010s in more ways than people realize. A lot of the show's former storyboarders and artists went on to create some huge shows of their own. Working on Adventure Time allowed many creators to gain experience and connections that would help their future careers.
J.G. Quintel (Regular Show), Patrick McHale (Over the Garden Wall), Pete Browngardt (Uncle Grandpa), Ian Jones-Quartey (OK K.O.!), Kent Osborne (Cat Agent), Julia Pott (Summer Camp Island), Elizabeth Ito (City of Ghosts), Skyler Page (Clarence) and Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe) all worked on Adventure Time before moving on to their projects.
Everything Stays Was Based On a Bunny
Everything Stays is one of the most emotionally resonant songs in Adventure Time, and the way it was written is equally as melancholic. Rebecca Sugar recalls a moment from her childhood when she lost a stuffed black rabbit in her childhood home. A year later, she found it laying on its back in their garden.
Despite not being moved for over a year, the young Rebecca noted that the sun had caused its belly to become white. Other than being dirty, it was fine. It was this feeling of finding out that things would change, even if they were left completely alone. "Everything stays, right where you left it."
The Show Was Pitched To Nickelodeon First
Adventure Time is one of Cartoon Network's biggest modern cash cows, but what many might not have known was that it was originally pitched to one of their biggest rivals first. Pendleton Ward pitched the show to Nickelodeon and was broadcast on Nicktoons Network way back in 2007.
Despite being a viral hit, Nicktoons Network would reject the show five times, like the many shorts Nickelodeon has rejected over the years. Once the rights to commission a full series finally expired, Ward, along with Frederator, pitched it to other networks, eventually landing with Cartoon Network. A few storyboards later, the show became one of the biggest animated hits of the 2010s. Nickelodeon executives were heard "furiously kicking themselves in the butt", according to some unfounded rumors.
The Showrunner Quit Halfway Through The Series
Pendleton Ward loved Adventure Time, but the stress of running a show and directing dozens of people was too much for the introverted showrunner. By the time season 5 aired, Pendleton Ward had quietly stepped down as showrunner and moved on to more behind-the-scenes roles.
Ward was replaced by his co-writer Adam Muto, who would run the show from Season 6 onward. Thankfully, Muto had been around ever since the start of the show and most casual fans likely didn't notice that showrunners had changed due to Adventure Time retaining its silly yet dark tone.
The Cosmic Owl's "Golden" Origin
The Cosmic Owl is one of the most powerful and visually striking characters in the show. However, its origins are significantly less regal than anybody might expect. While doing their business at a urinal in the Cartoon Network restrooms, one of the staff noted the reflection of the urinal handles and went "darn, that's a good owl design".
And the rest is history. One of the most influential and memorable deities in the show is likely watching people in urinals. For the record, many fans have recreated that exact reflection, so for those wanting some inspiration, visit your local restroom.
NEXT: 5 Adventure Time Fan Theories 'Come Along With Me' Confirmed (& 5 We Still Wonder About)