As a new semester began, I found myself looking for a show to take comfort in — something to help me relax and escape the daily stressors of college life. I discovered all of those and more while watching HBO Max’s “Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake.”
Prior to watching, I was a casual “Adventure Time” (2010) fan. Even though it is not my favorite cartoon, the show’s comedy, masterful visuals and storytelling always kept me engaged and wanting more. I appreciated the consistency in the visuals and how the animators utilized diverse colors in both the characters and the backgrounds to give viewers a similar sense of magic and fantasy from within the show. Watching “Adventure Time” was truly immersive, and the animation made me feel like I was right in the middle of the action. The exact same magic was felt during my watch of “Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake.”
The first season of the show was released on Aug. 31 and concluded on Sept. 28 with a total of 12 episodes. Adam Muto developed the series following Pendleton Ward creating the universe of “Adventure Time.” Hanna K. Nyström, an “Adventure Time” veteran with 15 years working for the series, also wrote the new show. Debora Arroyo, known for her production work on shows like “Futurama” (1999) and “Infinity Train” (2019), is the producer of the show.
Additionally, Amanda Jones composed the score for “Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake,” featuring the voice talents of animator Rebecca Sugar, singer Zuzu, actress Hynden Walch and the band Half Shy. While actor and musician Donald Glover had brief short moments in the show, they were too brief to be featured on the soundtrack. However, those moments are definitely a huge reason to watch the show, as his smooth voice instantly makes the scenes better.
“Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake” follows Fionna Campbell (Madeleine Martin), a courageous yet relatable heroine, and her pet Cake the Cat (Roz Ryan), a spunky and vivacious powerhouse, as they journey across dimensions to stop the mystical auditor Scarab (Kayleigh McKee) erasing their universe. Alongside Fionna and Cake is Simon Petrikov (Tom Kenny), a scientist jaded from his traumatic past yet still kind and dedicated to helping the duo. While the series focuses on the four of them, the supporting cast is also strong and fleshed out despite their relatively small amount of screen time. The supporting cast includes star-studded musicians Andrew Rannells and Glover as Gary Prince and Marshall Lee, Fionna’s best friends. Both actors give genuine and radiant performances, with Glover getting multiple opportunities to display his soulful and comforting vocals.
The casting choices in “Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake” are on point, with familiar faces and some star-studded newcomers joining the universe. Martin and Ryan reprise their roles, both expertly showing off their emotional range and comedic timing. Also returning to his previous role is Kenny. Although his character does not give as much of an opportunity to show off his comedic chops, his acting is heartfelt and palpable, providing great emotional depth for Simon.
The music and scoring for the cartoon also go above and beyond to provide a wide tonal range, from enchanting and comforting to wild and exhilarating. The opening song grabs your attention with loud and upbeat jazz, while the credits are very technical and otherworldly. The lyrical songs are cheerful and almost ethereal at points, with gentle and soothing melodies. The soundtrack reaches optimistic highs with “Not Myself,” a lively pop ballad, to a pensive and melancholy low with “Part of the Madness.” With such a wide variety of musical tones, the soundtrack perfectly hits every beat on the emotional spectrum of “Adventure Time: Fiona and Cake.”
But what sets this show apart from many other adult cartoons is its stunning visuals. The backdrops range from the radiant magical landscapes to the gorgeous pastel gradients in the cityscapes. The character designs are unique and memorable, despite the simple 2D animation style. Furthermore, the worldbuilding is creative, with each universe Fionna and Cake travel to having a distinct style and range of colors that properly support the tone. From the warm, rustic tones of “Farmworld” to the vibrant blues and purples of “Winterworld” to the cohesive blending of dull grays and comforting gradients of “Fionna-world,” the animators beautifully utilize colors to immerse the viewers in both fantasy and normalcy in the worlds. The animation is immersive and comforting in its fluidity, never feeling too harsh and making for a visually pleasing experience.
Above all else, “Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake” excels in its emotional storytelling. The plot is engaging and well-paced, never wasting too much time on a scene. However, it uses every minute to flesh out its characters and their respective conflicts. While “Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake” may be a fantasy cartoon, its conflicts are genuinely realistic. The show never feels too heavy in its emotions, though, efficiently resolving its conflicts so that it can progress. My one criticism is that I wish the supporting characters Gary and Marshall got more screen time because their issues felt the most real, both struggling with dreams of independence. I wish I could have seen those conflicts more fleshed out.
“Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake” is a refreshing and easy watch, especially if you are already familiar with the universe. It is emotional, hilarious and overall, a fun time.
