Tree Trunks

A naive adventurer who finds a legendary apple in the Evil Forest.

Tree Trunks is an anthropomorphic elephant who guest stars as the titular character in the fourth episode of Adventure Time's first season, 'Tree Trunks,' which aired on April 12, 2010. Voiced by Polly Lou Livingston, a friend of creator Pendleton Ward's mother, she is invited to her home for apple pie before embarking on a quest with Finn and Jake. The episode was written and storyboarded by Bert Youn and Sean Jimenez from a story by Merriwether Williams and Tim McKeon. While originally intended to end with her simply exploding, an amended ending reveals her transport to a crystal dimension, serving as the genesis for the second season episode 'Crystals Have Power.'

Quick Facts

Series: Adventure Time
Story: Merriwether Williams; Tim McKeon
Writer: Bert Youn; Sean Jimenez
Air date: 12 April 2010
Length: 11 minutes

Lore & Background

Tree Trunks resides in a home where she hosts Finn and Jake, discussing wishes before they decide to help her find the rare Crystal Gem Apple located in the Evil Forest. The journey involves encountering a wall of flesh that Tree Trunks defeats by naively placing stickers on it, as well as sign zombies with whom she attempts to have a tea party despite their murderous intent. Later, she faces a brain beast, relying on 'adventurer's instincts' to seduce it with makeup rather than fighting. When Finn and Jake encounter a Crystal Guardian that mimics their attacks, they realize they must fight 'Tree Trunks-style,' tricking the monster so she can take a bite of the apple.

Reader's Guide

Tree Trunks was voiced by Polly Lou Livingston, whom Pendleton Ward asked to appear on the show after not seeing her for eight years; she nearly fainted at the request due to his memory of her unforgettable Southern drawl. Although 'Tree Trunks' aired as the fourth episode, it was the sixteenth produced, explaining her appearance in the later season one episode 'Evicted!' despite vanishing in this entry. The unedited version, featuring only her explosion without the crystal dimension sequence, is available on the 'Adventure Time: My Two Favorite People' DVD. Composer Casey James Basichis created a 'folksy massacre' sound using basses and saws to match the whimsical spirit of the episode.