Adventure Time: Distant Lands
Four specials exploring new corners of Ooo.
Adventure Time: Distant Lands is an American animated anthology limited series developed by Adam Muto for HBO Max. It is a spin-off of the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time, which originally aired from 2010 to 2018. The series consists of four hour-long specials that explore new areas of the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Science fantasy
- Action-adventure
- Comedy drama
- Anthology
- Based on
- Adventure Time, Pendleton Ward
- Developer
- Adam Muto
- Director
- Miki Brewster; Jeff Liu
- Voices
- Jeremy Shada
- John DiMaggio
- Olivia Olson
- Hynden Walch
- Niki Yang
- Tom Kenny
- Steve Little
- Language
- English
- Theme music
- Pendleton Ward; Casey James Basichis
- Opening theme
- "Adventure Time", Pendleton Ward
Facts from the source article.
Production
The specials originated during production of the show's tenth season. Because the series had previously succeeded with longer formats such as Stakes and Elements, writers began pitching stories that could be told in extended lengths. Two major ideas emerged: one focusing on BMO in space, and another centering on Marceline and Bubblegum's relationship. Production on these longer stories halted when the series was cancelled. Later, when HBO and Cartoon Network revived the series for HBO Max, the writers revisited those old concepts and developed the four Distant Lands specials. Unlike prior seasons, the specials debuted on HBO Max, a WarnerMedia Entertainment streaming service.
Reception
Reception to the first special, "BMO", was mostly positive. Critics noted that BMO's innocence and tendency toward misadventure made the special a solid watch. Some reviewers praised it for recapturing the melancholy feeling of the original series. Other reviews were less favorable; one critic called the special disappointing despite praising BMO's performance, while another singled out the pacing as rushed in terms of story beats and character development. Several commentators discussed the episode's social commentary. The voice actress for Y5 stated that Y5's story represents coming into one's identity. One writer described the character Hugo as a clear satire of modern corporations and capitalists, contrasting him with Y5 as a fighter for equity. Another reviewer noted that the story involves residents realizing their tech capitalist overlord is destroying their world, forcing them to rely on each other. A Los Angeles Times critic observed hints of commentary on resource management, cooperation, and billionaires viewing space as an escape pod.
Music
The album "BMO's Mixtape (Gilligan Moss Mix)" was released on September 18, 2020. It features remixed music from the original series and a mix of the song "Eternity With You" from the "Obsidian" special, mixed by the duo Gilligan Moss. The soundtrack to "Obsidian" was released on November 20, 2020, and includes a promotional cover of "Monster" by King Princess, released as a single on November 13, 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Adventure Time: Distant Lands first air?
Adventure Time: Distant Lands first aired on 25 June 2020.
When did Adventure Time: Distant Lands end?
Adventure Time: Distant Lands last aired on 2 September 2021.
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