HBO Max has announced a 10-episode order for a new animated series, titled “Adventure Time: Bubblegum and Marceline.” The news, which generated great repercussion, was revealed during the Annecy Animation Festival, in France.
The production of this spin-off of “Adventure Time” is a collaboration with Cartoon Network Studios. Adam Muto, an Emmy award-winning professional with extensive experience in the franchise, will assume the roles of showrunner and executive producer.
This new project follows the success of other Max productions, such as “Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake” and “Adventure Time: Distant Lands”, which have already won over the public.
New chapter for the story of Bubblegum and Marceline
The revelation about the spin-off and approval by HBO Max occurred last Wednesday. The stage was a joint presentation by Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, part of the Annecy Animation Festival.
An official synopsis details that the plot will follow the beloved characters Princess Bubblegum and Marceline, the Vampire Queen. They will embark on an exploratory journey through Ooo, a vast universe where they will come across familiar figures and face new challenges.
The narrative structure of the new production foresees development over multiple seasons, similar to the format of “Adventure Time” and “Fiona and Cake”. This approach differs from the model of independent episodes, as seen in “Adventure Time: Side Missions”, which is scheduled for release on June 29 on Disney+ and Hulu.
Fred Seibert, a producer with a long history on “Adventure Time,” and Sam Register, who heads Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe will also serve as executive producers on “Adventure Time: Bubblegum and Marceline.”
Relationship between the characters marked the history of TV
The two protagonists have maintained a solid fan base for almost ten years, during which time there was intense discussion about their identities. The confirmation of a relationship between Bubblegum and Marceline occurred at the end of the tenth season of the original series, in 2018. The kiss shared by the characters was a significant milestone in children’s television at the time, meeting the expectations and desires of many fans of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Since that moment, the duo’s popularity has only increased, driven by an engaged community of admirers and the success of the spin-off “Fiona & Cake.” For many, it was only a matter of time before Bubblegum and Marceline had a series dedicated exclusively to them.
Amy Gravitt, executive vice president of comedy programming at HBO and HBO Max, expressed excitement about the project. “We’re excited to see where Adam’s boundless imagination takes us in this new series. It’s a joy to embark on another ‘Adventure Time’ journey with our friends and partners at Cartoon Network Studios,” said Gravitt.
Sam Register added, highlighting the relevance of the franchise. “‘Adventure Time’ continues to be one of the most creative and beloved universes in animation. Together with our partners at HBO Max, we are thrilled to continue expanding this universe with Adam and his incredibly talented team,” he said.
Adam Muto showed great excitement about the new series. “Continuing the spirit of ‘Fionna & Cake’, I’m excited for the next series of ‘Adventure Time’ to feature two more of my favorite characters: Bubblegum and Marceline,” commented Muto. He also highlighted that it was “a fantastic opportunity to meet old friends and expand the ‘Adventure Time’ universe”.
Approval for “Adventure Time: Bubblegum and Marceline” came two months ago. Currently, the series is in the script writing stage.
Other news presented in Annecy
The officialization of the spin-off was the main point of a well-attended presentation by the Warner Bros. companies. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. The event took place at the Mifa market in Annecy, a space already established at the festival.
Among other relevant news released by companies in Annecy, it is worth highlighting that Genndy Tartakovsky and Cartoon Network Studios are developing an animated series of “Conan the Barbarian”. This production is destined for Prime Video and the information was first published by The Wrap.
Additionally, the session schedule featured the first two episodes of “Adventure Time: Side Quests.” Excerpts from “Yokoso Scooby-Doo” and “Foster’s Fun Time With Imaginary Friends” were also shown. Finally, excerpts were shown from “Supermutant Magic Academy”, a series that will air on Adult Swim and had its initial scenes revealed on Tuesday at the festival.