2. OVERVIEW
Adventure Time is a show aired on Cartoon Network. It was originally a single-episode
flash animation created by Pendleton Ward.

3. So because it’s aired on a child-oriented network means it’s for kids, right?
Not exactly! There are a number of underlying themes that kids may not catch but are
certainly noticed by older audiences. These include, but are not limited to:
• The Apocalypse (and how we may be causing it)
• Same-sex couples
• Gender equality and identity
• Sexual references
• Adult language/cursing
REASONING

4. The land of Ooo has only been viewed from
space a couple of times over the course of the
show. From there, though, we can see some
great damage has been done to the planet—
which looks suspiciously like our own.
That, coupled with dogs who can talk, people
made of candy, and what appear to be nukes
in some areas have led some to believe the
show takes place after a nuclear war destroys
a great portion of the earth.
The Earls of Lemongrab are a pretty obvious take
on what Pendleton Ward’s views on same-sex
couples are: he’s all for them! There is not one but
two canon (or supposed-to-be) queer couples in
the show. The Earls find alternative ways of
making “children” by giving every last bit of food
they have life, starving themselves in the process.
Marceline and Princess Bubblegum have been
heavily suggested to being lovers in interviews with
Ward, who claims that the backstory he imagined
for them is not appropriate for the show itself.
Rumor is that CN threatened to remove the show
from the air if the romance was supported.
EXAMPLES

5. In one episode the main characters
encounter a hostage situation and
attempt to infiltrate the building to
rescue the hostages. As it turns out the
perpetrator is an orphaned man whose
only childhood wish was to be a
princess. The theme of gender equality
and identity used here is usually one
avoided in children’s shows, but in this
case it was well-received. Any adult with a colorful vocabulary
would be tickled by the substitute curse-
words found in the show. Frequent
phrases include “what the flop,” and
“lumpin’ _____!” There are also a
number of references to rude hand
gestures, such as a worm sitting in the
center of a clenched fist.
EXAMPLES

6. 0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
Season 1 Viewers (in
Millions)
Season 5 Viewers (in
Millions)
VIEWER DEMOGRAPHICS
Data retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Adventure_Time_episodes

7. THE END!
Graphics Credits:
• http://adventuretime.wikia.com/wiki/File:Adventure_Time_%28no_copyright%29.png
• http://www.gamefreaks.co.nz/2013/09/05/adventure-time-explore-dungeon-because-dont-
new-gameplay-screens/
• http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/adventure-time-with-finn-and-
jake/images/34444893/title/adventure-time-wallpaper
• http://adventuretime.wikia.com/wiki/Lemongrab_2
• http://gleedcanon.tumblr.com/post/29966729535
• http://landofodd.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/fallout-adventure-time/
• http://lifehitsyouup.blogspot.com/2013/07/adventure-time-gender-varriant-love.html
• http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=6-
V4ylR1YQinUM&tbnid=PHVgd7YI1gs9AM:&ved=0CAEQjxw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadventureti
me.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AVlcsnap-2012-11-24-
16h34m08s79.png&ei=JhxPUqKnH6LXyAH62ICADQ&bvm=bv.53537100,d.aWc&psig=AFQjC
NHRFVX_l4S57gKBUaFcaJw3PXrLng&ust=1381002342381492
Want more info?
Feel free to contact me at mgilbert3@lssu.edu