The Land of Ooo and its expansive setting, complex characters, intricate adventures and unique comedy has been a staple in my home since its start in 2010. 

“Adventure Time” has established itself as something beyond a cartoon, but a work of art. 

“Adventure Time,” a Cartoon Network masterpiece, is a ten-season series set in the Land of Ooo that follows the adventures of Finn and his shapeshifting best friend and brother, Jake the dog. The Emmy award-winning series contributed to a golden age of expressive and experimental animation, tailored to a younger audience, but did not limit itself to being just a kids’ show. “Adventure Time” explores mature subjects, thought-provoking themes and intricate storylines. Religion, existentialism, self-discovery, love and grief are expressed through amusing storytelling and lively animation. 

The addition of Fern the human is a perfect example of the show exploring deeper topics of the meaning of mortality and grief. A grass version of Finn shares the same memories and experiences as the real Finn, believing himself to be the true Finn. Throughout a series of episodes, viewers see Fern’s identity progression, slowly becoming his own version of the main character. The two characters battle each other, forcing the real Finn to battle his violent reflection in the episode “Three Buckets.” Finn pleads with Fern to find another way, but death is the only path. 

Finn begs, “Listen, we can stop this and just go home together. All this lying and fighting, it doesn’t have to end like this. Today doesn’t have to have this kind of… finality,” to which Fern responded, “Fatality.”

In the end, Finn is forced to kill an alternate version of himself. The boy and the audience are forced to face the mortality of the character and the overwhelming pain of loss. 

The series constantly reinvented itself, allowing endless possibilities to inhabit the screen. The unpredictability of the Land of Ooo gives viewers the ability to experience new adventures and character development. The power of imagination and a unique sense of humor alleviate the show’s intense moments. Finn lives out his life in an alternate reality made from a pillow fort, a night in is spent playing an extreme card game and side characters are given a moment in the spotlight with personal quests. The lighthearted and intellectual core of the series appeals to and transcends any age demographic. 

The flawed and relatable characters, emotional appeal and consuming world-building went on to inspire other notable cartoons. Rebecca Sugar, animator and writer for the series, came on board during the production of the second season of “Adventure Time.” Due to the encouragement from her fellow creators on the show, Sugar went on to create the equally well-known series “Steven Universe.” The “Adventure Time” spin-off, “Fionna and Cake,” the playful “Bee and PuppyCat” and the whimsical “Over the Garden Wall” were all influenced by the foundational cartoon. 

Patrick McHale, an “Adventure Time” creative director, writer, artist and creator of “Over the Garden Wall,” said, “‘Over the Garden Wall’ is a bunch of my interests sort of meshed together. Every episode had its own unique color and pattern, but overall, it was supposed to become one quilt that all works together. Every episode should feel exciting.”

McHale took qualities directly from his experience with “Adventure Time” to create an experimental limited series of two brothers’ journey towards discovering the unknown. 

“Adventure Time” has become a vital part of my childhood as it filled my imagination with possibility, shaping me into the person I am today. The series has moved from a source of comfort to a pedestal for art, to which I compare many shows to today. It embodied the true meaning of adventure, identity, complexity and entertainment. Although the show ended in 2018, “Adventure Time’s” innovative nature preserved its spot at the pinnacle of animation, forever changing the future of its art form. 

BMO, the duo’s robot friend, perfectly worded mine and many viewers’ bittersweet departure from the series, “It seems unforgiving when a good thing ends, but you and I will always be back then.”