Hulu and Disney+ continue to expand upon their animated programming with Adventure Time: Side Quests. This Cartoon Network Studios-produced sci-fi adventure comedy series serves as a companion piece to the 2010-2018 show Adventure Time, following a young Finn the Human (Sasha Knight) as his bond with beloved best friend Jake the Dog (John DiMaggio) deepens over the course of various standalone misadventures. Rated TV-PG, this title has a lighter tone and simpler subject matter than the more boundary-pushing original Emmy, Peabody, and Annie Award-winning series, making it geared more towards younger audiences than adult viewers. Could this series lead to a brand new generation of Adventure Time fans? Keep reading to find out!
Opening Shot: The camera zooms through various recognizable spots in the Land of Ooo, giving glimpses of favorite Adventure Time characters along the way, until it lands on Jake and Finn in their Tree Fort home. They gleefully give each other a fist bump before the opening credits roll.
The Gist: The first episode, “Bros and Arrows,” drops viewers right into another day in the life of spirited child Finn the Human (Sasha Knight) and his magical brother from another mother, Jake the Dog (John DiMaggio). Finn wants to win the T’Ooournament of Champions, first setting his sights on competing with muscular minotaur Mannish Man (Fred Tatasciore) in the House Throwing Competition. Unfortunately, his attempt to sign up results in ridicule from Choose Goose (Jeff Bennett), whose comment about Finn’s “noodle arms” even incites laughter from Finn’s crush, Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch).
Embarassed, Finn attempts to prove his mannishness by moving a stone tower by the strength of his arms alone, only to accidentally knock the entire tower loose. Luckily, a hooded figure saves the structure (and the three old grannies atop it), but he runs off when Finn approaches. Determined to emulate the mysterious marksman’s heroism, Finn gives up on House Throwing to enter the Crossbow Tournament, where the figure removes his hood to reveal himself as Boyish Boy (Aziah Pesaleli), the son of Mannish Man.
It turns out that Boyish Boy is more of an obnoxious diva than an altruistic hero as he rudely mocks Finn and determines to crush him. But with Jake at Finn’s side, anything’s possible, giving the jovial young human a fighting chance in the tournament despite his lacking skills and poor aim.
Including “Bros and Arrows,” Adventure Time: Side Quests consists of 20 episodes, each one its own standalone story in which Finn and Jake take on challenges, embark on enjoyable journeys, and encounter familiar faces like Ice King (Tom Kenny), Marceline (Olivia Olson), and BMO (Niki Yang).
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Adventure Time: Side Quests of other accessible and entertaining animated series like Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, Phineas and Ferb, Steven Universe, and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.
Our Take: From the opening credit song to the colorful visuals to the familiar characters, Adventure Time: Side Quests continually pays homage to the wonderful world of Adventure Time while putting its own youth-friendly twist on things. While the original series could get deep and thought-provoking, especially in its later seasons, this new title keeps things light with its kiddish and playful animation style, storylines, and tone. Even the 11-minute runtime seems made specifically with younger viewers in mind.
However, none of this is a strike against the series. If anything, the family-friendly nature of Adventure Time: Side Quests ensures that the franchise reaches a new generation of young fans. And while this show is geared more towards children, there are still plenty of visual gags and jokes that will amuse adults watching with kids, as well as the returning Adventure Time viewers who grew up alongside Finn and Jake. So whether you’re a young first-time viewer or a nostalgic kid at heart, Adventure Time: Side Quests offers a sweet, silly, and easy streaming experience worth your while.
Performance Worth Watching: It’s such a treat to have John DiMaggio back voicing Jake the Dog! Finn’s magical canine companion is not only a delightful hype man (pooch), but he also is the architect of some great hijinks, physical gags, and one-liners that inject the show with Adventure Time‘s trademark whimsy and charm.
Sex And Skin: Finn is shirtless for a little bit, but it’s all very innocent (he’s just showing off his powerful noodle arms). In general, though, this show is pretty darn wholesome and family-friendly!
Parting Shot: Finn generously extends some empathy and understanding to a Boyish Boy who has been nothing but rude to him… only for Boyish Boy to proudly declare himself a little snot before poking Finn in the eyes and running off into the woods laughing as Jake declares “crossbows are for jerks.”
Sleeper Star: Boyish Boy (Aziah Pesaleli). His over-the-top showmanship and unabashed rudeness were pretty darn amusing. Hopefully, he returns after Episode 1 to continue being an entertaining little brat!
Most Pilot-y Line: “You’re no bow hero! You’re a bow…” Boyish Boy dramatically flips around with his crossbow before landing the final verbal arrow to Finn’s heart: “Zero!”
Our Call: For the average adult with no tie to the original series, Adventure Time: Side Quests is probably safe to skip. However, if you are a kid, have cartoon-loving youngins in your life, or are an established Adventure Time fan looking for a short and sweet dose of lighthearted fun, then you should go ahead and STREAM IT!
How To Watch Adventure Time: Side Quests
If you’re new to Hulu, the basic (with ads) price is $10.99/month. If you want to upgrade to Hulu ad-free, it costs $18.99/month.
If you want to stream even more and save a few bucks a month while you’re at it, we recommend subscribing to one of the Disney+ Bundles, all of which include Hulu. These bundles start at $12.99/month for ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu and goes up to $32.99/month for Disney+, Hulu, and Max, all ad-free.
Maddy Casale is a Chicago-based writer and comedian who covers everything from animated series to Hallmark movies. Follow her on Duolingo @MCasale.