...and it makes me want to make a fantasy world like they have in the show. I'm usually attracted to worlds that go as in depth as possible, like what Tolkien or Sanderson make. Ones where everything from the science, to the magic, to the history is explained so that I can get fully immersed. But the idea of making a world with a minimum of world building so that I can throw anything I want into it sounds fun too. The only explanations I need are "It's in a different place than last time" and "Because it's magic." What do you guys think of that?
The only thing I know about Adventure Time is some of the musical numbers (blame Youtube for that), but i do like the idea of fantasy that doesn't take itself so seriously in the world building. I love a well-developed fantasy world, don't get me wrong, but I also love surreal dreamscapes. Unfortunately it seems like the current trend in fantasy is heavily skewed in the favor of intensive worldbuilding.
I watched through, I think, most of the first season of Adventure Time (because my brother insisted) before deciding it wasn't really to my taste. Sad thing is I actually did like the setting and general concept, but I couldn't stand the way the show utterly refused to take itself seriously. It's sad because I would probably have loved it if they'd bothered to tell decent, engaging stories with developed characters I could get to know and relate to, instead of making every single episode a joke. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean it has to be all super serious and realistic. It can still be lighthearted and humorous - in fact I endorse that. But there's a difference between the story having jokes and the story being a joke. Hell, go for it. This children's book I've been meaning to write does something kinda like that. There's dragons and fairies and talking animals, but they also run into a robot because why not? I'm not just making it up as I go because my brain doesn't work like that, but I'm giving myself very lose restrictions on what I can put into the setting. As long as it's fun or fantastic, it's valid. Just... Give it purpose. Don't just be wacky just for the sake of wackiness. Give the characters real, meaningful experiences. Have them take their own world and their own lives seriously, even if they live in Random Cartoon Logic Land. Because if it means something to them, it will mean something to the readers.
You should give it another chance. Around season three or so they start introducing some more serious threats. Like this:
Sure, but "it gets better in the third season" still leaves me having to watch two entire seasons of a show I didn't enjoy. I just don't think that's a very reasonable selling point.
