The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack

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The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack
Flapjack logo
GenreAnimation
Created byMark "Thurop" Van Orman
Directed byJ.G Quintel
StarringMark "Thurop" Van Orman
Brian Doyle-Murray
Roz Ryan
Jeff Bennett
Richard McGonagle
Kevin Michael Richardson
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Running time22 minutes approx.
Original release
NetworkCartoon Network
ReleaseJune 5, 2008 –
present

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack is an American animated television series for Cartoon Network that premiered on June 5, 2008.[1] The show was created by cartoonist Mark "Thurop" Van Orman, who has worked as a writer and storyboard artist on other shows such as Camp Lazlo and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.

Summary

Flapjack is a young boy raised by a talking whale named Bubbie. Flapjack leads a peaceful life until the duo rescues a pirate by the name of Captain K'nuckles, who tells Flapjack of Candied Island. Inspired by the adventurous pirate, Flapjack, Captain K'nuckles, and Bubbie get into strange predicaments and "misadventures" in search of Candied Island and the coveted, highly sought-after title of "Adventurer." The three spend most of their time in Stormalong Harbor, where they earn money, eat candy, and get into mischief.

Premise

As a child, show creator Van Orman spent three years living near a bayou, where he was forbidden to socialize with a local fisherman. Disobeying his parents, Van Orman would visit the fisherman, who would tell tales of the sea. When he was 13, his family moved to Utah, but he was able to convince his parents to allow him to go back to Florida and stay with some family friends. During this time, Van Orman found a boat, and took it out in the middle of the night. Eventually getting lost, it took him three days to finally return. When he related these stories to his friends, they were more interested in the "adventure" aspects rather than the surmised failure of getting lost.[2] After trying to live in the jungles of Mexico, and eating out of dumpsters, Van Orman decided that to call these bad circumstances adventures.[3]

Van Orman also was fascinated by Dairy Queen commercials, which depicts landscapes made of ice-cream. He wanted to explore those fantasy lands, not so much to eat the ice-cream, but just for sheer exploration.[4]

The backgrounds were chosen to be reminiscent of the 1800s. The three main characters, Flapjack, K'nuckles, and Bubbie are drawn in a more "cartoon-like" style than the rest of the world, which is drawn in a more realistic manner. This lends contrast between the world of Flapjack and the "real world" of Stormalong Harbor. K'nuckles is developed as a "good for nothing", with Bubbie being more sincere, also lending character contrast between the main characters of the show.[5] To add more contrast, the tough guys of the show are depicted as hunting candy, which is the real treasure.[4]

The humor is considered "uncomfortable", building an awkwardness and deliberately misleading the appearance of the situation, before delivering the punchline.[6]

Production

Van Orman attempted to pitch the concept to Cartoon Network in 2001. He created a short and incorporated many childhood favorites, and inspiration for the visuals came from adventure novels. His first pitch was rejected, but he received a lot of feedback, and re-pitched the concept in 2003.[3]

The series is a storyboard-driven show, and works with Screen Novelties to produce the stop-motion and credit portions of the show.[3]

Paul Reubens was originally selected to be the voice of Flapjack, but when Herman did not show up on the day of recording, Van Orman himself decided to voice Flapjack.[3]

Main Characters

The lead characters, Captain K'nuckles and Flapjack

Flapjack

Flapjack is an excitable adventure-loving boy who was raised by Bubbie, a talking whale. Flapjack is oblivious to danger[3], spellbound by K'nuckles' stories and has set his sights on becoming a real adventurer. His catchphrase is "Adventure!", and when something goes wrong, he usually says "Cannonballs". Voiced by Mark Van Orman.

Captain K'nuckles

Captain K'nuckles is a washed-up old sailor who claims to be the greatest pirate the world has ever known. Nowadays, he prefers to nap and drink maple syrup while telling outrageous tales of his adventures and getting Flapjack wrapped up in his high seas hi-jinks. Despite this, he is also fond of Flapjack. Most of his body has been replaced with prosthetics; his hands are metal claws, his legs are wooden pegs, and his "Sittin' muscle" is a wooden board. It was also revealed in the episode "Beard Buddies" that his beard is also fake. His name is pronounced /kˈnʊkls/ as spelled (the initial /K/ is not silent). Voiced by Brian Doyle-Murray.

Bubbie

Bubbie is a talking whale who acts like an over-protective mother[3] to Flapjack. She prefers the "safety" of Stormalong to the dangers of the open seas. No matter what kind of trouble K'nuckles gets him and Flapjack into, she is always there for Flapjack, and usually waits for him by the shore or docks. She gives Flapjack a lot of advice for his well-being, though Flapjack rarely follows it. At times, she can be quite hypocritical, saying one thing and yet doing it herself. Flapjack and K'nuckles live inside her mouth, but sometimes go further down her throat even to her stomach and intestine. They usually ride on top of her when out on the seas. Voiced by Roz Ryan.

Supporting Characters

Peppermint Larry

Peppermint Larry is the overly-friendly owner of the Candy Barrel who supplies candy to Flapjack and K'nuckles. When they don't have money for candy, Larry feeds them unreliable clues to help them find Candied Island. He is one of several characters in the show who is trying to find Candied Island. Larry is married to his beloved candy-wife, who is, as her name suggests, a woman made entirely out of various kinds of candy, as well as a source of his frequent bouts of paranoia and psychosis. On numerous occasions, he's made it clear that he hates pickles, as seen when his candy-wife "poisoned" him with pickle juice. Larry's candy-wife is a non-speaking role, and most of her appearances are as a puppet segment. Voiced by Jeff Bennett.

Dr. Barber

Dr. Barber is a barber who resides in Stormalong Harbor. Although he is primarily a barber, he also assumes the role of a doctor, hence his name. He owns a barbershop and a clinic which are right next to each other and connected. Dr. Barber is voiced by Steve Little (voice actor).

Eight-Armed Willy

Eight-Armed Willy is a giant cephalopod monster. Voiced by Richard McGonagle.

The Inventors

The Inventors are British twin brothers who create steam punk-like technology, such as the R.A.M.P., Alpha-Whale, M.U.S.L., and the Grand Flying Contraption. The water-based brother is referred to as the Inventor, while his air-based brother is referred to as the Professor. Voiced by Jeff Bennett.

Episodes

Main article: List of The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack episodes

Reviews

  • Marilyn Moss (2008-06-04). "TV Review: The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2008-06-11. Bottom Line: Feisty and funny animated series that kids will fall for hook, line and sinker.
  • Ed Liu (2008-06-05). ""The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack" Needs a Weird Infusion, Me Hearties!". Toon Zone. Retrieved 2008-06-11.

References

  1. ^ Zeus, Maxie (2008-04-04). "CN Upfront 2008: "Misadventures of Flapjack" Coming This Summer". Toon Zone. Retrieved 2008-04-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ "Mark "Thurop" Van Orman Interview: Part One" (video). Cartoon Network.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Zahed, Ramin (2008-07-07). "Thurop Van Orman, Creator Cartoon Network's The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack". Animation Magazine.
  4. ^ a b "Mark "Thurop" Van Orman Interview: Part Four" (video). Cartoon Network.
  5. ^ "Mark "Thurop" Van Orman Interview: Part Two" (video). Cartoon Network.
  6. ^ "Mark "Thurop" Van Orman Interview: Part Three" (video). Cartoon Network.

External links

Template:Cartoon Network Original Series

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