Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Adventure Time: Distant Lands Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 3, 2022

Considering the fact that Adventure Time has whole corners of the internet devoted to its chronology and multiverses, it may not be too much of a stretch to suggest that this is a series where it may be best not to sweat the small stuff like characters, plot and general narrative, and to just go with the multidimensional flow. Adventure Time: Distant Lands is a four episode follow up to one of Cartoon Network's more significant success stories, a series which ran for almost a decade and which introduced an appropriately adventurous duo named Finn (human) and Jake (kinda sorta canine, but with shapeshifting capabilities), whose shenanigans also brought them into contact with a sometimes puzzling array of supporting characters. There was the same kind of general anarchy at play in many of the original Adventure Time episodes that reminded me personally of other sci-fi tinged cartoons like Rick and Morty, even if Adventure Time arguably had relatively less of the kind of "potty mouth" aspect courtesy of a character like Rick. But both series share a certain surreal element which is inarguably part of Adventure Time: Distant Lands as well.

While there are at least tangential connections, Adventure Time: Distant Lands consists of four more or less standalone special episodes:

BMO features the lovable robot who might be thought of as the Adventure Time equivalent of WALL•E, albeit perhaps a bit more verbose and less prone to watching musicals (that we know of, anyway). BMO is quickly in league with a bizarre creature BMO nicknames Olive, since it in fact looks like a giant green olive, although with a perhaps just slightly suggestive appendage attached with is evidently supposed to be a quasi-arm (lest there be any misunderstanding). Soon enough BMO and Olive are then in league with a rabbit creature named Y5 on a space station that may be headed toward disaster (or perhaps more accurately has disaster headed toward it). While this episode teaches the oft told lesson that those with different backgrounds and perhaps even motives need to work together to achieve a common goal, the whole presentational aspect is so completely gonzo and surreal a lot of the time that what might seem clichéd actually comes off as surprisingly charming and maybe even thought provoking.

Obsidian offers Marceline the Vampire Queen and Princess Bubblegum as a domestic partnership who find their little slice of multiverse heaven interrupted by a "researcher" named Glassboy interested in getting some backstory on the long ago defeat of a dragon who is now threatening the Glass Kingdom again. This has some of the same kind of bittersweet, sadly nostalgic, quality that informed some episodes of the original Adventure Time. Those unacquainted with this series may find this particular episode intriguing just because the characters are so weird. Where else are you going to find a show that features a sentient piece of bubblegum? This episode also has some songs woven into the proceedings.

Together Again reunites (in more ways than one) the two putative focal characters of the original Adventure Time, Finn and Jake. Suffice it to say the bond between boy and dog is mined for some considerable emotional content here, but all again within the often downright daffy context of Adventure Time in general. Those who know of some of the now long and rather convoluted history (histories?) between Finn and Jake will probably be more in tune with some of the referents and underlying heartstring tugging aspects, but this is a genially appealing tale and/or tail that rather neatly sets up yet another multiverse to explore down the line.

Wizard School offers a story centered on Peppermint Butler, who is of course a sentient peppermint candy who has served as butler to that aforementioned sentient piece of bubblegum who is also a princess. This is another interesting visit with Adventure Time lore, as Peppermint Butler has to atone for perceived sins. As such, it introduces or perhaps makes more overt some of the kind of dark subtext that suffuses this show, which, after all, is post-Apocalyptic at its core. This is another episode where those with some knowledge of Peppermint Butler's shaded past may get the most out of things, but there's are rather smart metaphysical and moral elements at play that make this understandable even without a broader context. This is also another episode that has an almost quasi-musical ambience at times, with a song and dance sequence as Peppermint Butler returns to Wizard School in an attempt to "remake" himself. A kinda sorta murder(s) mystery ensues as Peppermint deals with what he's been and what others think he might be.

Adventure Time: Distant Lands Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Adventure Time: Distant Lands is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Brothers Home Entertainment, Cartoon Network and HBO Max with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The animation style here is kind of quaint and old school, though there are some more overt CGI elements at times. The presentation here is very nicely suffused, with a glut of colors across the spectrum, and with generally spot on line detail. Some character designs can tend to be minimalistic in midrange and wider shots, but there's always a somewhat whimsical aspect to the general design aesthetic that keeps things bright and enjoyable. I noticed no compression issues.

Adventure Time: Distant Lands Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Adventure Time: Distant Lands features a nicely immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. There are good opportunities in each of the four episodes for really well designed effects, with the side and rear channels regularly engaged for everything from panning spaceship noises to goofier sound effects that emanate from various characters. As mentioned above in the main body of the review, there are some songs on hand, and those and all of the underscoring sound nicely full bodied with an expressive low end for the rhythm instruments. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English and French subtitles are available.

Adventure Time: Distant Lands Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are sadly no on disc supplements included with this release, but packaging does feature a slipbox.

Adventure Time: Distant Lands Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I wasn't a regular viewer of Adventure Time when it aired, and so may not be enough of a "fan boy" to suggest how diehard followers of the show will feel about this follow up, especially after a wait of several years since the original series stopped airing. In that regard, I have some friends who are diehard followers of the original series and who evidently felt a bit let down by these specials. As a more casual "visitor" to many multiverses of Adventure Time, though, I'd say I heartily enjoyed revisiting some of these patently bizarre characters and seeing what surreal treats would pop up next. There's already a "new, improved" Adventure Time spinoff reportedly in the works, but this should whet appetites for at least a little while. Technical merits are solid, and even without supplements, Adventure Time: Distant Lands comes Recommended.