The journeys of Finn the Human and Jake the Dog are coming to an end, although not for a little while.
Cartoon Network announced today that Adventure Time’s ninth season will be its last, bringing the show to a close in 2018. Two more seasons may not sound like a lot, but this is the show that has produced 134 episodes over its previous three seasons. Cartoon Network said that there were “142 half-hours” of the show left, split between new episodes, miniseries, specials and “more,” whatever that may mean.
Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward said of the news:
Adventure Time was a passion project for the people on the crew who poured their heart into the art and stories. We tried to put into every episode something genuine and telling from our lives, and make a show that was personal to us, and that had jokes too! I’m really happy that it connected with an audience for so long. It’s a special thing, I think.
Rob Sorcher, chief content officer for Cartoon Network, said:
Adventure Time changed the definition of what a kids’ TV series could be, and it’s had a resounding impact upon popular culture around the world. Cartoon Network Studios is proud to have brought together this group of brilliant artists and animators who helped make Adventure Time one of the most critically acclaimed TV series of a generation.
Knowing that the show is coming to an end is sad, but at least now, Ward and his team have ample time to craft the ending that the show deserves.