Fans of early Adventure Time are in for a big treat this summer, because Disney+ and Hulu’s new animated series Adventure Time: Side Quests is taking us back to the beginning with Finn and Jake.
Produced by Cartoon Network Studios, this new series serves as a companion to the original Adventure Time, returning to the early days with a young Finn and his best friend, the shape-shifting Jake the Dog, and their lighthearted adventures in the land of Ooo. We’ve gotten the chance to preview a handful of its playful and fun standalone episodes, which feel fresh and nostalgic all at once as they capture the joy, genuine heart and endless creativity of the series we love, with a twist.
For Side Quests, newcomer Sasha Knight voices this younger version of Finn the Human, while voice acting legend John DiMaggio returns as the voice of Jake the Dog, with plenty more of the original cast also on appearing. The U.S. premiere arrives in one week on June 29, and ahead of the big day, we had the pleasure of hopping on a Zoom call with Sasha and John to learn more. Read our full interview with them on the new series and the legacy of Adventure Time below.
Sweety High: Did you grow up watching Adventure Time at all?
Sasha Knight: Oh, definitely. I have an older brother who was a fan of the show. It was always on when I was a kid, and I’ve watched so much of it.
(Image courtesy of Sasha Knight)
SH: What was it like to jump in and embody this established character in a world you were already so familiar with?
SK: At first, it was a little intimidating, but once I felt good in the voice, I feel like Finn’s personality came fairly naturally for me. That was actually the easy part. I considered it from the perspective of, if I was watching this as a fan, would be happy with the way I’m playing Finn? Once I got to that point, it felt really good.
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SH: In the world of animation, voice actors don’t always get face-to-face time with their costars. Were you two able to collaborate in the studio at all?
John DiMaggio: We did. We were fortunate enough to record a bunch of episodes together, which was always a blast. It’s always a lot of fun. I, from the get-go, was so impressed this young man and what he was doing with the part. It was just special. It was great to get him in the booth and to work together so that he had an understanding of the kind of energy and the kind back-and-forth between Jake and Finn, that sort of chemistry, so that when I couldn’t be in the booth with him, he’d have the feeling of the energy that would be in the room if I was there. Scheduling is always a difficult thing when you’re trying to put a show together, and to have the opportunity to record together was really great and beneficial to both of us.
(Image courtesy of John DiMaggio)
SH: In some ways, Jake is a lot more knowledgable about the world and kind of a mentor to Finn. Do you feel like that dynamic also existed between you two?
JD: I think naturally it kind of does. I was fortunate enough to watch Jeremy Shada grow from a very young man, a teenager, to a grown man with two children and a wife and the whole nine yards. He’s turned out to be something special. He’ll always hold a dear place in my heart. And this is a younger version. I know Jeremy probably totally gets that, “Well, I can’t do that one!” But Sasha, to his credit, really just nailed the role like orally and tonally. When I heard him doing it, I was like, that is just dead on. I think it’s exactly what people are going to want to hear when they realize it’s a younger take. You always have people that are fans of something, and if something gets tweaked or changed the naysayers and doubters go, “Oh, this is an outrage!” but I have a feeling that people are really going to completely 100% gravitate towards how well he’s doing this part. I’m very excited.
(Adventure Time: Side Quests via Disney+)
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SH: Sasha, have you received any favorite tips or advice from John along the way?
SK: There was one time when John recorded something about how to laugh in the best way—how to laugh in a character.
JD: We have to laugh a lot together. We’re always laughing, and they told me that he was having a tough time with it. Sometimes to manufacture a laugh, it’s difficult. It’s not as easy as it sounds. He wasn’t there, but we had met each other, so I just gave him a kind of tutorial on at what I do and what helps me. Did it help you?
SK: I think so, yeah. And I also have to say, John, I was laughing to hard watching it.
JD: I love it. That’s great. See? That’s just it, you know. And now, luckily, we have this wonderful personal chemistry, me and the kid. We’re ready to go. We’re ready to take this further. It’s great. He’s doing such a fantastic job, and I’m really proud of him. And his family is very proud of him. I ran into them at one of our favorite restaurants. We didn’t even realize. I turn around and it’s like, Sasha, what are you doing here?
SK: And I didn’t have my glasses. So I was like, I hope that if that is John that he comes up to me and he doesn’t think that I’m giving him the stink eye.
JD: No, no, not at all. I was too busy eating! The food there is good. Carrusel, Van Nuys.
SK: Really good.
JD: Got to give them props.
SH: What about the show are you most looking forward to fans seeing when it comes out on the 29th?
SK: I’m most excited for fans to see this version of Finn and Jake and their back and forth and them having fun. It’s in the universe of the old show but offers something light and fun and goofy. It’s kind of like an escape from reality in that way.
(Adventure Time: Side Quests via Disney+)
For an Adventure Time throwback, click HERE to read our interview with animator and voice of BMO and Lady Rainicorn, Niki Yang.
