Grim Adventures Ending

[ZariusTwo]

So what's the poop on Billy and Mandy?

We've been going strong now for about three years. And before that we had another three years of struggling and flopping and gasping for air as we wriggled our way out of the primordial ooze. And a year or so before that I did the pilot. All in all, we've survived numerous cancellations (or non-pickups, as CN likes to say) and finally proven ourselves. By the middle of this year, we'll have 78 half hours in the can, plus a few specials and a TV movie. Not a bad run.
78 half hours is as many half hours as Cartoon Network has made for anything. There's a theory that by the time kids get through five or six seasons of a show, they've outgrown the series and moved on to bigger and better things. That doesn't mean that Billy and Mandy is done and gone, but it does mean that we won't be making new episodes for the series in the near future. It's the end of an era. But it's also a good thing.


When we did our last record a few months ago, Tom Kenny (Spongebob, for all you fans of The Enemy ) said something to me that really made me appreciate the long run we've had on Billy and Mandy. "You guys are the only show I know of that exists solely because of fan support." And that's absolutely true, from our selection during the Big Pick to the fact that our two Funeral Parties didn't mark the end of our run.



So, yeah. For now this is The End. But all things, good and bad, end sooner or later. The good news is that there are still ten half hours left unseen, the crossover with the Kids Next Door, "Billy and Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure", and another hour long special called "Wrath of the Spider Queen". And maybe a few more treats along the way.

Not only that, but there seems to be some marketing going on this year. Will it ruin my indie cred if we get T-shirts or toys? Probably. But would I rather keep my indie cred or die penniless in a gutter? It's a tough call. And those DVD season sets you've been asking about? I can say with some certainty that we're looking at a big fat "maybe". And that's pretty good coming from Atlanta.


As for me, once we're done with post-production this Spring, I'll be starting on a brand new pilot (which I want to keep to myself for now) and a strange mutation special involving the Billy and Mandy universe (which I won't talk about yet, but the clues are out there!) and possibly another Billy and Mandy Holiday special (possibly). That's what Cartoon network tells me, and I believe 'em! This is gonna be a fun year (for me, anyway)!

-Maxwell Atoms Myspace.


Six seasons is a good number, though I'm concerned what's replacing this, this has long been considered the best series on CN since the downfall of Cartoon Cartoons and The Powerpuff Girls (I personally think C:KND is the best on the Network, and it's only now getting the recognition it deserves), at least he's implying that the series is ready for bigger things.

A theatrical movie? Direct-to-DVD series that brings a much more mature look to the series would be my personal choice, this series has completly blurred the line and crossed it a good few times. Maybe he could actually take a peek at what Bleedman has done with the characters, it'd be a good step in furthering the legacy.

It's pretty scary to see how many times CN thought about axing the series.

[DrSpengler]

And Grim Adventures going off the air is indeed very sad news. While I love KND, Grim Adventures always struck me as funnier (while KND had better continuity and character developement).

What I liked about Grim Adventures was that it never set itself up with any limitations. It constantly crossed the boundaries of what's acceptable in a kids cartoon, making some of the darkest, most morbid jokes I've ever seen in a "kid's" show. It was surprisingly violent, and even when it was "cartoon" violence, it could be pretty graphic. They parodied things I never thought I'd see parodied in my life, like the Last Unicorn, Evil Dead (okay, so Reboot did it first) and freakin HELLRAISER!

But one thing I really loved about Grim Adventures was that they KNEW they were a part of the Hanna Barbara universe and took full advantage of it. Crossovers and cameos with Scooby Doo, Yogi Bear, Grape Ape and Fred Flintstone were unforgettable.

I'm gonna miss it. But still, they say there's some projects looming in the future, so I won't have to go complete Grim Adventure-less.

[Ra]

Damn, that bites, but I also feel happy about it too. The fact that Atoms knows that Grim Adventures is moving on to bigger and better things is good. I'm seriously looking forward to the KND Crossover and the big movie they have in store for us! :D Though I seriously wish they went for one more season. But that's probably my inner fan girl talking :(

Things such as Eris - The Godess of Chaos, Billy's stupidity, Mandy's...Mandy-ness, and also Grim's imatations of pretty little girls skipping through flowers is definatly going to be missed in my heart...still, as long as I can get their video game soon, I should be happy for a while ^_^

[DrSpengler]

One thing I loved about Grim Adventures is how they constantly addressed how badly the early episodes sucked by making fun of themselves.

Like the episode where they try to remember how they all met; Grim tells a story, Billy tells a story and finalyl Mandy tells us how it REALLY happened using clips from the poorly animated pilot. Grim responds, "Oh c'mon! That didn't even LOOK like us!"

And they even explained away Eris' change from a Valley Girl to a Brit.

Real clever show.

[kerfootw]

Thank God! (it's over)

[ZariusTwo]

Thankyou for that intelligent, well thought out comment:roll:

[kerfootw]

You're welcome!

[Ra]

Thank God! (it's over)
...so it begins... *grabs her killing scythe and heads over to your house*

What is so bad about Grim Adventures? Tell me. It's one of the only good things left on TV now, and it's being given the boot. "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy" and "Codename: Kids Next Door" were the best shows on CN for as long as I can remember. I mean, compare "Grim Adventures" and to "Ed, Edd, and Eddy", then tell me which is better. I'm pretty sure "Grim Adventures" would win.

[BartAllen]

While it was a good show, I did (At times) Feel it went way over board with the gross-out humor, Don't get me wrong. It was a terribly funny, but a little to much for the kids.

[ZariusTwo]

While it was a good show, I did (At times) Feel it went way over board with the gross-out humor, Don't get me wrong. It was a terribly funny, but a little to much for the kids.

Oh come on, the term "F*ck The FCC" does'nt exist for nothing you know. Young audiences can handle this stuff.

[LogicDonny]

I have watched a few episodes of this show which airs on Teletoon and it is not a bad show at all. I laughed at a few of the jokes that happen here and there. Last night episode was about brain snatching monsters or something. I did not watch the whole thign but that what I caught hwen I turned it on.

[Spike Spiegel]

This show was always cool to me. So badass. Hope the DVDs will be released soon(and that they will release the whole sries, unlike what happened to Gargoyles).

[Sonic777]

Ed,Edd,N Eddy is a funny show and so is grim adventures of billy and mandy.I like them both.

[Dr. Doom]

Ed has his moments. But Billy and Mandy is a much better show altogether.

[Sonic777]

ain't that the truth.

[Shark]

You know, the sad thing is, I've never once seen the first episode, no matter how many episodes I've watched, so I have no idea why Grim is forced to hang around two kids he hates so much.

[Sonic777]

He lost a bet after loseing a game of limbo.Then he was forced to be there friends forever.

[DrSpengler]

Heh.

I especially like the episode where they have flashbacks about how they all "first met". Billy's and Grim's retellings of the event are, of course, terribly wrong. Then Mandy tells it like it was, complete with clips from the horribly animated pilot episode. Grim's response, "Oh c'mon. That didn't even look like us!"

One of my favorite episodes.

[Shark]

Heh.

I especially like the episode where they have flashbacks about how they all "first met". Billy's and Grim's retellings of the event are, of course, terribly wrong. Then Mandy tells it like it was, complete with clips from the horribly animated pilot episode. Grim's response, "Oh c'mon. That didn't even look like us!"

One of my favorite episodes.

I think I've seen that then actually. I think I was sort of confused as well. That clears it up though.

[ZariusTwo]

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=106645

Interview with Atoms, talks mostly about the movie, but also discusses the KND/GRAOBAM movie, a CN event called "The Invasion", and ending the series with an hour long final episode to tie everything up.

[Drtooth]

Speaking soley as someone without cable, I had trouble getting into the series for the obvious reasons. I first saw the Grim and Evil show, and I didn't think it was that special. I liked the Grim, but Evil didn't work for me... But I tell you, after seeing the Haloween and Christmas Specials, I friggin' loved it! I especially love the episode with the principal turning into the most hideous thing ever, a Suburban white rapper. That episode, if nothing else, had me hooked. Well, hooked enough to see it when I could.

Grim and KND are the best shows CN had in a long time. Sure, I like Fosters alright, but it's just not the same thing. Camp Lazlo is decent, but just a sad reminder that Rocko's Modern life is gone, and not really coming back (Except as a Girl's T Shirt at Hot Topic... nothing else) and I will say, I wish Sheep in the Big City did better. Mo Willems is one of my favorite animators (he writes for KND, which got me into it).

All and all, I wish they'd release B&M and KND as season sets as well. I'm trying to track down the first KND DVD, I've got the second one (which fittingly has an episode of B&M on it). And the only B&M cartons are on seasonal compilation disks.

Anyway, I wish for B&M toys, myself. I have some of the KND ones (I'm missing 2 sets of minis, though). I mean, they have thjat horrible video game, a couple PVC's wouldn't hurt.

[ZariusTwo]

I just watched one of the last episodes in the UK, "Heartburn", and it seems there tying up some loose ends in interesting ways.

Billy begins wreaking havoc with a camera that belongs to Grim that can reveal the true selves of any it takes a picture of. This includes Billy, Mandy, and Irwin.

Upon viewing the photograph of Irwin, Mandy is shocked to discover that Irwin has a dark side, a twisted, evil immoral aspect of his life that he openly admits was his true self when he was born (born a devil...I love this show), but his parents raised him to love and respect people.

Mandy then states she respects Irwin for this, but Irwin cautions her that by opening her heart like this will change her heart the same as it did his, and he proves to be accurate. Mandy's respect slowly becomes something greater, love, and she breaks down into a wreak. Billy and Grim of course decide to play around on the sea-saws rather than "restore the old Mandy", a usual habit when she's struck down.

Mandy bumps into Irwin, and she can't help the teasing she lets out of her mouth, Irwin doesnt help either and promptly urges her to kiss him, when she finally gives in, she discovers he's smeared his mouth with a sauce she despises and knocks him into a wall. Irwin admits he did this on purpose to save Mandy from his own fate, to which she is visibly touched by, even saying "thankyou" before punching him again for even kissing her.

I thought this was a brilliantly-handled episode, it provides closure and importance to a relationship that was more additional comic releif that anything anyone took seriously. Irwin also matures as a character, as he actively chooses to give up a life with Mandy to save her personality. Perhaps more importantly is that Mandy punches him out again for kissing her, when psychologically, she was pissed he even thought about saving her old self. Sure it can be viewed as revenge for a "gross out" by some younger audiences, but the truth doesnt go over everyone's heads

The promo for the third movie, "Time Terror" also involves Grim having a disturbing vision of Mandy marrying someone whose name you dont hear. If they are taking a page out of the fandom 'shippers and Bleedman's webcomics, that will be something to see...

[Drtooth]

Wow... that sounds like a very very very morbid version of Doraemon. Just kidding.

Hot DAMN! That's all I'm gonna say. Now THAT is a storyline. I hope cartoon network puts it up on their site or something (though it takes patience of a Jedi Knight to work their video player...)

Did the KND/GABM movie ever materialize? that sounded like a great idea.

[ZariusTwo]

Did the KND/GABM movie ever materialize? that sounded like a great idea.

The movie will premiere in November, around the same time the KND and Billy and Mandy series finales air