If you’ve had any contact with the internet in the past few years, you will have inevitably come across Adventure Time, even if you haven’t realised it. The cutesily animated characters with profound captioned gifs can be found all over tumblr, and their faces can be found on t-shirts and bags on the high street. Cartoon Network premiered the first episode over three and a half years ago, and since then it has grown itself an understandably large fanbase. Praised for its imaginative storylines, likeable characters, and mature but accessible themes, it is equally popular among children and adults. In recent months, after a somewhat turbulent reception to the implied lesbian relationship between two main characters, the theme of homosexual romance is being explored again. What does this bold move from a very influential television programme mean for the future of the characters, and possibly queer representation in children’s media?
Marceline the Vampire Queen and Princess Bubblegum, the show’s two main (and very well written) female characters, didn’t always have such a positive relationship. Initially presented as rivals, with contrasting personalities and prone to butting heads, throughout the five season run these women have gradually become firmer friends. The first signs of this friendship becoming more than platonic were explored in the third season episodeWhat Was Missing, when it was revealed that Marceline had given Princess Bubblegum one of her own t-shirts as a gift. Despite the positive reaction from the queer community, the proverbial shitstorm that followed resulted in the accompanying behind-the-scenes series removing the video acknowledging Marceline and PB’s relationship, with the whole YouTube channel eventually being deleted. After this setback, the subject wasn’t broached again until July of this year in the episode Sky Witch, which opens with Princess Bubblegum waking up in Marceline’s t-shirt, smelling it, and reveals her wearing it under her clothes. A friendly picture of the pair is also shown taped up on the inside of Princess Bubblegum’s closet. The value of the t-shirt is further emphasised at the end of the episode, when Bubblegum sacrifices it in exchange for Marceline’s prized teddy bear. All of these seem to point to a subtle but complex relationship between the two girls, which (with credit to the show’s excellent writers) is very well done.
Marceline and Princess Bubblegum in What Was Missing
Is this finally what we’ve all been waiting for? Accurate and relatable representation of female friendship and romance in the mainstream media? And, perhaps more vitally, an understated, un-tokenised representation of a homosexual relationship on children’s television? So far, it seems so. The relationship between Marceline and Princess Bubblegum in Sky Witch seems to have been handled with all the sensitivity we could ever possibly hope for. Contrary to the vast majority of television and film, the budding romance doesn’t feel like a ratings-grabbing or demographic-pleasing gesture, and it is instead given the same treatment that would automatically be given to any on-screen heterosexual relationship.
Princess Bubblegum smelling Marceline’s t-shirt in Sky Witch
Personally, I’m finding this all very exciting; as a fan of the show, which has in the past tackled issues such as feminism, consent, and patriarchal views with equal respect, I feel like it’s a massive step in the right direction of queer representation in all media, and the fact that it’s a cartoon aimed at children further sweetens the deal. As mentioned before, the whole subject has been tackled with the utmost sensitivity in Sky Witch. The relationship between the two girls feels as though it has been grown organically, and isn’t shoved down your throat like a lot of unexpected TV lesbian relationships often are. I’m also really looking forward to looking where the fantastic Adventure Time team will take this story. Adventure Time are well known for gradual, season-spanning character development, and I’m looking forward to the arc of Marceline and Princess Bubblegum’s relationships joining the other great plotlines of the programme.
However, the behind-the-scenes accompaniment, Mathematical!, didn’t appear to tackle the subject with the same finesse, and instead used fandom-prodding tactics that many of us have grown to hate (follow the link and judge for yourself, feel free to comment with your opinions!). Thankfully, it was made by a production team behind Adventure Time, rather than the writers themselves. Despite all that, I still have very high expectations for the future of children’s television; with Adventure Time being such an influential show, I have every hope that writers will soon follow suit, and help to bring realistic queer representation to the masses.
Despite my excitement, we must not get ahead of ourselves; the writers of Adventure Time are just doing what everyone else should be doing anyway. Even though I’m optimistic, there is still a long way to go before queer relationships will approach anything near normal and accurate representation in television and film, not to mention the other types of representation that need to be addressed also. However, this does not mean that Adventure Time should not be celebrated. In an internet environment that fetishises male homosexual relationships, the relationship between Marceline and Princess Bubblegum truly is a breath of fresh air, and I hope that it is a sign of things to come.
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