Twelve Forever is hard to summarize. Some will argue that what I praise it for amounts to little more than reminiscing on what could've been. But I think that even on its own, the show deserves to be remembered as a unique and challenging series that delves into subjects most kids' shows fear to explore.
If you somehow managed to bring up the show beyond bringing up its infamous creator and wry jokes about how ironically fitting its name turned out to be, I find that the reception of the show is surprisingly mixed.
I think it comes from taking the show's basic premise, about hyperactive Kid Hero in a Cloud Cuckooland, at face value, and brushing it off as just another Adventure Time clone. Which I guess is fair, considering the show is admittedly a slow-burn.
But, if you dig deeper, you will find a much more complex and dark story.
Take the main character, Reggie. I've heard complaints that she's annoying, obnoxious, and selfish, but again, this feels to me like a surface-level reaction, that assumes she's just another Star Butterfly-type Genki Girl.
But the show makes it clear that she actually reflects the dark side of that archetype. Instead of an all-loving, plucky, goody-goody who wants everyone to have fun together, her hyperactive fun-loving nature masks a sad, bitter loner who actually pushes people away, sometimes on purpose, in fear that they won't accept her. I feel that's such a breath of fresh air compared to other Ray of Sunshine characters, even recent well-written ones like Luz Noceda.
This leads us to her status as the hero of the alternate universe of Endless Island. Unlike a lot of other shows about young heroes, the show asks "Isn't it a little convenient that someone so troubled would just stumble upon another world full of fun and adventure that needs them to save it, thus granting them all the validation they ever asked for without trying to improve her own life?". Anti Escapism Aesops aren't new but to see it tackled in what looks like another rainbow-colored kids adventure is amazing to see.
All these dark themes are greatly enhanced by the time period and visuals. The show is set around the Turn of the Millennium, and looks like a cartoon from that era, giving it a unique look compared to the prevalent Pen Ward-inspired styles of other 2010s cartoons.
There's a prevailing notion that entertainment for kids isn't worth getting passionate about. But Twelve Forever shows that there are dangers in showing kids only what they're used to and just makes them feel special. The show couldn't explore this idea to its fullest, but definitely enough for it to stick in my mind all these years later.
Paradise Lost
Twelve Forever is hard to summarize. Some will argue that what I praise it for amounts to little more than reminiscing on what could've been. But I think that even on its own, the show deserves to be remembered as a unique and challenging series that delves into subjects most kids' shows fear to explore.
If you somehow managed to bring up the show beyond bringing up its infamous creator and wry jokes about how ironically fitting its name turned out to be, I find that the reception of the show is surprisingly mixed.
I think it comes from taking the show's basic premise, about hyperactive Kid Hero in a Cloud Cuckooland, at face value, and brushing it off as just another Adventure Time clone. Which I guess is fair, considering the show is admittedly a slow-burn.
But, if you dig deeper, you will find a much more complex and dark story.
Take the main character, Reggie. I've heard complaints that she's annoying, obnoxious, and selfish, but again, this feels to me like a surface-level reaction, that assumes she's just another Star Butterfly-type Genki Girl.
But the show makes it clear that she actually reflects the dark side of that archetype. Instead of an all-loving, plucky, goody-goody who wants everyone to have fun together, her hyperactive fun-loving nature masks a sad, bitter loner who actually pushes people away, sometimes on purpose, in fear that they won't accept her. I feel that's such a breath of fresh air compared to other Ray of Sunshine characters, even recent well-written ones like Luz Noceda.
This leads us to her status as the hero of the alternate universe of Endless Island. Unlike a lot of other shows about young heroes, the show asks "Isn't it a little convenient that someone so troubled would just stumble upon another world full of fun and adventure that needs them to save it, thus granting them all the validation they ever asked for without trying to improve her own life?". Anti Escapism Aesops aren't new but to see it tackled in what looks like another rainbow-colored kids adventure is amazing to see.
All these dark themes are greatly enhanced by the time period and visuals. The show is set around the Turn of the Millennium, and looks like a cartoon from that era, giving it a unique look compared to the prevalent Pen Ward-inspired styles of other 2010s cartoons.
There's a prevailing notion that entertainment for kids isn't worth getting passionate about. But Twelve Forever shows that there are dangers in showing kids only what they're used to and just makes them feel special. The show couldn't explore this idea to its fullest, but definitely enough for it to stick in my mind all these years later.
Here's hoping for a Rebecca Sugar / ND Stevenson-helmed revival.
8/10