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Wander Over Yonder

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Wander Over Yonder
File:Wander Over Yonder Title Card.png
Genre
Created byCraig McCracken
Directed by
Voices of
Theme music composerTwo Man Gentlemen Band
Opening theme"Wander Over Yonder Main Title"[1]
ComposerAndy Bean
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes66 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerCraig McCracken
Producers
  • Lauren Faust (co-producer, season 1)
  • Dave Thomas (season 2)
Running time
  • 22 minutes (both segments)
  • 11 minutes (one segment)[2]
Original release
Network
ReleaseAugust 16, 2013 (2013-08-16) –
present

Wander Over Yonder is an American animated television series on Disney XD. Created by Craig McCracken, it follows Wander and his best friend and steed Sylvia. Adventurous and optimistic, Wander rides across the galaxies to help persons live freely, against the intentions of Lord Hater to rule the universe. The series is McCracken's first production for Disney Television Animation; he previously helmed The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends for Cartoon Network.

The series was originally aired on the Disney Channel on August 13, 2013. New episodes were moved during its first season to sister network Disney XD on March 31, 2014. A set of 11 one-minute shorts were aired on the network starting in July 2015, in promotion of the second season, which premiered on August 3, 2015.

Plot

The series follows Wander, a nomadic and overly-optimistic intergalactic traveler and his Zbornak best friend and steed Sylvia as they travel from planet to planet helping people to have fun and live free, despite the continuing encroachment of Lord Hater, most powerful villain in the universe, and his army of Watchdogs.[3][4][5]

Development and broadcast

Craig McCracken, creator of Wander Over Yonder, previously helmed the Cartoon Network series The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Wander Over Yonder is McCracken's first foray on a Disney-owned network. McCracken's wife Lauren Faust served as co-producer and story editor for the first season.[6] The eponymous character made his debut on sketchbooks, clothes, and patches that McCracken sold at conventions, as well as in a never-finished graphic novel.[7] McCracken described Wander as a "nomadic, hippie, muppet man".[8]

The series made its formal premiere on the Disney Channel on September 13, 2013. A sneak peek was screened at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International.[9] An early preview of the first episode, "The Picnic", was aired on the network on August 16, 2013, following the premiere of Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel.[10]

Premieres of new episods were moved to sister network Disney XD during its first season, on March 31, 2014.[11] Shortly after, Disney Television Animation executive Eric Coleman announced that the series was renewed for a second season,[12] with comic book writer Noelle Stevenson joining the writing team.[13] This season premiered on August 3, 2015, with "The Greater Hater", a special half-hour episode. A set of 11 one-minute shorts were produced in promotion of this season premiere; the network released them starting in July.[14]

Internationally, Wander Over Yonder made its premiere on Family Channel in Canada on October 13, 2013,[15] on Disney XD in Australia on June 9, 2014,[16] and on Disney Channel in Israel on September 1, 2014.[17]

Characters

Main

  • Wander (voiced by Jack McBrayer) – Wander is very optimistic, sweet, and friendly, though at times annoying to the more pragmatic persons around him. He aspires to explore different worlds, discover new things, and help people have fun and live free, in opposition to the evil reign of Lord Hater and his army of Watchdogs. Given his positive nature and beliefs, Wander is often oblivious to danger as well as Hater's aggressive nature. Wander is a short, red-orange-furred being of an indeterminate species. He is usually seen with a big floppy green hat with a black band above the brim and a yellow star on the band. The inside of his hat, which acts as storage, is a portal to some form of "Hammerspace". Wander describes his hat as "magic", and it appears to have some level of sentience, in that provides him with whatever he needs most at any given moment (although not necessarily what he wants most).
  • Sylvia (voiced by April Winchell) – Sylvia is Wander's loyal, although bullish, steed and best friend, who explores and travels the universe with him. She enjoys fighting, and though her rough nature can cause her to come off as ill-tempered, inconsiderate, and reckless at times, she also has a softer side. Despite this, she initially showed skepticism to the notion of herself and Wander defeating Lord Hater, saying that Wander "would have to be crazy to stop Lord Hater", and she continues to show trepidation in encountering Hater's minions and forces. Sylvia is blue with a long neck, stubby arms, and big expressive eyes. While she is sometimes referred to as Wander's horse, she is actually one of a species called a "Zbornak", more similar to a dinosaur than a horse. Her family consists of her mother Dorothy, her three brothers Bill, Gil, and Phil, and her grandmother.
  • Lord Hater (voiced by Keith Ferguson) – Lord Hater is a skeleton being clad in a red-and-black hooded robe. Hater is the ruler of the Hater Empire and Wander's self-proclaimed nemesis. Lord Hater is a power-hungry, evil, and cruel dictator and conqueror, while at the same time being a childish, petty, and emotionally unstable egotist. He hates being told what to do by those he declares lower than himself, including his own henchman Peepers. What he desires most is absolute rule of the entire Universe under his fist and no one stands in his way. However, he displays a pathological hatred of Wander (the diametrical opposite of everything that he is) due to his superfluous optimism, his obliviousness to Hater's evil, and his infuriating ability to foil every scheme of Hater's without even trying.
  • Commander Peepers (voiced by Tom Kenny) – Commander Peepers is a Watchdog (distinguished by his helmet's frill and extended lightning bolt) who is Lord Hater's chief henchman and seems willing to do anything Lord Hater commands. He at times appears sometimes smarter than Lord Hater, sensing danger ahead as Lord Hater mostly ignores him, though he has a tendency to underestimate Wander's capacity to dash Hater's plans.

Recurring

  • The Watchdogs (various voices) – The Watchdogs are small eyeball-headed creatures that serve as Hater's minions and the bulk of his army. They are loyal to their master, but are frequently distracted by Wander's interference.
  • Emperor Awesome (voiced by Sam Riegel) – Emperor Awesome is a preening, flamboyant cool-dude shark-headed man and one of Lord Hater's greatest nemeses as a rival in universal conquest. He considers Sylvia attractive. In "The Party Animal", it is revealed that Emperor Awesome can destroy planets through excessive partying.
  • Fist Fighters – The Fist Fighters are the fist-headed minions of Emperor Awesome.
  • Lord Dominator (voiced by Fred Tatasciore in masked form, Noël Wells in unmasked form) – Lord Dominator is a villain with lava-based abilities who is Lord Hater's rival as the "Greatest in the Galaxy" in the second season. Her disguised form was first seen as a silhouette in the Season 2 poster and later in "The Rider" animation laughing maniacally. In "The Battle Royale", Wander, Lord Hater, and the other villains find out that Lord Dominator is a female. Though Lord Hater develops a crush on her, Dominator doesn't return his feelings. In "My Fair Hatey", it is revealed that Dominator has defeated and imprisoned nearly all of her villain competitors on her ship as she begins her plan to destroy the galaxy. As a result of Commander Peepers' freeze weapon affecting her ship and not defeating her, Lord Dominator now has power over lava, fire, snow and ice, making her more powerful than ever.
  • Dominator-Bots – The Dominator-Bots are Lord Dominator's magma-made orb-shaped robots that serve as her foot soldiers.

Episodes

Main article: List of Wander Over Yonder episodes
SeasonSegmentsEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
114218August 16, 2013 (2013-08-16)January 24, 2014 (2014-01-24)Disney Channel
2513March 31, 2014 (2014-03-31)December 4, 2014 (2014-12-04)Disney XD
24022August 3, 2015 (2015-08-03)June 27, 2016 (2016-06-27)Disney XD
Shorts—11July 20, 2015 (2015-07-20)August 3, 2015 (2015-08-03)

Reception

The previewed episode was seen by roughly 2.9 million viewers.[10]

Common Sense Media's Emily Ashby gave Wander Over Yonder three stars out of five, noting a lack of imporant moral lessons but calling the comedic elements nicely paced in each episode.[18] The A.V. Club's Kevin McFarland wrote that the series continues the "zany legacy" of the Cartoon Network's "golden age" on a competing network.[19]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2014 41st Annie Awards Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production[20] Craig McCracken Nominated
Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production[20] Andy Bean Nominated
2015 42nd Annie Awards Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children's Audience[21] Wander Over Yonder Nominated
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production[22] Justin Nichols Won
Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production[22] Benjamin Balistreri Won
Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production[21] Dave Thomas Nominated
Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production[21] Alex Kirwan, Chris Tsirigotis, Alexander Duckworth, Janice Kubo & Francis Giglio Nominated
Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production[21] Mark Ackland Nominated
67th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Short-Format Animated Programming[23] "The Gift 2: The Giftening" Nominated
2016 43rd Annie Awards Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children's Audience[24] "The Breakfast" Won
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production[25] Justin Nichols (for "The Good Bad Guy") Nominated
Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production[25] Andy Bean (for "The Black Cube") Nominated
Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production[25] Justin Nichols (for "The Breakfast") Nominated

References

  1. ^ ID no. 885983837, may be searched on the official website of ASCAP.
  2. ^ Michael, Schneider (July 22, 2013). "Disney Channel Sets Premiere Date for New Cartoon Wander Over Yonder". TV Guide. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  3. ^ "Disney Channels Worldwide Presents Plan to Build on Its Strength at Annual Meeting with Advertisers". The Futon Critic. April 1, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  4. ^ Hill, Jim (March 8, 2013). "Jack McBrayer Says Goodbye to Kenneth From NBC's 30 Rock and Hello to Disney's Wander Over Yonder". The Huffington Post. AOL Inc. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  5. ^ "Wander Over Yonder Characters". Disney XD. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "Disney Channel Announces Comic-Con Panels for Tron: Uprising, Phineas and Ferb, Fish Hooks, Gravity Falls and More". TV by the Numbers. Tribune Media. June 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  7. ^ McCracken, Craig. "[McCracken presenting the shelved Wander Over Yonder graphic novel]". Twitter. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  8. ^ Connelley, Brendon (March 13, 2012). "Wander Over Yonder Coming to TV – The New Project from Powerpuff Creator Craig McCracken". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  9. ^ Douglas, Edward (June 30, 2012). "Comic-Con: The Full Schedule for Saturday, July 14". Coming Soon. Crave Online. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Premiere of Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel Rockets to Over 6 Month High in Total Viewers and 1-Year High in Kids 2–11". TV by the Numbers. Tribune Media. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  11. ^ "Disney XD Announces March Programming Highlights". Broadway World. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  12. ^ Weinstein, Shelli (June 23, 2014). "Disney XD Orders Jon Heder Animated Series Pickle & Peanut". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  13. ^ "Noelle Stevenson talks Lumberjanes, Nimona and her online roots". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. May 20, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  14. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (July 11, 2015). "Wander Over Yonder Season 2 Sizzle". Animation Magazine. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  15. ^ "Look No Futher! Family Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD Have Got It All for Fall" (PDF) (Press release). Toronto: Family Channel. August 20, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  16. ^ Higgins, D. (June 10, 2014). "Pretty Little Liars, Klondike, the Tony Awards, Kardashians, Queen's and Le Mans". Foxtel. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  17. ^ Danino, Ruta (August 18, 2014). "חוזרים לבית הספר עם ערוץ דיסני!". Parents & Kids (in Hebrew). Retrieved February 8, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Ashby, Emily. "Wander Over Yonder". Common Sense Media. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  19. ^ McFarland, Kevin (September 14, 2013). "Wander Over Yonder". The A.V. Club. Onion Inc. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Annie Awards 2014: Complete list of winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. p. 2. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  21. ^ a b c d Amidi, Amid (December 1, 2014). "42nd Annie Award Nominations Announced: Complete List". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  22. ^ a b Flores, Terry (January 31, 2015). "How to Train Your Dragon 2 Wins Annie Award for Animated Feature". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  23. ^ Hipes, Patrick (July 16, 2016). "Emmy Nominations 2015 – Full List". Deadline AwardsLine. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  24. ^ Flores, Terry (February 6, 2016). "Pixar's Inside Out Wins Top Prize at Annie Awards". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  25. ^ a b c King, Susan (December 1, 2015). "Inside Out, Anomalisa, and The Peanuts Movie earn Annie Award nominations". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved March 5, 2016.


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