Jellystone! Creator Reveals Secrets Behind Epic Cartoon Network Crossover!

Hooray! The last episodes of Jellystone!’s third season are now out on Max, featuring our favorite Max-bound adventures, and we had a delightful chat with the show’s creator to mark the occasion! Ever since its initial launch in 2021, Jellystone! has been one of the most enchanting offerings on the Max streaming platform. This series brings together characters from Hanna-Barbera’s vast collection of shows and characters, all living harmoniously within a zany universe. As we move through the seasons, we see more and more cameos and fresh interpretations of these timeless characters, with this trend being particularly noticeable in season 3 as it delves even deeper into the archives.

In the thrilling third season of Jellystone!, the show has gone absolutely wild by introducing fresh perspectives on The Jetsons, a delightful reinterpretation of the friendship between Fred and Barney from The Flintstones, Space Ghost making an appearance at a convention, deeper explorations of classic Hanna-Barbera characters, and an epic multiverse crossover featuring Cartoon Network‘s own collection of characters in a grand “Crisis” special. To mark the arrival of these exciting episodes on Max, we had the opportunity to sit down with C.H. Greenblatt, the executive producer and showrunner of Jellystone!, for an in-depth chat about this incredible season.

In this setting, I had the opportunity to listen in as Greenblatt shared insights about the creation of the Cartoon Network crossover. He collaborated with the stars of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, George Lowe and Andy Merrill, discussing various aspects of it. Additionally, he shed light on some character selections and numerous other fascinating details. Here’s a condensed and polished version of our interview below.

NICK VALDEZ, COMICBOOK: To begin with, I’d like to ask about your current feelings now that the last series of Jellystone! episodes have been released in North America?

C. H. GREENBLATT: It’s wonderful to now unveil this project we’ve all been eagerly anticipating. The journey to completion was a lengthy one, so it’s heartening to see it finally accessible for everyone. I wish I could witness the reactions of everyone who views it. Nonetheless, it’s just satisfying to know that people now have the opportunity to hopefully appreciate and enjoy it.

The adventure kicks off with quite a boom, so I’m curious about [“Crisis on Infinite Laughs.”]. This massive crossover episode features an array of classic Cartoon Network characters. However, I’m interested to know how you and your team chose Mojo Jojo, Dee Dee, and Billy as the main characters for the storyline?

In our initial stages, we were pondering over the plot development, understanding that we needed to create an emotionally resonant narrative. Simultaneously, we were aware of the limitation – a tight 21-minute timeframe – which required us to concentrate and condense our ideas effectively. The question that guided us was, “Who are the beloved characters with whom we’d like to delve deeper?” It turned out to be beneficial since Maxwell Atoms, the creator of “The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy“, was involved in the project. His expertise helped us ensure that the Billy and Mandy segments were genuine and true to their original essence.

Reframing the idea for a more casual conversation: It seems like when we got to Mojo Jojo’s part, things really picked up for us. Once we started exploring that romantic subplot, everyone was just having a blast. That aspect turned out to be the main highlight of the episode. The concept actually stemmed from a recurring thought we had – what if Jellystone became a sort of dumping ground for all the less-than-ideal characters from various universes? It made us chuckle quite a bit. We found it amusing to concentrate on characters that aren’t usually the main stars in their respective shows, even though they’re still adored by fans.

From my perspective, instead of outright antagonists, I’ve been envisioning figures that are a tad more grating to the audience. Characters who, at times, might rub you the wrong way. It’s as if I imagine them strolling into Jellystone Park and blending in effortlessly, like they were meant to be there all along. This thought sparked our concept for this episode – could we transpose Dee Dee, Billy, and Mojo into this world, where they wouldn’t just survive, but perhaps even flourish? I believe crafting a narrative around such an intriguing dynamic would make for a captivating tale to unfold.

Absolutely, it’s fascinating to think that there was an empty space in their world which they simply didn’t take the time to fill.

Here’s my take:

You know what I’m all about? Efficient storytelling! With only 22 minutes at our disposal, the challenge was finding the most effective method to cram in loads of background details and get things moving swiftly. Essentially, we needed to ask ourselves, “What’s the speediest way to lay the groundwork so we can dive right into the fun parts?” I find that approach invigorating!

Have you ever pondered about the technique employed while rebooting characters in the multiverse of Jellystone!? I’ve always been intrigued. Was there any resistance or suggestions from the studio concerning specific character portrayals, particularly during Season Three when iconic characters like The Jetsons and the surprising Captain Caveman and Barney Rubble twist were introduced?

Indeed, they wholeheartedly accepted it without any resistance. The unexpected twist that Barney Rubble was actually Barney from “The Flintstones” and Captain Caveman was a hilarious concept. My composer spontaneously proposed this idea, saying, “What if Captain Caveman was Barney Rubble?” I thought it was brilliant and immediately shared the idea with the writers, who were equally excited. We presented it to our executive, who enthusiastically agreed, saying, “I adore it! Let’s make it happen!

It turned out to be quite amusing for everyone, as it didn’t alter the original essence of “The Flintstones” in any way. In fact, it allowed us to create our own quirky, lighthearted take on it, without infringing on its core identity or causing offense. And in turn, it brought plenty of laughter to everyone involved.

Fred happened to be a jerk. It makes a lot of sense.

Wasn’t it, upon closer reflection, somewhat poisonous in nature as viewed from a contemporary perspective?

As a curious observer, I’ve often pondered about the intriguing character of Peter Potamus. His deep affinity for anime and all things Japanese seemed fitting given his penchant for global exploration. I wonder, what sparked the decision to fully embrace the ‘weeb’ identity for this globetrotting character?

The character of him evolved naturally on the show. Initially, he was introduced as a UPS delivery guy in a balloon, but as we began to incorporate him, an anime pillow became significant. We realized who he was at that point, as the crew is quite fond of anime. So, Peter’s development seemed organic; once a small opening emerged, everyone embraced it and added their own touch to the character.

I’m particularly fond of it since it confirms that Hong Kong Phooey is recognized as an anime within this fictional world.

It’s challenging since you’re considering how to balance cultural sensitivity while dealing with a topic like anime. But, we found a solution by creating an adaptation that stands on its own, ensuring it remains appropriate and fitting within the context of our universe. I was thrilled to incorporate this element without causing any inappropriateness.

Peter played a pivotal role in one of Season Three’s most significant storieslines, “Space Con,” as it featured Space Ghost Coast to Coast stars George Lowe and Andy Merill. Can you share some insights about collaborating with them on this episode and seamlessly incorporating Space Ghost Coast to Coast and Cartoon Planet references?

In a nutshell, their presence was deeply moving for everyone involved during the recording of George and Andy. It held immense significance for us. As we worked on capturing their voices, I can assure you there wasn’t a single frown among us. In fact, it’s safe to say that every face was beaming with joy. You see, we were all avid fans of them, the directors, the board artists, and myself included. So, when we managed to bring them onto our project and infuse their genuine essence into the show, it made the writing process a breeze because they are already such fascinating characters.

Reviving those characters in the show and seeing them thrive again brought such a sense of joy. It felt fantastic to be part of it all once more. George was particularly endearing, and I can’t help but miss him. He was indeed as sweet, humorous, and outgoing as everyone says. His humor was truly genuine, and he had a kind, warm spirit.

It’s great that he joins the fun with the spaghetti chase joke as well. Who, among the Jellystone! team, is a big fan of spaghetti?

Funny enough, I noticed that the concept of “Welcome Spaghetti” seemed to have originated from our lead writer, who incorporated it into an initial draft. It then appeared to persistently resurface, almost as if it was trying to find its way into our project. At times, it seems like someone says something odd and everybody finds it amusing, leading us to incorporate it more often. In this case, “Welcome Spaghetti” appears to have no deeper significance other than being a quirky phrase that somehow caught on among us.

Each viewing is a delight for me, as I’m always thrilled to catch a glimpse of it. Moreover, discovering numerous deep-rooted Hanna-Barbera references is an added joy. There are characters that I believe only your team would recall. Is there one in particular that you felt especially proud to see brought to life on screen?

As an observer, I found myself diving into this captivating series with two primary expectations: firstly, I longed for the iconic charm of “The Jetsons,” and secondly, I eagerly anticipated the presence of a character reminiscent of Devlin from the get-go. Fortunately, we managed to bring the Jetsons to life, and when that hurdle was conquered, I thought, “Now it’s time for Devlin.”

I envisioned reimagining the classic Evil Knievl persona as a contemporary figure—a YouTube sensation, somewhat akin to the antics of “Jackass,” who consistently finds himself in precarious predicaments. To me, this modernized Devlin would resonate with today’s audience. And lo and behold, it turned out that this character could serve as an excellent source of humor, making him a perfect fit for our series. Needless to say, I was elated when he finally joined the cast!

In the case of The Jetsons’ time travel tale as well, it seemed like the concept continued to expand, necessitating a longer runtime to fully examine it.

It’s clear from the start that The Jetsons stood out as unique characters, deserving of an exceptional tale. So, we tackled the project with the mindset, “This is going to be a grand story.” However, the narrative ended up being even larger than anticipated, and we had to trim it to fit within the 21-minute timeframe. This was because there were additional adventures featuring Doggie Daddy, and his tale got significantly condensed. There were other factors at play as well. Fitting everything into a 21-minute slot can be tricky, but I’m quite pleased with how it all came together in the end.

Regarding Augie Doggie and his Dad, I used to watch their cartoon on a VHS tape endlessly. So, when they got a significant role in Jellystone!, it was quite exciting for me. When did you make the decision to have them play such a crucial part in the series?

Right from the start, we focused on creating several key characters who would form the backbone of our show. Among these were Augie Doggie, Doggie Daddy, Yogi, Cindy, Boo Boo, El Kabong, Jabberjaw, Huckleberry Hound, and Top Cat. With Augie, we often centered stories around her with either the kids or her father. To keep things manageable, we needed to narrow it down. If we didn’t, there would be too many characters all the time. However, by structuring our stories around these main characters, one that particularly resonated was when I proposed Augie as a young girl alongside her father.

From my perspective, there was a widespread agreement among many individuals, writers, and board artists alike: “I grasp the essence of this relationship. I can relate to it.” It seemed to be one of the most straightforward and swiftly understood relationship narratives. This interpretation led us to create a version of Doggie Daddy that resembles a protective parent from a helicopter. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with people saying, “We get it. We love it. This is something we can easily connect with.” Indeed, this understanding and appreciation were evident right from the start.

Lastly, have you ever thought about possibly revisiting the world of Chowder in the future, perhaps through a revival, special episode, or something similar?

I’m absolutely open to the idea, and there have been proposals about it at Warner. The main factors seem to be timing and budget, but I’d certainly consider it. I wouldn’t reject the opportunity outright. If I were to take part, I believe the concept would need a slight update or twist to distinguish it from previous versions, given that the original cast has grown up. So, it wouldn’t be exactly the same thing; it might involve a reimagining or a fresh perspective on the story, to make it worthy of being a new version.

Would you age up Chowder in that specific situation?

I’ve always found a charm in his childlike nature, and it brings a sense of freshness and excitement as if seeing the world through new eyes. He’s so innocent, open-minded, and I find myself drawn to that youthful spirit even now. It’s wonderful that we managed to include him in our crossover episode, although I wish we could have more interactions like this.

I love that you got Truffles in there a little bit too!

This situation arises because Tara lends her voice to Bubbles from The Powerpuff Girls. When an actor is brought in to perform one role, they can be utilized for a few other roles as well. So, we think, ‘If we bring someone in, we have to do any other characters they’ve done. We’ll use them for multiple roles.’

Is that how the Squirrel Boy gag came about?

Clearly, if Squirrel Boy wasn’t part of the cast, there wouldn’t be a need for his voiceover. However, you already have Richard Horvitz voicing Billy. It makes sense then to ask, “Why not have him do Squirrel Boy as well?” since he is the one who voices Squirrel Boy.

I really love these final batch of episodes. I unfortunately keep emphasizing “final” because well…

For the time being, but let’s keep hope alive. After all, who can predict the future? If there’s any further development, we’re all set. Believe me, we’re standing by and eager to jump right in when the time comes.

You can now stream all three seasons of Jellystone! on Max.

2025-03-20 08:11

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