Created by Pendleton Ward and Steven Universe writer Ian Jones-Quartey, Bravest Warriors is a futuristic science-fiction webtoon that melds the creative universes and styles of the popular cartoons Adventure Time and Rick and Morty. Released internationally in 2012 to YouTube by production and animation studio Frederator Networks, Inc., Bravest Warriors gave older Adventure Time fans a more mature experience with the same signature endearing animation style and endearing neologisms, along with a few familiar voices.
The season one compilation video has amassed over 11 million views. An official compilation video about Catbug, an aptly-named adorable blue cat with ladybug wings voiced by then-five-year-old Sam Lavagnino, has over 2 million views on its own. Though never released for live television, the cartoon became one of the more well-known webseries and was nominated for the 2013 Shorty Award for Best Web Show. There is no denying the show’s popularity, as Catbug merchandise once flooded the pop-culture market.
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Set in the year 3085, the series follows a charismatic group of contract heroes on their multidimensional space misadventures, focusing on the themes of friendship and selflessness. Every member of the Bravest Warriors squad possesses technology that provides them with a unique special ability. These Martian residents often find themselves in the delicate position to save the universe. Each approximately six-minute episode is tightly packed with wacky characters, crude banter, and high-stakes yet often reckless adventure.
The first three seasons are still available to watch on the official Cartoon Hangover YouTube channel, but the fourth and final season is evidently more elusive. So what happened to the beloved webtoon? Will fans ever experience proper closure?
Uncovering the Mystery
Frederator Networks, Inc.
Originally presented by Ward as a short for Nickelodeon’s Random! Cartoons, Bravest Warriors was further developed into a webseries, becoming Cartoon Hangover’s first-ever production and point of launch. To coincide with Bravest Warriors’ 2012 release, Frederator developed Cartoon Hangover specifically for YouTube creative endeavors such as Bravest Warriors and creative pursuits to follow, such as GO! Cartoons and Bee and PuppyCat. The channel also features a number of animated shorts, many of which feature Catbug – the unintentional star of the host series.
The final season of Bravest Warriors was released to VRV in 2017. In April 2018, Cartoon Hangover posted an exclusive season four episode to its YouTube channel, the comment section of which contains numerous grievances from disappointed fans. The description below the video includes a dead link to VRV, a streaming service owned by Crunchyroll, where the mysterious season four of Bravest Warriors is no longer available for streaming. Additionally, Cartoon Hangover has been inactive since its last, indistinct YouTube post in 2019.
As recently as six months ago, fans have continued to post speculations on YouTube about whether the show was officially canceled. They have developed theories as to why the series seemingly dropped off the face of the earth. After season two’s epic finale, which leaves some storylines unfinished, Cartoon Hangover took a Bravest Warriors hiatus of more than two years, during which time some fans inevitably grew tired of waiting. The studio then announced that season three would be moved to VRV, whose service is limited to the United States, effectively losing its international fanbase. They would eventually rectify this decision by migrating season three to YouTube, but by then, it was too late for many fans. Perhaps the show never recovered, which is why it has since faded from its once flourishing platform.
Unfortunately, it is entirely likely that the move to VRV was due to a lack of financing from YouTube. It is possible that the monetary demands for creating the webseries, which boasts impressively detailed animation, quality voice acting, and overall high production value, simply could not keep up with the cost of production. YouTube as a platform was perhaps too limited for the show’s ambition. The episodes are less than 10 minutes each; one can binge the entire 13-episode first season in under an hour and a half. Meanwhile, the characters, animation, and art design are on par with that of Adventure Time, a major television production that had the financial backing from Cartoon Network and high viewership.
The Alleged Catbug Spinoff
Frederator
Catbug, in particular, was a smash hit among fans. Voice actor Sam Lavagnino’s upbeat and adorable voice lends itself to the overall appeal of his character. In combination with simple yet brilliant character design and the life Lavagnino instills in him, Catbug’s lovable personality alone drew fans to the Bravest Warriors show. Popular Catbug clips and compilations continue to circulate on the global video media giant, Tik Tok. Fans continue to admire his unyielding enthusiasm in the face of imminent danger and distress from his crew.
In 2019, some two years after the season four finale, excited rumors began to circulate about Frederator developing a Catbug spinoff. Deadline and Animation Magazine reported that a series starring the beloved character was under development. On Frederator’s website, the studio still vaguely claims that “52 11-minute episodes” are on their way, but there have been no updates to the site or YouTube.
Sadly, it is still unclear as to whether the Bravest Warriors universe will be expanding. Although there hasn’t been an official cancellation announcement, there haven’t been any production updates either; it is possible that the spinoff has been abandoned for reasons that are ultimately unknown. Bravest Warriors, a refreshing and bold idea that took a risk challenging contemporary media consumption, rivals full television productions in both quality and content – an incredible accomplishment for a webtoon. However, the series seems to have outgrown its platform. Fans must come to terms with the possibility that we may never receive the closure we’ve been hoping for.
