Summer Camp Island

Last updated

Summer Camp Island
Summer Camp Island logo.png
Genre
Created by Julia Pott
Voices of
Theme music composer
Opening theme"Summer Camp Island" performed by Oona Laurence, [2] Seo Kim (sometimes), [3] Lesley Nicol (season 3, episodes 1–4), Sam Lavagnino (season 3, episodes 5–7), and Scott Hoying (season 4, "Sea Bunnies" only)
Composers
  • John Enroth
  • Albert Fox
  • Mark Mothersbaugh
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes120 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerRossitza Likomanova
Running time11–12 minutes
Production company Cartoon Network Studios
Original release
Network
ReleaseJuly 7, 2018 (2018-07-07) –
August 11, 2023 (2023-08-11)

Summer Camp Island is an American animated television series created by Julia Pott for Cartoon Network. Produced by Cartoon Network Studios, it premiered on July 7, 2018. The series depicts the episodic adventures of Oscar and Hedgehog, both of whom are attending the magical eponymous summer camp, supervised by a witch named Susie. The show premiered with a 48-hour marathon consisting of the first 20 episodes running over an entire weekend, on both Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Another 20 episodes premiered on June 23, 2019, as the second half of the first season.

Contents

Four additional seasons premiered exclusively on HBO Max, at roughly six-month intervals from June 2020 to December 2021. The series was removed from HBO Max in the United States in mid-2022 amongst a number of other cartoons, after which its sixth and final season premiered on Cartoon Network in mid-2023. It was later made available to stream for free on Sling TV.

Premise

Set in a world populated by anthropomorphic animals, Summer Camp Island follows two childhood best friends Oscar Peltzer, an elephant, and Hedgehog, a hedgehog, who are dropped off at a magical summer camp. The camp is a host to many bizarre occurrences, such as camp counselors who are popular girl witches, horses that transform into unicorns, talking sharks, yetis, haunted cabins, post-it notes that lead to other dimensions, and nosey monsters that live under the bed. Oscar and Hedgehog must contend with these out-of-place events and make their stay at camp worthwhile. [5] [6]

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
1 4020July 7, 2018 Cartoon Network
20June 23, 2019July 21, 2019
2 20June 18, 2020 (2020-06-18) HBO Max
3 12December 10, 2020 (2020-12-10)December 24, 2020 (2020-12-24)
4 13June 17, 2021 (2021-06-17)
5 15December 9, 2021 (2021-12-09)
6 20July 31, 2023 (2023-07-31)August 11, 2023 (2023-08-11)Cartoon Network

Characters

Main

Supporting

Production

The series is the second Cartoon Network original series to be solely created by a woman, the first being Steven Universe , which was created by Rebecca Sugar. [8]

The series was first announced in January 2017 and later had been shopped around at different festivals, including Sundance. [9]

Development

During a presentation at MipJunior in Cannes in October 2018, creator Julia Pott stated that the series was intended for viewers craving gentleness and compared its soothing tone to the television series Gilmore Girls . [10] Pott compared her animated series, which follows two friends at a magical sleepaway camp, to Gilmore Girls. "Nothing bad is ever going to happen in that show, and if you really just need to be soothed, you can watch it, and that is what we want with this show… anyone that wants to feel soothed, it is for them," she added. "There is darker stuff in there, but it is in a little cute package." [11]

At the MIPJunior session, Rob Sorcher, then Chief Content Officer at Cartoon Network, presented the European premiere of the series, noting the depth of its world-building and creative direction. [11] The series was developed through Cartoon Network's Artists Program, which "specializes in curating distinct and diverse artists, most of whom have never run a show", Sorcher said. While many participants have never worked in television at all, the program has "become the main pipeline of television development" for the network, spawning 11 series to date. [11]

Creator Julia Pott drew inspiration for Summer Camp Island from her childhood interests in "spooky" folklore and supernatural television series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sabrina the Teenage Witch . [11] Pott designed the show's world to reflect a "kid-logic perspective," where fantastical elements such as monsters under the bed, ghosts, and quicksand are accepted as reality. [11]

After working as a freelancer on short films such as Belly and The Event, Pott joined the crew of the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time . [11] This period served as a transition to her role as creator and showrunner of Summer Camp Island, a production valued at approximately $30 million according to executive Rob Sorcher. [11] Pott has described the transition from independent filmmaking to managing a large team as "overwhelming," noting that the increased responsibility led to personal struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. [11] Reflecting on the production process, she stated that the "hardest thing to deal with was her own expectations," noting that the scale of the project often led to intense self-criticism over perceived failures. [11]

During her time on Adventure Time, Niki Yang received creative guidance from showrunners Adam Muto and Pendleton Ward regarding the pressures of television production. [11] Muto advised her that "not every episode is your episode," encouraging her to let go of segments that were not working. [11] Similarly, Ward suggested focusing on a single successful element within an episode rather than striving for perfection, noting that "if there is one thing in the episode that you think is funny, that is a victory." [11]

Despite advice from executive producer Rob Sorcher to use adult voice actors, Pott insisted on casting real children to achieve a sense of sincerity and authenticity inspired by Peanuts . [11] The character Pajamas was voiced by three-year-old Naomie. Pott described her as one of the show's best performers, noting that the child occasionally rewrote lines that did not make sense to her. [11]

Broadcast

The series premiered on Cartoon Network on July 7, 2018. The show's premiere marathon also happened on Cartoon Network's sister channel Boomerang on July 7, 2018. [12] The marathon ended on July 9, 2018, at 6:00 AM. The show's premiere marathon also occurred on Teletoon on August 13, 2018. On Cartoon Network Latin America/Brazil, it premiered in August 18, 2018. On Cartoon Network Australia and New Zealand, a sneak peek of the series was broadcast on December 15, 2018. [13] [14] It premiered on Cartoon Network Southeast Asia/Philippines on January 25, 2019. The show premiered on Cartoon Network UK on March 4, 2019. [15] The show also premiered on Cartoon Network India around July 19, 2019.

At San Diego Comic-Con 2018, Julia Pott announced that the second half of the first season would premiere in late 2018 on Cartoon Network with another 20 episodes. Those episodes ended up being pushed to 2019, and on May 20, 2019, it was announced that the episodes would premiere on June 23, 2019. [16]

At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Pott announced that the series had been renewed for a second season, which premiered exclusively on HBO Max on June 18, 2020. The third season premiered on December 10, 2020. [17] The fourth season premiered on June 17, 2021. [18] The fifth season was released on December 9, 2021. [19] [20] The sixth and final season was scheduled for June 9, 2022, [21] [22] but after HBO Max removed a number of cartoons in the United States that August (when it aired early on Cartoon Network Italy), [23] it instead premiered on Cartoon Network in mid-2023. [24] [25] By mid-2025, the series was available to stream for free on Sling TV. [26]

Home media

Summer Camp Island home video releases
SeasonsYearEpisodesRelease dates
Australia
1–3 202172Seasons 1–3 DVD: October 6, 2021 [27]
Episodes: "The First Day" – "Yeti Confetti Chapter Five: Where's the Confetti"

Reception

Critical response

Reception to the series has been positive. Journalist Abbey White of The Hollywood Reporter and Insider argued that it follows in the footsteps of Steven Universe , and praised the storyline about two non-binary aliens who love each other, with a "sweet, beautiful song," and saying that it is in an "age-appropriate way ... [which can] reach kids [so] that they can understand." [28]

Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media described the series as quirky and heartwarming, arguing that it has "cross-generational appeal", stating that there are many "quirky characters and silly adventures", many of which are relatable in their daily experiences. She also said the series has a "a welcome freshness that...yields a worthy contender for families' attention." [29]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)Result
2016 AFI Fest Animated Short Special Jury MentionJulia Pott (for "Pilot")Won
Animated Short FilmNominated
2017 Florida Film Festival Best Short FilmWon
Provincetown International Film Festival Best Animated ShortWon
San Francisco International Film Festival Best Family FilmWon
Best Animated ShortNominated
Sundance Film Festival N/ANominated
SXSW Film Festival Animated ShortNominated
2018 Common Sense Media Common Sense SealSummer Camp IslandWon [30]
2021 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Children's ProgrammingNominated [31]
Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Voice Directing for a Daytime Animated SeriesKristi ReedNominated
2022 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Children's ProgrammingSummer Camp IslandNominated [32]
Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Voice Directing for an Animated SeriesKristi ReedNominated
2024 Peabody Awards Children's/YouthSummer Camp IslandNominated [33]
Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's or Young Teen Animated Series Julia Pott, Sam Register (executive producers); Rossitza Likomanova, Cole Sanchez (supervising producers)Nominated

Notes

  1. 1 2 Credited as Charlyne Yi

References

  1. ↑ "Julia Pott on Twitter". Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Tweet by Elliott Smith @OtherElliott". Twitter. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  3. ↑ "King of OOO: Summer Camp Island - main title theme song written..." King of OOO. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  4. ↑ juliapott (May 9, 2020). "String cup phone system tutorial for HBO max press day. Inspired by the movie Now and Then of course. Summer Camp Island is coming back with a second season available exclusively on HBO Max". Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  5. ↑ Petski, Denise (January 30, 2017). "'Summer Camp Island' Series Gets Greenlight From Cartoon Network". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  6. ↑ Black player (January 31, 2017). "Summer Camp Island". YouTube . Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  7. ↑ ARDIS, KELLY (July 3, 2018). "TV voice role really the elephant's pajamas for young local actor". Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  8. ↑ Mufson, Beckett (July 19, 2018). "The New Show 'Summer Camp Island' Will Fill the 'Adventure Time'-Shaped Hole in Your Life". Vice . Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  9. ↑ Amidi, Amid (January 30, 2017). "Cartoon Network Orders 'Summer Camp Island' Series by Julia Pott". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on January 31, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  10. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (October 13, 2018). "Cartoon Network's 'Summer Camp Island' Speaks to People 'Craving Gentleness'". Variety . Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
  12. ↑ "TV Schedule for Boomerang". TV Passport. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Summer Camp Island". Foxtel . Foxtel. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2018. On Saturday [15 December] 9:00am - 9:15am
  14. ↑ "Summer Camp Island". SKY . SKY Network Television Limited. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Cartoon Network UK Summer Camp Island Premieres On Monday 4th March". RegularCapital.com: Cartoon Network International News. February 4, 2019. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Cartoon Network Grows Programming Slate with New Adventure Comedies "Mao Mao, Heroes of Pure Heart" and "Tig N' Seek"". The Futon Critic . May 20, 2019.
  17. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (November 17, 2020). "HBO Max Conjures Magical Third Season of 'Summer Camp Island' Dec. 10". Animation Magazine . Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  18. ↑ Bjornson, Greta (May 20, 2021). "New on HBO and HBO Max June 2021". Decider . Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  19. ↑ O'Donnell, Carey [@ecareyo] (June 16, 2021). "Season 4 Summer Camp Island is out tomorrow on HBO Max! I helped write an episode featuring my favorite New Jersey cryptid. The rest of the episodes I wrote will be out this fall, but I hope everyone watches this perfectly June, truly sweet, funny, weird show" (Tweet). Retrieved June 17, 2021– via Twitter.
  20. ↑ Cartoon Network [@cartoonnetwork] (November 18, 2021). "Are you ready to feel all the feels? 🏕 🧙‍♀️ ✨ Discover the magic inside you with NEW EPISODES of Summer Camp Island coming Dec 9 to @HBOMax" (Tweet). Retrieved November 18, 2021– via Twitter.
  21. ↑ "This June Stream "Westworld," "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore," "Father of the Bride," "The Janes" and More on HBO Max". May 23, 2022. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  22. ↑ Cartoon Network [@cartoonnetwork] (May 31, 2022). "There's no place like camp ☀️🏕️ 🏝 The magical 20-episode conclusion of Summer Camp Island streams June 9th on @HBOMax!" (Tweet). Retrieved May 31, 2022– via Twitter.
  23. ↑ "A Luglio e Agosto 2022 su Boing, Boomerang, Cartoonito e Cartoon Network". June 25, 2022. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  24. ↑ "HBO Max takes yet another cruel buzzsaw to its kids programming library". The A.V. Club . August 18, 2022. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  25. ↑ Cartoon Network [@cartoonnetwork] (June 6, 2022). "Time can be a tricky thing. The final season of Summer Camp Island is now premiering in 2023" (Tweet). Retrieved June 6, 2022– via Twitter.
  26. ↑ Schiff, Mark (June 9, 2025). "Five Cartoon Network and Adult Swim Shows To Watch on Sling Freestream". Sling TV. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Summer Camp Island - Season 1-3". Amazon. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  28. ↑ Rebecca Sun (September 11, 2021). "'Hollywood Remixed': 'Billions' Star Asia Kate Dillon on How Non-Binary Representation Changes Lives". The Hollywood Reporter (Podcast). The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  29. ↑ Ashby, Emily (August 23, 2021). "Summer Camp Island Review". Common Sense Media . Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Common Sense Media Announces Common Sense Seal TV Honorees for Fall/Winter 2018 | Common Sense Media". Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  31. ↑ "The Nominees for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". January 28, 2021. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Judith Light, Wilson Cruz Honored at GLAAD Media Awards 2022". May 7, 2022. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Nominees in Entertainment, Kids, Arts, Interactive Announced". April 25, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.