Wander Over Yonder

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Wander Over Yonder
Wander Over Yonder wordmark.svg
Genre Science fiction comedy Adventure
Created by Craig McCracken
Directed byDave Thomas (supervising)
Voices of
Theme music composer Two Man Gentlemen Band
Opening theme"Wander Over Yonder Main Title" [1]
ComposerAndy Bean
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes43 (79 segments) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerCraig McCracken
Animators
Running time
  • 22 minutes (both segments)
  • 11 minutes (one segment) [2]
Production company Disney Television Animation
Original release
Network Disney Channel
ReleaseAugust 16, 2013 (2013-08-16) 
October 4, 2014 (2014-10-04)
Network Disney XD
ReleaseMarch 31, 2014 (2014-03-31) 
June 27, 2016 (2016-06-27)
Related

Wander Over Yonder is an American animated television series that aired on Disney Channel and Disney XD. Created by Craig McCracken, it follows the adventures of the optimistic Wander, who rides across the galaxy to help the inhabitants of various planets live freely despite the intentions of Lord Hater to rule the universe.

Contents

The series premiered on Disney Channel on August 16, 2013. New episodes were moved during its first season to Disney XD on March 31, 2014 while episodes still did air on Disney Channel until October 4, 2014. The series ran for two seasons with the final episode airing June 27, 2016. [3]

Plot

The series follows Wander, a nomadic, helpful, and overly-optimistic intergalactic traveler and his best friend and steed, Sylvia the Zbornak, as they travel from planet to planet helping people to have fun, play, and live free, despite the continuing encroachment of Lord Hater, one of the most powerful villains in the galaxy, and his army of Watchdogs. [4] [5] [6]

The show's first season is episodic; there are very few strong ties between episodes, and they can be viewed independently of each other. In the second season, however, a more sequential story is introduced; as Lord Dominator begins to conquer the galaxy, the show's tone becomes more serious and the focus moves from stopping the rather incompetent Lord Hater to stopping the extremely competent Lord Dominator. As a result, the episodes are more closely linked and there are several developments in the overarching plot.

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
1 218August 16, 2013 (2013-08-16)January 24, 2014 (2014-01-24) Disney Channel
13March 31, 2014 (2014-03-31)December 4, 2014 (2014-12-04) Disney XD
2 22August 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)

Characters

Main

Recurring

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 and only foray on a Disney-owned network. McCracken's wife Lauren Faust served as co-producer and story editor for the first season. [8] 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. [9] McCracken described Wander as a "nomadic, hippie, muppet man". [10] He also said that his approach to each episode was character-driven and that the show's use of color is influenced by Hanna-Barbera, where he used to work. [11]

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. [12] 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 . [13]

Premieres of new episodes were moved to sister network Disney XD during its first season, on March 31, 2014. [14] Shortly after, Disney Television Animation executive Eric Coleman announced that the series was renewed for a second season, [15] with comic book writer ND Stevenson joining the writing team. [16] 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. [17]

Internationally, Wander Over Yonder made its premiere on Family Channel in Canada on October 13, 2013, [18] on Disney XD in Australia on June 9, 2014, [19] on Disney Channel in Israel on September 1, 2014, [20] and on Disney XD in the UK and Ireland on March 10, 2014.

Reception

The previewed episode was seen by roughly 2.9 million viewers. [13]

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. [21] Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media describes the series as flash and funny, stating it would "appeal to kids." She also argued it is a series that "generates laughs in opposing personalities, nonstop action, and silly scenarios." [22]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2014 41st Annie Awards Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production [23] Craig McCrackenNominated
Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production [23] Andy BeanNominated
2015 42nd Annie Awards Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children's Audience [24] Wander Over YonderNominated
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production [25] Justin NicholsWon
Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production [25] Benjamin BalistreriWon
Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production [24] Dave ThomasNominated
Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production [24] Alex Kirwan, Chris Tsirigotis, Alexander Duckworth, Janice Kubo & Francis GiglioNominated
Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production [24] Mark AcklandNominated
67th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Short-Format Animated Programming [26] "The Gift 2: The Giftening"Nominated
2016 43rd Annie Awards Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children's Audience [27] "The Breakfast"Won
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production [28] Justin Nichols (for "The Good Bad Guy")Nominated
Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production [28] Andy Bean (for "The Black Cube")Nominated
Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production [28] Justin Nichols (for "The Breakfast")Nominated
2017 44th Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Children [29] "My Fair Hatey"Nominated
Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production [29] Dave Thomas, Eddie Trigueros, and Justin Nichols (for "My Fair Hatey")Nominated
Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production [29] Benjamin Balistreri (for "The Night Out")Nominated
69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Individual Achievement in AnimationJustin Nichols (for "The End of the Galaxy")Won

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