Summer Camp Island is a Cartoon Network show created by Julia Pott who has worked on writing stories for the last few seasons of Adventure Time. From just watching the first season alone, it really shows. There's a lot of style preferences in tone and feel that Julia has taken with her from working on Adventure Time and it seems she’s brought a couple of writers from AT to help her with this show as well.
The Series focuses on two longtime friends Oscar and Hedgehog as they are heading to Summer Camp Island thinking it is just gonna be your traditional camp when all the sudden, things begin to unfold as the camp counselors are actually witches and monsters and living inanimate objects are the norm. Oscar and Hedgehog also get a chance to meet other campers as well as being introduced to the self centered head of the counselors, Susie (Played by Julia Pott herself).
The best way I can describe Summer Camp Island is like imagining that the tone and feel of Adventure Time merged with the design astechic of Arthur. There is a lot of the cuteness factor all around with the added subtle complexity that made Adventure Time a success. Most episodes focus on Oscar and Hedgehog and the predicaments they or even some of the other campers get themselves into. Oscar is your usual laidback person while Hedgehog is quite a genius and very bookworm like. Their chemistry between them is unmistakably charming and the characters they come across along their journey have a lot of personality as well. The other campers, monsters and talking inanimate objects bring an interesting personality trait to make the world feel more engaging and interesting. The stand out character to me was Susie, who is full of herself but in a very entertaining way.
The animation and music took a page right out of Adventure Time cause it’s quite similar looking with the exception that the characters have actual pupils instead of dot eyes. Of course it is Tv Animation but it's quite colorful and imaginative with how it presents itself. It takes the limitations and makes use of how they can present the camp as this interesting world that has many characters and places for Oscar, Hedgehog and the other campers to explore. The music uses a lot of mellow synthesizer much like AT which makes for a very relaxing tone.
Honestly I don’t really have much to complain about. The only thing I would say is that there are weak episodes thrown in the mix, but the episodes that are good really hit the mark.If you love Adventure Time and need something similar, this is the perfect show to be introduced to. It’s sure to delight kids and even adults watching along with them.
(Final Grade B+)