Twelve Forever
Twelve Forever is an American animated web series created by Julia Vickerman, a former writer and storyboard artist known for her work on Clarence and The Powerpuff Girls. Twelve Forever premiered in the United States on Netflix on July 29, 2019.[1][2]
| Twelve Forever | |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Julia Vickerman |
| Directed by |
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| Voices of |
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| Theme music composer | Adam Deibert Jarond Gibbs |
| Opening theme | "Twelve Forever" |
| Composer(s) |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 25 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Editor(s) |
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| Running time |
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| Production company(s) | Puny Entertainment The Cartel |
| Distributor | Netflix Streaming Services |
| Release | |
| Original network | Netflix |
| Picture format | 1080p (16:9 HDTV) |
| Original release | July 29, 2019 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
The original pilot was produced for Cartoon Network, by Cartoon Network Studios, and was originally released on their website on May 18, 2015. In December 2017, it was announced that Netflix had acquired the rights to Twelve Forever for a full series, with production duties being handled by The Cartel and Puny Entertainment.[3][4]
One of the executive producers of the series, Shadi Petosky, described Reggie as a queer character "coming to terms with her sexuality".[5][6] The series also features a number of other LGBTQ characters: Mack and Beefhouse,[7] a couple in the fantasy world of Endless Island, and Galaxander, who previously had a boyfriend.[8] Ultimately, the series ended after its first season with no further plans to continue it, as noted by Petosky in a tweet.[9] As such, GLAAD recognized the series as one of those shows released in 2019 with LGBTQ representation.[10]
Premise
The series centers on Reggie Abbott (Kelsy Abbott), an imaginative 12-year-old whose desire to remain a child is so powerful she can enter another world in which she never has to grow up: an island called Endless where her childhood toys and drawings are real. She is joined by her friends Todd (Antony Del Rio) and Esther Hopkins (Jaylen Barron), who visit this amazing world to live out their superhero fantasies and escape the responsibilities of impending adulthood. Life and reality often catch up with them in Endless as the preteens start dealing with growing pains and conflicts develop between them. The negativity the friends experience while dealing with their new complicated problems feed their enemy, the nefarious Butt Witch (Matt Berry), who seeks to destroy Endless.
Voice cast
- Kelsy Abbott as Reggie, Wade, Kathy, Flaps, Flowery Woman, Billy Canyon, Tammy, Dr. Tenders, Swimple Jan, Plates, Mike, Omelet, Winged Moyse
- Antony Del Rio as Todd, Chairold, Garrett, Sherbert
- Jaylen Barron as Esther, Pretty Please, Tater Tot, Gorbis, Darla, Tori
- Matt Berry as The Butt Witch
- Steve Agee as Big Deal, Mack, Beefhouse, Galaxander, Hunk, Monster Brown Roger
- Wade Randolph as Borbo, Dr. Champion, Mr. Christopherson, Label Maker Monster, Lump, Uncle Paul, AJ, Bobby
- Laura Zak as Mrs. Krandle, Tanopy, Explorer Sally, Pancake, Rooty, Lorbis, Queen Limerick
- Bridget Everett as Judy
- Spencer Rothbell as Colin, Swimple Dan, Tasty Troy, Pitui-Terry, Squad Bro, Rance, Big Ol' Gordon, Jacques Board, Shaun
- Nick Sumida as Bags of Marbles, Beth, Chewing Gum Stanley, Garrett, Señor Corduroy
- Brandon Wardell as Dustin
- Daniel Amerman as Aaron
- Sam Brown as Manny, Schmaaron
- Noel Fielding as Guy Pleasant
- Kate Freund as Donna
- John Eric Bentley as Mr. Kapusinski
- Ron Funches as Manguin
- Brittany Ashley as Kendra, Leslie
- Amy Sedaris as Sadmantha
- Maximus Riegel as Ogden
- Stephanie Beatriz as Conelly
- Chris Fleming as Mr. Fleming
- Ashley Boettcher as Gwen
- Curt Neill as Rodney
- Paul Williams as Captain Elmer
- Reese Hartwig as Shane (Pilot only)
- Jorge Diaz as Tristan (Pilot only)
Episodes
Cartoon Network pilot (2015)
| Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Twelve Forever" | Nick Cross (art) & Robert Alvarez (timing) | Julia Vickerman | Julia Vickerman & Victor Courtright (additional) | May 18, 2015 |
Season 1 (2019)
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original release date | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Birthday Forever" | John Mathot | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Kelsy Abbott | Phylicia Fuentes & Nick Sumida | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Reggie's imagination unlocks a wild and wonderful world where she can be herself – and escape the pressures of growing up. | |||||||||||
| 2 | "The Butt Witch Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Spencer Rothbell | Erica Jones & Meghan Tryon | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Trying to avoid learning about puberty, Reggie accidentally unleashes the Butt Witch on their world. | |||||||||||
| 3 | "Esther Forever" | John Mathot | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Laura Zak | Mike Bertino & Ron Stanage | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Esther, the new girl at school, tries to join Reggie and Todd's crew. | |||||||||||
| 4 | "Guy Pleasant Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Tony Infante & Richard Lee | Ashlyn Anstee & Nicolette Wood | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| When his big brother moves away for college, Todd tries to create a new brother. | |||||||||||
| 5 | "Endless Forever" | John Mathot | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Kelsy Abbott | Phylicia Fuentes & Nick Sumida | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Todd and Esther try to investigate Endless' mysteries. | |||||||||||
| 6 | "Dustin Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Spencer Rothbell | Erica Jones & Meghan Tryon | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Reggie tries to reconnect with her brother in filming their series "Space Vampires." | |||||||||||
| 7 | "Mack and Beefhouse Forever" | John Mathot & Nick Sumida | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Kelsy Abbott | Mike Bertino & Ron Stanage | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| The Butt Witch tries to create friction between Mack and Beefhouse. | |||||||||||
| 8 | "The Mall Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Laura Zak | Ashlyn Anstee & Nicolette Wood | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Reggie's mom takes her and Esther to the mall to buy something nice. | |||||||||||
| 9 | "School Forever" | John Mathot & Nick Sumida | Story by : Spencer Rothbell Teleplay by : Tony Infante | Phylicia Fuentes & Nick Sumida | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| After an annoying day at school, the kids try teaching lessons in Endless. | |||||||||||
| 10 | "Secrets Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Laura Zak | Erica Jones & Meghan Tryon | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| The gang discovers a grocery store on Endless. | |||||||||||
| 11 | "Manguin Forever" | Nick Sumida | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Spencer Rothbell | Mike Bertino & Ron Stanage | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Reggie hires a penguin assistant to help with her garden. | |||||||||||
| 12 | "Fancy Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Kelsy Abbott | Ashlyn Anstee & Nicolette Wood | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Reggie attempts to become the best-dressed person on Endless. | |||||||||||
| 13 | "The Locals Forever" | John Mathot & Nick Sumida | Kelsy Abbott | Phylicia Fuentes & Nick Sumida | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| The gang spies on the residents of Endless. | |||||||||||
| 14 | "Reggie's Dad Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Laura Zak | Erica Jones & Meghan Tryon | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Reggie finds a box of her dad's stuff and releases a sad spirit in Endless. | |||||||||||
| 15 | "Babysitting Forever" | Nick Sumida | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Spencer Rothbell | Diana Lafyatis & Ron Stanage | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Reggie tries babysitting and ends up taking the kid to Endless with her. | |||||||||||
| 16 | "Not Twelve Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Kelsy Abbott | Ashlyn Anstee & Nicolette Wood | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Big Deal tries to impress the Butt Witch. | |||||||||||
| 17 18 | "Locked Out Forever" (Part 1–2) | Nick Sumida | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Laura Zak | Phylicia Fuentes & Sydney Sharp | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Laura Zak | Erica Jones & Meghan Tryon | July 29, 2019 | ||||||||
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Part 1: Reggie develops a crush on Conelly, an eighth grade girl. Part 2: Reggie tries to figure out how to get back into Endless. | |||||||||||
| 19 | "Brown Roger Forever" | Nick Sumida | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Spencer Rothbell | Katie Mitroff & Ron Stanage | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| The Butt Witch starts to influence Brown Roger. | |||||||||||
| 20 | "Spring Break Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Kelsy Abbott | Raj Brueggemann & Nicolette Wood | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Reggie's stuck in the hospital during Spring Break. | |||||||||||
| 21 | "Dance Forever" | Nick Sumida | Spencer Rothbell | Phylicia Fuentes & Sydney Sharp | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Todd meets a new girl named Gwen and the gang goes to a school dance. | |||||||||||
| 22 | "Audition Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Laura Zak | Erica Jones & Meghan Tryon | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Todd tries out for a band, but they choose Esther instead. | |||||||||||
| 23 | "A Stranger Forever" | Nick Sumida | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Kelsy Abbott | Katie Mitroff & Kyle Neswald | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Captain Elmer arrives on Endless, but Todd and Esther are suspicious of him. | |||||||||||
| 24 | "Todd Forever" | Annisa Adjani | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Spencer Rothbell | Raj Brueggemann & Jay Hasrajani | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| Reggie plans a huge 13th birthday surprise for Todd. | |||||||||||
| 25 | "Together Forever" | Nick Sumida & Ed Tadem | Story by : Julia Vickerman Teleplay by : Laura Zak | Grace Liu, Dan Stone & Sydney Sharp | July 29, 2019 | ||||||
| The Butt Witch tries to manipulate the gang while they're fighting. | |||||||||||
Reception
There have been variety of reviews. Lacey Womack of ScreenRant praised the series[11] while others praised the "great pedigree" of those working on the show.[12] While some described the show as having a "sense of its Midwest, small town setting as the backdrop of conformist pressure" and compared it to Gravity Falls,[13] and praised its LGBTQ representation, putting it alongside shows such as Steven Universe, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, The Dragon Prince, and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes.[14] At the same time, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction contributor Steven Pearce gave a short positive review of the show, arguing that the show juggles dark and light, the real world and the imagined world, with Endless acting out "metaphorical versions of Reggie's real-world problems."[15] Pearce also argued that the series is good and inventive, bringing in surrealism, "pre-teen angst, humour and twelve year-olds using flame-throwers." In January 2020, GLAAD nominated the show for its Outstanding Kids & Family Programming award, along with a host of other shows.[16]
Controversy and possibility of a second season
In September 2019, an old Tumblr post by Julia Vickerman, which seemed to talk about self-described pedophilia involving a 14-year-old boy, surfaced, putting the show in jeopardy.[17][18] Some claimed that Vickerman had been removed from the show as a result, although no solid confirmation was provided.[19][20] At a later point, sometime before July 2019, Shadi Petosky became the executive producer on the show.[21] In May 2020, while recommending the show, Lacey Womack of ScreenRant described it as an animated series "before going on an indefinite hiatus."[22] Around the same time, when asked about the show, Shadi Petosky said that closing the studio which made the series was a "highly traumatic decision" and that she just wanted to write after Danger & Eggs, instead of being sucked in "to managing everyone’s problems."[23]
References
- Baron, Reuben (April 2, 2019). "20 Netflix Originals Coming 2019 We Can't Wait For (And 10 That Look Awful)". ScreenRant. Valent, Inc. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- Flook, Ray (December 7, 2017). "Twelve Forever: Netflix Nabs Julia Vickerman Animated Series for 2019". Bleeding Cool. Avatar Press. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- Flores, Terry (December 1, 2017). "Netflix Picks Up New Animated Series 'Twelve Forever' for 2019". Variety (magazine). Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- Milligan, Mercedes (December 3, 2017). "Netflix Orders 'Twelve Forever' Series from 'Powerpuff,' 'Clarence' Vet". Animation Magazine. Animation Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- Italie, Leanne (July 31, 2019). "Bandwagon builds for LGBTQ diversity on children's TV". apnews.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- Sayle, Hannah (June 20, 2018). "How queer-friendly cartoon 'Danger & Eggs' shook up kids' TV". City Pages. The Star Tribune Company. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- Romano, Nick (September 6, 2019). "How The Bravest Knight is turning the tide for LGBTQ kids programming". AP. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- "The Locals Forever". Twelve Forever. Season 1. Episode 13. July 29, 2019. Netflix. In the episode, when Galaxander shows a photo album to a friend, he comes across a photo, and says "oh, that’s my ex. How’d that get in there? Don’t worry, I’m not in touch with him anymore."
- Petosky, Shadi [@shadipetosky] (September 18, 2019). "Our Netflix show Twelve Forever has a canon queer pre-teen main character. I am bummed we don't have future seasons to explore it, but we did it, and it's possible" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 18, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019 – via Twitter.
- Romano, Nick (November 7, 2019). "LGBTQ representation on TV hits all time high, GLAAD report card finds". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on May 9, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- Womack, Lacey (April 8, 2020). "10 Animated Series That All Ages Can Appreciate". ScreenRant. Valent, Inc. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Ho, Rodney (May 13, 2020). "14 new streaming shows for younger kids". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Johnson, Kevin (January 10, 2020). "Gravity Falls fans may find a lot to like in Disney's The Owl House". The A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Rudolph, Dina (March 4, 2020). "Needing more than a moment: LGBTQ representation in children's media". Windy City Times. Windy City Media Group. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Pearce, Steven (March 9, 2020). "Twelve Forever". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 8, 2020). "GLAAD Media Awards Nominations: Netflix Leads Pack That Includes HBO, Disney+ And Apple TV+ – Full List". Deadline. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Cetrulo, Nicolette (September 24, 2019). "Julia Vickerman's Pedophilia Allegation Reveals A Double Standard For Male And Female Predators". The Odyssey. Odyssey Media Group, Inc. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Trejo, Shaun (September 3, 2019). "Creator of Netflix Kids Show Wrote Blog about Stalking and Lusting Over 14-Year-Old Boy". Big League Politics. Big League Politics. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- TRAFON [@RiseFallNick] (August 31, 2019). "Julia Vickerman was fired early production of Twelve Forever due to this. So Netflix did deal with this situation handily. A similar situation to Clarence, super uncomfortable, but her creation lives on without her influence, by people who just wanna make a good cartoon" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via Twitter.
- Baron, Rueben [@AndalusianDoge] (October 4, 2019). "Everyone who repeats the myth that Julia Vickerman was fired "super early in production" is wrong. She was fired in June 2018, which was about halfway through production. She has story credit on every episode. Like it or not, Twelve Forever was her show" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 4, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via Twitter. He is a Writer, Filmmaker, and a Prominent Animation Critic.
- Italie, Leanne (July 31, 2019). "Bandwagon builds for LGBTQ diversity on children's TV". apnews.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- Womack, Lacey (May 3, 2020). "10 Shows To Watch If You Miss Steven Universe". ScreenRant. Valent, Inc. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Petosky, Shadi [@shadipetosky] (August 31, 2019). "Closing the studio was a decision. It was hugely traumatic and not fun to run and I didn't wanna do it any more. After D&E and the Emmy I just wanted to write but found myself getting sucked in to managing everyone's problems — which wasn't supposed to happen. Now I write" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via Twitter. In a now-deleted tweet before this, she wrote: "Not true at all. The shows that were on the air and popular when stuff went down had the chance to adjust, the ones that hadn’t aired yet didn’t. I closed the studio after the show was shut down - not the other way around."
