A Decade of Adventure: Celebrating Ten Years of The Adventure Zone
Introduction to a Phenomenon
This month marks a significant milestone: the tenth anniversary of The Adventure Zone, which began as a unique actual play experiment on the My Brother, My Brother and Me podcast. Among its four hosts, two—Justin and Griffin McElroy—have roots at Polygon, where they played pivotal roles in its establishment after collaborating at another gaming site back in 2007. This connection is worth noting as it highlights my personal bias towards all things McElroy.
A Journey Through Time
Over the past decade, The Adventure Zone has transformed from a single podcast episode into an expansive universe featuring multiple seasons, hundreds of episodes, bestselling graphic novels, and numerous live performances. My own life has intertwined with its evolution; I can recall listening to the inaugural episode while assembling shelves in my basement for toys belonging to my then 9-month-old child. Fast forward to today—I recently enjoyed the pilot episode of TAZ’s latest season titled Abnimals during a family road trip to the beach with my now ten-year-old son who can’t shake off its catchy theme song.
Exploring New Worlds with Abnimals
Travis McElroy serves as this season’s Dungeon Master (or “zookeeper,” as humorously suggested by the team). He describes this new adventure: “Picture a universe where all those beloved anthropomorphic animal hero shows from the ’90s and early 2000s coexist. In this world are three characters who have been separated from their original teams for various reasons and are now attempting to form their own eclectic group amidst heroic teens—all while keeping it clean.”
Among these characters is Roger Mooer—a Charolais bull skilled in espionage and ballroom dancing—voiced by Clint McElroy (their father). Then there’s Navy Seal—a hefty Ross seal who’s an aquatic commando but never served in any military capacity—brought to life by Griffin McElroy. Lastly, we meet Axe-O-Lyle—the extreme firefighting axolotl capable of regrowing his limbs (though he finds it somewhat embarrassing), voiced by Justin McElroy.
Family-Friendly Focus
What prompted this shift towards family-friendly content? Justin shares his perspective: “I realized how valuable it was for me to discover quality entertainment that I could enjoy alongside my kids. We have several podcasts they adore; finding ones that resonate with me too felt like doing something beneficial for our audience.”
Travis adds that during recent conventions and meet-and-greets, he noticed an increasing number of young fans eager for autographs on their graphic novels—a clear indication that TAZ is resonating with younger audiences.
When discussing how they adapt improvisational storytelling for children without resorting to swearing or inappropriate content, Travis quips about aiming not necessarily for G-rated material but perhaps leaning more toward PG-13 or even TV-Y standards.
Reflecting on classic cartoons like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Travis notes how creators often found clever ways around violence—for instance using robots instead of human foes so heroes could engage without moral dilemmas.
In fact, during one pilot episode I listened to recently, henchmen were incapacitated rather than killed; conflicts were resolved through environmental challenges rather than weaponry; there was even a villain executing a heist plot—all culminating in cliffhangers designed specifically for suspenseful storytelling suitable for younger listeners.
Maintaining Momentum While Keeping It Fun
Justin emphasizes maintaining action-oriented narratives over comedic elements alone: “In previous seasons we often lingered on funny moments until they lost their charm before moving forward. Now I’m conscious that younger audiences crave excitement—they want things happening quickly.”
For families interested in introducing tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) into their lives through TAZ’s adventures might find inspiration here—but not necessarily guidance on running their own campaigns just yet.
Travis explains his design philosophy behind creating rules: “I aimed for simplicity—not overly complex—to avoid bogging down gameplay with lengthy explanations or calculations.” His goal was straightforward engagement focused primarily on advancing stories rather than educational experiences akin to school lessons.
Themes That Resonate Across Generations
At its core,Abnimals continues exploring themes central throughout TAZ’s history—particularly family dynamics—as Clint points out: “Family ties run deep within everything we create here at TAZ—it’s impossible not include elements related either directly or indirectly.” Expect explorations surrounding both biological connections as well as chosen families throughout this new season!
Listeners can dive into The Adventure Zone: Abnimals right away via its initial setup episode embedded above! Additionally don’t miss out enjoying Eric Near’s musical contributions alongside lyrics crafted collaboratively between him along with Justin McElroy & Jonathan Coulton—the internet sensation known widely among fans alike!
As you embark upon your journey through these whimsical tales filled laughter & heartwarming moments remember—you’re joining countless others celebrating ten years’ worth memories forged together!
Graduated from University of Denver, Residing in Dallas, Texas. Political observer and a Conservative. Follow on Twitter for more.
