Created by Cartoon Network Studios’ Stephen Neary for HBO Max, The Fungies is an animated TV show about a kid. A mushroom kid. A mushroom kid who’s a nerd. Also, dinosaurs and existential absurdism. It’s that kind of show – one of those surreal, psychedelic made-for-children-but-actually-also-for-adults shows like Adventure Time and Steven Universe that don’t even have to be a guilty secret because so what. You’re a grown-up and you can watch whatever you want, mom.
Long ago on prehistoric Earth, lived THE FUNGIES!, a bustling town of colourful mushroom people. Seth, a science-minded 10-year-old Fungie kid is fascinated by how the world works and wants to tell Fungietown all about it. But with help from his artistic older brother, Pascal, and his fellow Fungies, Seth’s scientific adventures always lead him to larger, emotional discoveries.
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Stephen (we’re on a first name basis now), and picked his wonderful brain in hopes to find out where the hell he gets his creativity from. I was sitting in my office and Stephen was trying out the acoustics in his cupboard in between some hanging blazers and some drawers. They weren’t bad. We made some small talk about things like the current US elections and oh, I don’t know, how the global pandemic made them move their entire office to work-from-home in one day. Casual things.
He’s a pretty fun guy (sorry, not sorry).
SO HOW ON EARTH DID YOU GET THE IDEA TO CREATE A CARTOON ABOUT A BUNCH OF SENTIENT MUSHROOM PEOPLE?
STEPHEN: It all started off as a few shorts about a family of mushrooms called “The Fancies” which then got picked up by Cartoon Network. I think back then I tried to relate to my childhood and the childlike wonder I had for the world, and what better way to show that through something that has no boundaries really.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE “NO LIMITATION” IS THE BEST KIND OF LIMITATION? OR DID IT MAKE THE PROCESS HARDER?
STEPHEN: The no limitation thing is quite scary because I feel like you can lose your way if you’re not focused on the personalities of the characters with their own personal stories and the way they would perceive their world, since Fungietown has such a wonderful spectrum of characters.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD WANT TO CHANGE NOW THAT THE SHOW HAS BASICALLY FINISHED PRODUCTION ON ITS FIRST SEASON AND IS PREMIERING ON CARTOON NETWORK?
STEPHEN: I have to start off with thanking Cartoon Network and their studio for helping me form the show into what it is now. They really just dove into the deep end with me and helped me form all of my ideas into what you’ll be watching! So no, I wouldn’t change a thing.
WAS THE IDEA ALWAYS TO KEEP THE FUNGIES MORE EDUCATIONAL LIKE IN “THE FANCIES”?
STEPHEN: As I was working with Cartoon Network I was always paying attention to what was happening in shows like Adventure Time and Clarence [a show Stephen also worked on] and seeing how playful and light-hearted most of the stuff is I decided to play more into that rather than make a sciencey show. The exploration aspect is still there!
I KNOW YOU MIGHT BE BIASED TOWARDS PASCAL SINCE YOU VOICED HIM, BUT DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CHARACTER?
STEPHEN: Oh, that’s a hard one, I would still have to say Pascal. He’s the voice of reason on the show whereas Seth is more of the “Oooooh, that looks cool! Let me go run and do this thing without thinking it through!” He’s super impulsive! Which, I think, adds to the childlike wonder that we all had as a kid and I think we can all relate to him.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE EPISODE?
STEPHEN: Oh my gosh, there’s this episode where they find these legs that are 10 meters tall and everyone in town is fighting over them. It’s hilarious!
IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE THE SHOW IN ONE ADJECTIVE, WHICH WOULD IT BE?
STEPHEN: Wholesome.
There we have it, folks! If “wholesome” isn’t enough for you to tune into The Fungies in the current shitshow of a 2020 season finale we’re living in, do everyone a favour and go see a therapist. The Fungies debuts on Cartoon Network (DStv) on 14 December.
