Marcy's Journal - a Guide to Amphibia

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TG: Time skips are often controversial, but I also love them and was so happy to see The Owl House follow in similar footsteps to Amphibia. It’s additive in a way that wouldn’t be possible had this book been written at the same time as the show. TheGamer: Before we delve into Amphibia, I’d love to ask what you thought about Sonic Frontiers, and what sort of other things you’ve been working on/enjoying lately? With that in mind, an ending where the characters continued to go on adventures together ad infinitum would have felt dishonest. Even daring to make a single one of these romances canon, or even imply their existence, would betray the headcanons of fans and take away their potential, while Braly always intended Amphibia to be a journey of growth and platonic friendship.

Because I am an absolute fruitcake, many of the pages I decided to share feature Marcy Wu, Anne Boonchuy, and Sasha Waybright as gals being pals.We left Anne Boonchuy, Sasha Waybright, and Marcy Wu several years in the future as they’d grown into confident young women, all following their unique paths in life. For example, the space battle in The Hardest Thing is such a powerful moment for Anne, Sasha, and Marcy because it’s their last dance together.

And as someone who also tried to drop a moon on our heroes in the third act, I especially liked the secret final boss. But she’s also 13, and is still figuring out that part of herself that we don’t really have the right to interfere with. MB: I think a lot of artists struggle with self-worth, so it’s an easy thing to project on our characters. I remember early on (maybe season 2) a fan on reddit said something like “guys…you don’t think…the girls will separate at the end do you? But honestly, seeing Anne grown up and working at an aquarium is something that has delighted everyone who has seen it.The real gift of the adventure was to let the three of them fully understand one another and see each other truly for the first time…which in turn lets them bravely go their separate ways. In writing these characters we are communicating that - yes, these feelings are real and worthy of addressing.

I remember one of our creative executives, who is a good friend of mine, was briefly cautious - “are you sure about this? Even though the sequence is unquestionably triumphant and joyous, there is something beautifully sad underneath the surface as well. MB: In terms of pacing, I think the reason it works well is that we wrote it with a 90-minute movie format in mind. Many artists/creatives tend to be meek as well and have trouble asserting themselves or speaking up when they’re struggling or unhappy…so once again, I think it’s an easy quality to pass on to our heroes.To both throw aside any potential accusation of queerbaiting and to prevent inevitable disappointment - Marcy Wu does not come out in the journal, nor is her sexual identity brought up at any point. Adam, Cat, and Sol (our graphic designer) really went that extra mile to make it feel real, valuable, and complimentary to the series. The human brain is very fond of the 90-minute runtime, it feels like a full meal without overstaying its welcome.

We seeded that question very early in the audience as well so for three seasons viewers have been wondering just what is going to happen with these friends? TG: I also have to ask about the ending, which seems to take place after the time skip while hinting that a new portal or similar device has been cooked up at the lab. Far removed from the teenage hijinks that defined them, the timeskip was a bittersweet farewell to a show many held dear. Life might tear them apart, but they will always find a way back to each other whether they realise it or not. Marcy is a very affectionate friend as she compliments Sasha’s cerulean eyes and conjures up potential hairstyles to match with Anne’s stylish new armour.

Nothing is off the table, and handing over that power to the fandom was likely the only right move here. In retrospect, I think Amphibia was tantalisingly close to the kind of show the network really wanted - funny jokes, warm characters, and friendly visuals. Don’t force queerness onto a lead like a necessary checkbox, even more so if the show doesn’t have the structure to reinforce that development in an authentic way. Additionally, because you, as a viewer, KNOW what happens at the end of Season 2, we were able to bake in a lot of dramatic irony with Marcy’s early solo adventures.