FanExpo 2014: Interview with Princess Bubblegum AKA Hynden Walch

Cartoon lovers were spoiled at FanExpo this year. Aside from sneak previews of new animated shows such as The Awesomes and Star Wars Rebels, fans were treated to a panel with two Adventure Time stars, John DiMaggio (Jake the Dog) and Hynden Walch (Princess Bubblegum). We got the awesome chance to say hello to the voice of the Princess and ask her a few questions.

GP: Of all the projects you’ve worked on and roles you’ve played, what do you think makes Adventure Time stand out?

HW: Well, Adventure Time really changed everything. It is… so brilliant, Pendleton Ward is brilliant, he made a show that was for kids be for everyone. The artwork is amazing, and everything about this show is wonderful… that’s what makes it stand out, and makes all the characters really stand out.

GP: What’s your favourite thing about your character?

HW: I like that she speaks German, and I like that she’s very smart. And, I dunno! Bubblegum is tricky. Sometimes I read the script and I go, “Bubblegum, why are you acting like such a fascist?” But then I read it again, and I can see the complexity, and I can see that her arguments are valid. There’s an episode coming up with Flame Princess… that I can’t tell you anything about, except that it is very complex.

GP: So we might see more of the politics of the Land of Ooo, and the relationships between the kingdoms?

HW: Oh, yes.

GP: Would you actually want to live in the Candy Kingdom?

HW: I’m not really sure that I, myself as Hynden would fare very well. I don’t really have a sweet tooth, I’m not much of one for sugar. It’s kind of a dangerous place! All of my friends think that the candy people are absolutely terrifying.

GP: We know a little more about where Princess Bubblegum came from now, do you think that we’ll find about more about her?

HW: I think so. There’s a video game that was released, that had quite an interesting bit of history for Bubblegum. I remember being given the script, and I hadn’t read it before we were recording. I’m given all this exposition and all this history. I didn’t want to take a break, I wanted to see what I said next, I was dying to find out! So I think – I hope – that there will be more of that.

GP: Would you want to be a princess in real life?

HW: It seems I’m always playing them, doesn’t it? There’s Starfire, Bubblegum, I’m sure there’s more I’ve done. But I think being a princess comes with a lot of responsibility, and I think Bubblegum shows that explicitly. She’s just dealing with bureaucracy and management of people all the time.

GP: There’s been some buzz about the internet recently about Marceline and Bubblegum’s relationship. Marcline[‘s voice actress said recently that there might be some personal history, what do you think about that?

HW: The thing is, we don’t know. What exists for truth in the world of Adventure Time is what you see on the show. And within that, there is room for interpretation of everything.

GP: Do you personally think that the characters dated?

HW: I do have conjecture. I’ve made a story for myself with what I’ve learned from Pen, and from the writers, but it’s a lot more involved, and more about them being friends. It ended because Marceline left and Bubblegum has attachment issues.

GP: But their friendship isn’t totally over, hopefully?

HW: I think there’s still something there.

Season 6 of Adventure Time will premiere on Teletoon on September 4th, so be sure to get ready for some more adventures!