The Jellies!

Lore & Background

The show follows a family of anthropomorphic jellyfish: Barry, the father, Debbie, the mother, KY, the daughter, and their 16-year-old human son Cornell. When Cornell learns he was adopted at birth, he is shocked and subsequently spirals out of control in an attempt to find out the truth about who he really is. As a result, he and his family and friends wind up in what the network bills as 'uncanny situations.'

The series originally premiered as a web series on the Golf Media app, releasing new episodes every Sunday in October 2015. There are a few differences between the web series and the Adult Swim series, such as Cornell's race: Caucasian in the Golf Media version and African-American in the Adult Swim version.

The voice cast includes Brock Baker (web series), Phil LaMarr as Cornell Jelly, Earl Skakel as Barry Jelly, AJ Johnson as Debbie Jelly, Blake Anderson as RG, Kevin Michael Richardson as Reggie, Kilo Kish as KY Jelly, and Tyler, the Creator, Jasper Dolphin, Lionel Boyce, and Travis Bennett in various roles.

Reader's Guide

The Jellies! represents a notable entry in Adult Swim's lineup as a creation by musician and producer Tyler, the Creator, expanding his work into television animation. The show's transition from a web series on Tyler's Golf Media app to a cable television series illustrates the cross-platform development common in the 2010s. Its cancellation after two seasons, announced by voice actor Earl Skakel in August 2021, places it among Adult Swim's shorter-lived original series. The show's premise—a human adopted by a jellyfish family—and its use of anthropomorphic characters align with the network's tradition of surreal, adult-oriented comedy. The involvement of Augenblick Studios, known for other animated projects, and a cast including Phil LaMarr and Kevin Michael Richardson, adds to its place in the landscape of adult animation. The series is remembered primarily for its unique concept and its connection to Tyler, the Creator's broader creative output.

Did You Know?

• The Jellies! was revamped from a web series of the same name that was featured exclusively on Tyler's Golf Media app.
• The web series version of Cornell Jelly was Caucasian, while the Adult Swim version was African-American.
• The show was cancelled after two seasons, as announced by voice actor Earl Skakel on August 17, 2021.
• The animation for the series was produced by Augenblick Studios.