Learning With Pibby: Apocalypse
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| Learning With Pibby: Apocalypse | |
|---|---|
 Title screen from the Adult Swim trailer | |
| Genre | Animation, Horror, Dark comedy, Meta-fiction |
| Created by | Dodge Greenley |
| Developed by | Dodge Greenley |
| Creative director | Dodge Greenley |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 1 (concept short) 2 (April Folks) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 3 minutes (trailer) |
| Production company | Cartoon Network Studios |
| Original release | |
| Network | Adult Swim |
| Release | October 30, 2021 – present |
| Related | |
| Adult Swim, Cartoon Network | |
Learning With Pibby (also known as Come and Learn with Pibby! or Learning With Pibby: Apocalypse) is an American animated horror concept created by Dodge Greenley. It was introduced via a short trailer released by Adult Swim on October 30, 2021. The trailer gained viral popularity for its striking contrast between the cheerful tone of children's cartoons and the dark horror themes introduced by a mysterious glitch that corrupts entire cartoon universes.[1]
Concept of creation
[edit]Learning With Pibby explores a surreal and disturbing premise: a childlike educational program is interrupted by a malevolent glitch, which spreads across fictional cartoon worlds. The titular character, Pibby, is a preschool-style animation character who is forced to become a warrior and survivor in a collapsing multiverse. The project functions as both a parody and homage to classic animated properties while exploring themes of trauma, survival, and identity.
The creator, Dodge Greenley, is known for his work on other animated series such as Breadwinners. The concept was developed within Cartoon Network Studios and designed as a dark satire of animated nostalgia, internet culture, and television tropes.
History
[edit]The trailer was released on Adult Swim's YouTube channel during their annual Halloween programming.[2] Though initially only a short, the video received critical acclaim and widespread fan interest for its imaginative use of crossover characters and horror aesthetics. The trailer featured characters and settings resembling those from Cartoon Network, Adult-Swim, Hanna-Barbera, Nickelodeon shows, such as:
- The Flintstones
- The Jetsons
- Dexter's Laboratory
- The Powerpuff Girls
- Rick and Morty
- Adventure Time
- The Amazing World of Gumball
- Scooby-Doo
- SpongeBob SquarePants
Despite this, as of 2025, no full series has been confirmed. Fans continue to advocate for a complete show, with large amounts of fan-made art, theories, and video edits circulating online.[3]
The Glitch
[edit]The primary antagonist of the series is known as The Glitch, also referred to by fans as The Darkness or The Corruption. It is a black, glitchy mass that corrupts any animated world it touches, infecting characters and turning them into zombie-like versions of themselves with glowing white eyes and distorted voices. The Glitch serves as a metaphor for digital decay and the collapse of storytelling worlds.[4]
Its origins are left intentionally vague in the trailer, though some fan theories suggest it may have originated from a character's attempt to rewrite reality or destroy rival shows. The Glitch absorbs everything in its path and spreads rapidly, overwhelming entire cartoon universes.[5]
Characters
[edit]Pibby
[edit]The protagonist, Pibby, is a blue-skinned cartoon girl who begins as a cheerful preschool educator. After witnessing the destruction of her world, she evolves into a determined survivor. Her design is inspired by characters from shows like Dora the Explorer and Blue's Clues, but her transformation reflects a darker psychological depth. She adopts an eyepatch and battle gear as she fights through corrupted worlds.
Bun Bun
[edit]Bun Bun is Pibby's rabbit friend from her original show. He is one of the first characters to fall victim to The Glitch. His transformation into a corrupted creature serves as an emotional turning point for Pibby.
Alloy Boy
[edit]A superhero sidekick archetype, Alloy Boy joins Pibby in the struggle against the glitch. He represents the classic cartoon hero, albeit forced into a grim context.
Melira
[edit]Melira is a magical girl-style character who also joins Pibby's resistance. Not much is known about her past, but her inclusion adds genre diversity to the team of survivors.
The Glitch
[edit]The Glitch is the embodiment of destruction and corruption in the Pibby universe. Its presence is felt through digital static, glitch effects, and corrupted animation. Characters overtaken by it lose their minds, speaking only in distorted audio and broken internet slang.
Reception
[edit]While only a trailer, Learning With Pibby was met with critical praise and generated extensive fan interest.[6] Commentators have praised its subversive style, animation quality, and potential for narrative depth. Some critics noted it as a standout example of how experimental animation can push the boundaries of genre.[7]
Cancellation
[edit]Despite the trailer's viral success and widespread fan enthusiasm—including art, theories, and fan-made videos—a full series was never greenlit. Dodge Greenley confirmed in October 2023 that Pibby was not picked up for development and expressed that it was unlikely to move forward in the near future. This was reaffirmed in June 2024, when he stated the series had been definitively canceled. The decision was reportedly influenced by internal changes at Warner Bros. Discovery, which affected the direction of Adult Swim and Cartoon Network projects. By early 2025, all signs of development had ceased, with no further updates from Adult Swim or Warner Bros. Discovery, marking the end of the project's official lifecycle.
References
[edit]- ^ Davison, Jacob (2021-10-30). "New Existential Horror Adult Swim short 'Come and Learn with Pibby!'". iHorror. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Addessi, Andrew (2021-11-22). "'Learning with Pibby': Adult Swim's Cartoon Apocalypse Trailer Had Its YouTube Age-Restriction Lifted". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Schwarz, John (2023-10-04). "Pibby: Adult Swim Not Moving Forward With Series". Bubbleblabber. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Bedard, Mike (2022-04-01). "Adult Swim's Learning With Pibby Explained". Looper. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Crowned Cryptid (2022-02-12). Learning With Pibby Analysis - Secret of Bun Bun & The Darkness Glitch Revealed?!. Retrieved 2025-05-08 – via YouTube.
- ^ Comments, Ray Flook | (2023-10-03). "Pibby: Dodge Greenley Shares Heartbreaking Adult Swim Series Status". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Valdez, Nick (2021-10-31). "Adult Swim Debuts Horrifying "Come and Learn with Pibby!" Short for Halloween". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 2025-05-08.