INTERVIEW: Tyler, the Creator creates new Adult Swim show, ‘The Jellies!’

Tyler, the Creator is probably best known as a top-selling concert act and recording artist, but he has dabbled in animation on the Internet. And now his project is making the big jump onto cable television. The Jellies!, co-created by Tyler and Lionel Boyce, will premiere Sunday, Oct. 22 at 12:15 a.m.

The show, produced by Carl Jones, follows a family of jellyfish, including their human son, Cornell Jelly (voiced by the talented Phil LaMarr). The first season details Cornell’s struggles after finding out he was adopted.

“The show existed on Tyler, the Creator’s app,” Jones said in a recent phone interview. “Adult Swim saw it and decided to do it as a series. When I heard it was Tyler, the Creator — no brainer. … I think he’s a creative genius.”

Jones called working on The Jellies! an “opportunity of a lifetime.”

LaMarr said working on the series was unlike any other project he’s been associated with, and he’s been associated with a variety of top animated shows. The actor is a go-to comedian in many movies and TV shows, having carved out a dedicated fan base on MADtv. He also continues his live improv skills in Los Angeles with The Black Version and actually premiered the new season of Samurai Jack earlier this year on Adult Swim.

LaMarr said it’s fairly easy to keep his many voices in check without there being any crossover. “You’re driven by the script,” he said. “It’s hard to get mixed up with it.”

The actor sees his character of Cornell as a “great embodiment” of teenage life. “Everything is drama,” he said. “Your parents are embarrassing. … The world is a conspiracy.”

He joined the project after finding out the description of the show and the details on the main character; he took these prompts and then developed his own interpretation. Then, after speaking with the creative team, he made adjustments — a process he called “cooking by committee.”

“Fortunately, I’m not a method voice actor,” he said with a laugh.

Jones has a strong résumé in the TV world, having worked on The Boondocks and Black Dynamite. For him, the greatest challenge of producing The Jellies! was getting used to the 15-minute showtimes, which is even less time when factoring in a commercial break. “I learned pretty quickly,” he said. “The actual process was like hanging out with friends.”

As far as the audience’s takeaway, Jones hopes The Jellies! turns some heads. “I hope they get excited about seeing television in a new way,” he said. “The tone is unique … and unprecedented.”

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

The Jellies! premieres Sunday, Oct. 22 at 12:15 a.m. on Adult Swim. Click here for more information.