The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian
{{Short description|Science fiction podcast for children}}
{{Infobox podcast
| title = The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian
| image = The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian.jpg
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Science fiction podcast
- mystery podcast
- kids & family podcast
- space drama{{Cite web|last1=Slaney|first1=Rowan|last2=Tresilian|first2=Susannah|last3=Verdier|first3=Hannah|date=March 23, 2018|title=Ear Hustle: Vivid View of Life Behind Bars in San Quentin – Podcasts of the Week|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/mar/23/ear-hustle-vivid-view-of-life-behind-bars-in-san-quentin-podcasts-of-the-week|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116011517/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/mar/23/ear-hustle-vivid-view-of-life-behind-bars-in-san-quentin-podcasts-of-the-week|archive-date=January 16, 2021|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en-GB}}
}}
| format = Audio podcast
| writer = Jonathan Messinger
| creative_director = Griffin Messinger
| narrated = {{flatlist|
- Jonathan Messinger
- Griffin Messinger
}}
| language = American English
| updates = Weekly
| length = 15–20 minutes{{Cite news|last=Patterson|first=Lindsay|date=March 17, 2021|title=A Big List of Podcasts for Bigger Kids|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/17/parenting/podcasts-for-big-kids.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321191728/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/17/parenting/podcasts-for-big-kids.html|archive-date=March 21, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}
| opentheme = Theme song by Mayfair Workshop
| endtheme = "Shiny Spaceship" by 8-Bit Ninja
| composer = Mark Greenberg
| num_seasons = 7
| num_episodes = 191
| began = August 1, 2016
| ended = present
| provider = {{flatlist|
}}
| related_shows = {{plainlist|
- Eleanor Amplified{{Cite web|last=Quah|first=Nicholas|date=April 15, 2020|title=18 Great Podcasts for Kids to Get Your Family Through the Quarantine|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-podcasts-for-kids.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320210900/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-podcasts-for-kids.html|archive-date=March 20, 2021|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=Vulture|publisher=Vox Media|language=en-US}}
- Six Minutes
- The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
}}
| website = {{URL|finncaspian.com}}
}}
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian is a serialized science fiction podcast about an 8-year-old and his friends exploring space and solving mysteries together.{{Cite web|last=Basner|first=Dave|date=April 4, 2019|title=The Best Podcasts for Kids|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-04-03-the-best-podcasts-for-kids/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501061506/https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-04-03-the-best-podcasts-for-kids/|archive-date=May 1, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=iHeartRadio|publisher=iHeartMedia|language=en-US}} It is written and produced by Jonathan Messinger.
Premise
The podcast's story follows the adventures of an 8-year-old named Finn Caspian and his three friends Abigail, Elias, and Vale as they explore different planets in the famous Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station called Marlowe 280. Along the way, Caspian and his friends, who are all part of the Explorer Troop 301, encounter mysteries and help aliens.{{Cite web|last=Randazza|first=Janelle|date=June 25, 2020|title=26 Awesome Podcasts Created Just for Kids|url=https://www.reviewed.com/parenting/features/awesome-podcasts-kids|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210405191902/https://www.reviewed.com/parenting/features/awesome-podcasts-kids|archive-date=April 5, 2021|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=Reviewed|publisher=Gannett|language=en-US}}
Production
The podcast is recorded by Jonathan Messinger and his son Griffin in the basement of their home in Portage Park, Chicago. Jonathan Messinger founded a kids podcast company called Typedrawer Media that started out with Finn Caspian. The podcast has also been a part of Gen-Z Media and was later acquired by MiMO Studios.{{Cite web|last=Schoenberg|first=Nara|date=November 3, 2016|title=New Sci-fi Podcast a Swashbuckling Space Adventure for Kids|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/parenting/sc-sci-fi-podcast-for-kids-family-1108-20161103-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121061046/https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/parenting/sc-sci-fi-podcast-for-kids-family-1108-20161103-story.html|archive-date=January 21, 2021|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Tribune Publishing|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=May 1, 2020|title='The Pout-Pout Fish' & 'Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian' Animated TV Movies in Works at MiMO Studio|url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/the-pout-pout-fish-alien-adventures-of-finn-caspian-animated-tv-movies-in-works-at-mimo-studio-1202922720/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307225712/https://deadline.com/2020/05/the-pout-pout-fish-alien-adventures-of-finn-caspian-animated-tv-movies-in-works-at-mimo-studio-1202922720/|archive-date=March 7, 2021|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=Deadline|publisher=Penske Business Media|language=en-US}}
Cast and characters
- Finn Caspian
- Foggy (Finn caspian's robot)
- Abigail
- Elias
- Vale
- BeeBop{{Cite web|last=Gu|first=Judy Ziyi|date=November 25, 2019|title=7 Podcasts That Both Kids and Adults Will Enjoy Together at Home|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/7-podcasts-that-both-kids-and-adults-will-enjoy-together-at-home-1.5369983|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625204154/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/7-podcasts-that-both-kids-and-adults-will-enjoy-together-at-home-1.5369983|archive-date=June 25, 2020|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|publisher=CBC/Radio-Canada|language=en-CA}}
Episodes
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|+ style="text-align: left;"|Season 1 | style="background-color: #27BF01;" |# ! style="background-color: #27BF01;" |Title ! style="background-color: #27BF01;" |Length ! style="background-color: #27BF01;" |Original release date {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 0 | Title = An Introduction | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|8|1}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=2|s=51}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 1 | Title = The Room Behind the Room (Behind the Room) | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|8|9}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=21|s=11}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 2 | Title = Everybody Run!!! | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|8|16}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=29|s=28}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 3 | Title = Foggy | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|8|24}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=25|s=48}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 4 | Title = Running Out of Patiens | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|8|30}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=21|s=14}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 5 | Title = In the Dwellers' Cellar | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|9|6}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=24|s=53}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 6 | Title = Two Heads Are Better than One | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|9|13}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=22|s=17}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = Bonus Episode | Title = Robot Roll Call | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|9|20}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=5|s=12}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 7 | Title = Dream a Little Dreamstone | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|9|21}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=23|s=00}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 8 | Title = Voltronix Who? | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|9|27}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=25|s=06}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 9 | Title = You Call This a Planet? | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|10|4}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=27|s=45}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 10 | Title = In the Belly of the Beast | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|10|11}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=25|s=11}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 11 | Title = Who am I? | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|10|18}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=25|s=25}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 12 | Title = Not You Again! | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|10|25}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=26|s=35}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = Bonus Episode | Title = Halloween Special | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|10|31}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=12|s=13}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 13 | Title = The Six Steps | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|11|2}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=29|s=29}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 14 | Title = The Fallen City | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|11|10}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=30|s=04}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 15a | Title = Mothers Know Best | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|11|15}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=22|s=17}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 15b | Title = The Battle for the Marlowe | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|11|19}} | Aux1 = {{Duration|m=30|s=32}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 27BF01 }} |
Reception
Frannie Ucciferri wrote in The Washington Post that the show "is perfect for long car rides."{{Cite news|last=Ucciferri|first=Frannie|date=August 6, 2019|title=Common Sense Media Shares 25 Great Podcasts for Kids|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Nash Holdings|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/08/06/common-sense-media-shares-great-podcasts-kids/|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123183114if_/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/08/06/common-sense-media-shares-great-podcasts-kids/|archive-date=November 23, 2020|issn=0190-8286}} Jen McGuire made a similar comment in Romper saying that the podcast is "perfect for driving around town with the family."{{Cite web |last=McGuire |first=Jenn |date=March 11, 2021 |title=25 of the Best Podcasts for Kids to Listen to Right Now |url=https://www.romper.com/entertainment/best-podcasts-for-kids |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312011111/https://www.romper.com/entertainment/best-podcasts-for-kids |archive-date=March 12, 2021 |access-date=April 5, 2021 |website=Romper |publisher=Bustle Digital Group |language=en-US}} Janelle Randazza of Reviewed said the podcast "is perfectly gripping and a great choice". The show won the 2017 Academy of Podcasters award for best kids and family podcast.{{Cite web |title=Academy of Podcasters: Past Winners |url=http://academyofpodcasters.com/past-winners/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003154507/http://academyofpodcasters.com/past-winners/ |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |website=Academy of Podcasters |publisher=Podcast Movement}}
Adaptations
In 2020, the podcast was acquired by MiMO studio with the intention to adapt the podcast into animated TV-length movies.
Messinger has also released four books based on the podcast.{{Cite web|title=Finn Caspian: The Books!|url=http://www.finncaspian.com/books/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824142110/http://www.finncaspian.com/books/|archive-date=August 24, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian|language=en-US}}
- Messinger, Jonathan; Bitskoff, Aleksei (2020). [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-alien-adventures-of-finn-caspian-1-the-fuzzy-apocalypse-jonathan-messinger?variant=32121838174242 The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian #1: The Fuzzy Apocalypse]. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062932150.
- Messinger, Jonathan; Bitskoff, Aleksei (2020). [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-alien-adventures-of-finn-caspian-2-the-accidental-volcano-jonathan-messinger?variant=32116614168610 The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian #2: The Accidental Volcano]. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062932181.
- Messinger, Jonathan; Bitskoff, Aleksei (2020). [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-alien-adventures-of-finn-caspian-3-the-uncommon-cold-jonathan-messinger?variant=32126641930274 The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian #3: The Uncommon Cold]. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062932204.
- Messinger, Jonathan; Bitskoff, Aleksei (2020). [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-alien-adventures-of-finn-caspian-4-journey-to-the-center-of-that-thing-jonathan-messinger?variant=33007892267042 The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian #4: Journey to the Center of That Thing]. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062932235.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.finncaspian.com/}}
- {{URL|http://gen-z.fm/}}
- {{URL|https://mimo-studios.com/}}
{{Podcast platform links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian, The}}