Twelve Forever

The series is set in the early 2000s and centers on Regina "Reggie" Abbott, an imaginative 12-year-old whose desire to remain a child is so powerful she can enter another world in which she never has to grow up: an island called Endless where her childhood toys and drawings are real.^[6][2]

Regina is joined by her friends Todd and Esther Hopkins, who visit this amazing world to live out their superhero fantasies and escape the responsibilities of impending adulthood. Life and reality often catch up with them in Endless as the preteens start dealing with growing pains and conflicts develop between them. The negativity the friends experience while dealing with their new complicated problems feed their enemy, the nefarious Butt Witch, who seeks to destroy Endless.^[7][8]

The original pilot was produced for Cartoon Network, by Cartoon Network Studios, and was originally released on their website on May 18, 2015, as part of Cartoon Network Shorts Department, and was said to be inspired by Vickerman's feelings as "a burgeoning adolescent."^[3][16]

In December 2017, it was announced that Netflix had acquired the rights to Twelve Forever for a full series, with production duties being handled by The Cartel and Puny Entertainment.^[4][1] Netflix picked up the rides to the series after Cartoon Network passed on it, with "promises of queer-inclusive content."^[17] Shadi Petosky began working on the show sometime before July 2017, when she hoped for more episodes of Danger & Eggs, as a non-creative/non-writing executive producer.^[18] Paul Hornschemeier later described himself as the series art director.^[19]

In July 29, 2019, the series debuted on Netflix.^[2][20][21] Kelsy Abott, Steve Agee, and Matt Barry reprised the characters they voiced in the pilot, specifically Reggie, Flaps, Beefhouse, Big Deal, Mack, and the Butt Witch.^[22] It was later stated that the series was created by a "design crew of all local artists" based in Minnesota.^[23] Following the series release, the series had an official gift shop, selling t-shirts, mugs, stickers, plush toys, hats, and other merchandise.^[24]

In September 2019, Shadi Petosky announced on social media that the show had been canceled.^[13] While Petosky was described as the executive producer on the show in a July 2019 AP article on LGBTQ representation in animation,^[10] she stated in September 2019 that she had no connection with the show since the show's first season had premiered on Netflix earlier that year.^[25] It was also stated by EW, in September 2019, that the show's producers had parted ways with series creator Julia Vickerman, without a specific reason stated. EW noted speculation on Twitter about a "hostile work environment" for those working on the series.^[14] In October 2019, at the Catalyst Content Festival, Vickerman was on a animation panel with Eric Knobel moderated by Mike Owens, while Petosky spoke on a panel about "creating a narrative series."^[23]

In 2020, Lacey Womack of Screen Rant stated that the series was on "indefinite hiatus,"^[26] and stated that there were unclear plans for the series future.^[7]

Reviews were mostly positive. Lacey Womack of Screen Rant said the series was something those of all ages could enjoy.^[7] Rodney Ho of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said that there was a "great pedigree" of those working on the show.^[8] Kevin Johnson of The A.V. Club said the show had a "sense of its Midwest, small town setting as the backdrop of conformist pressure" and compared it to Gravity Falls.^[6] Dina Rudolph of the Windy City Times praised its LGBTQ representation, putting it alongside shows such as Steven Universe, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, The Dragon Prince, and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes.^[27] The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction contributor Steven Pearce argued that the show juggles dark and light, the real world and the imagined world, with Endless acting out "metaphorical versions of Reggie's real-world problems." Pearce also said that the series is good and inventive, bringing in surrealism, "pre-teen angst, humour and twelve-year-olds using flame-throwers."^[5]

Mandie Caroll of Common Sense Media described the series as a "wonderfully weird show" with heart and to expect cartoon violence. She also said that young teenagers and tweens would enjoy the show's "imaginative world, relatable yet quirky characters, and the raw emotionality of this colorful cartoon."^[2]

In January 2020, GLAAD nominated the show for its Outstanding Kids & Family Programming award, along with a host of other shows.^[28] Previously, in 2019, the organization recognized the series as one of a number of shows released that year with LGBTQ representation.^[29] The series was later described, by Nathan Maizels of Collider as among the best series with LGBTQ characters and themes, noting Reggie's crush on Connelly, noting other LGBTQ+ characters, and calling the series a "coming-of-age story about a young queer girl learning about her identity."^[30]