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Pendleton Ward

Pendleton Ward

Writer, actor, director and producer · Born September 23, 1982 (44) · San Antonio, Texas, USA

2 Primetime Emmys · 2 BAFTA Awards · 1 other major award body

Ward Taylor Pendleton Johnston (born September 23, 1982), known professionally as Pendleton Ward or simply Pen Ward, is an American animator, screenwriter, producer, director, and voice actor who has worked for Cartoon Network Studios, Frederator Studios, and Netflix Animation. He created the Emmy Award-winning series Adventure Time, the Internet series Bravest Warriors, and the adult animated interview series The Midnight Gospel.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 23, 1982 (44)
From
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Works as
Writer, actor, director and producer
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 27 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 34% in 30 days

What are Pendleton Ward's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
44%
Bonds
29%
Ideas
15%
Survival
7%
Power
3%
Society
3%
Friendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
4
Contemplative
6
Joyful
3
Thrilling
3
Bittersweet
3
Other
7

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Pendleton Ward's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Pendleton Ward's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

27 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Dirtmouths (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Night Groundskeeper

  • Adventure Time: Side Quests(2026)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Adult Swim's the Elephant(2025)

    Director · Executive Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Mystery Cuddlers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 1 episode · Creator · Writer

  • Mystery Cuddlers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director · Executive Producer · Storyboard Artist · Writer

  • Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake(2023)

    Show 10 episodes · Original Series Creator · as Additional Voices (voice) · as Ellis P (voice) · as Ellis P / Alien Robot (voice) · as Ellis P / Lumpy Space Princess / Banana Guard #3 (voice) · as Ellis P / Norm (voice) · as Ellis P / Old Man Cake / Nerdy Alien (voice) · as Ellis P / Pickle Reviewer #2 (voice) · as Ellis P / Pickle Reviewer #2 / Norm (voice) · as Ellis P / Venusian #2 (voice) · as LSP / Ellis P / Norm (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Bee & Puppycat: Lazy in Space(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Story · Writer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • City of Ghosts(2021)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Adventure Time: Distant Lands(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Writer · as Lumpy Space Princess / Additional Voices (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Midnight Gospel(2020)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Uncle Kent 2(2015)

    Main Title Designer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Bee and PuppyCat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Editor · Sound Director · Writer

  • Over the Garden Wall(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Steven Universe(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Uncle Grandpa(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Writer · as Uncle Grandpa / Pizza Steve (voice)

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all shows

  • Teen Titans Go!(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Characters

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Bravest Warriors(2009)

    Show Creator · Writer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Adventure Time: Fun with Finn and Jake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Lumpy Space Princess (voice)

  • The Wand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Lumpy Space Princess

  • Adventure Time(2010)

    Show 279 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Story · Theme Song Performance · Writer · as Lumpy Space Princess (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Sym-Bionic Titan(2010)

    Show Writer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Random! Cartoons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer · as Abraham Lincoln / Old Man (voice)

  • The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack(2008)

    Show 12 episodes · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Barrista (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Adventure Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Co-Producer · Producer's Assistant · Writer

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as The Simpsons Theme Song Singer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Adventure Time Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Original Series Creator

Career shape

A full career of 26 titles, 25 of them dated from 1989 to 2026.

Highest rated

Over the Garden Wall (2014)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Adventure Time (2010)

Film career

MilestoneAward win

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting9 of 26: 4 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score96thDirecting8 of 26: 1 only directing, 7 with another roleWriting18 of 26: 5 only writing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score91stProducing5 of 26: 0 only producing, 5 with another roleEditing1 of 26: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew11 of 26: 2 only other crew, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score88th

26 titles, 14 with more than one role — writing and other crew overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · acting2000s4 · 1 acting · 4 crew2010s10 · 4 acting · 8 crew2020s10 · 3 acting · 9 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

2 Primetime Emmys and 2 BAFTA Awards from 13 major nominations, 2010–2019.

WinNomination
  1. 2019
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
  2. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short Form Animated Program
  3. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Short Form Animated Program
  4. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short Form Animated Program
  5. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program
  6. 2014
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best International
  7. 2013
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best International
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Sundance award, nominated
  8. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program
Show 2 earlier years
  1. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program
  2. 2010
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

Is Pendleton Ward's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles41–70 · median 53 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles11–52 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles6–66 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles3–49 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles60–72 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Pendleton Ward work with?

People who share at least 2 of Pendleton Ward's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Maria Bamford shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles