China, IL (meaning China, Illinois) is an American adult animated sitcom created by Brad Neely for the Adult Swim programming block on Cartoon Network.
The series was originally conceived as a web series on Adult Swim's defunct comedy website, Super Deluxe, in 2008. Neely, who had done I Am Baby Cakes and The Professor Brothers shorts for Super Deluxe in 2006, envisioned the characters in each series to coexist in the same universe. With the relationship in mind, he produced a four-part internet series entitled China, IL, which was published on Super Deluxe in 2008. An 11-minute television special combining the shorts, titled "China, IL: The Funeral", aired on Adult Swim on May 25, 2008. Neely stated that a major inspiration behind the premise of the series derives from his lack of college experiences and his Arkansan upbringing. Episodes are written among a writing staff headed by Neely of six-to-eight people; for voice-over work, the crew works on two or three hours of dialogue for a certain character, followed by storyboard meetings, dailies, and rough cuts, with Neely directing other actors who come in after him.
China, IL ended on June 14, 2015, with a total of 30 episodes, following the series finale "Magical Pet".
Plot
The series takes place at the "Worst College in America", located at the edge of the fictional town of China, Illinois. The school's uncaring faculty and staff celebrate its poor reputation; they're constantly shown drinking while teaching, or trying to avoid teaching altogether.
Characters
Main characters
Steve Smith (voiced by Brad Neely) – The laid-back and hedonistic older brother of Frank Smith who is a history teacher at the University of China, IL. Frank Smith (voiced by Brad Neely) – The narcissistic and insecure younger brother of Steve Smith who is also a history teacher at the University of China, IL. Pony Merks (voiced by Greta Gerwig) – The teaching assistant of history at the University of China, IL. Mark "Baby" Cakes (voiced by Brad Neely) – A large undergraduate who is the son of Leonard Cakes and is often seen with Frank, Steve, and Pony. The Dean (voiced by Hulk Hogan) – The unnamed and impossibly macho head of the University of China, IL.
Recurring characters
Professor Leonard Cakes (voiced by Jeffrey Tambor) – The father of Mark "Baby" Cakes who is a teacher of "super science." Dr. Jack Falgot (voiced by Gary Anthony Williams) – A Physician and wrestling coach who runs the campus health center at China, IL. Sammy Davis (voiced by Jason Walden) – An elderly female history teacher at the University of China, IL. Crystal Peppers (voiced by Chelsea Peretti) – A professor of Spanish, history, and philosophy who is Steve's competitor. It is revealed that she is a transgender woman. Matt Attack (voiced by Hannibal Buress) – A student at the University of China, IL. And the star quarterback and pitcher for UCI's football and baseball teams, respectively. Gang Sang – A giant panda who is the mascot of the University of China, IL. He is often seen standing around the campus. Golden Bowl (voiced by Gary Anthony Williams) – The golden-haired newsman of Channel 3 News and Channel 8 News at China, IL. Ronald Reagan (voiced by Dave Coulier) – The 40th President of the United States who has made appearances on this show. Mayor (voiced by Tommy Blacha) – The unnamed Mayor of China, IL who is the Dean's nemesis. Transfer Billy (voiced by Donald Glover) – New transfer student at UCI.
Development
Concept and creation
The series was conceived as a web series on Adult Swim's defunct comedy website, Super Deluxe, in 2008. Neely, who had produced I Am Baby Cakes and The Professor Brothers shorts for Super Deluxe in 2006, envisioned the characters in each series to coexist in the same universe. With this relationship in mind, he produced a four-part online series entitled China, IL, hand-drawn by him in his apartment in Austin, Texas. The series was published onto Super Deluxe in 2008. Intended for online consumption, he considered the web series independent from China, IL, due to the differences in format and structure that he stated he feels his work should be dictated by.