Mr. Pickles is an American adult animated horror comedy series created by Will Carsola and Dave Stewart for Adult Swim. The series revolves around the Goodman family, especially their 6-year-old son named Tommy and the family's border collie dog, the satanic Mr. Pickles. The series aired from September 21, 2014, to November 18, 2019.
The first episode of season 4 was a surprise series finale, replacing the show with a new spin-off series titled Momma Named Me Sheriff.
Plot
In the small, old-fashioned community of Old Town, the Goodman family and their innocent and dimwitted 6-year-old son Tommy have a satanic border collie dog named Mr. Pickles. The two spend their days romping around Old Town, while unknown to Tommy, the family or anyone except for Tommy's grandfather – Mr. Pickles secretly slips away to kill and mutilate his countless victims. Mr. Pickles will often reassemble and resurrect his victims which then reside in his underground lair and do his bidding. Through his evil, murderous rampage against those that threaten his boy, get in his way or annoy him, Mr. Pickles brings some order to Old Town, which is otherwise riddled with crime in the face of the dimwitted sheriff.
Characters
Dave Stewart as Mr. Pickles, Floyd, Linda, and Deer Hunter #2
Kaitlyn Robrock as Tommy Goodman, Candy
Brooke Shields as Beverly Goodman
Jay Johnston as Stanley Goodman
Frank Collison as Henry Gobbleblobber, Mr. Bojenkins (Season 1–2) Will Carsola as Sheriff, Boss, and Deer Hunter #1 Alex Désert as Mr. Bojenkins (Season 3, finale)
Additional voices
Joey Lauren Adams as The Girl
Pamela Adlon as Mary
Bob Bergen as Crime Man
Sean Conroy
Andy Daly as Doctor
Colton Dunn as Rich Snob, Darrel
John Ennis
Dave Foley as Scientist
Vivica A. Fox as Poison
Brett Gelman as Cheeseman
Barbara Goodson as Agnes Gobbleblobber/Steve
Elaine Hendrix as Lorena
Carrie Keranen as Lisa
Christine Lakin as Blonde Girl
Michelle León
Tom Kenny as Sidekick Boy
Candi Milo as Butt-Faced Woman
Tracy Morgan as Skids
Iggy Pop as Texas Red
Andy Richter
Jacod Young
Mark Rivers
Henry Rollins as Government Agent Commander
Stephen Root as Mr. Montgomery
Amy Sedaris as Sally
Steve-O as Pizza Delivery Guy
Frank Vincent as Jon Gabagooli
John Waters as Dr. Kelton
"Weird Al" Yankovic as Vegan Member
Rob Zombie as Vegan Cult Leader
Production
The series, which is animated using Adobe Flash, was created by Will Carsola and Dave Stewart – known for Funny or Die Presents – and executive-produced by Will Carsola, Dave Stewart, and Michael J. Rizzo. The series was one of several shows pitched to Adult Swim, according to the creators, who also operate under the name "Day by Day". Stewart recalled promoting it as a "one-line sentence", while Carsola remembered that it derived from a "write-off" session, where the two present ideas to each other in the form of scribbles for their amusement. Carsola explained that ideas in this process are released from the pressure "of them being good", occasionally finding "one that sticks". They later explained at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con International that the idea was based on Lassie, but has become "more of its own thing since then."
Stewart's own female Australian Cattle Dog served as inspiration for the animators on the character of Mr. Pickles. Stewart even pointed out similarities between her and the main character, and jokingly called her "Ms. Pickles". Animation director Mike L. Mayfield recorded Stewart's dog playing around on video, with animators using the resulting footage as a basis for the character's movements. Its setting is roughly based on Richmond, Virginia, where the creators started out in entertainment before moving to Los Angeles. The creators are given creative freedom by the network, with Stewart explaining the notes received by them as "minimal", much to their surprise. The creators observed some inconsistencies as to what is considered unacceptable, but try not to question it and compromise instead.