Idle Hands: Boys Go To Jupiter is a Wonderfully Weird Ride For All

Friday, August 15, 2025

Boys Go To Jupiter is a Wonderfully Weird Ride For All

Review by The CriX Files

On Wednesday, my awesome boss sent me a link for an animated feature called “Boys Go To Jupiter,” written and directed by Julian Glander (Summer Camp Island).

By Thursday, I had watched his feature film debut four times and am ready to buy it outright.

Here’s why.

BGTJ follows Billy5000 and his friends as they navigate their way through another year in Floridian suburbia. Teenaged Billy5000 is on a tear after dropping out of school and taking a gig delivering for Grubster, as he wants to earn $5000 before New Year’s Eve so he can leave town. But his mission is constantly interrupted by his goofball friends (Beatbox, Peanut, and Freckles) an old classmate (Rozario Dolphin aka Rosebud), her mother (Dr. Dolphin), and the cutest gelatinous alien you’ll ever meet named “Donut’ (who reminded me of a squishmallow).

As we had mentioned previously, the voice cast is just as weird and wonderful as the film itself.

Alongside NPR’s Planet Money host Jack Corbett (in his debut) as Billy5000 and singer/songwriter Miya Folick as Rosebud, the standout cast includes Janeane Garofalo (Dogma), Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), Tavi Gevinson (Gossip Girl), Grace Kuhlenschmidt (The Daily Show), Joe Pera (Joe Pera Talks With You), Julio Torres (Problemista, Los Espookys), Sarah Sherman (Saturday Night Live), Cole Escola (Tony Winner for “Oh, Mary!” Difficult People), Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby), River L. Ramirez (Los Espookys), Max Wittert (High Maintenance), J.R. Phillips (Summer Camp Island), Chris Fleming (Hell), and comedy writer Demi Adejuyigbe (The Good Place, Craig of The Creek).

“Inspired by Google Street View excursions through the streets of Tampa, Florida, the nostalgia of youth and growing up in the suburbs, and an eagerness to examine the capitalism and techno-feudalism in modern society, Boys Go to Jupiter was self-produced and animated entirely over 90 days on the free open-source 3D modeling program Blender. Peisin Yang Lazo as executive producer.”

And if THAT weren’t cool enough, the music is incredible and will introduce earworms to anyone who comes in contact. The songs are catchy and right up Glander’s alley, which we can credit to his vast knowledge of young adult TV and an uncanny ability to craft a memorable song. I’m just gonna go ahead and say your favorite will be “Egg Song.” It has lived rent-free in my head since Wednesday and will continue to be a tenant. Freckles (Grace Kuhlenschmidt) emits such a raw passion for eggs, I actually ate a boiled egg.

EGG SONG

I have zero idea what it’s rated (and I looked EVERYWHERE) but that shouldn’t concern you, as BGTJ would be the perfect way to merge Cartoon Network’s daily program schedule seamlessly into Adult Swim’s night programming. No sex, no nudity, no swearing, no problem. I don’t want to put an age limit on it, because it doesn’t need one.

The animation and overall design itself are so brilliant, the best way I could describe it is “Adventure Time meets Robot Chicken meets A24 and dates Cartuna.” It’s also great if you or your family/friends are neurodivergent! BGTJ immediately calmed the thunderstorms in my head. The animation, the light timbre of voices, and catchy songs put me in a better mood.

I would not be surprised if BGTJ shows up on HBO and Adult Swim soon. I absolutely find no reason why your child couldn’t watch it, but you can check out the trailer to see for yourself.

I’d tell you more, but I’m gonna go and watch it for a fifth time, it’s THAT good. Scored 94 on Rotten Tomatoes, my friends; I give it 100. Go see it!

Did I mention the alien food blogger? YUP!