''Long Live the Royals'' is an American

animated sitcom An animated sitcom is a subgenre of the sitcom that is animation, animated instead of live action and is generally made or created for adult animation, adult audiences in most cases. ''SpongeBob SquarePants'', ''The Simpsons'', ''South Park'', and ...

miniseries A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format h ...

created by ''

Regular Show ''Regular Show'' (known as ''Regular Show in Space'' during its eighth season) is an American animated sitcom created by J. G. Quintel for Cartoon Network. It ran from September 6, 2010, to January 16, 2017, over the course of eight seasons a ...

''s writer and storyboard artist Sean Szeles. The miniseries, which aired from November 30 to December 3, 2015, on

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Car ...

, consists of four episodes, each following a member of a fictional British Royal Family as they celebrate the annual Yule Hare Festival. It remains the shortest-running Cartoon Network original series to date, with only four episodes in a single season.

Plot

Set in a contemporary world in a medieval kingdom, ''Long Live the Royals'' follows a fictional British Royal Family—King Rufus and Queen Eleanor and their children Peter, Rosalind, and Alex—as they honor the annual Yule Hare Festival. The family must battle having to rule their kingdom while maintaining a normal family at the same time. Meanwhile, the festival continues with the parties and feasts that comprise it.

Production

''Long Live the Royals'' was created by Sean Szeles. The

, announced in February 2015, is a production from

Cartoon Network Studios Cartoon Network Studios is an American animation studio owned by the Warner Bros. Television Studios division of Warner Bros., a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. The studio is the production arm of Cartoon Network, and started operating on ...

. It is the third miniseries to air on

, following ''

Over the Garden Wall ''Over the Garden Wall'' is an American animated television miniseries created by Patrick McHale for Cartoon Network. The series centers on two half-brothers who travel across a mysterious forest to find their way home, encountering a variet ...

'' a year earlier, in November 2014, and '' Stakes'' earlier in the month, in November 2015. The miniseries was adapted from a pilot released online in May 2014. Developed by Szeles in collaboration with the studios' developmental program for animated series, the pilot won him an

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

at the sixty-sixth annual Primetime Creative Arts ceremony. Preceding the nomination, Szeles had worked as a supervising producer on ''

'', another Cartoon Network production. Four episodes of the show were produced, each lasting eleven minutes; they are set at night and follow a different character individually.

Michael Ouweleen Michael Ouweleen (born 1967) is an American television executive and screenwriter. He is the current president of The Cartoon Network, Inc., the operating company of Cartoon Network (which includes the Cartoonito and ACME Night blocks), Adult Swi ...

, the

chief marketing officer A chief marketing officer (CMO), also called a global marketing officer or marketing director, or chief brand officer, is a corporate executive responsible for managing marketing activities in an organization. Whilst historically these titles may ...

for Cartoon Network, explained that the miniseries format allows for different artistic qualities to flourish in their shorts program and for existing pilots put on hold to come to fruition. A number of comedians were hired as the voices of primary and secondary characters.

Jon Daly Jon Daly, sometimes credited as Jonathan C. Daly, Jon C. Daly or Jonathan Barney Daly, is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer best known for his sketch comedy work on the Comedy Central series ''Kroll Show''. In 2013 he starred as H ...

Wendi McLendon-Covey Wendi McLendon-Covey (née McLendon; born October 10, 1969) is an American actress and comedian. She is known primarily for her work in comedic and improvisational roles. Since 2013, McLendon-Covey has played the role of Beverly Goldberg, a fami ...

Gillian Jacobs Gillian MacLaren Jacobs (; born October 19, 1982) is an American actress and director. She is known for her roles as Britta Perry on the NBC sitcom ''Community'' (2009–2015) and Mickey Dobbs on the Netflix romantic comedy series ''Love'' (2016� ...

and

Nicki Rapp Nicki Rapp (born September 4, 1972), often credited as Nikki Rapp, is an American voice actress known for providing the voices for Lili Zanotto in ''Psychonauts'', Morgan LeFlay in ''Tales of Monkey Island'', Lilly in '' The Walking Dead'' vide ...

reprised their roles from the pilot as King Rufus, Queen Eleanor, Rosalind and Alex respectively, whilst

Kieran Culkin Kieran Kyle Culkin (born September 30, 1982) is an American actor. The brother of actors Macaulay and Rory, he began his career as a child actor in the films ''Home Alone'' (1990), ''Father of the Bride'' (1991)'', The Mighty'' (1998), and ''Th ...

took over from Jeremy Redleaf as the voice of Peter. Additional characters were voiced by

Fred Armisen Fereydun Robert Armisen (born December 4, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. With his comedy partner Carrie Brownstein, Armisen was the co-creator and co-star of the IFC sketch comedy series ''Portlandia''. He ...

Ellie Kemper Elizabeth Claire Kemper (born May 2, 1980) is an American actress and comedian. She has been nominated for a Critics' Choice Movie Award, two Critics' Choice Television Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, three Satellite Awards, and seven Scre ...

Ken Marino Kenneth Joseph Marino (born December 19, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He was a cast member on MTV's ''The State'' and has starred in shows such as ''Party Down'', '' Marry Me'', ''Burning Love'', and ''Childre ...

Alfred Molina Alfred Molina (born Alfredo Molina; 24 May 1953) is a British-American actor known for his work on the stage and screen. He first rose to prominence in the West End, earning a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Pla ...

Horatio Sanz Horacio Sanz (born June 4, 1969), better known by his stage name Horatio Sanz, is a Chilean-born American actor and comedian. He was a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'' from 1998 to 2006. Early life Sanz was born on June 4, 1969 in Santi ...

, and

Peter Serafinowicz Peter Szymon Serafinowicz ( ; born 10 July 1972) is an English actor, comedian, director and screenwriter, best known for his roles as the title character in the 2016 live-action series of ''The Tick'', Pete in ''Shaun of the Dead'' (2004) and ...

Cast

Main voices

– King Rufus *

– Queen Eleanor *

Jane Horrocks Barbara Jane Horrocks (born 18 January 1964) is a British actress. She portrayed the roles of Bubble and Katy Grin in the BBC sitcom ''Absolutely Fabulous''. She was nominated for the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Actress for the title role in th ...

– Queen Eleanor (UK Version, Miniseries only) *

– Rosalind *

– Peter *

– Alex *

– Allistair *

– Frederick, Announcer

Various voices

Nonso Anozie Nonso Anozie (; born 17 November 1978) is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Tank in ''RocknRolla'', Sergeant Dap in ''Ender's Game'', Abraham Kenyatta in ''Zoo'', Captain of the Guards in ''Cinderella'', Xaro Xhoan Daxos in th ...

– Demonic Hare, Gregor *

– Gavin, Brody *

Julian Barratt Julian Barratt Pettifer (born 4 May 1968) is an English comedian, actor and musician. As a comedian and comic actor, he is known for his use of surreal humour and black comedy. During the 2000s he was part of The Mighty Boosh comedy troupe alongs ...

– Harold the Guard, Ace *

– Danny *

– *

– Bystander, Knight #3, Ashley *

Jermaine Fowler Jermaine Fowler is an American actor, comedian, producer and writer. He is perhaps best known for his role as King Akeem Joffer's long-lost son Lavelle Junson in the 2021 romantic comedy film '' Coming 2 America'' and Franco Wicks on the CBS sit ...

– Demarcus *

– Katherine, Kimber *

– Mudria *

– Snake *

– Rupert, Neil *

Jordi Mollà Jordi Mollà i Perales (; born 1 July 1968) is a Spanish actor, artist, writer, and filmmaker. He has been nominated three times for the Goya Award for Best Actor for ''The Lucky Star'' (1997), '' Second Skin'' (1999), and ''El cónsul de Sodom ...

– King Diego Belafonte *

– * Jeremy Redleaf – Peter (Pilot only) *

– Knight #1, Gorgeous, Mud Dad *

Christopher Corey Smith Christopher Corey Smith is an American voice actor who voices in animated shows and video games. He is best known for his voice role as Gagumber in the anime ''Sakugan''. Personal life On April 29, 2022, Smith married voice actress Cindy Robi ...

– Frederick/Announcer (Pilot only), Knight #2 *

– Demonic Hare

Episodes

Pilot (2014)

Miniseries (2015)

Broadcast

''Long Live the Royals'' premiered on Cartoon Network channels in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

on December 19, 2015 and in Australia and New Zealand on January 26, 2016. ''Long Live The Royals'' premiered on

Cartoon Network UK and Ireland Cartoon Network (commonly abbreviated as CN) is a British pay television channel aimed at children which airs animated programming targeting children and young aged 6 to 12.

on September 6, 2016.

References

External links

Sneak peek and promotional reel
at ''

TV Insider TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corporate ...

'' * * {{Former Cartoon Network original programming 2010s American animated television miniseries 2010s American comedy television miniseries 2015 American television series debuts 2015 American television series endings American children's animated comedy television series Animated television series about children Animated television series about families Cartoon Network original programming English-language television shows Monarchy in fiction