Summary
Highlights
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was created by Craig McCracken, also known for The Powerpuff Girls. The idea sparked when McCracken and his wife Lauren Faust adopted dogs from a shelter, leading them to wonder about the dogs' previous lives. Many of the imaginary friends in the show are based on dog archetypes. McCracken aimed to create a character-driven comedy, inspired by The Muppet Show, where personality dictated storylines.
Bloo, voiced by Keith Ferguson, was the first character created and is a 'lovable jerk' type. Mac and Bloo represent the 'ego and id' dynamic. Mac's mother is never fully shown, and his father is never mentioned. Frankie is based on Lauren Faust and acts as a role model and connection to normal life, while Madam Foster and Mr. Herriman have a similar dynamic to Mac and Bloo. Mr. Herriman's character is loosely based on a Victorian scientist from a 1973 sci-fi film.
Foster's was the first Cartoon Network show to use Micromedia Flash for animation, employing a 2D/digital hybrid process. This allowed for a smaller in-house staff and the creation of a reusable asset library, speeding up production. The show won five Emmys for its animation. Craig McCracken consciously gave Foster's an 'organic feel' with texture and brushstrokes, contrasting with The Powerpuff Girls' graphic design style.
Mac's older brother, Terrence, is voiced by Tara Strong, also known for Timmy Turner and Bubbles. The show includes cameo characters resembling Home Star Runner. There are many references to Dexter's Laboratory, with two scientists who discovered Coco resembling Dexter and Mandark, and Dexter himself making cameos. Foster's characters also appeared in the Cartoon Network crossover game 'Fusion Fall'.
Coco lays mysterious prize-filled eggs, inspired by Japanese gashapon machines, and only says 'Coco.' Wilt, named after Wilt Chamberlain, lost an arm and crooked an eye saving his creator Jordan Michaels. The show established a rule that the ability to make imaginary friends is lost after puberty. Teenagers' friends (Extremas) are monstrous, and infants' friends (Scribbles) are uniform. Duchess is the only 2D friend, appearing like a cubist painting.
Jackie Khones has a Star Wars-based backstory that didn't make it to the show. A popular fan theory suggests Frankie is Mrs. Foster's imaginary friend, or that Frankie imagined the current Mrs. Foster. Bloo is allergic to flowers. There are references to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Eduardo is surprisingly rich. Cheese, who appeared in Mac's room, actually belongs to his neighbor Louise, and is lactose intolerant despite loving 'chocolate milk'.
Mac becomes hyperactive when he eats sugar. For the episode 'Race for Your Life Mac and Bloo', two endings were prepared, with Cartoon Network viewers voting for Mac's victory. Mr. Herriman's strict schedule is minute-to-minute, and he is terrified of dogs. Many episode titles are puns related to music and films. The show's theme song was created to evoke 'psychedelic ragtime'. McCracken admits that near the show's end, the writers struggled to keep content fresh. The final shot of the series is the first shot of the title sequence played in reverse.