'Adventure Time' Creator Pendleton Ward Explains Why He Quit Cartoon Network Hit Series As Showrunner Ahead Of Season 6 Episodes

Adventure Time is a trippy little cartoon that grew into something much bigger, encompassing multiple industries outside of Cartoon Network, including merchandising and publishing. Considering all of the craziness around the show, creator Pendleton Ward stepped down during season 5 as showrunner, without many people even knowing. In a new Rolling Stone Magazine profile on the cartoonist, Ward explains why he left the show before season 6 and why making episodes of his brainchild has become too much for him.

"It's a beast of a show. And the more popular it gets, the more the ancillary things - like the merchandise and games and everything - keep getting bigger," he told the magazine. "To spend that extra energy and time you don't have, to make something that's worth making, to make it awesome, wears you out."

Clearly the mounting success of his show was great in many ways, but it took its toll on Ward in other ways. His leaving the show was the best decision he could make.

"I quit because it was driving me nuts," he explained. "For me, having quality of life outweighed the need to control this project and make it great all the time."

What do you think about the reasoning behind Pendleton Ward leaving his show? Share your thoughts and opinions of Adventure Time in the comments section below!

Check out the entire profile over at Rolling Stone HERE!

Adventure Time is set to start its seventh season some time soon, with no premiere date set as of yet.

(via Gamma Squad / Rolling Stone)