Shelby Butterson (title: Shelby the Worm Who Lives in Jake's Viola) first appears in "My Two Favorite People" and later returns in "Video Makers." He can talk and lives in Jake's viola. In "My Two Favorite People," he gives Jake the idea to hang out with Finn and Lady Rainicorn at the same time. He has the same tone of voice as Manfried. He also makes a cameo in "What Was Missing" when he crawls in and out of Jake's viola, and narrates the ending of "Holly Jolly Secrets Part II," where he and the general cast watch videos and wear sweaters. In the winter, he wears a green sweater with two candy canes on it. He appears in "Five More Short Graybles" reading a book while sitting on Cranky Cookie's statue, and has a major role in "Mystery Dungeon."
It should be noted that Shelby is an earthworm, and although earthworms are hermaphrodites he is a male as confirmed by Pendleton Ward.[1]
History[]
He makes his debut in the episode "My Two Favorite People", appearing on Jake's viola for the first time and later returns in "Video Makers", as one of Finn and Jake's movie club members. He gave Jake an idea, which is to spend more time with Rainbow and Finn at the same time so he wouldn't miss them. This makes up the plot of the episode ''My Two Favorite People''. He also narrated the end of ''Holly Jolly Secrets Part II''. During the winter, he is known to wear a green sweater with two candy canes on it. He appears again in ''Five More Short Graybles'' in which he reads a book while sitting on the statue of Cranky Cookie.
He reappears doing his first leading role in ''Mystery Dungeon''. There, along with the Ice King, Tree Trunks, the Earl of Lemongrab, and Neptr, they try to survive the dungeon. It is then revealed that he was brought by the Ice King to be bait, but in the end Shelby and the others make it out, later leaving with Finn and Jake.
In ''Little Brother'', he has a new younger brother, Buddy "Kent" Budderson, after cutting off the end of his tail with Jake's viola at a party. He tries to be a good big brother, and under Jake's advice, guides his brother to be a hero.
In ''Don't Look'', Finn is seen to visualize him as a ''nerd''. In ''Beyond the Grotto'', Shelby explains to Finn and Jake that Sea Butters are saltwater and not freshwater, before Shelby falls when Finn takes off his pajamas and is down to his underwear. . The Water Nymphs later imply that the information Shelby gave is incorrect. That means Shelby doesn't really know what he's talking about.
In ''Skyhooks'' he is transformed into a gummy worm by Princess Bubblegum in her pure candy elemental form. Later in ''Skyhooks II'', he returned to his normal form thanks to Lumpy Space Princess's restoration.
Appearance[]
Shelby is a worm. However, unlike the other worm characters, Shelby more closely resembles an earthworm in color and shape. He is the color pink and has black eyes. However, in "Skyhooks" and the Elements Miniseries, Shelby is a gummy worm.
Personality[]
Shelby appears to be a highly intelligent, caring individual with a sense of humor for the most part, often imparting common-sense advice and knowledge to Finn and Jake. This is also shown in "Don't Look" as Finn sees Shelby as a nerdy bookworm type. However, in "Beyond the Grotto," it is shown that Shelby's knowledge is fallible, as Shelby makes a long-winded statement about a Sea Lard being a saltwater fish, referring to it as a stenohaline fish, a very specific marine biology term. When Finn tells the Water Nymphs they were looking for their Sea Lard to prevent him from dying because he is a "stenohaline fish," they tell him that a Sea Lard is a mammal. Finn remarks to Jake "I can't believe I just believed Shelby just because he is a nerd" to which Jake replies "I know, it's all in his tone" suggesting that Shelby has a tendency to pass off incorrect information to people because he says it in way that makes people believe he knows what he talking about but really doesn't.
Relationships[]
Finn[]
Finn and Shelby are friends. In the episode "Video Makers," Finn formally refers to him as "Shelby, the worm who lives in Jake's viola." Though in the episode "Mystery Dungeon," he actually talks to Finn as a friend. After Finn lost his forearm in "Escape From the Citadel," Shelby was seen crying, and curled up on Finn's leg to comfort him.
Jake[]
Jake and Shelby are friends since he lives in Jake's viola. In the episode "My Two Favorite People" Shelby gives Jake helpful advice. He is an actor in both of the movies Jake attempts to make in "Video Makers" and "The Pit."
Kent[]
Kent was born when Shelby cut off his lower body while dancing. Kent is Shelby's little brother, so they are close. Shelby told Kent to fight bad guys leading to Kent being an adventurer and defeating the Rat King. He appeared sad when Kent had to return to the Dewdrops.
Tree Trunks[]
Shelby and Tree Trunks appear to be friends. In the episode "Five More Short Graybles," he said hello to her. In the episode "Mystery Dungeon," they appeared to be friends and had to work together alongside Ice King, Lemongrab, and Neptr. Shelby was the only one whose name she pronounced correctly.
Lemongrab[]
Shelby never interacted with Lemongrab until "Mystery Dungeon" where they work together alongside Tree Trunks, Ice King, and Neptr. However, they must be comfortable with each other because Shelby rides on his head for part of "Mystery Dungeon."
Ice King[]
Shelby never interacted with Ice King until "Mystery Dungeon" where they work together alongside Tree Trunks, Lemongrab, and Neptr. In general, he was annoyed by Ice King's myopia, desperation and selfishness, particularly when it was revealed Ice King had knocked the others out to be brought to the dungeon in an effort to get the Ancient Sleeping Magi of Life Giving to bring his Fionna and Cake fan-fiction to life (Shelby was particularly annoyed, as Ice King had planned to use him as fish bait, plus he would have brought something to be brought to life had he known). Later, as Finn and Jake watch Ice King and Neptr pretend Fionna is around in Ice King's Imagination Zone, Finn wonders if there's anyone sadder than the Ice King. Shelby responds with a dry, "Me, watching this."
In "The Empress Eyes," Ice King mentions attending Shelby's barbecue, though it is not stated whether he was invited or just crashed.
Neptr[]
Even though they both live in the Tree Fort, Shelby never interacted with Neptr until "Mystery Dungeon" where they work together alongside Tree Trunks, Ice King, and Lemongrab.
Unnamed girlfriend[]
In "Wake Up," Shelby mentions a "G.F." for whom he wishes for a pony from Prismo, instead of wishing for passage to the Citadel for Finn and Jake like they wanted. Shelby then immediately gets a call from his girlfriend on his cell phone saying she got the pony and named it "Speedboat." He then goes into Jake's ear to talk to her, though he appears to have some awareness of Finn and Jake's subsequent adventures in "Escape From the Citadel."
Episode appearances[]
Major appearances[]
Minor appearances[]
- "My Two Favorite People" (debut)
- "Video Makers"
- "What Was Missing"
- "Holly Jolly Secrets Part II"
- "Five More Short Graybles"
- "The Pit"
- "Wake Up"
- "Escape from the Citadel"
- "Jake The Brick"
- "The Cooler"
- "Hoots"
- "Football"
- "Flute Spell"
- "Don't Look"
- "Beyond the Grotto"
- "Horse and Ball"
- "The Light Cloud" (flashback, cameo)
- "Skyhooks" (as Shelby the Gummy Worm)
- "Skyhooks II"
- "Come Along With Me"
Mentioned[]
Trivia[]
- Shelby's voice is an altered version of Pendleton Ward's.[2]
- Shelby was the answer to one of Gaia Online's ten trivia contests to answer to try to win a first season DVD set.
- Shelby frequently uses the catchphrase "Check Please!" he learned during "Video Makers."
- Shelby was the last person that Prismo granted a wish to before his death.
- Shelby has the ability to bless fluids into holy water like a priest as shown in The Pit.
- In "Little Brother," Shelby cuts off his lower body, but in "Football" his lower body grew back.
Quotes[]
- "Check, please."
- See Shelby/Quotes