“Jimmy Neutron” Series Anniversary with Mark DeCarlo!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece Of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today is the 23rd anniversary of “The Adventures Of Jimmy Neutron” one of the best cartoons ever and we have Hugh Neutron himself, Mark DeCarlo here to answer a few questions!

When “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” hit theaters in 2001, it was a big moment for Nickelodeon and for early CG animation. It wasn’t made by Pixar or DreamWorks, but it still earned an Oscar nomination and set the stage for a hit TV series. The story of a boy genius saving the day with inventions and science quickly became a fan favorite; but one of the most unforgettable parts of the franchise wasn’t Jimmy himself. It was his bizarre, duck-obsessed dad, Hugh Neutron.

Voiced by Mark DeCarlo, Hugh quickly became a scene-stealer. What could’ve been a standard cartoon dad turned into something much stranger and more hilarious thanks to DeCarlo’s delivery. With his love of pie, ducks, and offbeat one-liners, Hugh stood out in every episode. DeCarlo’s performance brought a surreal energy to the character that fans couldn’t get enough of, and the writers leaned into it more and more as the show went on.

Even after “Jimmy Neutron” ended, Hugh lived on in memes, TikToks, and fan tributes. Mark DeCarlo embraced the character’s internet fame, voicing Hugh in fan projects and interacting with audiences who still quote his lines today. His commitment to the role long after the series wrapped helped keep the character’s legacy alive in a way few side characters ever achieve.

Two decades later, “Jimmy Neutron” remains a beloved part of early 2000s animation, and Hugh Neutron is one of its most iconic surprises. Thanks to Mark DeCarlo’s unforgettable voice work, the duck-loving dad is still making people laugh; and proving that sometimes, the weirdest characters leave the biggest impact.

Mark DeCarlo:

Giancarlo: What is your favorite project you’ve ever worked on?

Mark DeCarlo: Jimmy Neutron. Tons of fun and people love it!

Giancarlo: For “Hugh Neutron, did you use any inspiration from anything/anyone for his voice or tone?

Mark DeCarlo: I made him sound like my weird friend Paul.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Mark DeCarlo: Keep going and trust your gut.

Thank you for tuning in and I hope you have a great week! We’ll catch you with another fun one on Monday!

-Giancarlo