When Finn's hat comes to life while he and Jake are swimming, our heroes quickly discover that "Little Dude" is a far bigger threat than he initially appears.
Tropes
- Abusive Parents: The Life-Giving Magus's father was apparently dismissive of him and called him a bad wizard due to the trouble he had controlling his powers. The Magus still holds a grudge against him.
- Animate Inanimate Object: The Life-Giving Magus's power is to bring anything he touches to life. Little Dude was initially Finn's hat.
- Blessed with Suck: The Life-Giving Magus can bring things to life, but the objects tend to be evil and incredibly violent.
- Ceiling Cling: Finn and Jake do this to ambush the Magus when he breaks into the Tree Fort.
- Clothes Make the Superman: Finn's animated hat possesses a candy person and gives him "all the strength of a hat", which apparently means buffing him up enough to toss horses.
- Continuity Nod:
- Finn's hair is short and buzzed since he shaved it from "Davey".
- The Life-Giving Magus from "Mystery Dungeon" reappears as the one who brings Little Dude to life.
- The Corrupter: Little Dude has the power to turn things nasty by "devouring" them first; it ends up making the dinner BMO cooks smell like poo.
- Emotional Powers: The Life Giving Magi's animation powers make things evil because he's still carrying trauma from his father always telling him he was a bad wizard. When Jake tells him to focus on someone who loves him, like his mother, his animations turn out good.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: Little Dude goes from normal hat to minor annoyance to town destroying brute to a Person of Mass Destruction through his Puppeteer Parasite tactics.
- Grievous Harm with a Body: When Finn, Jake, and the Magus confront Little Dude, he makes the candy person he's possessing throw a gummi horse around.
- Gross-Up Close-Up: There's one on the Life-Giving Magus after he discovers he can bring good creations to life by thinking about his mom.
- High-Class Glass: The Candy Person who Little Dude possesses first is well-dressed, posh, and wears a monocle.
- Momma's Boy: Life-Giving Magus's only positive role model was his mom, and it turns out thinking of her helps him control his powers and give the things he brings to life nicer personalities.
- Nemean Skinning: Discussed; when Finn decides to let the Magus bring Little Dude back to life, the episode ends with Jake suggesting they go slay and skin an "evil bear" to get Finn a new hat.
- Nightmare Face: While making a good hearted Animate Inanimate Object, the LGM's face briefly becomes very disturbing.
- No, You: While ranting about how much his father hated him, the Magus yells "You're a bad wizard!"
- Power Incontinence: Initially this was LGM's problem, until he manages to realize his love for his mother.
- Power Limiter: The Magus's mittens prevent him from bringing things to life.
- Powers via Possession: Little Dude gives enhanced strength and powers to whoever it forces to wear it; when it manages to possess a Gumball Guardian, it gains Eye Beams and fire breath.
- Puppeteer Parasite: Little Dude can wear himself over his victims to control their minds. It also enhances their abilities.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Subverted with The Life-Giving Magus. While he has eyes with red slit pupils, he is a normal person who wants to save F&J from Little Dude.
- Sequel Episode: To "Mystery Dungeon", focusing on the consequences of the Life-Giving Magus being released from the dungeon.
- Shaped Like Itself: As Finn and Jake run towards the local swimming hole.
Jake: First one in the water is... uhmmmm... the first one in the water!
- Sickly Green Glow: The characters possessed by Little Dude develop green glowing eyes.
- Suddenly Speaking: When the LGM turns Little Dude good, he goes from grunting to talking normally.
- Title Drop:
Finn: He was a pretty rad hat, and now he's a pretty rad little dude.
