The show is said to be a prequel to the film although it is non-canon.
It is unclear if Flint and Sam were friends before the movie. However, in "And the Winner Is..." Flint says that if Sam ever moves away from Swallow Falls, he will invent a memory eraser.
In the show, Earl Devereaux is voiced by Clé Bennett, who is the third different actor to take on the role. In the first movie of Wolkig mit Aussicht auf Fleischbällchen (2009), Earl is voiced by Mr. T, while in the second movie Wolkig mit Aussicht auf Fleischbällchen 2 (2013), Terry Crews brings the character to life.
This show is notable for having a recon of the events of the first movie.
The only collaboration of Sony Pictures Animation with DHX Media (Now WildBrain) since The Karate Kid (1989) produced by your predecessor DIC Entertainment.