Generator Rex
Generator Rex is an American animated science fiction television series created by Man of Action for Cartoon Network,[1] with John Fang of Cartoon Network Studios serving as supervising director. It was inspired by the comic M. Rex, published by Image Comics in 1999. The series premiered in the United States on April 23, 2010 on Cartoon Network, and concluded on January 3, 2013. A crossover special with Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, titled Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United, aired on November 25, 2011, while a second 44-minute four-part special, Ben Gen 10, aired on April 11, 2021, featuring new versions of the Generator Rex characters in the Ben 10 reboot universe.
| Generator Rex | |
|---|---|
Official logo | |
| Genre | Action Adventure Science fiction Comedy drama Superhero |
| Created by | Man of Action |
| Based on | M. Rex by Image Comics |
| Developed by | Rob Hoegee |
| Directed by | Christofer Graham Rick Morales Seung-Hyun Oh Samuel Montes Kenji Ono John Fang Collette Sunderman (recording director) |
| Voices of | Daryl Sabara Wally Kurth Troy Baker Grey DeLisle John DiMaggio Fred Savage J. K. Simmons |
| Theme music composer | Kevin Manthei |
| Opening theme | "Revolution" by Orange |
| Composer | Kevin Manthei |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 60 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | For Cartoon Network Studios: Brian A. Miller Jennifer Pelphrey For Cartoon Network: Tramm Wigzell Rob Swartz (Season 1–2) Rob Sorcher |
| Producer | Ryan Slater |
| Running time | 22 minutes 43 minutes (Heroes United) 44 minutes (Endgame) |
| Production company | Cartoon Network Studios |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | Cartoon Network |
| Picture format | HDTV 1080i |
| Original release | April 23, 2010 – January 3, 2013 |
Plot
Five years ago, a massive explosion released high concentrations of underdeveloped, incomplete nanites into the atmosphere, infecting almost every living thing on Earth. These nanites may randomly activate inside their hosts, mutating the subject into a monster known as an E.V.O. (short for "Exponentially Variegated Organism"). Though some E.V.O.s retain human-level sanity, intelligence, and memory and are in full control of their special E.V.O. abilities, most transform into monster-like creatures and go violently berserk, causing widespread chaos and destruction. An international military-style organization known as Providence exists to combat the E.V.O. threat.
Rex is a sixteen-year-old amnesiac teenager who is a permanent E.V.O. Unlike most E.V.O.s, he lacks any physical deformation but has forgotten his past. He is also able to control his active nanites, allowing him to manifest from his body a wide variety of various bio-mechanical abilities and powers. Rex has the unique ability to deactivate nanites inside other E.V.O.s, effectively curing them of their monstrous mutations and returning them to normal. Working for Providence under Agent Six, and White Knight, Rex uses his unique abilities to stop and cure rampant E.V.O.s. His archenemy, Van Kleiss, is a British E.V.O. scientist who despises Providence and is connected to the original nanite explosion (which is noted as simply "The Nanite Event" throughout the series). His ultimate goal is to be all powerful, using E.V.O.s to get him there, he promises to tell Rex about his childhood past if he will join him.
Rex is eventually thrown into the future, in which everything has changed since his "six-month disappearance" and that Providence has been taken over by a woman called Black Knight, who attempts to manipulate Rex into utilizing him and his ever-developing and evolving abilities for her side in "saving" humanity by restarting the Nanite Project with those who had funded it six years ago in order to become all-powerful by ensuring the creation of five certain meta/master-control nanities that contain "the God Code", only four of which were scattered all across the planet, with the fifth and most powerful one having been kept hidden undetected within Rex himself.
Characters
Cast
- Daryl Sabara as Rex Salazar, Rombauer (1st time), White Fighter, East Side kid
- Wally Kurth as Agent Six, Captain Calan, Maxwell, Systems Op
- John DiMaggio as Bobo Haha, Skalamander, Architect, Jungle Cat, Pete Volkov, Robo Bobo Haha, Michael, Hunter Cain (2nd time), Dark figure, Rath, Providence Agent (1st time), Huckster, Vostok, Pyreptryx, Nyquist, Biruta, Umpire, Infected 2, Human EVO, Lunk, Waiter (1st time), Payson, Bug, DJ, Older Providence worker, Dock Worker, Guard 1, Providence Tech (2nd time), Villager, Providence Soldier 1 (2nd time), Black Pawn
- Grey DeLisle as Rebecca Holiday, ZAG-RS, Little Girl (Slug EVO), Woman (Rock & Mud EVO), Female Co-pilot, Doctor Rhodes, Diane Farrah, Isabella, Violeta Salazar, Little Spanish boy, Reporter, Kate, Larvus, Wade, Waitress, House wife, Trig Student 2, Beach Girl 1, Echoey Voice 2, Computer, Innocent girl, News Reporter, Librarian, Lady
- J.K. Simmons as White Knight, Cured E.V.O., Waiter (2nd time), Control Voice
- Fred Savage as Noah Nixon, Beagle (1st time), Waylan, Infected 1, Sit-Ops Tech, Team leader
- Troy Baker as Van Kleiss, Biowulf, Agent Weaver, Roswell, Captured zombie, Businessman, Etude, Echoey Voice 1, United Nations Official, Providence Tech (2nd time), Guard, Male Party-Goer, Providence Soldier 1 (1st time)
- Hynden Walch as Breach, Chinese hostess
- Tara Sands as Circe, Beach Girl 2
- Freddy Rodriguez as Caesar Salazar, Contraption Voice, Providence Soldier 2
- Joe Casey as Shades
- Joe Kelly as McKelly
- Duncan Rouleau as Dunky
- Jeff Bennett as Peter Meechum (1st time), Providence agent (1st time)
- Dee Bradley Baker as Foul Mouth, Stork EVO, Principal Rothberger, Gabriel, Humungousaur, Diamondhead, Lodestar, Big Chill, Four Arms, Cannonbolt, Upchuck, Terrified student
- Luke Perry as Jacob
- Will Shadley as Caleb
- Brent Spiner as Gabriel Rylander
- Fred Tatasciore as NoFace, Providence Tech (1st time)
- Khary Payton as Male Pilot, Beasly, Male cadet, Gang Punk
- Danica McKellar as Claire Bowman
- Felicia Day as Annie
- Mark Hamill as Quarry, Scientist 2
- Dante Basco as Tuck
- Jason Marsden as Skwydd, Lieutenant, Scientist 1, Gamer boy, Hipster
- Vyvan Pham as Cricket, Female vendor
- James Hong as Vendor, Providence Agent (2nd time)
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Knuckles, EVO Guard, Tripp
- John Cena as Hunter Cain (1st time)
- Dave Wittenberg as Instigator, Blue collar worker
- Rob Paulsen as Bouvier †, Agent Jackson, Providence tech, Cap-Com, Providence Technician, Loud Speaker, Pyramid guide
- Carlos Alazraqui as Drill Instructor Hutton, Dos, Lansky, Reynaldo, Lecturer, Senor Muchado, Rafael Salazar, Old man, Providence Agent (3rd time), Uniformed Providence Agent, Judge
- Rutina Wesley as Kenwyn Jones
- James Horan as Dr. Fell, Fortier
- Greg Ellis as Gatlocke
- Marion Ross as Carmen, Determined Grandmother, Grandma
- Robin Atkin Downes as Dr. Hogdson, Reddick, Sir Anthony Haden-Scott, Ship Captain
- Matthew Lillard as Serge
- Kath Soucie as Mouse, Female Party-Goer
- Blake Lewis as Thump
- Jim Cummings as Trey
- Frank Welker as One, IV
- Olivia d'Abo as Five
- Maria Canals-Barrera as Valentina
- Miguel Sandoval as Oso Maretelo, Agent Alvarez, Guard 2
- Phil LaMarr as Rombauer (2nd time), First Talking Announcer
- Tom Kenny as Mr. Buchiner, Fitzy Feakins, Announcer
- Daran Norris as Coach, Burly Jock
- James Arnold Taylor as Video kid, Trig Student 1
- David Barrera as Mayor Esteban
- Shelley Morrison as Abeula Salazar
- Bobby Soto as Federico Salazar
- Nolan North as Branden Moses, Security Guard
- Jennifer Stone as Beverly Holiday
- Steven T. Seagle as Beagle (2nd time), Providence agent (2nd time)
- Jennifer Hale as Black Knight
- Jack DeSena as Lance, Rand
- Yuri Lowenthal as Moss, Ben Tennyson, XLR8, Upgrade
- Maurice LaMarche as Valve
- Sandra Echeverria as Beatriz
- Randee Heller as Donna
- Bob Joles as Egyptian cook
- Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Ghaurn Set
- Roxanne Pallett
- Lacey Chabert as Googles Girl, JoJo
- Keith Szarabajka as Black Pawn Lieutenant
- David Kaye as Shocksquatch
- Michael Emerson as Alpha
- Corey Burton as Septimius Severus
- Andy Milder as John Scarecrow
- Wil Wheaton as Peter Meechum (2nd time)
- Rick Negron as Senor Durango
- Christian Lanz as Chiquito
- Steve Blum as Sebastian, Leon Adler
- Greg Cipes as Sly Tyler
- Quinton Flynn as Beau Boe
Episodes
Generator Rex currently does not air on Cartoon Network. Episodes 56 through 60 were released on iTunes for purchase before they aired. The show "ended" with its third season, but had left out many important things unresolved before the two-part season three finale "Endgame"; namely Rex and Circe's romantic relationship that finally blossomed at the end of Episode 51 "Assault on Abysus" and with Rex rescuing her from Providence ("Mind Games") some time before the two-part finale.
Crossovers
On July 11, 2011, the schedule for the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con revealed that during Cartoon Network's panel, a crossover special between the Ben 10: Ultimate Alien and Generator Rex series titled Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United would be discussed. During the conference, show creators "Man of Action" revealed that the crossover would be a special, extended episode of Generator Rex, which aired on November 25, 2011 on Cartoon Network.[4][5] The double-length special[6] revolved around Ben and Rex fighting a villain, originally created by Rex's older brother Caesar, the Alpha Nanite.[7] Rex makes a cameo appearance in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode, Crossover Nexus along with many other Cartoon Network shows. On February 17, 2021, it was announced Generator Rex would have a 44-minute crossover special with Ben 10 (2016–21), which aired on April 11, 2021.[8]
Other media
Home video
Warner Home Video released Volume 1 DVD, a two-disc set that contains the first nine episodes of the series on October 19, 2010.[9]
Video game
A video game, entitled Generator Rex: Agent of Providence, has been developed for Wii, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Xbox 360. The game was released on November 1, 2011 in the United States, published by Activision.[10][11] The plot involves Van Kleiss attempting to find blueprints to build an Omega-One Nanite. The entire voice cast reprises their roles from the series. Agent of Providence was given an E10+ rating by ESRB.[12] The game was also scored by the series' composer, Kevin Manthei.[13]
Toy line
Mattel has produced a toy line based on the series. For the main figures each is approximately 4 inches tall and packaged with an ordinary day E.V.O. There were also deluxe figures, EVO attack packs, as well as other waves and lines that were never released including a line from MEGA Bloks was announced (in 2010) featuring construction sets.[14]
Publications
Cartoon Network has featured Generator Rex and Ben 10 in their and DC Comics's Cartoon Network: Action Pack comic books.[15] Two 3D picture books (featuring cardboard 3D glasses) "EVOs and Heroes," a whole analysis on characters and their abilities and "The Swarm," an adaption of the episode of the same name, where Rex must fight insect E.V.O.s that feed on metal, have also been released.[15] For beginning readers, the story "Leader of the Pack" is also based on an episode and features Rex and Bobo being captured and locked in an underground prison cell.[15]
In February 2013, IDW Publishing announced a partnership with Cartoon Network to produce comic books and issues based on its properties. Generator Rex along with Ben 10 was one of the titles announced to be published.[16]
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual in Animation | Chu-Hui Song and Nora Murphy-Breden for the episode "The Day That Changed Everything" | Won |
See also
References
- ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 236. ISBN 978-1538103739.
- ^ NickandMore! (March 22, 2021). "Cartoon Network Announces Spring Break Programming Event". Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (March 22, 2021). "Cartoon Network Plans 2-Week 'Spring Breakaway' with Premieres, Movies & More". Animation Magazine. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
Headlining the virtual spring break bash is a three-day debut for the previously announced Ben 10 specials
- ^ SDCC2011: Generator Rex/Ben 10 Crossover Special Set For Thanksgiving Archived 2012-09-15 at archive.today
- ^ Ben 10 and Generator Rex News from Comic-Con - YouTube
- ^ CN to Air 'Ben 10/Generator Rex' Crossover Episode'
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2011-12-30. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- ^ "WarnerMedia Upfronts: Cartoon Network, HBO Max 'Redraw Your World' with More Kids Content". 17 February 2021.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2012-01-26. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
- ^ Generator Rex: Agent of Providence
- ^ Generator Rex Video Game Coming This Fall
- ^ Activision's High-octane Action Adventure Generator Rex: Agent of Providence Available Now
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2011-12-07.
- ^ Turner generates licensing momentum for Rex
- ^ a b c Watch and Read: Super Teen Machine: Cartoon Network's 'Generator Rex'
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
External links
- Generator Rex at IMDb