"Invader ZIM" (2001) TV series 2001-2003

Creator:

Jhonen Vasquez
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Drama | Family | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A short alien bent on conquering Earth poses as a human, and only one paranoid child knows his secret. Warning: Piggies may be involved in resulting insanity.

Plot Keywords:

Disguise | Robot | Meat | Insanity | Nicktoon

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Andy Berman	...	Dib / ... (28 episodes, 2001-2006)
Richard Steven Horvitz	...	Zim / ... (27 episodes, 2001-2006)
Rosearik Rikki Simons	...	GIR / ... (26 episodes, 2001-2006)
Melissa Fahn	...	Gaz / ... (22 episodes, 2001-2006)
Jhonen Vasquez	...	Computer / ... (21 episodes, 2001-2006)
Rodger Bumpass	...	Professor Membrane / ... (18 episodes, 2001-2006)
Lucille Bliss	...	Ms. Bitters / ... (15 episodes, 2001-2006)
Mo Collins	...	Zita / ... (13 episodes, 2001-2006)
Wally Wingert	...	Almighty Tallest Red / ... (12 episodes, 2001-2006)

Series Directed by
Steve Ressel		(27 episodes, 2001-2006)

Series Writing credits
Rob Hummel		(18 episodes, 2001-2006)
Jhonen Vasquez		(4 episodes, 2001-2006)
Eric Trueheart		(2 episodes, 2002-2006)
Courtney Lilly		(2 episodes, 2002)
Frank Conniff		(unknown episodes)
Danielle Koenig		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Mary Harrington	....	executive producer (28 episodes, 2001-2006)
Steve Ressel	....	producer (27 episodes, 2001-2006)
Jhonen Vasquez	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 2001-2006)
Christine Griswold	....	line producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Kevin Manthei		(25 episodes, 2001-2006)

Series Film Editing by
Robby Roberts		(13 episodes, 2001-2004)

Series Casting by
Donna Grillo		(14 episodes, 2001-2006)

Series Production Design by
Jhonen Vasquez		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Christian Alexander Moran	....	post-production manager (28 episodes, 2001-2006)

Series Art Department
Chris Haynie	....	color designer (26 episodes, 2001-2006)
Louie del Carmen	....	storyboard supervisor (21 episodes, 2001-2006)
Ian Graham	....	storyboard artist / storyboard revisionist (11 episodes, 2001-2006)
Eric Lloyd Brown	....	prop designer / property designer (10 episodes, 2001-2006)
Greg Colton	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Addis Haghnazarian	....	color designer (unknown episodes)
Taesoo Kim	....	property designer (unknown episodes)
Shawn Murray	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Steve Ressel	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Perry Zombolas	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Paul Menichini	....	sound designer / sound effects editor (28 episodes, 2001-2006)
Devon Bowman	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Roy Braverman	....	dialogue recordist (unknown episodes)
Bill Devine	....	voice recordist (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Kathleen Quaife-Hodge	....	special effects designer (12 episodes, 2001)

Series Visual Effects by
Bryan Konietzko	....	story board artist (8 episodes, 2002)
Robert J. Baldwin	....	CG visual effects animator (unknown episodes)
Ernest Chan	....	CG visual effects animator (unknown episodes)
Cindy Mercado	....	CG production assistant (unknown episodes)
David Wigforss	....	CG visual effects animator (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Ron Russell	....	background painter / color designer (13 episodes, 2001-2006)
Ron Brewer	....	storyboard artist (3 episodes, 2001)
Perry Zombolas	....	storyboard artist (2 episodes, 2006)
Peter Ehrlich	....	background color designer (unknown episodes)
Paul Finn	....	animatic supervisor (unknown episodes)
John Fountain	....	lead character designer (unknown episodes)
Laura Gragg	....	background clean-up artist (unknown episodes)
Ted Machold	....	animatic editor (unknown episodes)
SoonJin Mooney	....	sheet timer (unknown episodes)
Kevin Zelch	....	animatic editor (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Anna Henry	....	casting coordinator (28 episodes, 2001-2006)

Series Editorial Department
Jason Stiff	....	post production supervisor (28 episodes, 2001-2006)
Dan Aguilar	....	on-line editor (4 episodes, 2001)

Series Music Department
Mark Tortorici	....	composer: title theme (1 episode, 2006)
Jean-Paul Bondy	....	composer: additional music (unknown episodes)
Scott Cochran	....	scoring mixer (unknown episodes)
Jon Drukman	....	composer: additional music (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Anna Henry	....	production coordinator / executive assistant (28 episodes, 2001-2006)
Mathias Dougherty	....	executive assistant (8 episodes, 2001)
Shannon Muir	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 2006)
Aaron Alexovich	....	cleanup artist (unknown episodes)
Sandra Mohr	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Brandi Young	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Alison Dexter	....	special thanks (1 episode, 2006)
Joel Krasnove	....	special thanks (1 episode, 2006)

Production Companies

• Nicktoons Productions

Distributors

• Media Blasters (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Nickelodeon Network

Other Companies

• Encore Video  color timing
• Nickelodeon Digital Animation Studios  cgi animation
• Salami Studios  audio post-production
• Sunwoo Entertainment  animation services

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (27 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-Y7 | Australia:G

Company:

Nicktoons Productions

Trivia:

Most of the show's characters appear to be crazy in one way or another. In particular, Zim has delusions of grandeur, GIR is completely insane, Dib is obsessive and often talks to himself, and Gaz is rageaholic with multiple addictions. Throughout the series, the words "crazy" and "insane" are repeatedly used to describe all of the main characters.

Quotes:

Zim:Gir, do you want to wake up the entire planet?
Gir:[shouts] I do!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nicktoons MLB (2011) (VG)

Utter insanity...I LOVE IT!

Like most, I was shocked and extremely disappointed with Nick when they pulled the plug on this show. Not that I have anything against them, they're an alright company (though I loathe Rugrats, they seriously overplay that toon). But you think that a network that wants as many good shows as it can get would hang on to something this unique. Alas they wanted save face and keep their kiddie image. So when they went to the creator to tone down its...aggressive nature. He refused on most accounts and well, you know the rest. Still in its aftermath, the show has gained a tons of fans, merchandise and a huge effort to get it back on the air (though i doubt its possible due to the creator's statement about never working in animation again...quitter :P).

I've been with the show ever since its premiere and its taken awhile to grow on me but thats mainly due to extreme craziness this show belts out. Common sense is just thrown out the window in IZ though you can still make out the stories between the screaming and mayhem. And what a bunch of stories, I've never seen such creativeness crammed into thirty minutes. The writers take such simple concepts and really go nuts with them. Your always expecting one thing then something just jump out of nowhere to really make you head spin. And with characters as wired as Zim or as annoying as Dib, why wouldn't it. And the humor, oh it just got to be seen to believed. A perfect blend of sci-fi and dark humor. All I can tell you is by the time the credits roll, you be grasping for air due to all the laughing (considering you have a taste in this type of stuff). I can kinda see why Nick was a little uneasy with most of the content. Its not vulgar but it is a little disturbing now and then.

Artwise, its an very unique style. Cute yet creepy with a nice blend of colors and shading. The CGI parts aren't bad neither especially with its use of camera on action scenes. The only flaw I noticed about it is that the lips can't keep up with the words half the time. But that a usual problem most cartoons have, so it can be overlooked.

Music, well done with dramatic beats that really enhance the craziness of the situations. Ditto on the voice acting as they match up to the characters really well. Even the background characters are worth listening too.

Overall, it was a fine series while it lasted and was unfairly canned due to the network not having it way (and mean seriously Nick, "buget problems". If you can't admit you had personal problems with the show. Then your not the network I watched as a kid). I doubt we'll ever get a show like this again but at least fans can enjoy it on the rightly deserved DVDs. VICTORY! VICTORY FOR THE ZIM FANS!