"Megas XLR" (2004) TV series 2004-2005

User Rating:

8.9/10   

Creators:

George Krstic
Jody Schaeffer

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

1 May 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Every kid needs a giant robot

Plot:

Two teenage slackers find a mecha from the future that had been lying in a New Jersey junkyard for nearly 60 years and make modifications much to the dismay of the robot's attractive creator.

Plot Keywords:

Robot | Mecha | New Jersey | Video Game | Slacker

Cast

David DeLuise	...	Coop / ... (25 episodes, 2004-2005)
Wendee Lee	...	Kiva / ... (25 episodes, 2004-2005)
Steve Blum	...	Jamie / ... (25 episodes, 2004-2005)
Scot Rienecker	...	Goat / ... (12 episodes, 2004-2005)
Kevin Michael Richardson	...	Glorft Commander / ... (11 episodes, 2004-2005)
Clancy Brown	...	Gorrath / ... (10 episodes, 2004-2005)

Also Known As:

"LowBrow" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (approx.)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-Y7 (TV rating)

Company:

Cartoon Network

Trivia:

During the first episode, Coop attacks the alien mechas with an energy weapon in its chest. This is, in fact, the tip of the Yamato from "Uchû senkan Yamato" (1974), firing its primary cannon.

Quotes:

Goat: Where's my two bucks?

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "Downtown" (1999)

Do you dig giant robots? If yes, then welcome to your mecha show.

I'll admit am not a person whose into mecha cartoons. Sure watching giant robots pummel each other may appeal to some, but am partial on the genre itself. Mainly because the ones I watch are always too serious or have a deeper meaning to tell. Well finally comes mecha cartoon thats purely about saving the world...in the most unorthodox methods possible.

Megas XLR (called Lowbrow when it premiered) is a about Coop, a lazy video game, food munching slacker that finds the robot Megas one day while hanging around at his local scrapyard. Unknowest to him that its a tool in saving the future that accidentally got blown to his timeline. After a bit of a paint job and some modifications (inculding ripping out the part that allows time travel) Coop fixes the bot and renames it XLR. No sooner then his first test drive with his long time bud Jamie. The real owner, a rough yet cute female warrior of the future named Kiva, comes to claim it with a evil alien force known as the Gloof right behind her. Since Coop remodified the robot's controls, he the only who knows how to pilot it . Thus he, along with Jamie and Kiva as support, becomes the Earth only hope in defeating the Gloof as well as other intergalactic baddies that come around. Heaven help us.

The series is very unique, its a breath of fresh air that the hero is is a person who goes by his own methods, even if they tend to to backfire (and they often do). Jamie is a good comic relief, the usual woman chasing coward yet so quick to point out the flaws in Coop's plan. Kiva brings a good balance to the two slackers always complaining yet has to agree that whatever works works. Thankfully they didn't over blow her seriousness. Of course the real star is Megas, the souped up machine that will save the future with its truckload of firepower. It never ceases to surprise me what kind of weapons it'll pull out next. Which what make the show so fun. And lest not forget references to countless movies, video games, anime and general pop culture.

The animation is colorful, fluid and of course anime inspired (though thankfully not all out anime i.e: The route Teen Titans took). Love the models for the villains Megas encounters too.

Soundwise, a nice display of music cues. Usually cutting off when the characters comment on something weird or an attack fails giving the jokes extra flavor. The music itself okay, usual guitar licks and over the top dramatic pieces but it fits the action well.

Overall, Cartoon Network has really got a winner on their hands with this original piece. So if any one wants a starting point in watching mecha cartoons or just don't want a serious mecha toon in general. Look no further, Megas XLR has your ignition.