Loved this series growing up. With new CGI could be a really amazing series of it were to be remade and extended beyond the Prison Planet saga.
Would make a good live action too!
Would make a good live action too!
15 Reviews
Another great Mainframe series unrightfully cancelled.
Animany9416 October 2019
After watching Mainframe Entertainment's debut series ReBoot which was impressive in its worldbuilding and cast of memorable characters, I decided to take a look at another one of their making.
And Shadow Raiders is another one of Mainframe's very well done series for the small screen with an engaging story line of several mutually hostile planets uniting against a world devouring menace called the Beast Planet ruled by the tyrant Blokk. To overcome the possible destruction everyone must set aside their differences and that isn't always working for them.
Even though I found emperor Femur extremely annoying and stupid most of the time, I can't really point my finger at anything to damage the quality, but like what happened to the great ReBoot, this also ended on a cliffhanger with many exciting set-ups left unrealised. And just like ReBoot one or two more seasons could have made this series come to a definite end and stand tall as a great series.
And Shadow Raiders is another one of Mainframe's very well done series for the small screen with an engaging story line of several mutually hostile planets uniting against a world devouring menace called the Beast Planet ruled by the tyrant Blokk. To overcome the possible destruction everyone must set aside their differences and that isn't always working for them.
Even though I found emperor Femur extremely annoying and stupid most of the time, I can't really point my finger at anything to damage the quality, but like what happened to the great ReBoot, this also ended on a cliffhanger with many exciting set-ups left unrealised. And just like ReBoot one or two more seasons could have made this series come to a definite end and stand tall as a great series.
The best out of all of Mainframe's shows!
Blaze-1721 May 2000
This is my number one favourite show. I like it even better than ReBoot. The reason it's not as popular as ReBoot is because it came at a VERY bad time. It came on when ReBoot ended. Everyone thought of it as a replacement for ReBoot, and did not want to see it. Even I didn't want to see it because I thought of it as a replacement as well, but I still watched it anyways and I loved it. Shadow Raiders/War Planets is much better than what most people think of it. It has awesome graphics, awesome characters, and awesome plotlines! I really hope that Mainframe will create a season three. For all you ReBoot fans who have refused to watch it or have not watched it much, WATCH IT OR WATCH IT MORE!! It is a really excellent show that you will probably love once you really get into it.
A Real Treat
RobinCook7015 March 2007
I recently rented and watched the 6 DVD's of this series and thoroughly enjoyed it! It has such artwork/graphics I sat in complete awe from one scene to another. Such detail was done on the movements and art I wondered just how long it took the artists/creators to complete each episode. The stories for each episode alongside the running planet wars theme were excellent ... so much so that both adults and youngsters can sit comfortably together and enjoy this series.
I've read a comment about a series called Reboot, which I've not seen (but think I'll be renting it next!). In fact, I don't watch much animated or cgi'd films, but I was most certainly greatly impressed with this series. I hope, like the other user's comments, to see more of this series if they decide to make more. Absolutely AMAZINGLY good! It's a real treat, so I strongly recommend it for viewing.
I've read a comment about a series called Reboot, which I've not seen (but think I'll be renting it next!). In fact, I don't watch much animated or cgi'd films, but I was most certainly greatly impressed with this series. I hope, like the other user's comments, to see more of this series if they decide to make more. Absolutely AMAZINGLY good! It's a real treat, so I strongly recommend it for viewing.
"EXILE!!!"
Foreverisacastironmess1236 October 2019
Kinda dismayed to see that I'm the first person to be reviewing this series in over ten years but whatever! So, a beautiful spiritual successor of sorts to the terrific Reboot, this cgi animated science fiction series took place in an alien star system in which the planets must quickly learn to put aside generations of war and pillaging and coexist with and help each other to fight and survive, or else they will all fall prey to an utterly evil and merciless foe that has the most terrible of intentions for them all... With an original mythology and strongly incorporated themes of nature and the importance of unity, not to mention a stellar voice cast that brought each of their characters to life beautifully, War Planets or Shadow Raiders as I knew it when I watched it in England, often felt like a deeper and more adult animated series than Reboot, with heroes that underwent great development that you could really feel and who's sacrifices you felt the terrible weight of, and the dreadful menace that was constantly drawing ever nearer. It was a show that was so much more than either of its titles would lead you to believe, and even though it was originally based on a simple toy line, it wasn't just some half-baked effort designed to help to sell toys, but was an ongoing saga that was gripping and emotional and that had an exceptionally well realised world, and I loved it very much and I still find it sad that it's as largely forgotten as it is, because in my opinion it was easily the equal to Reboot and was exactly as great, just in a different way and involving a whole different kind of story, it deserved much more than it got, I wonder what would have happened next had it been popular enough at the time to take its story as far as it could possibly get, I think eventually they would have found a way to invade the ominous crimson dome of the world devouring Beast Planet and with someone's self-sacrifice, probably Graveheart's, they would have destroyed it from within! This series truly is an unsung classic and a hidden gem that's a brilliant and thrilling adventure to watch to this day, so please do check out this series online sometime and show Shadow Raiders some much deserved love! X
The one show I would have saved from cancellation.
montagrappa30 August 2008
The one show I would have saved from cancellation.
Significantly better than Reboot, though not as good as Beast Wars/Machines(but then again, what is?) , War Planets (I hate the name Shadow Raiders) is a grand space opera. I still remember how I came across it. I had gotten some of the toys, then one Saturday morning my mom was reading the network listings in the newspaper & told me how there was a show called War Planets. I thought this beared looking into, so as soon as it was time I sat down & waited for it. I wasn't really aware of the backstory, so I was overwhelmed by what I saw. Although it was the 2nd episode, I still managed to understand it & was, of course, hooked.
Aside from the unoriginal names for the planets (Rock, Fire, etc.) I would have had no idea that this was based on a toy line. Even as a kid, I was able to believe that some shows were based on a toyline (like Transformers, although that turned out to be my favorite cartoon series), and could even be called 20-minute commercials, but not War Planets. The toyline didn't have any distinct characters, so they had to create a bunch of original characters for the show. I liked all of them. None of them were annoying. My favorite was Graveheart. He had the best voice, & he was a very cool character. Oh, & I can't forget about the plots. They were intense, yet almost every episode had one bit that was funny (the writers at Mainframe really know how to tell a joke). They also had story lines that weren't resolved in one episode. I like it when it takes a bit for a story to resolve. That keeps you interested. The crowning touch was the animation. It was, simply put, the best CGI I have ever seen.
In short, this was a really good show. My mom even liked watching it with me, as she did with a few other of my favorites. The only complaint I have is how it was canceled after 2 seasons. I really wish that they could've gone on, since not everything was resolved. But at least it didn't have a cliffhanger ending like Reboot, all 26 episodes were sufficiently entertaining (unlike Reboot).
BOTTOM LINE: 10/10. Tied with Sonic the Hedgehog & SWAT Kats for 4th best cartoon ever.
Significantly better than Reboot, though not as good as Beast Wars/Machines(but then again, what is?) , War Planets (I hate the name Shadow Raiders) is a grand space opera. I still remember how I came across it. I had gotten some of the toys, then one Saturday morning my mom was reading the network listings in the newspaper & told me how there was a show called War Planets. I thought this beared looking into, so as soon as it was time I sat down & waited for it. I wasn't really aware of the backstory, so I was overwhelmed by what I saw. Although it was the 2nd episode, I still managed to understand it & was, of course, hooked.
Aside from the unoriginal names for the planets (Rock, Fire, etc.) I would have had no idea that this was based on a toy line. Even as a kid, I was able to believe that some shows were based on a toyline (like Transformers, although that turned out to be my favorite cartoon series), and could even be called 20-minute commercials, but not War Planets. The toyline didn't have any distinct characters, so they had to create a bunch of original characters for the show. I liked all of them. None of them were annoying. My favorite was Graveheart. He had the best voice, & he was a very cool character. Oh, & I can't forget about the plots. They were intense, yet almost every episode had one bit that was funny (the writers at Mainframe really know how to tell a joke). They also had story lines that weren't resolved in one episode. I like it when it takes a bit for a story to resolve. That keeps you interested. The crowning touch was the animation. It was, simply put, the best CGI I have ever seen.
In short, this was a really good show. My mom even liked watching it with me, as she did with a few other of my favorites. The only complaint I have is how it was canceled after 2 seasons. I really wish that they could've gone on, since not everything was resolved. But at least it didn't have a cliffhanger ending like Reboot, all 26 episodes were sufficiently entertaining (unlike Reboot).
BOTTOM LINE: 10/10. Tied with Sonic the Hedgehog & SWAT Kats for 4th best cartoon ever.
A Great 3-D Animated Show
alexpeychev23 February 2023
"Shadow Raiders" or "War Planets" as I usually called it was one of the best 3-D animated shows there ever was. It was one of the shows on my WB 3-D animated show line up on Sunday mornings. It had a great plot, good special effects, and I liked the different type of characters on it. It's too bad it was canceled before its time (before it could become a big hit)!
My favorite episodes were: "Behold the Beast", "Uneasy Hangs the Head", and "RagnaRok", parts one and two.
Overall I really enjoyed this show and wish it lasted longer. Anyone who likes 3-D animated shows I believe would like this show. I give this show 9/10 stars.
My favorite episodes were: "Behold the Beast", "Uneasy Hangs the Head", and "RagnaRok", parts one and two.
Overall I really enjoyed this show and wish it lasted longer. Anyone who likes 3-D animated shows I believe would like this show. I give this show 9/10 stars.
Mainframe's Masterpeice, the best show you've never heard of
david-34529 April 2001
Stop me if you heard this before, a group of alien races have been at war with each other for centuries, but they have to put aside their mutual racism and distrust in order to form an alliance to battle a powerful enemy previously thought to be myth. Did I mention that a few of the aliens are lizard like and some have weird accents? If you thought I was writing about Babylon 5, then you would be wrong. The show in question is a computer animated offering from Mainframe Entertainment called Shadow Raiders (or War Planets), the show that Babylon 5 should have been. Shadow Raiders was based on the toy line from Trendmasters called The War Planets, but the Canadian broadcasters did not like the use of the word "war" in the title, so the Canadian title became the less appropriate, yet much cooler Shadow Raiders and it is this title that the series is being released under in America on DVD by ADV Films. This company is guilty of releasing a ridiculous amount of execrable animated product from Japan, what the geeky fan faithful call "anime" (snicker, snicker), but thankfully they have branched out with Shadow Raiders, Mainframe's original (and most famous) work Reboot and the live action series Far Scape. The reasoning behind this seems to be "man can't live on bad product from Japan forever" and ADV needs to be applauded for placing Shadow Raiders in our hands. If you were like me, then you never saw Shadow Raiders in it's original run. It was on in my home town at a ridiculously early time slot on the weekend, I only blundered into an episode by accident after waking up at the crack of dawn and failing to get back to sleep. It's a shame really as like most Mainframe product, Shadow Raiders is a highly dramatic, mature work, probably the best thing Mainframe has ever done. It's a TV show that deserves to be seen, a sprawling epic Space Opera, with a wonderfully original look and magnificent animation. In fact it's epic feel is the type of thing that the foolish anime fans have been brainwashed into believing their silly fighting robot shows provide. They should certainly watch Shadow Raiders and see what true animated Science Fiction can achieve. Actually everyone should take a chance on this series, you'll be rewarded with strong storytelling and excellent characterization. You can't say that for much of what passes for entertainment these days and remember, Shadow Raiders is technically a children's show! If all shows (for children or otherwise) could be this mature, TV would not be the wasteland it is today.
At the very least, Shadow Raiders proves that a show based on a toy line does not have to be made to appeal to the lowest common denominator or be dumbed down in any way to a success. Get Shadow Raiders, you won't be disappointed.
At the very least, Shadow Raiders proves that a show based on a toy line does not have to be made to appeal to the lowest common denominator or be dumbed down in any way to a success. Get Shadow Raiders, you won't be disappointed.
A Great 3-D Animated Show
Ginger8723 August 2004
"Shadow Raiders" or "War Planets" as I usually called it was one of the best 3-D animated shows there ever was. It was one of the shows on my WB 3-D animated show line up on Sunday mornings. It had a great plot, good special effects, and I liked the different type of characters on it. It's too bad it was canceled before its time (before it could become a big hit)!
My favorite episodes were: "Behold the Beast", "Uneasy Hangs the Head", and "RagnaRok", parts one and two.
Overall I really enjoyed this show and wish it lasted longer. Anyone who likes 3-D animated shows I believe would like this show. I give this show 9/10 stars.
My favorite episodes were: "Behold the Beast", "Uneasy Hangs the Head", and "RagnaRok", parts one and two.
Overall I really enjoyed this show and wish it lasted longer. Anyone who likes 3-D animated shows I believe would like this show. I give this show 9/10 stars.
Great sci-fi
Curare27 February 2000
Firstly, let me say that I love just about everything that Mainframe puts out. Secondly, this show was just a great space epic, complete with its little side deals and enemy factions. It also had real characters and real character development, which a lot of cartoons tend to skip out on. All in all, just one cool show. Too bad there'll be no Season 3, but let's enjoy what we've got.
More good work from Mainframe Entertainment
CZ-427 June 1999
War Planets/Shadow Raiders doesn't match up to its predecessor, Reboot, but it's still a notch above your average Saturday morning kiddie-toon. The computer animation is gorgeous, characters are appealing, and the writing, while a little lackluster, certainly has the potential for greatness.
I really liked the whole design of the show. Each of the four planets has inhabitants to match, and a distinctly different culture. Rock, for instance, is starkly militaristic, while Fire seems to have some Arabic roots.
My only real problem, was that each episode tried to do more than it was capable of, and each the entire storyline didn't seem to be tied together too well. Other than that, I can't wait for Season Two.
I really liked the whole design of the show. Each of the four planets has inhabitants to match, and a distinctly different culture. Rock, for instance, is starkly militaristic, while Fire seems to have some Arabic roots.
My only real problem, was that each episode tried to do more than it was capable of, and each the entire storyline didn't seem to be tied together too well. Other than that, I can't wait for Season Two.
The best animated show ever made!!!!!
R.W.Best3 March 2002
I happened upon this show based on a whim. I was curious to find out how good of a show it was. After I found all six DVDs, for a great price, I purchased all of them at once and am so glad that I did! The animation is fantastic and the DVD transfer is absolutely perfect. I don't think that I own any DVDs that have a cleaner picture. The story lines are all interesting as well as the dialogue. I STRONGLY recommend this show to everyone. If you like science fiction, animation, and an interesting premise then this is the series for you. I've also watched the 3D animated "Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles" and they are nowhere near as impressive as "ShadowRaiders". Try something new and watch ShadowRaiders, I think that you'll be as thrilled as I've been.
THIS SHOW RULED!!!
guardian040128 January 2003
I can't believe this show was taken off the air. It was by far the best sci-fi computer animated show ever to exist. The plot was the most original and impressive I've seen since ReBoot and Beast Wars. The characters were great and the effects were awesome. Mainframe Entertainment: Please bring this show BACK!!!!!!
For worlds without end, the end is near.
Op_Prime5 May 2000
Far behind Reboot and Beast Wars, but way above the Saturday morning cartoons you see every week. First off, the animation is excellent. Exactly what I expected from Mainframe. Second, the stories are great. They have interesting plot treads that are not resolved in a single episode, more like several. Also, great voice work and characterization. This show is really good.
Not the best from Mainframe
drakon-212 July 1999
War Planets has great voice work, characterization, and the animation is the best of all the three SF shows that Mainframe/Alliance has produced. Yet it is an ultimate letdown in writing. The seasons have what I call "mini-arcs" which is to say that after a series of one-shot episodes, we finally try to do something noteworthy. Most of the time, the mini-arcs are fairly good, but are a bit flat because there is no building tension. If focus could be shifted to court intrigues and smaller conflicts within the Alliance, perhaps we might have a better show, but these is a side of WP that has remained woefully untapped for the most part. The opening episodes of the series, for instance, could have been extended and more laid out, but instead Graveheart is exiled too easily. The standard cliches of action animation are glaring here, with plots that seem quick and sometimes banal.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
