Though it is often overshadowed by other Cartoon Network series of the time such as Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Generator Rex is one of best action cartoons in Cartoon Network's history, and was an outstanding hidden gem of early 2010s animation. From the creators of Ben 10, the series features a high quality of storytelling, comedy, and action acting in concert to produce what can only be described as an underappreciated children's TV masterpiece.
The story takes place five years after an apocalyptic event spreads incomplete microscopic nanites across the globe, infecting every living thing. These nanites activate at random and cause rampant mutations in their hosts, transforming them into creatures known as EVOs. Providence is an international organization tasked with containing or eliminating the EVO threat and studying nanites. The main protagonist of the story is Rex, an amnesiac EVO who has the ability to control nanites to a degree, which among other things allows him to construct biotechnological weaponry from his body. Alongside his caregivers at Providence, Rex fights to keep the world safe from dangerous EVOs all while seeking out the truth about his past and the origins of the Nanite Event.
In terms of storytelling, Generator Rex exhibits a quality not often seen in children's shows, especially in the modern day. In a day and age when good story has been increasingly forfeited to low-brow comedy and memes (i.e. the Ben 10 reboot), Generator Rex is a reminder of the fact that kids can handle complex, emotional, and quality storytelling. For all three seasons, Generator Rex develops a consistent and overarching plot filled with mystery, discovery, and character development that leads to a fully satisfying conclusion. It's the very best of what action cartoons can be.
Generator Rex's pacing is good, and each episode is satisfying and exciting, and most of them contribute to the overall plot. However, even "filler" episodes were filled with charm thanks to the series' humor, fantastic characters, and quality animation and action sequences. Man of Action, known for creating Ben 10 and Big Hero 6, truly let their skill shine in this series. It's worthwhile to watch through the entire show to discover all of its secrets and experience the emotional journey of its characters, especially Rex. Even if you're not looking for plot, expect good laughs, excitement, atmosphere, and music abounding in this wonderful show. I consider it to be one of the best animated action series of this decade, and though this is merely my opinion, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who didn't think of Generator Rex as a solid, interesting, and fun cartoon all the way through.
