Ben 10is an Americanmedia franchiseconceived byMan of Actionand owned byThe Cartoon Network, Inc.The franchise, mainly consisting of animated series produced byCartoon Network Studios,revolves around a young boy namedBen Tennyson,who discovers the Omnitrix — a high-tech, extraterrestrial device shaped like a wristwatch. This remarkable gadget contains the DNA of various alien species, allowing Ben to transform into them at will. Initially, the Omnitrix features ten alien transformations, but over time, Ben gains the ability to unlock additional species.
| Ben 10 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Man of Action |
| Original work | Ben 10(2005) |
| Owner | The Cartoon Network, Inc. |
| Years | 2005–present |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) | Ben 10films |
| Animated series | Ben 10television series |
| Television special(s) | Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United(2011) |
| Games | |
| Video game(s) | Ben 10video games |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Related shows | Generator Rex(2010–2013) The Secret Saturdays(2008–2010) |
The franchise has garnered considerable critical acclaim, securing threeEmmy Awards.It encompasses five primary television series, five feature films, and numerous video games. It ranks asCartoon Network's second longest existing franchise. Furthermore,Ben 10has inspired a line of toys produced initially byBandaifor the franchise's first four series and later byPlaymates Toysfor the reboot. TheBen 10franchise is one of thehighest-grossing media franchises of all time.
On February 17, 2021, Cartoon Network announced three 44-minute specials slated for April 2021, titledBen 10,010,Ben Gen 10,andAlien X-Tinction.These specials serve as both the series finale for the 2016 reboot and a crossover event involving the first four television series in the franchise.[1]
Television series
editAs of 2024, the five concluded series are split into two continuities:the classic continuity,including the original series and itssequels–Ben 10(2005–2008),Ben 10: Alien Force(2008–2010),Ben 10: Ultimate Alien(2010–2012), andBen 10: Omniverse(2012–2014), andthe reboot continuityofBen 10(2016–2021), with its2021 April specialsserving as both the series finale for the 2016 reboot and a crossover event connecting both continuities. As of 2024, there are a total of 393 episodes.
Series overview
edit| Series | Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben 10(2005) | 1 | 13 | December 27, 2005 | March 25, 2006 | |
| 2 | 13 | May 29, 2006 | October 9, 2006 | ||
| 3 | 13 | November 25, 2006 | April 21, 2007 | ||
| 4 | 10 | July 14, 2007 | April 15, 2008 | ||
| Ben 10: Alien Force | 1 | 13 | April 18, 2008 | August 31, 2008 | |
| 2 | 13 | October 10, 2008 | March 27, 2009 | ||
| 3 | 20 | September 11, 2009 | March 26, 2010 | ||
| Ben 10: Ultimate Alien | 1 | 20 | April 23, 2010 | December 10, 2010 | |
| 2 | 12 | February 4, 2011 | April 29, 2011 | ||
| 3 | 20 | September 16, 2011 | March 31, 2012 | ||
| Ben 10: Omniverse | 1 | 10 | August 1, 2012 | November 17, 2012 | |
| 2 | 10 | November 24, 2012 | February 2, 2013 | ||
| 3 | 10 | February 9, 2013 | April 6, 2013 | ||
| 4 | 10 | October 5, 2013 | December 7, 2013 | ||
| 5 | 10 | February 15, 2014 | April 19, 2014 | ||
| 6 | 10 | October 6, 2014 | October 17, 2014 | ||
| 7 | 10 | October 20, 2014 | October 31, 2014 | ||
| 8 | 10 | November 3, 2014 | November 14, 2014 | ||
| Ben 10(2016) | 1 | 40 | October 1, 2016 | November 22, 2017 | |
| 2 | 40 | October 3, 2017 | October 26, 2018 | ||
| 3 | 52 | January 26, 2019 | July 25, 2019 | ||
| 4 | 34 | December 13, 2019 | September 18, 2020 | ||
Films
editAs of 2020, there have been three animated films –Secret of the Omnitrix(2007),Destroy All Aliens(2012),Versus the Universe(2020) and two live-action films –Race Against Time(2007),Alien Swarm(2009) released in the franchise.
Animated films
edit| Occupation | Secret of the Omnitrix(2007) | Destroy All Aliens(2012) | Versus the Universe(2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director(s) | Sebastian O. Montes III and Scooter Tidwell | Victor Cook | Arthur Henrique Nazareth and John McIntyre |
| Producer(s) | Donna Smith, Alex Soto & Jennifer Pelphrey(supervising) | Kurt Weldon(line)and Victor Cook(supervising) | Shareena Carlson and Will Patrick |
| Production company(s) | Cartoon Network Studios | Tiny Island Productions,Cartoon Network Asiaand Cartoon Network Studios | Cartoon Network Studios |
| Distributor | Cartoon Network | Cartoon Network | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |
| Runtime | 67 minutes | 69 minutes | 72 minutes |
| Released | August 10, 2007 | March 23, 2012 | October 10, 2020 |
Live-action films
edit| Occupation | Live-action films | |
|---|---|---|
| Race Against Time(2007) | Alien Swarm(2009) | |
| Director(s) | Alex Winter | |
| Producer(s) | Evan W. Adler and Victor Ho(line) | Gideon Amir |
| Production company(s) | Trouper Productionswith Cartoon Network Studios | |
| Distributor | Warner Bros.and Cartoon Network | Cartoon Network |
| Runtime | 67 minutes | 69 minutes |
| Released | November 21, 2007 | November 25, 2009 |
Other media
editBen 10: Ultimate Challenge
editBen 10: Ultimate Challengeis agame showdeveloped for television byUnited Kingdom-based companyTwenty Twenty,which airs onCartoon Networkin the United Kingdom,Spain,France,Italy,Netherlands,Bulgaria,theNordic region,Hungary,Poland,Germany,Russia,Turkey,Chile,United Statesand theMiddle East.[2]Ultimate Challengeis a trivia show that tasks children with answering questions about all three series.[2]Ultimate Challengeis produced by Mandy Morris and executive produced by Daniel Marlowe.[3]
References in other shows
edit- Ben appeared as a parody ofBenjamin Franklinon the showMAD,in an episode titled "Ben 10 Franklin". Franklin was flying his kite when he was struck by a lightning bolt, gaining the Omnitrix. He used Swampfire to sign theDeclaration of Independence.He also used Humongousaur to defeat theBritishand smash down a junior high school bully's house in revenge. He used other aliens fromAlien ForceandUltimate Alien,where they have his hair and glasses.
- Also inMAD,a reference toAlien Forcewas made with a parody of the movieCowboys & Aliens,with many titles: "Cowboys & Alien Force", "Cowboys & Equestrians", and "Cowboys &Silly Bands".The reference was made at the beginning when Jake awakes with Ben on his side, but with Jake wearing Ben's pants and hat, with the Onmitrix on his wrist. He also used the Omnitrix to become an alien with the mix of Diamondhead, Chromastone, and Way Big to smash a cowboy.
- In theSouth Parkepisode "You're Getting Old",Cartman'sMothermentions that Cartman gets upset when he does not get a present every time someone else gets a present at a party. One of the presents Cartman gets is a "Ben 10 Wrist Rocket".
- TheRobot Chickenepisode "Hurtled from a Helicopter into a Speeding Train" shows Ben on his 14th birthday party, where he complains about his gifts given by Azmuth.
- Ben 10villains, such as the Enoch, Hex and Animo, make a brief cameo inThe Secret Saturdaysepisode "Van Rook's Apprentice". References to Galvan Prime and Wildvine's species also appear in "Guess Who's Going to Be Dinner?" and "Eterno" respectively. Both references were made by the Secret Scientist Dr. Arthur Beeman, the UFOlogist for the series.
- In thePeep Showepisode, "Man Jam", Jeremy jokingly refers to Ben, the boyfriend of a woman he admires, as "Ben 10" during a phone call to him.[4]
- Teenage Ben Tennyson appeared inThe Official BBC Children in Need Medleyin 2009.
References in video games
editBen 10 is featured as acrossovercharacterinBrawlhalla,a 2D platformfighting game.He appears as his alien forms Heatblast, Diamondhead, and Four Arms in the form of the crossover "skins" for certainplayable characters.[5]
Cartoon Network promotion
editTitanic Kungfubot Offensive
editThe game features famous and notable Cartoon Network characters in robot-type form. Big Chill, Swampfire, a DNAlien, Kevin, Vilgax, Rath, Armodrillo, Ultimate Humongousaur, Ultimate Echo Echo, and Ultimate Big Chill appear as playable characters.
To promote theBen 10/Generator Rex: Heroes Unitedspecial, Cartoon Network updatedTitanic Kungfubot Offensive,adding new bots, such as "Shocksquatch" and "Clockwork"; both of which are aliens accessible to Ben.
Cartoon Network Universe: Fusion Fall
editThe character design for Ben Tennyson was changed when the originalBen 10series ended and was replaced byAlien Force.In the game, he serves as a "Player Guide" offering guide-based missions and special items.
Cartoon Network Universe: Project Exonaut
editIn another browser-based game entitledCartoon Network Universe: Project Exonaut,Ben's aliens, alongside Gwen and Vilgax, appear as "exosuits". The exosuits' purpose is protecting the player and giving them unique abilities and powers. The planet Kylmyys (the home of one of Ben's aliens, Big Chill) and the Perplexhedron are featured as battle arenas. Ultimate Kevin and Alien X are currently the new exosuits for Project Exonaut representingBen 10.The new exosuits feature Gold versions of Manus, Marceline, Mojo Jojo, and Rath.
Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion
editBen appears in the game as a playable character. Swampfire, Humongousaur, Big Chill, and AmpFibian appear as Ben's playable aliens. Vilgax, the archenemy of Ben Tennyson appears as a playable character for the first time. Gwen and the Vreedle Brothers are "summons" in the game. Additionally, Bellwood and the Null Void are included as battle arenas. Kevin also appears as a "summon" in the game, but is featured as a playable character on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii versions calledCartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL.Kevin in Ultimate Kevin form appears in the game as a Boss. The young version of Ben appears in the console version of the game as a playable character.[6]
Cast and characters
editThe main characters includeBen Tennysonand his cousinGwen Tennyson,GrandpaMax Tennyson,Kevin Levinand Rook Blonko, along with the villainsVilgax,Aggregor,Doctor Animo,Eon,Hexand Khyber.
Accolades
editOriginal series
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 34th Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual in Animation | Thomas Perkins | Won |
| Golden Reel Award | Best Sound Editing in Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue, ADR and Music for Television Animation |
Otis Van Osten, Melinda Rediger, Trevor Sperry, Matt Brown, Jody Thomas,Andy Sturmer,Ron Salaises, Keith Dickens for the episode "Ben 10,000" |
Nominated | |
| 2008 | 35th Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Special Class Animated Program | Brian A. Miller,Sam Register,Jennifer Pelphrey, Alex Soto, Donna Smith, Tramm Wigzell |
Nominated |
Race Against Time
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 29th Young Artist Awards | Best Leading Young Actor | Graham Phillipsas Ben Tennyson | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Young Actor | Tyler Patrick Jonesas Cash Murray | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Young Actress | Haley Rammas Gwen Tennyson | Nominated | ||
| 6th Visual Effects Society Awards[7] | Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program or Commercial |
Brent Young, Smith, Michael For the Grey Matter sequence | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or Special |
Dina Benadon, Evan Jacobs, Brent Young, Chris Christman for visual effects compilation |
Nominated |
Alien Force
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 36th Daytime Emmy Awards[8] | Outstanding Sound Mi xing – Live Action and Animation |
Robert Hargreaves, Robert Serda and John Hegedes | Won |
| Outstanding Sound Editing – Live Action and Animation |
Robert Hargreaves and George Brooks | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Special Class Animated Program | Brian A. Miller,Sam Register,Glen Murakami, Jennifer Pelphrey and Donna Smith |
Nominated |
Alien Swarm
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards[9] | Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special |
Evan Jacobs,Sean McPherson, Andrew Orloff, Brent Young | Nominated |
| 8th Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or a Special |
Evan Jacobs, Sean McPherson, Andrew Orloff | Nominated | |
| 15th Art Directors Guild Award[10] | Television Movie or Mini-Series | Yuda Acco Harry Matheu, Hugh D.G. Moody, Rouzier, Pierre, Robb Bihun, Ann Stacy, Dan Post |
Nominated |
Ultimate Alien
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 64th Writers Guild of America Awards | Animation | Len Uhley for the episode "Moonstruck" | Nominated |
Omniverse
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Annie Award | Character Design in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production | Chap Yaep, Steven Choi, Derrick Wyatt for the episode "The More Things Change Part 2" |
Nominated |
| 40th Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Sound Mi xing – Animation | Carlos Sanches | Won | |
| Outstanding Sound Editing – Animation | Jeff Shiffman, Roger Pallan, Matthew Thomas Hall, Otis Van Osten, Tony Ostyn, Gerardo Gonzalez |
Nominated |
Outside media
editMerchandise
editFollowing the success of theBen 10animated TV series and films, variousBen 10merchandise has been released for general sale. These items includecomic books,board games, card games (such asTop Trumps),toys,video games,Legoconstruction sets, bedding,coloring books,footwear, and watches (the Omnitrix and the Ultimatrix). All four shows have been released on DVD.
Video games
editThe game franchise has many different formats. Thevideo gamesfranchise started in 2006 with the release ofBen 10for theHyperScan,while the franchise's first official video gameProtector of Earthcame out in 2007. Twelve games have been released:
Toy line
editBandaimanufacturedBen 10toys from the first four series,[11]whilePlaymates Toyshas produced toys for the 2016 reboot.
Six construction sets were produced byLego,depicting Spidermonkey, Humungousaur, Swampfire, Chromastone, Jet Ray, and Big Chill.[12]
The series received threeMcDonald's Happy Mealpromotions internationally, as well as one in America in August 2011.[13]The toys are colored translucent figures of some Omnitrix/Ultimatrix aliens and their Ultimate forms, with a small photo of Ben inside. TheAlien Forcetoys are four rings, each one is an alien (Goop, Jetray, Alien X, Chromastone) with features linked with their powers.
Comic books
editDeveloped byJason Hall,Min G. Kuand andHeroic Age,theBen 10comic revolves around Ben's summer vacation with Gwen and their Grandpa Max, travelling in the Rust Bucket. TheBen 10: Alien Forcecomic revolves around Ben, with Gwen and a reformed Kevin, battling the Highbreed and the DNAliens.
Cartoon Network Action Packwas a 2006–2012 comic book series made byDC Comicswhich showcasedBen 10alongsideSamurai Jack,Codename: Kids Next Door,The Secret Saturdays,orGenerator Rex.Some of the issues were connected with the franchise, while others arenon-canon.
In February 2013,IDW Publishingannounced a partnership with Cartoon Network to produce comics based on Cartoon Network properties.Ben 10was one of the titles announced to be published.[14]
In July 2024,Dynamite EntertainmentandWarner Bros. Discovery Global Brands and Experiencesannounced new comic books featuring Ben 10.[15]
References
edit- ^"WarnerMedia Expands Kids & Family Offerings on Cartoon Network and HBO Max Under New Tagline Redraw Your World"(Press release).WarnerMedia.February 17, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on February 17, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 17,2021.
- ^ab"'Ben 10' Gets A Live-Action Game Show: 'Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge'"Archived2011-08-12 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Calling all Ben 10 fanatics - IOL".Archivedfrom the original on June 17, 2013.RetrievedNovember 27,2011.
- ^"Peep Show - On-Demand - All 4".Archivedfrom the original on November 23, 2015.RetrievedNovember 30,2015.
- ^Mammoth, Blue (June 10, 2020)."Ben 10 comes to Brawlhalla! - Patch 4.02".Brawlhalla.Archivedfrom the original on June 24, 2020.RetrievedJune 22,2020.
- ^"'Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL' Aims to Supersize Original Game on Consoles [Video] ".November 7, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on April 21, 2017.RetrievedApril 20,2017.
- ^Heusser, Jeff (January 7, 2008)."VES announces nominees for 6th annual VES Awards".Archivedfrom the original on October 25, 2008.RetrievedNovember 15,2011.
- ^Zahed, Ramin (May 19, 2009)."Daytime Emmy Noms Announced".Animation Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2014.RetrievedOctober 1,2012.
- ^"Ben 10: Alien Swarm".Emmys.Archivedfrom the original on February 1, 2014.RetrievedOctober 1,2012.
- ^"Television Movie or Mini-Series".Arti Directors Guild.Archivedfrom the original on January 11, 2015.RetrievedOctober 1,2012.
- ^Wolfe, Jennifer (August 16, 2013)."'Ben 10 Omniverse: Aliens at War' DVD Announced ".Animation World Network.Archivedfrom the original on August 14, 2018.RetrievedAugust 14,2018.
- ^"Ben 10: Alien Force".Brickset.Archivedfrom the original on October 13, 2019.RetrievedApril 30,2019.
- ^"Ben 10: Ultimate Alien– McDonald's USA Toys ".Archivedfrom the original on January 6, 2015.RetrievedJuly 30,2011.
- ^"IDW Teams Up with Cartoon Network!".IDW Publishing. Archived fromthe originalon August 4, 2014.RetrievedMay 18,2013.
- ^Brooke, David (July 26, 2024)."New Dynamite/Warner comics for Ben 10, Captain Planet, and more announced".RetrievedAugust 3,2024.
External links
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