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

User Rating:

9.2/10   

Creator:

Jhonen Vasquez

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Animation | Comedy | 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

Richard Steven Horvitz	...	ZIM / ... (24 episodes, 2001-2006)
Andy Berman	...	Dib / ... (24 episodes, 2001-2006)
Rosearik Rikki Simons	...	GIR / ... (23 episodes, 2001-2006)
Melissa Fahn	...	Gaz / ... (20 episodes, 2001-2006)
Jhonen Vasquez	...	Computer / ... (19 episodes, 2001-2006)
Rodger Bumpass	...	Professor Membrane / ... (17 episodes, 2001-2006)
Lucille Bliss	...	Ms. Bitters / ... (14 episodes, 2001-2006)
Wally Wingert	...	Almighty Tallest Red / ... (13 episodes, 2001-2006)
Mo Collins	...	Zita / ... (13 episodes, 2001-2006)

Runtime:

30 min (27 episodes)

Country:

USA | Philippines

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-Y7 | Australia:G

Company:

Nicktoons Productions

Trivia:

Frequently, after GIR drinks something, he launches into an inexplicable coughing fit. What you hear are actual recorded real-life coughing fits of GIR's voice actor, the asthmatic 'Rikki Simons', who could not perform GIR's enthusiastic slurpy drinking noises without aggravating his breathing.

Quotes:

Zim: Oh, such tacos will I give!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The King of Kong (2007)

Best TV show since MST3K!

Jhonen Vasquez - "Johnny The Homicidal Maniac", "I Feel Sick", et al - creates a superbly twisted, hilarious show that, though toned down for kids, still elicts the feel of Vasquez's comics.

I suppose you want the plot. Zim (voiced by the superb Richard Horvitz, of "Angry Beavers" and "Grim and Evil" fame) is an annoying, short Irken (an alien race) who was banished to work as a fry cook on Foodcourtia after destroying Irk in Operation Impending Doom 1. When the Almighty Tallest ("Kids In The Hall" alumni Kevin McDonald and veteran voice actor Wally Wingert) prepare for Operation Impending Doom 2 - in which the Irkens will conquer the universe - Zim comes, despite the orders of his superiors. ("You quit being banished!?!" screams one of the Tallest) They attempt to put Zim down lightly, but Zim's determined, so the Tallest send him on a "secret mission" to an unknown planet, giving him a trash-brained robot named GIR (fellow comic book artist Rosearik Rikki Simmons, who worked on "Squee!" with Vasquez, as well as "Sushi Girl" and "Reality Check"). A few months later, Zim just happens to reach Earth, where he tries to blend in as a human (wearing a pompador and contact lenses). The ignorant skool (that's how it's spelled) children fail to notice this, nor does teacher Ms. Bitters (Lucille Bliss), a vampiric, serpantine ghoul who is exceedingly cynical and angry. However, self-proclaimed paranormal investigator Dib (Andy Berman of "The Wonder Years" fame), son of the world's greatest scientist, Prof. Membrane (Roger Bumpass, who plays Squidward on "Spongebob Squarepants"), realizes that Zim's an alien, and the two develop a rivalry.

Other members of the supporting cast are just as good: Danny Cooksey ("Pepper Ann", "Tiny Toon Adventures"), Antoinette Spolar, and Vasquez himself (as "Mr. Scolex") appear as various skool children. Dib's cynical Gothic sister Gaz is brilliantly voiced by Melissa Fahn ("Digimon"). Mo Collins and McDonald, again, appear as Zim's roboparents.

Besides the superb cast and voicework, the great score and animation (beautiful cel animation mixed with equally good CGI) also make this show extremely entertaining.

Numerous others actors/actresses appear in cameos, most notably Olivia D'Abo as fellow Irken Tak in "TAK, the Hideous New Girl".

What else is there to say that hasn't already been said? Vasquez has rounded up a bunch of great cult comic book writers (him, Simmons, and Roman Dirge), a cast of veteran actors, and superb music (courtesy of Kevin Manthei), under the direction of veteran animation director Steve Ressel, make a superb combo. Oh, and don't miss the cameos of Vasquez, Ressel, Dirge, and numerous other crew members throughout.

Personal favorite episodes: "Door To Door", "TAK: The Hideous New Girl", "Mysterious Mysteries", "Bestest Friends", "The Nightmare Begins", "Battle of the Planets", and "Rise of the Zitboy". Enough said.

Ten stars.