Invader Zim (partially found production material of cancelled episodes of Nickelodeon animated series; 2001-2002): Difference between revisions

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''Invader Zim'' first aired in 2001 on Nickelodeon and was cancelled in mid-2002 due to various reasons, such as the show's big budget, low viewership, as well as controversy due to the intense themes as well as violence and gore.<ref>McDonnell, Chris (July 28, 2020). The Art of Invader Zim. Abrams Books. p. 187. ISBN 978-1419734601.</ref><ref>https://rottentomatoes.com/tv/invader_zim/s01</ref> After its cancellation, it grew to have a cult following, leading to a thriving fandom, as well as three events called InvaderCon, and even a revival movie called ''Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus'', released in 2019.
''Invader Zim'' first aired in 2001 on Nickelodeon and was cancelled in mid-2002 due to various reasons, such as the show's big budget, low viewership, as well as controversy due to the intense themes as well as violence and gore.<ref>McDonnell, Chris (July 28, 2020). The Art of Invader Zim. Abrams Books. p. 187. ISBN 978-1419734601.</ref><ref>https://rottentomatoes.com/tv/invader_zim/s01</ref> After its cancellation, it grew to have a cult following, leading to a thriving fandom, as well as three events called InvaderCon, and even a revival movie called ''Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus'', released in 2019.


'''It was revealed after the cancellation that sixteen episodes remained unmade due to the show's premature cancellation'''.<ref>Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 432–433. ISBN 978-1476665993.</ref> Some had scripts, audio, and even concept art, while others never got past conception. All of these episodes have been deemed lost. However, some episodes, scripts, audio, etc. have been released. Several, including a few that never had completed audio, had their scripts read by the original cast at the InvaderCon ''Invader Zim'' conventions.
'''It was revealed after the cancellation that sixteen episodes remained unmade due to the show's premature cancellation'''.<ref>Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 432–433. ISBN 978-1476665993.</ref> Some had scripts, audio, and even concept art, while others never got past conception. All of these episodes have been deemed lost. However, some episodes, scripts, audio, etc. have been released. Several, including a few that never had completed audio, had their scripts read by the original cast at the InvaderCon ''Invader Zim'' conventions. These, combined with fan efforts to create either simple storyboards or complete fan animations, mean fans can have a fairly complete experience of many of the incomplete episodes.


==Unmade Episode List==
==Unmade Episode List==
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! style="background-color:lightblue" | Script
! style="background-color:lightblue" | Script
! style="background-color:lightblue" | Audio
! style="background-color:lightblue" | Audio
! style="background-color:lightblue" | Visuals
|-
|-
|27A||'''Roboparents Gone Wild'''||Nov 27th, 2001||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/18QAH0drKCzUYsRl2Ee150eo2rpv0UOv4/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/_rKLsqWvXwE Yes]
|27A||'''Roboparents Gone Wild'''||Nov 27th, 2001||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/18QAH0drKCzUYsRl2Ee150eo2rpv0UOv4/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/_rKLsqWvXwE Yes]||[https://youtu.be/OKqarDe9Ho0 Unofficial storyboard]
|-
|-
|27B||'''Simon Sez Doom'''||Nov 27th, 2001||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/16_rHnhafzdTHcKXkag81kf-pUmWFBsnS/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/_jbHROBcdII Yes]
|27B||'''Simon Sez Doom'''||Nov 27th, 2001||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/16_rHnhafzdTHcKXkag81kf-pUmWFBsnS/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/_jbHROBcdII Yes]||[https://youtu.be/-Ns88L6v1Ww Unofficial storyboard]
|-
|-
|28A||'''Invader Poonchy'''||Dec 13th, 2001||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q_Z0YnKHs1u7TXHSRPB1bny1y2F55M_b/view?usp=sharing Yes]||Yes
|28A||'''Invader Poonchy'''||Dec 13th, 2001||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q_Z0YnKHs1u7TXHSRPB1bny1y2F55M_b/view?usp=sharing Yes]||Yes||[https://youtu.be/i4j4_NkmMdA Unofficial storyboard]
|-
|-
|28B||'''Nubs of Doom'''||Dec 13th, 2001||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LKVJwV1SYLdxxgsN1xMQzBpNLW845uCl/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/XodTbjhP9RA Yes]
|28B||'''Nubs of Doom'''||Dec 13th, 2001||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LKVJwV1SYLdxxgsN1xMQzBpNLW845uCl/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/XodTbjhP9RA Yes]||[https://youtu.be/z0KRu685Mj8 Unofficial animatic]
|-
|-
|30A||'''Ten Minutes to Doom'''||Jan 3rd, 2002||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rtKfXw99DC-FKQPq8RlHgNI67d3oIP-6/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/L6hXvDTW-DA Yes]
|30A||'''Ten Minutes to Doom'''||Jan 3rd, 2002||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rtKfXw99DC-FKQPq8RlHgNI67d3oIP-6/view?usp=sharing Yes] (missing page 4)||[https://youtu.be/L6hXvDTW-DA Yes]||[https://youtu.be/NFOq46Efa6U Unofficial storyboard]
|-
|-
|30B||'''GIR's Big Day'''||---||Outline completed but unreleased||---
|30B||'''GIR's Big Day'''||---||Outline completed but unreleased||---||---
|-
|-
|31A||'''Return of Keef'''||Jan 2nd, 2002||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lFfCMYWOwY314ePwdTvSJylDHuXUXH22/view?usp=sharing Yes]||Yes
|31A||'''Return of Keef'''||Jan 2nd, 2002||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lFfCMYWOwY314ePwdTvSJylDHuXUXH22/view?usp=sharing Yes]||Yes||[https://youtu.be/o9QP-lyLBR8 Unofficial storyboard]
|-
|-
|31B||'''Day of Da Spookies!'''||Jan 8th, 2002||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IxqWBkLmrwZuySSJyB40pyo_J5lbvKXc/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/c17jFxjmxt4 Script reading from InvaderCon]
|31B||'''Day of Da Spookies!'''||Jan 8th, 2002||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IxqWBkLmrwZuySSJyB40pyo_J5lbvKXc/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/c17jFxjmxt4 Full-cast table read (InvaderCon)]||[https://youtu.be/E-_dkeVF_8Y Unofficial storyboard]
|-
|-
|32A||'''Mopiness of Doom'''||Jan 2nd, 2002||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zanGpVSJDaxP6mS33Mn9z-lctBhsMvp3/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/c0ExXAnuBBY Yes]
|32A||'''Mopiness of Doom'''||Jan 2nd, 2002||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zanGpVSJDaxP6mS33Mn9z-lctBhsMvp3/view?usp=sharing Yes]||Yes||[https://youtu.be/c0ExXAnuBBY Unofficial animation]
|-
|-
|32B||'''Those!'''||---||Brainstormed only||---
|32B||'''Those!'''||---||Brainstormed only||---||---
|-
|-
|33||'''Top of the Line'''||---||Completed but unreleased||---
|33||'''Top of the Line'''||---||Completed but unreleased||---||---
|-
|-
|34||'''The Trial'''||Sept 4th, 2001||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gycv6pF4BtnRqo5swglz4BvtoL40Use3/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/smxyyFnwZMI Script reading from InvaderCon]
|34||'''The Trial'''||Sept 4th, 2001||[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gycv6pF4BtnRqo5swglz4BvtoL40Use3/view?usp=sharing Yes]||[https://youtu.be/smxyyFnwZMI Full-cast table read (InvaderCon)]||[https://youtu.be/iT3mlgEFwaI Unofficial animatic]
|-
|-
|35A||'''It Feeds on Noodles'''||---||Brainstormed only||---
|35A||'''It Feeds on Noodles'''||---||Brainstormed only||---||---
|-
|-
|35B||'''When Pants Ruled!'''||July 17th, 2001||[http://zim.wikia.com/wiki/When_Pants_Ruled! Outlined]||---
|35B||'''When Pants Ruled!'''||July 17th, 2001||[http://zim.wikia.com/wiki/When_Pants_Ruled! Outlined]||---||---
|-
|-
|36||'''Squishy: Hugger of Worlds'''||---||Never completed||---
|36||'''Squishy: Hugger of Worlds'''||---||Never completed||---||---
|-
|-
|??||'''Beefus Megabombus'''||---||Brainstormed only||---
|??||'''Beefus Megabombus'''||---||Brainstormed only||---||---
|-
|-
|??||'''Burrito King'''||---||Brainstormed only||---
|??||'''Burrito King'''||---||Brainstormed only||---||---
|-
|-
|??||'''Season 2 Finale'''||---||Outline completed but unreleased||---
|??||'''Season 2 Finale'''||---||Outline completed but unreleased||---||---
|-
|-
|??||'''Invader Dib'''||---||Brainstormed only||---
|??||'''Invader Dib'''||---||Brainstormed only||---||---
|}
|}
====Notes====
====Notes====
* Episode 29 is excluded from this listing, as that episode ("Most Horrible Xmas Ever") was finished and aired as part of season 2.
* Episode 29 is excluded from this listing, as that episode ("Most Horrible Xmas Ever") was finished and aired as part of season 2.
* Episode 33, "Top of the Line", is the only episode with a completed script that hasn't been made available in any form.
* Episode 35B, "When Pants Ruled!", was later adapted into issue 8 of the Invader Zim comics. Chances are this plotline would have gone unused if the series hadn't been cancelled, as Nickelodeon asked the episode to be cancelled because of a similar episode of Jimmy Neutron already having been written.
* Episode 35B, "When Pants Ruled!", was later adapted into issue 8 of the Invader Zim comics. Chances are this plotline would have gone unused if the series hadn't been cancelled, as Nickelodeon asked the episode to be cancelled because of a similar episode of Jimmy Neutron already having been written.
* "Beefus Megabombus" [http://erictrueheart.com/?p=189 has been described by Eric Truehart], a staff writer on the series, [https://youtu.be/s8Q8-uN2t7E multiple times].
* "Beefus Megabombus" [http://erictrueheart.com/?p=189 has been described by Eric Truehart], a staff writer on the series, [https://youtu.be/s8Q8-uN2t7E multiple times].

Revision as of 18:05, 23 February 2023

Invader Zim title card.png

Title card.

Status: Partially Found

Invader Zim first aired in 2001 on Nickelodeon and was cancelled in mid-2002 due to various reasons, such as the show's big budget, low viewership, as well as controversy due to the intense themes as well as violence and gore.[1][2] After its cancellation, it grew to have a cult following, leading to a thriving fandom, as well as three events called InvaderCon, and even a revival movie called Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus, released in 2019.

It was revealed after the cancellation that sixteen episodes remained unmade due to the show's premature cancellation.[3] Some had scripts, audio, and even concept art, while others never got past conception. All of these episodes have been deemed lost. However, some episodes, scripts, audio, etc. have been released. Several, including a few that never had completed audio, had their scripts read by the original cast at the InvaderCon Invader Zim conventions. These, combined with fan efforts to create either simple storyboards or complete fan animations, mean fans can have a fairly complete experience of many of the incomplete episodes.

Unmade Episode List

Production # Episode Title Last Known Version Written Script Audio Visuals
27A Roboparents Gone Wild Nov 27th, 2001 Yes Yes Unofficial storyboard
27B Simon Sez Doom Nov 27th, 2001 Yes Yes Unofficial storyboard
28A Invader Poonchy Dec 13th, 2001 Yes Yes Unofficial storyboard
28B Nubs of Doom Dec 13th, 2001 Yes Yes Unofficial animatic
30A Ten Minutes to Doom Jan 3rd, 2002 Yes (missing page 4) Yes Unofficial storyboard
30B GIR's Big Day --- Outline completed but unreleased --- ---
31A Return of Keef Jan 2nd, 2002 Yes Yes Unofficial storyboard
31B Day of Da Spookies! Jan 8th, 2002 Yes Full-cast table read (InvaderCon) Unofficial storyboard
32A Mopiness of Doom Jan 2nd, 2002 Yes Yes Unofficial animation
32B Those! --- Brainstormed only --- ---
33 Top of the Line --- Completed but unreleased --- ---
34 The Trial Sept 4th, 2001 Yes Full-cast table read (InvaderCon) Unofficial animatic
35A It Feeds on Noodles --- Brainstormed only --- ---
35B When Pants Ruled! July 17th, 2001 Outlined --- ---
36 Squishy: Hugger of Worlds --- Never completed --- ---
?? Beefus Megabombus --- Brainstormed only --- ---
?? Burrito King --- Brainstormed only --- ---
?? Season 2 Finale --- Outline completed but unreleased --- ---
?? Invader Dib --- Brainstormed only --- ---

Notes

  • Episode 29 is excluded from this listing, as that episode ("Most Horrible Xmas Ever") was finished and aired as part of season 2.
  • Episode 33, "Top of the Line", is the only episode with a completed script that hasn't been made available in any form.
  • Episode 35B, "When Pants Ruled!", was later adapted into issue 8 of the Invader Zim comics. Chances are this plotline would have gone unused if the series hadn't been cancelled, as Nickelodeon asked the episode to be cancelled because of a similar episode of Jimmy Neutron already having been written.
  • "Beefus Megabombus" has been described by Eric Truehart, a staff writer on the series, multiple times.
    • "Burrito King" was also mentioned in passing by Eric Truehart. Certain indications point to the ideas for this episode being worked into issue 18 of the Invader Zim comics.
  • Eric Truehart claims episode 36, "Squishy: Hugger Of Worlds" was being written when the series was cancelled. Allegedly, the script was partially written.
  • The season 2 finale, not to be confused with Invader Dib, had ideas thrown around by the writers, but the series was cancelled before they even had a definite plot line. Allegedly, it was to be in two parts.
  • Invader Dib has been the subject of many rumours; according to Eric Truehart and Jhonen Vasquez, it was to be a TV movie in a theoretical fifth or sixth season of the series, concluding a multi-episode arc in which Dib goes to planet Irk. If the series had continued on to run this long, it's unknown how much of this early conception of the movie would have remained in the final product.

Gallery

Videos

MeltingMan234's video on the subject.

Concept Art

See Also

Invader Zim

Anthology and Short Series

Bumpers and Promos

Films

Game Shows

Inaugural Series

Live Action

Pilots

Other

External Links

References

  1. McDonnell, Chris (July 28, 2020). The Art of Invader Zim. Abrams Books. p. 187. ISBN 978-1419734601.
  2. https://rottentomatoes.com/tv/invader_zim/s01
  3. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 432–433. ISBN 978-1476665993.