Megas XLR was the brainchild of a duo of creative madmen known as George Krstic and Jody Schaffer, both of whom handled different vital parts in bringing this over-the-top masterpiece to life. Krstic worked as the story editor of the series, whilst Schaffer handled art direction. In Krstic's own words, it was "a fancy way of saying Jody drew, and I wrote."
When asked about the genesis of the series in a 2014 interview, Krstic explained "We [Krstic and Schaffer] teamed up because we wanted to tell a story incorporating all of the things we loved-giant robots, video games, anime, smashing stuff, old-school physical comedy-you know, typical Saturday morning kind of stuff." And the series is notable for including many different parodies of older anime and Saturday morning cartoons, including the Gatchaman franchise.
Prior to his work on Megas, Krstic had a few brief credits to his name. However, his most notable contribution to the animation world at that point was working on the now cult classic MTV show Downtown, where he also worked as the story editor. That show's creator, Chris Prynoski, who was an old college friend of Kristic's and Shaffer's, would follow the two to production on Megas XLR, where he would work as on of it's directors.
Several narrative elements were also lifted from Downtown, most notably the character of Goat. A different version of the character appeared on Downtown, and he was played by and based on a close friend of the group, Scot Reinecker. The series would notably credit Reinecker as Goat playing himself, as "Goat" was also his nickname in real-life.
One of the show's main running gags was also created as a jab at MTV for Downtown's abrupt cancellation. In most episodes, whenever a path of destruction is created (often by Coop on accident), buildings and property with the branding of an off-brand MTV dubbed "PopTV" would often get caught in the crossfire. "We were still sore about the way MTV treated Downtown at the end," Krstic explains, "so that was my way of getting back at them. Petty? Sure. Satisfying? Very."
Revving Up
When Krstic, Shaffer, and their team were ready to pitch Megas XLR to Cartoon Network, they went about it in a rather unconventional way. A rough pilot short was produced, and imprinted onto a VHS tape. Kristic and Shaffer later gave the tape directly to a Cartoon Network executive at San Diego Comic Con. That executive was Linda Simensky, who was previously one of Schaffer's professors at the School for Visual Arts.
"Granted, she knew me as "that guy who always fell asleep at her class", Schaffer explained in an interview, "but in my defense, I was working full time and commuting to school five days a week. She's also very understanding."
Luckily for the two, Cartoon Network accepted their pitch, and the team would later produce a more polished pilot for the series-entitled LowBrow: Test Drive-which aired as part of a series of potential pilots to greenlight as a full series during the "Cartoon Cartoon Weekend Summerfest" in 2002. Befitting the show's inspirations, animation duties for the pilot were done by anime studio Madhouse, who had worked on Trigun a few years prior, and would go on to work on other well-known shows like Death Note, Black Lagoon, and a few episodes of Hellsing Ultimate.
The short proved to be a great success, and Megas XLR was greenlit to become a series. Several moments from the short were notably redone for the first episode of the series proper. Originally, the series was due to air in late 2003, but production issues ended up delaying the show another year to 2004. It aired on Cartoon Network's now iconic Toonami block.
A Bumpy Ride
Upon its release, Megas XLR proved to be just as popular as its pilot. Many fans and critics acclaimed the show for its animation style, humor, and affectionate parodies of different facets of popular culture. In addition, despite rumors of low ratings, the show was actually a breakout hit for the network.
Several people over the years would note that it's adult cast of characters and tributes to retro culture that would've flown over kid's heads made the series more of a fit for Adult Swim, CN's nighttime block of adult oriented animated sitcoms and anime. And the series' pilot was in production around the time the block launched, with the creators considering a spot on the block. However, likely on account of scheduling conflicts, the creators ultimately went with the kid friendly main channel.
Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell, as we covered above, played the recurring villain Magnanimous, a parody of Marvel Comics' MODOK who collects different giant robots to battle in combat for the entertainment of multiple alien races, at the price of the fighters' freedom. Campbell initially turned down his role, but was tracked down by the creators of the show again at a screening of his movie Bubba Ho-Tep. During a Q&A session there, series director Chris Prynorski begged Campbell to star in the show, and Campbell ultimately relented and agreed. Magnanimous notably resembles Campbell in appearance, and many references are made to Campbell's career, including one scene where Magnanimous even repeats Ash Williams' iconic "Groovy" catchphrase.
However, this ride would soon encounter a few metaphorical bumps in the road during its production. As mentioned earlier, the show had to be delayed a year, likely due to production issues that have never been publicly specified. Also, plans for a toy line never came to be, likely due to rights issue. The only merchandise that was ever officially made were cups sold at the Philippines-based Jollibee restaurant chain. Despite this, the crew of the show did create their own mock commercial featuring custom-made figures.
Ultimately, despite being a favorite from the get-go, Megas XLR ultimately didn't have enough gas left in the tank for anything beyond it's second season. The final episode aired on January 15th, 2005, and the series was sent to the scrap heap too soon.
As mentioned before, it was rumored that low ratings were the main culprit behind the show's unceremonious axing, but the creators have insisted that the show was actually quite successful. The ratings simply weren't as successful as other action-based show on the network, like the original Teen Titans. Production costs were also high, and Cartoon Network felt that the series wasn't returning a proper investment.
And thus, Cartoon Network pulled the plug on the series, and Ben 10 would ultimately replace it as Cartoon Network's flagship action-based franchise. Several planned storylines were left unproduced, including an episode that revealed that Coop accidentally created the Glorft after he sneezed into a vat of toxic waste. Kiva and Jamie were also allegedly going to develop a romantic relationship.
Megas Remembered
In the years since its abrupt cancelation, the team members who have worked on Megas XLR actually made several attempts to bring the series back in some way shape or form. In 2012, rumors began to spread that a video game based on the series was in development at Valve. Sadly, nothing ever came of it on account of licensing issues.
To further complicate matters, Cartoon Network initially wrote the series off as a tax write-off, which would prevent the possibility of a revival due without legal troubles. In a 2014 interview, George Krstic would say "Effectively, Megas has been put in Carbon Freeze, shot into the heart of a sun, and the universe around it has been imploded. We've been trying everything and anything for the past ten years to try and get things going again-from buying the rights back, to licensing a sanctioned reboot-and the answer has always been "No Way".
Things seemed to turn around for the better during the 2020s, however. The series would manage to finally make its full costs back thanks to a cult following in international markets, and a reboot was briefly put under consideration. Sadly, these plans were nipped in the bud after rights holders Warner Bros merged with Discovery, and seem even less likely to follow through thanks to Warner's recent acquisition by Paramount.
In the years since Megas drove its last lap, the creators of the show have still managed to find work in the animation industry. Krstic would go on to serve as one of the main writers for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, whilst series director Prynorski would create the short-lived Motorcity for Disney XD. Coop's voice actor David DeLuise would also manage to continue his career, notably going on to star as the father of Selena Gomez's character on Wizards of Waverly Place.
And in more recent years, much like a lot of Cartoon Network's output, the show has lived on in the hearts of those who grew up watching it, many of whom have come back to the show in recent years to dedicate retrospectives to it. And these fans have continued to hold out hope for the show to one day make a comeback, unlikely as it may seem at this point.
And after having revisited this show years after watching a few episodes myself, I can say its not hard to see why! Megas XLR is a show that's a true product of its era. One that is rarely, if ever, made these days. It's a show that wears it's love for all things bombastic and over-the-top on its giant robot sleeve, and in doing so, becomes a perfect addition to that weirdly specific pantheon in its own right!
Sure, the series may not be the deepest in terms of storytelling, but it honestly doesn't need to be. It's a show that's ultimately here to fly in, have it's fun, and keep you entertained. And it's a show with true pop culture chops, taking everything from pro wrestling to classic animation to-of course-giant robots and having a wild party with them.
But perhaps what really makes the show stand out is the fact that it's also not afraid to get a little mean with its humor and deconstruct the ideas of the traditional heroic protagonists; played for laughs of course! Coop is by no means a perfect human being, and a true slacker and glutton at heart. Often times, while he may end up saving the day from certain threats, by the end of any episode, he's cause just as much-if not even more damage-than the villains he fights. He's even destroyed entire civilizations on occasion.
But he's not the only character who stands out. Coop also bounces his two best friends really well. Kiva in particular perfectly serves the role of the only sane person in a world of insanity, with plenty of snarky comebacks to Coop's boneheaded schemes ready at her disposal, not to mention plenty of great action sequences. Jamie also stands out as a perfect sleazebag who you both love to hate and hate to love. And the scenes where he would get into trouble of his own accord are some of the funniest scenes in the series!
Ultimately, Megas XLR is a show that's sure to appeal to everyone's inner child. It's a show that radiates that pure dude bro energy that truly could've only existed back in the 2000s. Sure, it may be dated in a few aspects, but that's honestly what makes it a part of it's charm. And a part of a reason why many fans still take it out for a ride to this day! It also helps that the show happens to take place in New Jersey (albeit up North as opposed to my old stomping grounds of Southern New Jersey), and isn't afraid to poke fun at it! Much like us fellow New Jerseyans actually do!
Highlight Episodes
The world of Megas XLR has plenty of high-octane adventures that'll keep your inner child glued to the screen. But just which ones are of the highest caliber? We'll, that's what we're here for!
Let's take a look at some of the best of thrill rides that Megas XLR has under its hood!
Battle Royale
The debut episode of Magnanimous depicts Coop being picked up by the intergalactic schemer to compete in his Galactic Combat Federation. However, Magnanimous plans to sabotage Coop so that he can make a large fortune off of bet money. But Coop isn't going to take this lying down!
Everything about this episode is just pure 2000s action toon fun! We see plenty of fun fights and even funnier quips from the cast. Plus, plenty of clever pop cultural references for the movie geek inside us all!
And of course, we aren't forgetting Bruce Campbell's excellent voice performance! Because he's one of a hand full of actors who automatically make anything better!
Bad Guy
While competing in a hot dog eating contest in Atlantic City (South Jersey represent!), Coop ends up under attack by a group of Voltron stand-ins known as the S-Force, who are convinced that he is the ultimate evil. Coop tries to explain his innocence (though not complete innocence), but things only escalate as the S-Force's archnemesis appears an tries to provide unwanted assistance in destroying the city.
Of all of the episodes of the series, this one is the one that spares the least amount of expense to the state of New Jersey. And I love it for that! Every destruction gag of this episode stands out as some of the show's best, and the setting grants me a nice bit of nostalgia for my home (despite me never really leaving it). Even if a lot of this city that I have actually visited in the past gets destroyed horribly.
Granted, AC's not exactly a perfect place anyway! And I've always wanted to see places in my home state become setting for shows and movies like this! As I plan on becoming a writer, I might even create stories based around this idea!
DMV: Department of Megas Violations
Kiva becomes the target of an intergalactic bounty hunter. As she fights backs, Coop must deal with one of the most dreaded things a human can ever bear witness to; The DMV! Coop must now race to get Megas back after it gets impounded due to parking regulations.
This episode is a true fan favorite of the show's community, and it's not hard to see why. It takes one on everybody's least favorite things-waiting at the DMV-and makes it into a truly hilarious and relatable struggle! Plus, it has one of the best cutaway gags of the series, as depicted above!
Plus, the b-plot with Kiva and the bounty hunter provides a lot of entertainment as well! Plenty of fun action sequences and some of Kiva's best moments of action!
Ultra Chicks
When a group of Sailor Moon stand-ins named the Ultra-Cadets come to Earth, Jamie attempts to impress them by posing as Coop. But he soon finds out that he may have bitten off a little more than he can chew.
I initially considered this episode to be one of the show's lesser entries-partially due to the rather generic designs of its titular characters-, but after giving the matter a little more thought, I can actually appreciate this episode as one of the best! Why? Because out of all of the episodes this one is where Jamie's comedic stupidity gets to shine the most.
Some of Jamie's funniest mess ups come from this episode, serving as a perfect showcase of his mean-spirited, but entertaining personality. Plus, plenty of great Megas action as usual, topped of with one of Coop's most hilarious costly mistakes.
Thanksgiving Throwdown
It's Thanksgiving in the New York metro area, which can mean only one thing; Parade Time! However, things get a little greasy when Coop unknowingly releases an alien plant that plans to harvest the planet's heat. When this being fuses with several parade balloons, its time for Coop to gear up and save Turkey Day.
If I had to list one episode as the absolute best, it would be this! This is one of the few episodes I remember from watching back when I was a kid, and it's (you guessed it!) not hard to see why! This episode has a little bit of everything that made the show special, from fun action and humor to its entertaining concept. Plus, plenty of the show's best pop culture references! This episode is truly the one episode of this show that truly encapsulates Megas!
You'd be forgiven to want to watch this episode and crave turkey sandwiches afterwards, even if it's nowhere close to Thanksgiving!
Terminate Her
Coop and friends attend a rock concert, only for it to get crashed by the Glorft in disguise. And to make matters worse, a girl who turns out to be Kiva's distant ancestor is present, whom the Glorft plan to terminate in an attempt to erase Kiva from existence as well. Coop and company must now race against the clock and protect this girl at all costs.
This episode gets on this list for being the best time capsule of the 2000s! Everything about this episode oozes with the mosh pit culture that I had an aversion to as a child, but I know look back on with vintage charm. Everything about this episode serves as a perfect photograph of a type of concert that could never happen today, oddly making me feel warm inside.
Of course, no great episode of this show should skimp on the action, and this episode is no exception. And it honestly may be some of the highest of high stakes action of the entire series!
But not as high stakes as...
Rearview Mirror, Mirror (Parts 1 and 2)
A two-parter that left thankfully let the series bow out on a high note! When Coop's battle with the Glorft reaches its climax, one little slip up transfers him and Gorrath into a dystopian mirror dimension. Soon, they find that the dimension is ruled by evil, bloodthirsty versions of Coop and Kiva. The two must now put aside their differences-if only for a minute-in order to make it out alive.
Talk about an epic finale! We get to see everything about this series come full circle in this high-stakes two-parter. Seeing Coop having to do battle with his evil self was truly one hell of a plot twist, and Evil Coop comes off as a surprisingly menacing villain for a show that normally doesn't take its villains too seriously. And as usual, all of the episodes pop culture parodies and battle sequences are up to snuff!
Even if the show's spark may have burned out a bit too soon, Megas XLR definitely managed to leave one heck of a final impression!
Lowlight Episodes
While Megas XLR may not be the brightest crayon in the box, it's still a nearly perfect way to pass time for the inner kid inside us all. And even the lesser episodes of the show aren't all that bad!
However, every show has to have its lesser episodes anyways, and while these episodes do have their own charm in their own right, these episodes definitely had to take up the lower end of the spectrum.
Here are the three episodes of Megas XLR that take up the rear of the placing system.
The Return
Magnanimous is back, and challenges Coop to protect his title against the Galactic Combat Federation. However, this is just before Coop has to return an overdue video. And complications further when he accidentally challenges the entire galaxy to battle him.
This episode does get some pointers for not only bringing Bruce Campbell back to the series, but also for highlighting the lost nostalgic commodity of video rental stores. However, when compared to a lot of other episodes that heavily reference popular culture, this episode comes off as the least clever with its references.
One robot that parodies Mr. T particularly tends to come off as grating after a while.
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Coop
Coop gets roped into babysitting his young cousin Skippy, who gets bored easily and hates everything about Coop's home. However, Coop invertedly releasing the Glorft after imprisoning them in a previous episode. Wanting to get his cousin to stop complaining, Coop takes his cousin out for the adventure. But Skippy remains unimpressed.
Probably the only episode that I'd call genuinely bad, much of the storyline relies heavily on the same babysitting episode cliches we've seen in a million other cartoons. And Skippy comes off as a generally obnoxious brat who gets grating really fast.
Overall, an episode that should probably get left in the scrap heap.
Universal Remote
After Coop builds the world's most powerful universal remote, a failed robotic criminal named Skalgar attempts to go after it, believing it to be an all-powerful weapon (when it really isn't). After the universal remote is stolen, Coop must now blast his was through Jersey City in order to get the remote back from this inferiority-complexed threat.
Although this episode has plenty of fun moments, it's let down by it's banal attempts at humor. Specifically, the repeated joke of Skalgar's name being changed to "School Girl" by Jamie. While it's funny at first, it gets repeated way too many times and becomes rather uninteresting and grating by the end of the episode.
A Garden State Gem
Overall, Megas XLR is truly a show that deserves to be remembered as a true hidden gem amongst the pantheon of 2000s toons. Despite it's short run, it never once wasted it's time, and made sure to keep having fun while doing it.
It's a show that came from a truly genuine place, and wears its love for all things pop culture on its sleeve. It throws the tropes of anime, slapstick comedy, and giant robot media into a blender in order to create an enjoyable concoction of 2000s cheese. A true refreshing departure from the rather cynical movies and shows of today.
It's a show that knows what it is and runs with it. And while most of its episodes may ultimately just be dumb fun, it also acts as a clever deconstruction of typical hero tropes from time to time, giving that it's leads are rather imperfect, absent-minded people. But characterization like this only makes its funny moments even funnier.
As someone who's a bit behind on life myself (though I am taking up new activities in order to build my skillset), I find comfort in shows like Megas XLR. They allow me to escape to a world where even the most unsuccessful of us can reach for the stars at least once in our lives. Or, in Coop's case, we can at least allow ourselves to have fun for once in our lives and not feel too guilty. And the fact that it takes place in my home sweet home of New Jersey only adds a nice bit of homeliness to its atmosphere. Be that a rather grimy version of home, but hey, New Jersey was never a perfect place!
Megas XLR has truly earned its place as a cult classic amongst Cartoon Network's lineup, and it's no wonder why many fans have been campaigning for the show to come back ever since its abrupt last lap. And it would be amazing to see this show get its due diligence amongst multiple newer generations! Perhaps the show could even have a crossover with fellow cult classic sci-fi comedy Time Squad (just imagine the comedic possibilities between Coop and Buck!).
Granted, it would never be a complete reunion of a revival. Sadly, Goat's voice actor and inspiration Scot Reinecker passed away in a house fire in 2023, leaving a void in the show's cast that'll never be filled. Bruce Campbell's recent cancer diagnosis also casts doubt on further adventures for Magnanimous.
However, even if the hand of fate may have different plans for the cast and crew of Megas XLR, we'll always have the original cult classic show to go back to as a time capsule of pure 2000s toon cheese. One that plenty of future generations could get a kick out of as well!
But that's just my opinion. What about you? Did you grow up in the 2000s and catch Megas XLR when it was on? Did you recently discover it through the animation community? Would you like to see a revival, or do you think it would be best left in the past? Don't be afraid to share your thoughts in the comments section below and share my blog with friends and family on social media! And make sure you always have a little gas in your tank!
Dedicated to the Memory of Scot "Goat" Reinecker
And to Bruce Campbell
May you win your hard battle and continue to deliver years of thrills!
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