Recently, many animation fans have grown worried about the fate of the massively influential producer, Cartoon Network, due to various corporate choices. Because of this, many fans look back on older, classic Cartoon Network series out of nostalgia. One of these was Man of Action’s Generator Rex.
The series was among the most criminally underrated from Cartoon Network’s heyday with its bombastic style, unique setup, and gripping story. Make way to start the revolution, because here is a rundown of why this show deserves more attention.
Generator Rex Had A Unique Magic System
One of the first ways Generator Rex sets itself apart from other series is its unique magic system – nanomachines, son! For any work of speculative fiction, the “magic system” will always be what sets it apart. In Generator Rex, the world was overtaken by alien nanites, turning many hapless citizens into mutants. For Rex, however, he gained the power to transform parts of his body into various mechanical weapons.
Virtually every mutant encountered across the series has a unique powerset and threat posed to our heroes. However, Rex has a virtually unlimited arsenal, ranging from canons, swords, hammers, and other gizmos. Many fans of its twin series, Ben 10, will recognize having a show following a hero with a limitless array of powers (the two even had a crossover episode).
Additionally, the series lends itself to a unique sci-fi setting. Not only can anyone turn into a dangerous mutant at any moment, but many other sci-fi threats are waiting in hiding, such as mysterious government projects, ancient superweapons, and many others. It’s a wonder the series managed to stay PG.
The Series Had Stellar Action and Animation
The next reason to appreciate Generator Rex is that it has some of the best action in an animated series. As stated above, the series was packed with unique, terrifying monsters battling more humanoid mutants with unique powers. As such, virtually every action sequence in the series had some unique setup.
The series is not slouchy in its animation, either. The show has a clean, sci-fi aesthetic that captures the impact of battles. Additionally, the series manages to blend CGI into its sequences without being remotely jarring. Furthermore, the scale of these battles often occurred on the scale of entire cities. If readers need any more convincing, the series also has a rock-and-roll soundtrack and an epic opening theme.
As stated above, the series was created by Ben 10 creators. However, this show was sadly overlooked due to the latter’s immense popularity as a Cartoon Network franchise. This is disappointing, as the series is a darker, more nanopunk companion.
It was the Best of Cartoon Network’s Dramas
Lastly, Generator Rex was one of the best examples of a drama within the Cartoon Networks lineup. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, the network was split between two types of shows: action dramas such as Batman the Brave and the Bold and The Clone Wars and comedy shows such as Chowder and (early) Adventure Time. For Generator Rex, the show was one of the best action-adventure shows they made, standing alongside even Teen Titans itself.
As one might guess from the setup, the series had high stakes, with the world overrun with dangerous mutants and everyone’s fate in the hands of a mysterious government organization. While the show had its monster of the week, it was also serialized as our heroes needed to battle rogue AIs, villains from Rex’s past, and secret organizations of mutants trying to overthrow humanity.
At the heart of the show was our hero, Rex. A goofy amnesiac with strong determination, he was the perfect way to keep the show optimistic despite its apocalyptic setting. Also, he has a talking monkey as his sidekick, which is always awesome. Overall, Generator Rex was not just any sci-fi action show; it had a distinct style that viewers wouldn’t find anywhere else.
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