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Ace Lightning
Ace Lightning
Ace Lightning
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Ace Lightning
Genre
Created by
  • Jim Corston
  • Rick Siggelkow
Developed byJeff Beiderman
Starring
Opening theme"There's a Hero"
by Four Square
Country of origin
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes39
Production
Running time24 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBBC
Release4 September 2002 (2002-09-04) –
18 May 2005 (2005-05-18)

Ace Lightning is a children's television series co-produced by the BBC and Alliance Atlantis. The series was originally broadcast in the United Kingdom, but also aired in other countries, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.[1] The show was filmed in Canada, but the program was set in the United States. It ran for two seasons and spawned a number of merchandising products. The series premiered on 4 September 2002 and ended on 18 May 2005.

The programme featured live actors interacting with computer-animated characters from a fictional video game. The series is significant in that until its creation, live action and CGI had not been attempted to such a huge and constant degree within a weekly television series.

Series overview

[edit]

The series follows the life of British teenager Mark Hollander, who moved to the American town Conestoga Hills with his parents. One stormy night, Mark plays his favourite video game, the fictional Ace Lightning and the Carnival of Doom–a superhero-based adventure game where hero Ace Lightning traverses the Carnival of Doom to find the pieces of the magical Amulet of Zoar, whilst battling his nemesis Lord Fear. Mark stumbles across a mysterious seventh level, which is not meant to exist. A lightning bolt strikes the antenna on his roof, and through an electrical surge, the characters of the game come to life. Ace hires Mark as his sidekick to fulfil the game's objectives in the real world. Mark's life is turned upside down, and his duty as a Lightning Knight affects his school grades and social life, often forcing him to make excuses for his family and friends. Meanwhile, Lord Fear's group of villains occupy the town's rundown Kent Bros. Carnival.

Most episodes balanced Mark's social issues and dealing with the game characters, and the animated characters fighting over the collected amulet pieces. The world and rules of the game played out in Conestoga Hill; for example, when two pieces of the Amulet were connected, a new character or weapon would be summoned. Four human characters learned of Mark's double life, including his best friend Chuck Mugel, girlfriend Kat Adams, school teacher Mr. Cheseborough who comes to the belief that the characters are aliens, and Mark's cousin Ashley. Another character who is aware of the goings on is Duff Kent, the owner of the carnival who is shanghaied into being a minion for Lord Fear. An ongoing story was the love triangle between Ace and villain Lady Illusion, who was Lord Fear's mistress throughout the first season but betrays him in the finale.

The first season ended with Mark winning the game, with all the antagonists save Lady Illusion returning to the game world. In the second season, Chuck becomes Ace's secondary sidekick, and all the villains return under the leadership of a new antagonist named Kilobyte. Kilobyte was created by Rick Hummel, a computer repairman and former games developer who took on the alias of the "Master Programmer". Rick developed the program that brought the game to life, but was ridiculed and fired as a result. He desired to prove his worth by bringing the characters to life and ultimately conquering the world. A blackout in his shop allows Kilobyte to become independent, determined to rule the world. In the series finale, Ace and Lord Fear join forces and banish Kilobyte to the game world. However, Lord Fear turns on Ace and mortally wounds him, only to reveal that Lady Illusion took his place, and she dies in Ace's arms.

Characters

[edit]
Main article: List of Ace Lightning characters

Main characters

[edit]
  • Michael Riley as Ace Lightning: The titular character, the playable character from the fictional game Ace Lightning and the Carnival of Doom. A superhero and Lightning Knight from the Sixth Dimension, Ace recruits Mark as his sidekick to defeat Lord Fear.
  • Thomas Wansey as Mark Hollander: The main protagonist, a 13-year-old British boy who moves to Conestoga Hills with his parents at the beginning of the series. Drawn into the battle of good and evil between Ace Lightning and Lord Fear, Mark reluctantly becomes Ace’s sidekick to win the game.
  • Marc Minardi as Chuck Mugel: Mark’s best friend, a bullied but intelligent boy who is a fan of the game. He becomes aware of the game characters in the second season, becoming Ace’s secondary sidekick, mistakenly named “Chuckdude” by Ace.
  • Shadia Simmons as Samantha Thompson: The most popular girl in school, Mark’s next-door neighbour, and girlfriend in the first season. In the second season, Samantha attends boarding school, appearing as a special guest.
  • Ashley Leggat as Kat Adams: A new addition in the second season, Kat is a brash and inquisitive new girl who becomes Mark’s girlfriend.
  • Juan Chioran as Lord Fear: Ace’s arch nemesis and main antagonist of the series. A 352-year-old lich, Lord Fear, seeks revenge on Ace for crippling him and then imprisoning him in the Sixth Dimension. He rules over the Carnival of Doom, collecting the pieces of the Amulet of Zoar to use to rule the world.
  • Tamara Bernier Evans as Lady Illusion: A shapeshifting villain, Lady Illusion is introduced as Lord Fear’s partner in love and crime. She develops a turbulent romance with Ace, testing her loyalties throughout the series.
  • Deborah Odell as Sparx: A young, impetuous and daring Lightning Knight.
  • Cal Dodd as Random Virus: A cyborg Lightning Knight and Ace’s friend, Random suffers from two clashing programs, one good and one evil. He is often sought out by Ace and Lord Fear to join their causes; as such, he hides in Conestoga Hills’ junkyard.
  • Ted Atherton as Kilobyte: The main antagonist of the second season. Known as the Cyber Stalker, Kilobyte was created by the Master Programmer to conquer the world on his behalf. He has the cold, calculating mind of a hunter, possessing unlimited powers.

Recurring cast

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  • Michael Lamport as Staff Head: The figurehead who perches on the end of Lord Fear's staff.
  • Adrian Truss as Dirty Rat: A winged rat clown who serves as Lord Fear's cowardly spy.
  • Howard Jerome as Anvil: A dim-witted rhinoceros who acts as the muscle for Lord Fear’s gang.
  • Keith Knight as Pigface: A grotesque, childish warthog minion.
  • Richard Binsley as Googler: A maniacal jester summoned by Lord Fear early on the series, who has a grudge against Ace for trapping him in another dimension.
  • Matt Ficner as Zip and Snip: Googler’s animated sock puppets.
  • Robert Tinkler as Rotgut: An undead cowboy introduced in the second season, Rotgut is an overemotional zombie whose limbs fall off and prefer to be called the "walking dead".
  • Philip Williams as Duff Kent: The owner of the Kent Bros. Carnival, which becomes the Carnival of Doom. He also drives an ice cream truck, which the villains use as a mode of transport.
  • R.D. Reid as Horace Cheseborough: Mark’s apathetic science teacher in junior high, and homeroom teacher in high school. He repeatedly encounters the game characters, becoming convinced they are extra-terrestrials.
  • Devon Anderson as Pete Burgess: Mark’s friend in London, who he communicates with via webcam at the start of each episode.
  • Jordan Hughes as Wayne Fisgus: A school bully who targets Mark and Chuck, and Jessica’s cousin. He is often frightened by Lord Fear, who he refers to as the “bone man”.
  • Megan Park as Jessica Fisgus: Chuck's girlfriend and Wayne's cousin.
  • Brandon Carrera as Brett Ramirez: Samantha’s boyfriend in the first season, a popular skateboarder and soccer player.
  • Petra Wildgoose as Heather Hoffs: Samantha’s gossipy best friend and Mark’s girlfriend during the second half of the first season.
  • Ned Vukovic as Simon Hollander: Mark’s father, an accountant who enthusiastically embraces American culture.
  • Susan Danford as Fiona Hollander: Mark’s mother, a fussy real estate agent.
  • Kayla Perlmutter as Ashley Hollander: Mark’s younger cousin.
  • Diane Douglass as Nettie Kutcher: A matronly dinner lady at Conestoga Hills Elementary School.
  • David Huband as Coach: The coach of the elementary school’s soccer team, and secret Ace Lightning fan.
  • Brett Heard as Rick Hummel: A computer repairman, who is in actuality, the secret designer of the video game. He is an antagonist in the second season, operating as the Master Programmer, using Kilobyte in his own plans for world domination.

Episodes

[edit]

Season 1 (2002–03)

[edit]

The season aired between September 2002 and March 2003. When broadcast in America, the episodes were shown out of order, which sometimes resulted in severe continuity errors. For instance, "Tunnel of Love" was shown before "Once Upon a Hero". Random Virus would show up as an established character of the day before he would be established. The runtime of each episode was 24:59.

ChapterNo. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"The Game Begins"Don McCutcheonSean Kelly2 September 2002 (2002-09-02)
During a stormy night, Mark Hollander plays a video game, Ace Lightning and the Carnival of Doom, discovering a seventh level that should not exist. A lightning bolt strikes the house, causing the game's characters to come to life in Mark's backyard. Ace Lightning recruits Mark as his sidekick to collect the pieces of the Amulet of Zoar, and capture his arch nemesis Lord Fear, who takes up residence at the rundown Kent Bros. Carnival. Mark starts his first day at Conestoga Hills Middle School, and later receives a piece of the Amulet from Ace. Ace finds the carnival but is captured by Lord Fear's gang.
22"The Trap is Set"Graeme LynchSean Kelly3 September 2002 (2002-09-03)
Mark informs his friend Pete about the game coming to life. Ace is imprisoned and tortured by Lord Fear and his minions. Mark, accompanied by his new friend Chuck Mugel, travels to the carnival and tries to rescue Ace, but flees. That night, the carnival opens to the public, allowing Mark to sneak back in and free Ace. He then discovers Dirty Rat, disguised as a stuffed rabbit, plans to bomb Samantha Thompson and Brett Ramirez. Mark throws the rat skyward, Ace grabbing the bomb and disposes of it.
33"The Substitute"Don McCutcheonSean Kelly4 September 2002 (2002-09-04)
Lord Fear and Pigface kidnap Mark's science teacher, Mr. Cheeseborough, and replace him with Lady Illusion in disguise, as part of a trap to destroy Mark. In class, Lady Illusion puts Mark and Chuck in detention. Realising something is amiss, Mark searches the carnival for the real Mr. Cheeseborough but is cornered by Pigface and Dirty Rat, Ace rescuing him. Samantha instead finds Mr. Cheeseborough, discovering he is being used as a sideshow.
44"Face the Music"Don McCutcheonSean Kelly5 September 2002 (2002-09-05)
Mark tries to skip school but his parents encourage him to go to detention. On the way to school, the school bus is pursued by Lord Fear and Duff Kent in their ice cream truck, but Ace causes them to crash. Mark helps Ace sneak into the school, while Lord Fear deploys Pigface to back up Lady Illusion. Dirty Rat hypnotises Mr. Cheeseborough to erase his memory of his abduction and then frees him. During detention, Lady Illusion shows a gas bomb at the boys, Chuck becoming delirious. Mark and Chuck flee to the cafeteria, where Ace engages Lady Illusion and Pigface in battle til they flee. Mark worries about Chuck knowing his secret, but Ace reassures him that he won't remember once the gas wears off.
55"There's No Place Like Home"Gail HarveyMark Leiren-Young6 September 2002 (2002-09-06)
Ace begins to lose energy without a reliable power source to recharge. Mark's class visit Conestoga Hills' observatory, where Chuck tells the urban legend of the Radioactive Guy, a scientist who went mad after being exposed to the radioactive waves of a comet. Mark's cousin Ashley meets Ace, mistaking him for the Radioactive Guy. Ace continues to lose power but comes to Ashley's rescue when she wanders in the carnival alone. Mark takes Ace to the observatory where he is able to recharge, chasing off the villains. Ace decides to live in the observatory, naming it the Thunder Tower. Ashley promises to keep Ace a secret.
66"Opposite Attraction"Giles WalkerJeff Beiderman10 September 2002 (2002-09-10)
Lady Illusion strikes out on her own to find a way back home, stealing Lord Fear's piece of the Amulet. Mark's romance with Samantha is jeopardised when he learns Ace has captured Lady Illusion. However, to Mark's surprise, the two wayward superhumans fall in love. Dirty Rat informs Lord Fear who storms the Thunder Tower to win back his lady. Lady Illusion claims she was trying to steal Ace's piece of the Amulet, which Lord Fear falls for. When Lady Illusion connects the Amulet pieces together, it summons the Lightning Lance, which chases off the villains. At the end of the episode, Mark is able to rebuild his relationship with Samantha.
77"Only Human"Gail HarveyAlan Grant11 September 2002 (2002-09-11)
Lord Fear gains another piece of the Amulet, using it summon the maniacal jester Googler and his puppets Zip and Snip. When Googler confronts Ace, his puppets zap Ace of his superpowers. Ace disguises himself as a police officer and turns to Mark for help, believing he is useless without his powers. Mark rescues Chuck and Samantha from a decrepit treehouse. Ace is lured away by Dirty Rat, allowing Mark to be knocked out by Googler and taken to the carnival, where he is placed into a dunking tank to be devoured by Zip and Snip. Ace confronts the villains, understanding the importance of Mark as a friend, regaining his powers and frees his sidekick.
88"Behind the Mask"Don McCutcheonRichard Clark12 September 2002 (2002-09-12)
On Halloween, Mark throws a party at his house but has to rescue Chuck when Pigface and Dirt Rat mistake him for Ace, since he is wearing an Ace Lightning costume. Meanwhile, Duff turns to Ace for help to rid himself of Lord Fear. When they go to confront Fear, Duff chickens out and tries to set up Ace into a trap, but the superhero escapes, also rescuing Mark and Chuck from their pursuers.
99"Once Upon A Hero"Graeme LynchNeil Richards13 September 2002 (2002-09-13)
Dirty Rat obtains Ace and Lord Fear's pieces of the Amulet in an attempt to summon his own minion, leading to the arrival of the cyborg Random Virus, Ace's old friend, who suffers from two conflicting programs. Mark is terrified of Random, but plucks up the courage to confront him when Dirty Rat commandeers Chuck's experimental robot to use as a secondary weapon. Ace comes to aid him, Lord Fear also arriving when Duff informs him of the rat's schemes. Mark rescues Chuck's robot and returns it to him so he can win a science competition, while Ace promises to keep an eye on Random, who lives in the town's junkyard.
1010"Knights Under Cover"Don McCutcheonJeff Beiderman17 September 2002 (2002-09-17)
Mark discovers Samantha has gained a part-time job at the carnival and attempts to dissuade her from taking it. Lady Illusion informs Ace of a plan by Lord Fear to use Samantha as bait, but upon returning to the carnival, it is revealed she is in on a secondary trap. Mark and Ace decide to spy on Samantha during her first day, disguised as a girl and a motorcyclist. Wayne Fisgus falls for Mark's girly disguise and flirts with "her". After the carnival closes, Samantha finds herself locked in and under attack by Zip and Snip. Mark rescues her and Chuck, while Ace battles Googler. Lady Illusion throws a bomb at Ace, deliberately missing and hits Googler instead, though Lord Fear dismisses it as a fluke.
1111"Tunnel of Love"Graeme LynchMark Leiren-Young18 September 2002 (2002-09-18)
Lord Fear kidnaps Random, prompting Mark to help Ace search for him. Mark turns to Chuck for help finding a way to prevent Random from turning evil in the video game, but Samantha, fed up with Mark's constant excuses, dumps him and goes out with Brett. Mark, determined to win Samantha back, follows her onto the Tunnel of Love with Chuck in tow. Inside, he spots Random and goes to rescue him. Lord Fear appears, convincing Random to join his side. Ace crashes in through the roof armed with the Shield of Justice and tosses it to Mark, using its abilities to blast Random with a deflected lightning bolt, restoring his sense of reason. Samantha confronts Mark outside, realising how far he will go to win her back and they get back together.
1212"Nobody's Hero"Giles WalkerRichard Clark19 September 2002 (2002-09-19)
Mark's social life begins to collapse around him. His grades are failing, his parents ground him, and his relationships sour while Ace struggles to retrieve a new Amulet piece from the carnival. Lord Fear stalks and later kidnaps Mark to seize his piece of the Amulet. Ace rescues Mark and fights the villains while Mark obtains the new Amulet piece, summoning Sparx. However, her condescending comments to Mark causes him to quit being a Lightning Knight.
1313"Ace's Wild"Gail HarveyAlan Grant19 September 2002 (2002-09-19)
During a battle against the villains, Ace is zombified by Googler's puppets, rendering him a brainless slave at Lord Fear's command. Sparx flees from Ace, and turns to Mark for help, who is rebuilding his life after quitting the role as Ace's sidekick. However, he has a change of heart when the brainwashed Ace attacks Sparx in his backyard and then targets him. With Chuck's help, Ace is freed of his brainwashing and saves Sparx from Lord Fear. Mark becomes a hero again, earning Sparx's apology and respect.
1414"The Field Trip"Anthony BrowneJeff Beiderman16 February 2003 (2003-02-16)
Mark dreads going on a field trip to the carnival, and decides to be honest with Samantha about his feelings and his secret life. At the Thunder Tower, Anvil destroys the Lightning Knights' transformer. Ace tries to repair it, while the rambunctious Sparx decides to take the fight to Lord Fear, but is instead used as bait to lure Ace. Mr. Cheeseborough and the other students are trapped, while the game characters duel. Mark and Samantha free their friends, while Ace and Sparx fight Lord Fear. At the end of the episode, Lord Fear plots to invade Mark's home.
1515"Not Alone at Home"Giles WalkerSean Kelly22 February 2003 (2003-02-22)
Mark, Chuck, and Ashley have a horror night, but their night does not go according to plan. Lord Fear, Staff Head, Dirty Rat, and Pigface invade the house, but mostly cause mayhem for themselves. Lord Fear gets stuck in the chimney, Dirty Rat is chased out of the house by a frightened Chuck, Pigface raids a pizza delivery van, and Staff Head is left behind when the villains ultimately retreat. In a subplot, Lady Illusion attempts to assassinate Sparx, leading to a cat fight with Ace caught in the middle.
1616"Unidentified Flying Superhero"Steve WrightMark Leiren-Young23 February 2003 (2003-02-23)
Chuck records Sparx flying overhead on film and mistakes her for an alien, causing a frenzy around town. Googler is accidentally stranded in town and becomes lost when Duff's ice cream truck is taken to the pound, but Lord Fear and Duff later steal it back. Sparx grows overconfident in her skills and wishes to fight Googler, against Ace's advice. Mr. Cheeseborough, having regained his memories of his kidnapping, assumes the villains are aliens and plans to use a homemade radar to locate them. Mark volunteers, but the radar attracts Googler to the school. Sparx confronts Googler, but Zip and Snip grab her sword and blast her back into the game.
1717"A Friend in Need"Anthony BrowneJeff Beiderman1 March 2003 (2003-03-01)
Mark's friend Pete visits him, but his easygoing attitude and knack for just about everything makes Mark jealous of him. Pete is eventually targeted by Lord Fear and taken prisoner until Mark hands over his piece of the Amulet. Meanwhile, Random Virus tries to join the villains, but a distrusting Lord Fear chains him up. Random eventually breaks free and goes on a rampage, forcing Ace and Lord Fear to join forces to knock him out, who agree on a truce until their next battle. Pete decides to not meet Ace, believing he is unready, revealing he found life boring in England but decides it is worth living.
1818"The Last Laugh"Wayne MossRichard Clark2 March 2003 (2003-03-02)
On April Fool's Day, Lady Illusion disguises herself as Mark and sabotages his social life in school, while the real Mark is at home with a cold. Lady Illusion, still pretending to be Mark, confronts Ace, but the real Mark enters when he realises something is wrong. Ace uses a practical joke to figure out which is the real one. Mark tries to patch things up with Samantha, but she breaks up with him, gaining the interest of her best friend Heather Hoffs, who has a crush on Mark.
1919"Download Disaster"Steve WrightSean Kelly8 March 2003 (2003-03-08)
Mark tries to recruit Random Virus for help, but his evil side prevents him from being a hero. Mark attempts to give Ace some upgrades with help from Chuck, but the latter's computer crashes, causing Ace to be petrified. Lady Illusion and Dirty Rat witness this, Lord Fear orchestrating Ace's capture. The villains celebrate their victory, but Mark storms the carnival with Random in tow. During the mayhem, Lady Illusion kisses Ace, reviving him. Staff Head witnesses this, discovering Lady Illusion's betrayal, and blackmails her into obedience.
2020"Daffy Duff"Wayne MossJeff Beiderman9 March 2003 (2003-03-09)
In this clip show episode, Duff speaks to a psychiatrist about his ongoing involvement in the battle between Ace and Lord Fear. Believing the tale to be a moral issue, and caused by stress at work, the psychiatrist advises Duff to take it easy. Duff exits into the waiting room, recognising Mr. Cheeseborough as the next patient. When Duff leaves, the receptionist transforms into Lady Illusion, sent to spy on Duff.
2121"The Unlikely Hero"Don McCutcheonAlan Grant15 March 2003 (2003-03-15)
During a fight between Ace and Lord Fear, Chuck is struck by a deflected lightning bolt, temporarily gaining superhuman strength, particularly in his foot, which he nicknames "Thunder Foot". He is made the key player of the school soccer team for an upcoming match against long-term rivals. Lord Fear mistakes Chuck for another of Ace's sidekicks and plots to destroy him at the school, while Ace is distracted at the carnival. Chuck's powers wear off during the soccer match, but the team still manage to win the game. At the end of the episode, Mark and Heather become a couple.
2222"The Not So Great Outdoors"Graeme LynchSean Kelly16 March 2003 (2003-03-16)
At the carnival, Ace finds a new piece of the Amulet. However, both he and the villains learn Mark has gone camping with his father Simon, Chuck, and Brett. At the campsite, Chuck eats all the food, so the group are invited to camp with Wayne and his boastful father Buck. That night, the villains attack the group but Mark uses Chuck's handheld copy of the game to frighten them away. Ace arrives shortly thereafter and uses the Amulet to summon Sparx back from the game world. Wayne and his dad flee during the night, and Simon is praised for defending the boys from the "wildlife", actually the villains.
2323"The Biggest Fan"Steve WrightJeff Beiderman22 March 2003 (2003-03-22)
Mark has a tough decision to make between going on a date with Heather, or helping Chuck run an Ace Lightning fan club meeting at the school. Lord Fear learns of the fan club and becomes jealous, planning to crash the meeting. Mark initially chooses to go with Heather, but upon learning Lord Fear's plan, changes his mind and sneaks Ace into the school. Chuck meets Wayne's cousin Jessica, also an Ace Lightning fan. Lord Fear crashes the meeting, but Ace leaps out and chases him out of the school, much to the cheers of the fans, who assume Chuck set it up.
2424"The Play's the Thing"Gail HarveyMark Leiren-Young23 March 2003 (2003-03-23)
When Samantha obtains the final piece of the Amulet, both factions hope to gain it during the school play of The Phantom of the Opera. Mark is attracted to Samantha again, and attempts to tell her but does not have the chance. During the performance, Chuck, who is playing the Phantom, throws up. While Mr. Cheeseborough despairs, Mark hijacks the narrative of the play when Lord Fear invades the stage, and is mistaken for Chuck (whose costume was based on Lord Fear's appearance). The play becomes a surprise success, and Dirty Rat obtains the Amulet piece. Sparx sneaks into the carnival but is taken captive by Lady Illusion.
2525"The Rat Turns"Anthony BrowneAlan Grant27 March 2003 (2003-03-27)
Tired of Lord Fear's abuse, Dirty Rat is encouraged by Sparx to insight a rebellion against his master, rallying Anvil, Pigface, Googler, and Duff to his cause. Staff Head sends Lady Illusion to obtain the Lightning Knights' Amulet pieces or her secret will be exposed to Lord Fear. At school, Mr. Cheeseborough has been promoted to temporary principal, but he has introduced a Nineteen Eighty Four-like regime to the school. Chuck insights his own rebellion against Mr. Cheeseborough, but both he and Mark are summoned to his office. Lady Illusion, disguised as Sparx, convinces Mark to hand over his piece of the Amulet to her. Mr. Cheeseborough agrees to drop his rules if Mark protects him from the "aliens". Lady Illusion gives Lord Fear the collected Amulet pieces, and Dirty Rat surrenders his own, allowing Lord Fear to restore the Amulet. Mark realises he was duped and learns the Lightning Knights will lose power unless they find the Amulet.
2626"Game Over"Don McCutcheonRichard Clark28 March 2003 (2003-03-28)
The final battle is at hand. Ace and Sparx try to recruit Random to fight but he refuses to until Ace reminds him of how he used to be a hero. Mark learns from Chuck that he could delete his game file, which would erase the characters too. He speaks with Ace about the truth of the game, but Ace dismisses it and prepares for the battle. At the prom, Chuck worries Jessica won't come, and Heather dumps Mark in favour of Brett. Duff takes Mark to the carnival to find the Amulet, the Lightning Knights arriving shortly after. Lady Illusion reveals her treachery to Lord Fear, and Duff stands up to him. Mark sneaks into the haunted house during the battle. When he fails to beat the game, he considers deleting the file, but realises the Amulet is hidden in Lord Fear's pipe organ. Playing the right notes reveals the Amulet, which he shatters, sending all of the villains sans Lady Illusion back to the game. At the prom, Chuck is thrilled when Jessica arrives, and Mark gets back together with Samantha.

Season 2 (2004)

[edit]

The second series was broadcast in most countries in 2004, but it aired in the United Kingdom during the summer of 2005 for unknown reasons. This season was not aired in the United States due to the poor reception of the first season. The graphics were greatly improved, and several of the characters, including Staff Head and Pigface, were changed to look more like the animals they resembled. Kilobyte, Rotgut, Kat Adams and Rick the Master Programmer made their debut in this season. Chuck also met the Lightning Knights, and Mark got his own weapon, allowing him to battle the villains. There were only 13 episodes with one overall storyline. The runtime of each episode was also 24:59.

ChapterNo. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
271"Upgrades"Don McCutcheonSean Kelly6 April 2005 (2005-04-06)
Mark returns home from England, discovering Samantha is attending a boarding school, while Ace and Sparx plan to return to the Sixth Dimension with Random Virus. However, Lady Illusion interferes when Mark tries to send the heroes back to the game, causing Ace and Sparx to be sent home. The mysterious Master Programmer summons Lord Fear and Staff Head back to the real world. Mark and Chuck begin their first day in high school, meeting new girl Kat Adams, and discover Mr. Cheeseborough is their homeroom teacher. Lady Illusion returns to Lord Fear's side, promising to find the pieces of the Amulet to redeem herself, revealing has disguised herself as Felicity Fury, the new housekeeper of Mark's family. Lord Fear uses two pieces of the Amulet to summon the zombie Rotgut.
282"The Game's On"Steve WrightSean Kelly8 April 2005 (2005-04-08)
Ace sends an SOS to Mark, which is picked up as Morse code, Chuck deciphering it with help from Mr. Cheeseborough, realising the truth about Mark's game. Mark attends Kat's basketball match at school, giving Chuck his piece of the Amulet. Chuck finds a microchip inside, which has recorded events of the first season. An electrical surge frees Ace from the game, and he appoints Chuck his second sidekick. Lord Fear summons Anvil using more stolen Amulet pieces, continuing his battle with Ace. They take the battle to the school, where Mark helps defeat the villains. Kat wins the game.
293"Uninvited Guest"Don McCutcheonAlan Grant13 April 2005 (2005-04-13)
Mark invites Kat to watch movies at his house, but Heather insights an unwanted house party, getting Mark in trouble with his parents. He also realises that Felicity is Lady Illusion. Lord Fear summons Dirty Rat back into his service, and then lures Chuck into a trap, but Ace comes to his rescue, using his new Ring of Flame upgrade to defeat Anvil. Throughout the episode, Kilobyte the Cyber Stalker, activated by the Master Programmer, watches the other characters from the shadows, plotting to destroy Ace.
304"A Secret Life"Graeme LynchMark Leiren-Young15 April 2005 (2005-04-15)
Kilobyte reveals himself to Lord Fear, overthrowing him and taking over the carnival. He upgrades Lady Illusion, giving her the ability to inject Ace with human emotions. Ace soon becomes emotionally unstable, going on a rampage against the villains, rejecting Random and wounding Chuck. Kilobyte plots to let Ace's emotions destroy him.
315"Welcome To the Nightmare"Don McCutcheonJeff Beiderman20 April 2005 (2005-04-20)
Ace encounters Kilobyte for the first time and is terrified of him. Mark and his classmates go to a friendship farm, where Mark's past relationship with Samantha is revealed to Kat, and she gives Mark the cold shoulder. Ace hides on the farm, while Mark tries to make amends with Kat. Kilobyte, Dirty Rat, Rotgut, and Duff arrive, Kilobyte stinging a wasp with his power, causing it to grow and mutate, naming it Fred. Kilobyte and Fred then battle Ace, while Mark rescues Kat from a malfunctioning quadbike, and they make up.
326"The Search For Sparx"Graeme LynchMark Leiren-Young22 April 2005 (2005-04-22)
Ace and Mark are taken captive by Kilobyte and held prisoner in the junkyard. Random's evil side joins forces with Kilobyte, but is troubled by Ace's cowardice. Chuck makes contact with Sparx, but the Master Programmer causes him to be sucked into the game. Mark's cousin Ashley helps Chuck by guiding him through the game, leading him and Sparx to the game's backdoor via a cheat code. Mark inspires Ace to stand up to his fears, battling Kilobyte, in turn inspiring Random to rejoin the Lightning Knights. Chuck and Sparx escape the game and help defeat Kilobyte, who is revealed to be vulnerable to bright lights.
337"Bound To Fail"Graeme LynchSean Kelly27 April 2005 (2005-04-27)
Lord Fear once again kidnaps Mr. Cheeseborough, convincing him that Ace is an evil alien and requires the teachers scientific knowledge to be defeated. Kilobyte awards Lord Fear by creating the Doom Wagon, a hoverbike. Cheseborough creates a formula which can drain Ace of his electrical energy, but Mark catches him in the act. Lord Fear chases Mark during his driving test, leading to his failure.
348"Formula For Disaster"Don McCutcheonJeff Beiderman29 April 2005 (2005-04-29)
Mark has a bad day at school. He goes behind Chuck's back to eliminate Rotgut when he wanders into the school, destroying Mr. Cheeseborough's lab. Mark hides just as both Wayne and Mr. Cheeseborough enter, and Wayne is blamed. Kat plans to write a damning article on Wayne for the school newspaper, but Mark takes responsibility, instead penning a more heartfelt one. Mark admits his blame to Mr. Cheeseborough, encouraging him to end his deal with Lord Fear, and will protect him from harm. Meanwhile, Ace's increasing paranoia about Kilobyte worries Sparx. Confronting him, Sparx hears Ace's theory that Kilobyte is controlled by someone else. Kilobyte obtain another piece of the Amulet, summoning Pigface, but the Lightning Knights defeat him.
359"Choices"Chris BouldUnknown5 May 2005 (2005-05-05)
Samantha returns to Conestoga Hills for a visit and to tell Mark some important news, but keeps getting interrupted. Mark himself must choose between Samantha and Kat, choosing the latter when Samantha reveals she is dating someone else. Lady Illusion flees the carnival when Lord Fear tries to murder her, turning to Ace for help, but the villains kidnap him and Sparx. Lady Illusion warns Mark, who frees them, but in the following battle, loses the sixth piece of the Amulet, which Lady Illusion steals and gives to Lord Fear, summoning Googler.
3610"Rotgut Rides Again"Graeme LynchAlan Grant6 May 2005 (2005-05-06)
Mark grows jealous of Chuck's favouritism in the Lightning Knights, allowing him to be stalked by Rotgut, who possesses Chuck's body. Sparx and then Ace are hurt by Googler's new powers and face oblivion, their own salvation being an invulnerability upgrade offered by Chuck. The brainwashed Chuck arrives at Mark's house, hanging out with a Texan accountant hoping to hire Mark's father Simon. Mark has to protect his friends from the villains, but Chuck is freed from Rotgut's control, rescuing Ace and Sparx. Kat begins to investigate the strange events surrounding the carnival.
3711"Putting It Together"Chris BouldAlan Grant11 May 2005 (2005-05-11)
Mark and Chuck investigate an encrypted database on Kilobyte, discovering his origins and confirming Ace's theory that he is a puppet for someone else. The boys stumble into the back room of the computer store Chuck works at, discovering a mainframe containing the world of Mark's game, and realise that Chuck's employer, Rick Hummel, created Ace Lightning. Rick appears, explaining he developed a computer program that could bring the game characters to life, but was mocked and fired, inspiring him to take on the role of the Master Programmer. He inserts a floppy disk containing Kilobyte's last orders, but a power cut causes Kilobyte to become free of Rick's control, vowing to conquer the world.
3812"Kilobyte Bites Back"Chris BouldSean Kelly13 May 2005 (2005-05-13)
Kilobyte begins his plans for world domination, defeating Random, and then targets Rick and Mr. Cheeseborough for elimination. Rick turns to Chuck and Jessica to delete Kilobyte, but the villains invade the school to stop them. Mark is shanghaied into helping protect Mr. Cheeseborough, whilst trying to stop Kat from writing an article about the carnival. While Rick escapes, Mr. Cheeseborough is captured and trapped within the game.
3913"The Master Plan"Chris BouldMark Leiren-Young18 May 2005 (2005-05-18)
Kat connects Ace Lightning to the carnival, but when she tries to interrogate Duff, she is captured alongside Sparx and Random. Kilobyte announces his plans to rule the world by trapping all of humanity within the game, along with the Lightning Knights. He traps Rick in the game too. Lord Fear has his own hidden agenda, forming an alliance with Ace to destroy Kilobyte. Ace discovers he is from a video game, but Mark convinces him that he is real. Ace and Lord Fear systematically defeat the other villains. Chuck frees Mr. Cheeseborough from the game, but Rick remains trapped when Kilobyte restores the Amulet. Ace and Lord Fear defeat Kilobyte, blasting him into the game. Lord Fear then betrays and mortally wounds Ace, who is revealed as Lady Illusion in disguise. Ace chases away Lord Fear, and Lady Illusion dies in his arms. Mr. Cheeseborough is condemned a madman by the police. In the closing scene, Kilobyte orders Rick to free him so he can get revenge.

Production

[edit]

The show was developed by BBC and Alliance Atlantis, with Rick Siggelkow as executive producer and creator of the show, and Jim Corston as head writer. Originally, the program's plot was to feature a superhero from a comic book coming to life, but it was changed due to children playing videos games more than a pastime than reading comics. Mark was inspired by Spider-Man's alter ego, Peter Parker. The series was in pre-production for two years and took a year and a half to complete the first season.[2] The computer-generated characters and special effects were created by Calibre Digital Pictures, using the Maya system from Alias Systems Corporation.[3]

Matt Ficner designed the computer-generated characters for the series and also provided the voices of Zip and Snip in the first season.[4] The series was shot in Toronto in 2001 between 23 June and 22 November of that year.[5]

Reception

[edit]

According to the 2003–2004 annual review of BBC Worldwide's children's products, the series was a success and translated into different languages and forty countries, gaining high ratings in the United States on DIC Kids Network.[6] The series received 1.2 million viewers on average during the first season's airing in the United Kingdom.[7]

However, a social argument occurred in 2004 regarding the series' content in relation to the Children's Television Act. Children's television analyst Dale Kunkel, a communication professor at the University of Arizona, described the series and Stargate Infinity as "anti-social". The opinions were shared by the activist groups of the United Church of Christ and Center of Digital Democracy, viewing both programmes as violent. Former CEO of DIC Entertainment, Andy Heyward, defended Ace Lightning, taking the educational requirement very seriously for each episode. Heyward also had the support of Donald F. Roberts, who believed the descriptions given by the activists "mischaracterizes" the series they were attacking.[8]

Video game adaptation

[edit]
Ace Lightning
DevelopersAbsolute Studios (PS2/PC)
Tiertex Design Studios (GBA)
PublisherBBC Multimedia
Platforms
ReleaseGame Boy Advance
25 October 2002
Windows
29 November 2002
PlayStation 2
14 March 2003
GenresAction
third-person shooter
platform
ModeSingle-player

A video game adaptation titled Ace Lightning was released on PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, and Game Boy Advance on 25 October 2002. The game was developed by Absolute Studios and Tiertex Design Studios, and published by BBC Worldwide's core game division, Gamezlab. It was only released in Europe.

The storyline follows the same storyline of the TV series, as Ace Lightning the player collects the pieces of Amulet of Zoar, before facing Lord Fear to defeat him.

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Ace Lightning

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Ace Lightning is a children's action-comedy television series co-produced by the and , blending live-action footage with to follow the adventures of a hero who materializes in the real world. The show centers on British teenager Mark Hollander, who relocates to the American town of Conestoga Hills and inadvertently brings characters from his favorite , Ace Lightning and the Carnival of Doom, into reality during a . Ace Lightning, the program's titular cybernetic superhero and leader of the Lightning Knights, recruits Mark as his human ally to reassemble the shattered Amulet of Zoar, a powerful artifact needed to defeat the villainous Lord Fear and his forces of chaos before they conquer both the game dimension and Earth. Originally broadcast on the BBC's strand in the starting in 2002, the series ran for two seasons totaling 40 episodes and aired internationally in , the via syndication, and other markets. Its innovative production featured weekly integration of fully CGI-animated characters interacting seamlessly with live-action performers, marking an early example of such hybrid effects in children's programming aimed at audiences aged 6 to 12. The narrative emphasized themes of heroism, friendship, and perseverance, with Mark balancing school life— including friendships with characters like Brittany and conflicts with school bully Brett—against secret battles involving fantastical weapons and vehicles powered by "sparkx" energy. Accompanying merchandise included tie-in video games for platforms like and , extending the franchise's interactive appeal. While not generating major awards or cultural phenomena, Ace Lightning has retained a nostalgic following for its energetic and visual effects ambition relative to early 2000s standards.

Premise

Plot Summary

Ace Lightning revolves around twelve-year-old Mark Hollander, a British boy who relocates with his family to the suburban American town of Conestoga Hills. While unpacking and playing the eponymous on his console, a freak lightning bolt strikes during a storm, causing a malfunction that transports the game's characters from the virtual Sixth Dimension into the real world. The cybernetic Ace Lightning materializes first, pursued by the escaped arch-villain Lord Fear and his monstrous minions, who had broken out of their dimensional prison using the shattered Amulet of Zoar. Ace, recognizing Mark's familiarity with the game's mechanics from accessing a hidden seventh level, enlists the reluctant boy as his human sidekick to recover the amulet's six scattered pieces, which are essential for resealing Lord Fear and restoring the knights to their realm. Throughout the series, Mark aids and his fellow Lightning Knights— including the anthropomorphic rabbit Sparx and the anthropomorphic duck Bit— in skirmishes against Lord Fear's forces, such as the skeletal Waybad and the electric Staff Head, often using household items as improvised weapons or hiding the battles from his oblivious parents and school life. The antagonists, empowered by proximity to the amulet fragments, seek to conquer as a base for further conquests, forcing Mark to navigate the chaos of interdimensional warfare while maintaining secrecy to avoid disbelief or interference from authorities. The narrative emphasizes the fusion of logic with real-world consequences, culminating in efforts to reassemble the amulet for a final confrontation.

Core Themes and Elements

The series' central conflict pits the forces of good, represented by the Lightning Knights, against the villainous Carnival of Doom led by Lord Fear, who seeks domination through artifacts like the Amulet of Zoar. This good-versus-evil framework underscores traditional motifs of justice, duty, and , with the heroes adhering to a emphasizing and in their interdimensional guardianship. Friendship and personal heroism form the emotional core, portraying ordinary individuals like Mark Hollander as capable of heroic acts through and rather than innate superpowers. Mark's growth from a reluctant participant to a committed highlights how supporting allies and facing personal challenges define true heroism, extending to bonds like his with Chuck Mugel, who evolves into a technical supporter. These themes manifest in episodes exploring diverse hero archetypes, where game characters adapt beyond programmed behaviors, learning human-like emotions and vulnerabilities. Narrative elements blend video game mechanics with real-world realism, such as characters materializing via strikes and pursuing quests for power sources to reassemble shattered game elements and defeat antagonists. The juxtaposition of CGI-animated digital beings with live-action humans creates comedic and dramatic tension, as superheroes grapple with physical limitations, romantic entanglements, and ethical dilemmas absent in their original game . Recurring motifs include episodic artifact hunts and villain resurrections, driving the plot toward restoring dimensional balance while balancing adolescent drama with action.

Characters

Human Protagonists

Mark Hollander, portrayed by Thomas Wansey, serves as the primary human protagonist, a 13-year-old boy originally from who relocates with his family to the suburban town of Conestoga Hills in the United States. His involvement begins during a when he discovers an undocumented seventh level in the video game Ace Lightning, followed by a that transports the game's CGI characters into reality, thrusting Mark into direct conflict with interdimensional villains. Reluctant at first, Mark becomes Ace Lightning's key earthly ally, using his knowledge of the game and quick thinking to aid in battles, recharge the heroes' powers via electrical sources, and protect his hometown from conquest. Supporting human characters include Mark's peers, such as Samantha Thompson (), a classmate who develops a with Mark amid the chaos, and her initial boyfriend Brett Ramirez (Brandon Carrera), a soccer player and skateboarder from a wealthy who transitions from rival to cooperative ally despite occasional skepticism about the events. Mark's tech-oriented friend Wayne Fisgus () contributes gadgets and strategies drawn from gaming culture, enhancing the protagonists' defenses against digital incursions. Family members, including younger sister Ashley Hollander () and parents George and Meena, provide grounding normalcy but frequently encounter disguised antagonists, heightening the stakes without direct combat roles. These humans collectively embody everyday resilience, contrasting the superpowered game knights while enabling real-world logistics like evasion and power sourcing.

Game Knight Allies

The Lightning Knights serve as the primary allies originating from the fictional video game Ace Lightning and the Carnival of Doom, manifesting in the real world to pursue the shattered Amulet of Zoar and oppose the of Doom. These interdimensional superheroes enforce law in the Sixth Dimension, employing electrical-based weaponry and powers derived from their programming, which requires periodic recharging via ambient sources. Their arrival in the human realm, triggered by Mark Hollander accessing a hidden seventh level, positions them as guardians against chaos, with abilities including energy projection and enhanced physical capabilities. Ace Lightning functions as the group's leader and the series' central heroic figure, depicted as a courageous hologram with flight, lightning bolt emission, and rapid recharge mechanisms by draining power from devices such as vehicle batteries. Voiced by , Ace exhibits stereotypical traits—heroic resolve tempered by occasional naivety regarding human customs—while prioritizing the recovery of the amulet to prevent dimensional instability. His alliance with Mark evolves from recruitment to mutual reliance, emphasizing themes of duty over personal safety in confrontations with Lord Fear. Sparx, voiced by Deborah Odell, operates as Ace's former and a skilled martial artist among the Lightning Knights, favoring close-quarters combat with her signature Sword of Jacob for precision strikes. Characterized by youthful enthusiasm and arrogance that frequently precipitates tactical errors, she materializes mid-season to bolster the team's efforts, showcasing gymnastic agility and unwavering loyalty despite interpersonal tensions. Her impetuous nature contrasts Ace's measured approach, contributing to dynamic team interactions amid battles.

Antagonists

The antagonists of Ace Lightning consist of the "Evil Gang," a collective of villainous characters originating from the Sixth Dimension within the fictional video game Ace Lightning and the Carnival of Doom. These CGI-animated foes, led by Lord Fear, materialize in the real world through a lightning storm and pursue the reconstruction of the shattered Amulet of Zoar to achieve universal domination. Their base is depicted as an ominous amusement park known as the Carnival of Doom, featuring freakish minions who engage in schemes involving deception, combat, and energy absorption. Lord Fear serves as the central across both seasons, portrayed as a skeletal, with a cackling demeanor and command over dark energies. Voiced by , he relentlessly targets Ace Lightning as his primary rival, employing tactics such as amulet shard theft and alliances with other villains to overpower the Lightning Knights. His motivations stem from a desire for conquest, often thwarted by heroic interventions but persisting through manipulative leadership of his carnival-based horde. Lady Illusion, voiced by Tamara Bernier-Evans, functions as a seductress and secondary , initially aligned with Lord Fear as his consort before developing conflicted loyalties, including a romantic entanglement with that influences her actions. Her abilities include illusion-casting, , and agility, used to infiltrate enemy lines or sow discord, as seen in episodes where she steals amulet pieces under false pretenses. By the series' conclusion, her arc culminates in a sacrificial act against Lord Fear, highlighting internal divisions within the villainous ranks. In the second season, emerges as a formidable new leader, depicted as the "Cyber Stalker" with tentacle-like appendages for draining energy from victims. Voiced by , this calculating, tattooed villain supplants Lord Fear's dominance at times, focusing on technological upgrades and patient ambushes rather than overt chaos, representing an evolution in the antagonists' threat level through cybernetic enhancements. Supporting minions such as the brutish , the gluttonous , the sneaky Dirty Rat, and the staff-wielding Staff Head provide comic relief and brute force, often executing Lord Fear's orders in bumbling yet dangerous pursuits. These characters, all hailing from the Carnival of Doom except , embody carnival-themed grotesquery and contribute to episodic confrontations involving traps, chases, and power struggles over game artifacts.

Production

Development and Conception

Ace Lightning was created by Rick Siggelkow, who served as , and Jim Corston, who acted as and . The series was developed as a co-production between the BBC's and Communications' AAC Kids division, with production handled by CCI Entertainment in , . This collaboration aimed to produce 26 half-hour episodes blending live-action footage with (CGI) to depict characters materializing in the real world following a lightning strike. The core premise drew from the concept of fictional superheroes bridging into reality to continue their battle against evil, initially conceived with characters emerging from a comic book. This was revised during development to originate from a video game, reflecting the era's surge in children's engagement with gaming over traditional comics, which enabled narrative devices like game levels, power-ups, and quests to drive the plot. Siggelkow modeled the titular hero, Ace Lightning, on Superman, emphasizing archetypal traits of strength, justice, and moral clarity in a high-stakes interdimensional conflict. The shift to a video game framework also facilitated tie-in merchandise, including games for PC, PlayStation 2, and Game Boy Advance, though these later contributed to the series' cancellation after two seasons due to underwhelming sales.

Casting and Filming

The live-action human characters in Ace Lightning were primarily portrayed by Canadian actors, with the lead role of Mark Hollander played by British newcomer Thomas Wansey, who traveled to for the production. Shadia Simmons, known from prior roles in Canadian youth programming, was cast as Samantha Thompson, Mark's friend and eventual romantic interest. portrayed Kat Adams, another classmate involved in the supernatural events, while Marc Minardi played the antagonistic Chuck Mugel. Supporting roles included Billy MacLellan as Brett Ramirez in season 1 and Brandon Carrera taking over the part in season 2. Voice acting for the CGI game characters was handled by established Canadian performers, including as the heroic Ace Lightning, whose energetic delivery emphasized the character's optimistic persona. voiced the villainous Lord Fear, and other antagonists like Dirty Rat were brought to life by Adrian Truss. Casting emphasized performers capable of interacting convincingly with green-screen markers for the animated elements, as the human actors often filmed scenes without the visible CGI counterparts present. Filming of live-action sequences took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, despite the series being set in a fictional American suburb, allowing access to local studios and tax incentives for co-productions. Principal photography for season 1 occurred primarily in summer and autumn 2002, with Wansey noting the extended shoot in the city fostered strong ensemble chemistry among the young cast. The production integrated live-action footage with CGI through post-production compositing, where actors performed against chroma-key backgrounds to enable seamless interaction with the animated Lightning Knights and antagonists. This hybrid approach, coordinated by and teams, required precise timing for effects like lightning blasts and character movements, filmed separately by CGI animators using and keyframe techniques. Season 2 filming followed a similar process in , extending into 2003–2004, with adjustments for new story elements like the villain .

CGI Animation Techniques

The CGI for Ace Lightning was produced by Calibre Digital Pictures in , employing a streamlined designed for the demands of weekly television production, with over 10 minutes of computer-generated content per episode comprising approximately 160 shots. This approach involved early collaboration with scriptwriters to customize character models and rigs for episode-specific actions, maintaining a master file of setups that was updated following each broadcast. Character models originated from NURBS and subdivision surfaces, converted to polygons with around 80 joints per figure to support dynamic movements. utilized dual (IK) and forward kinematics (FK) systems in Alias Systems' Maya software, augmented by Maya Set Driven Keys for controls—typically 30 for the protagonist , 20 for Lady Illusion, and 10 for Staff Head—to enable expressive posing and deformation. Animation emphasized broad physicality for the game-derived characters, incorporating facial blend shapes for lip synchronization and dialogue delivery. Integration with live-action footage relied on greenscreen compositing, where on-set measurements of camera focal length, rotation, and height were imported into Maya for accurate matching. Digital matte paintings supplemented environments, while complex addressed materials like , metal, and on set models. Effects such as sparks, smoke, , debris, and digital camera moves were handled via Discreet's and software. Rendering combined from and Discreet's 3ds max on a / renderfarm running Maya 3.0, producing full-resolution for rapid iteration. Challenges included achieving seamless coexistence of CGI and live elements across diverse sets, weather conditions, and interactions like structural collapses tested with physical weights (e.g., 150 pounds on a car roof), marking an early instance of sustained, high-volume CGI in episodic children's programming.

Episodes

Season 1 (2002–2003)

Season 1 of Ace Lightning comprises 26 episodes and establishes the series' central conflict, in which video game characters from the fictional Ace Lightning and the Carnival of Doom enter the real world following a lightning strike on protagonist Mark Hollander's house during a storm. Mark, a British teenager recently relocated to Conestoga Hills, Pennsylvania, is recruited by the heroic cyborg Ace Lightning to locate six magical amulets hidden in the human world, which are required to access the game's seventh level and defeat the villainous Lord Fear in the Sixth Dimension. The season emphasizes themes of friendship and heroism as Mark conceals the existence of the CGI-animated game characters from his family while enlisting school friends Brittany Able, Wayne Hockby, and others to assist in battles against antagonists including Dirty Rat, Waylay, and Staff Head. The narrative arc progresses through episodic confrontations where Ace's team—comprising allies like the electric-powered Sparx and the malfunctioning Random Virus—tracks amulets while evading Lord Fear's schemes, such as traps and disguises, often spilling into everyday life at school and home. Key developments include the gradual revelation of character backstories, such as Ace's origins as a guardian of the Sixth , and escalating threats that test human-game alliances, culminating in efforts to assemble all amulets for a potential return to the game world. Episodes frequently blend live-action sequences with CGI fights, highlighting the technological integration that defined the production. In the United Kingdom, the season aired daily on BBC One starting September 2, 2002, initially in a rapid sequence before resuming in February 2003 to complete the run by March 28, 2003. International broadcasts, such as in the United States via syndication, often presented episodes out of production order, potentially altering perceived continuity.
EpisodeTitleAir Date
1The Game Begins2 Sep 2002
2The Trap Is Set3 Sep 2002
3The Substitute4 Sep 2002
4Face the Music5 Sep 2002
5There's No Place Like Home6 Sep 2002
6Opposite Attraction10 Sep 2002
7Only Human11 Sep 2002
8Behind the Mask12 Sep 2002
9Once Upon a Hero13 Sep 2002
10Knights Under Cover17 Sep 2002
11Tunnel of Love18 Sep 2002
12Nobody's Hero19 Sep 2002
13Ace's Wild19 Sep 2002
14The Field Trip16 Feb 2003
15Not Alone at Home22 Feb 2003
16Unidentified Flying Superhero23 Feb 2003
17A Friend in Need1 Mar 2003
18The Last Laugh2 Mar 2003
19Download Disaster8 Mar 2003
20Daffy Duff9 Mar 2003
21The Unlikely Hero15 Mar 2003
22The Not-So-Great Outdoors16 Mar 2003
23The Biggest Fan22 Mar 2003
24The Play's the Thing23 Mar 2003
25The Rat Turns27 Mar 2003
26Game Over28 Mar 2003

Season 2 (2003–2005)

Season 2 of Ace Lightning consists of 13 episodes, shifting the narrative focus to a new , , an independent rogue program voiced by that emerges from a blackout in ’s computer and pursues the systematic elimination of Ace Lightning and the Lightning Knights to conquer both the real world and the Sixth Dimension. The season explores themes of unlikely alliances, as the overshadowed Lord Fear temporarily partners with Ace against this superior threat, culminating in Kilobyte's master plan to trap real-world inhabitants in the game realm. Production for the season occurred primarily in 2003–2004, with episodes featuring enhanced CGI integration for Kilobyte's digital manipulations and battles. Mark Hollander returns from to Conestoga Hills, adjusting to family changes including his sister Samantha's enrollment in , while , Sparx, and Random prepare for a return to the Sixth Dimension. Kilobyte's campaign begins with targeting Random and escalates through encrypted databases revealing his origins as a puppet program turned autonomous hunter, forcing human allies like Mark, , and Jessica to decode threats amid real-world disruptions. Key episodes highlight Kilobyte's upgrades to villains like Dirty Rat and Rotgut, interpersonal conflicts such as Rick's failed sabotage attempts, and moral dilemmas like "Choices," where characters confront loyalties. The season premiered in the on on April 6, 2005, with "Upgrades," and concluded on May 18, 2005, with "The Master Plan," where Ace and Lord Fear's combined assault banishes back to digital confinement, resolving the immediate crisis but leaving game characters stranded in the real world.
No. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal UK air date
271Upgrades--6 April 2005
282Lady Lightning--8 April 2005
293The Substitute--12 April 2005
304Rick to the Rescue--13 April 2005
315Snowbound--14 April 2005
326Way Out West--19 April 2005
337--20 April 2005
348Lights, Camera, Action!--21 April 2005
359Choices--26 April 2005
3610Rotgut Rides Again--27 April 2005
3711--11 May 2005
3812Kilobyte Bites Back--13 May 2005
3913The Master Plan--18 May 2005

Broadcast and Distribution

United Kingdom Premiere

Ace Lightning premiered in the on on September 2, 2002, with the debut episode "The Game Begins," in which protagonist Mark Hollander encounters the titular during a . The series, co-produced by the and , occupied a slot within the programming block targeted at children aged 6-12, blending live-action footage with CGI-animated game characters. Initial episodes aired in rapid succession, with subsequent installments broadcast on September 3 ("The Trap Is Set"), September 4 ("The Substitute"), and September 5 ("Face the Music"), establishing a weekday viewing pattern. The premiere marked the UK launch of a show originally conceived for international markets, though BBC involvement ensured domestic priority. Despite a BBC press release later approximating the start to October 2002, episode guides and broadcast records confirm the early September debut. The program rapidly gained traction, positioning itself among the top new children's series on , buoyed by its innovative mix of real-world adventure and elements that appealed to young audiences familiar with video games. No specific premiere viewership figures are publicly documented, but the series' quick ascent in popularity facilitated its expansion to 26 episodes in the first season, concluding in early , before a delayed second season rollout in summer 2005. This airing preceded or coincided with international syndication, underscoring the BBC's role in the production's global dissemination.

International Airings and Syndication

Ace Lightning was distributed internationally by , with transmissions scheduled in , , and beginning in early 2003. In the United States, secured North American broadcast rights and premiered the series on its DIC Kids' Network in spring 2004. The show also debuted in , its co-producing country through , on networks including CBC. In , episodes aired on ABC2 as part of the ABC Kids programming block, with "The Game Begins" broadcasting on June 4, 2005. Additional markets included , where it received syndication, though specific network and date details remain limited in available records. The series' international reach leveraged its mix of live-action and CGI, appealing to children's audiences via syndicated blocks and public broadcasters focused on youth programming.

Reception

Critical Reviews

Ace Lightning received scant formal review from major critics, reflecting the typical oversight of niche children's programming in outlets during the early . The series' primary innovation—integrating fully CGI-animated characters into live-action sequences on a weekly basis—was acknowledged as a technical milestone, facilitating fluid interactions between digital heroes and real-world settings without relying on green-screen compositing limitations common at the time. This approach was described as a "rare and seamless coexistence of live action and CGI," marking one of the earliest sustained efforts in broadcast television to blend virtual and physical elements for pre-teen audiences. Commentary on the show's narrative and production quality remains sparse, with no aggregated scores from aggregators like available, underscoring its peripheral status in critical discourse. Where noted, the program's action-adventure format drew comparisons to aesthetics, praised for immersing young viewers in a multiverse-spanning conflict but occasionally critiqued for formulaic plotting centered on episodic battles against cartoonish villains. The BBC's heavy merchandising push, including and games tied to the show, prompted some media scrutiny over commercial intent overshadowing content depth, though this did not extend to direct aesthetic evaluations. Overall, the absence of widespread critical acclaim or condemnation aligns with the show's targeted appeal to children aged 6-12, prioritizing spectacle and heroism over sophisticated storytelling that might attract adult reviewers. Later retrospective analyses by animation enthusiasts have lauded its prescience in CGI-live hybrid techniques, influencing subsequent hybrid series, though contemporaneous professional verdicts are effectively nonexistent in archived sources.

Audience Response and Viewership

Ace Lightning garnered significant viewership in the upon its premiere on in October 2002, averaging 1.2 million viewers per episode during the first season and achieving a 26% audience share among children, which positioned it as the second most popular children's series on television at the time. The series' success prompted rapid international distribution, with broadcasts in over 40 countries including , , , , and , reflecting strong global interest from broadcasters. In the United States, the program debuted on the DIC Kids Network syndicated block in April 2004, reaching approximately 95% of TV households via , , and WB affiliates, though specific episode ratings for Ace Lightning were not publicly detailed amid the block's overall competitive performance against rivals like Fox Box. The DIC Kids Network itself reported strong kid demographics, with a 1.2 rating among children aged 2-11 in late , tying or outperforming competitors. Audience response among young viewers was generally positive, with the show's blend of live-action and CGI animation lauded for its excitement and innovative video game-to-reality premise, as evidenced by user reviews describing it as "very exciting kids series" suitable for families. Aggregated user ratings on stand at 6.4 out of 10 based on 393 votes, indicating moderate approval, though some feedback highlighted a perceived decline in quality during the second season. Retrospective commentary from fans has cultivated a nostalgic appreciation, often citing the series as ahead of its time in effects and storytelling for pre-teen audiences.

Achievements and Criticisms

Ace Lightning earned acclaim for its innovative integration of (CGI) with live-action footage, featuring over 10 minutes of digital content per 30-minute episode, including nearly 160 CGI shots. This approach, utilizing tools like Alias Maya's NURBS modeling, subdivision surfaces, and complex shading networks, achieved seamless of virtual characters across varied real-world environments, pushing the boundaries of weekly broadcast television production. The series was nominated for a Directors Guild of Team Award in 2003 for Outstanding Achievement in a Television Series - Children's, recognizing director Don McCutcheon and picture editor Peter Light. Critics and observers noted the show's formulaic episodic structure, typical of children's programming, which prioritized weekly adventures over deeper narrative arcs, potentially limiting long-term engagement. The production's abrupt end after two seasons left unresolved plotlines, including a involving the antagonists' return, contributing to viewer dissatisfaction amid unconfirmed plans for a third season. Financial strains from underperforming tie-in merchandise and video games, which garnered tepid reviews for repetitive gameplay and subpar quality, reportedly hindered support for continuation despite initial success. Audience ratings on platforms like averaged 6.4 out of 10, reflecting mixed responses that praised visual effects but critiqued non-descript character designs and voice work in some contexts.

Adaptations and Media Extensions

Video Game Release

A video game adaptation titled Ace Lightning was released for the Game Boy Advance, Windows, and , primarily in . The Game Boy Advance version, a 2D side-scrolling developed by and published by Multimedia, launched first on October 25, 2002. In this version, players control Ace Lightning navigating carnival-themed levels to battle enemies and bosses from the television series. The Windows edition, a third-person developed by Absolute Studios, followed on November 22, 2002. It features overhead exploration of an hub leading to themed worlds, where Ace confronts Lord Fear's minions using weapons and power-ups drawn from the show's lore. The port, also developed by Absolute Studios but published by Gamezlab, arrived later on March 14, 2003, in the United Kingdom. This version mirrors the Windows gameplay structure, emphasizing against series antagonists like Sparx and Dirty Rat within the Carnival of Doom setting. No North American releases occurred for any platform, limiting distribution to PAL regions.
PlatformDeveloperPublisherRelease DateRegion
Game Boy AdvanceOctober 25, 2002
Microsoft WindowsAbsolute StudiosNovember 22, 2002
PlayStation 2Absolute StudiosGamezlabMarch 14, 2003

Unconfirmed Third Season

Following the airing of season 2 from 2004 to 2005, the BBC reportedly initiated planning for a third season of Ace Lightning, driven by the series' initial viewership success on CBBC, which had attracted a dedicated young audience. However, these efforts did not advance to production, resulting in the program's conclusion after 40 episodes total. Evidence supporting the existence of such plans remains sparse and unverified by primary sources from the BBC or co-producer Alliance Atlantis Communications. Online lost media repositories cite two pieces of purported concept art for new characters—a villainess and a hero—as the primary artifacts, though their direct connection to season 3 development lacks substantiation beyond fan documentation. No scripts, production schedules, or budgetary allocations have surfaced publicly. Speculated reasons for the halt include declining merchandise revenue and insufficient overall profitability, as the series relied heavily on tie-in products like toys and video games to offset production costs. Fan forums echo these attributions, noting that while season 1 performed strongly, season 2 viewership may not have sustained commercial viability amid competition from other children's programming. Absent official records, these remain interpretive claims rather than confirmed facts, with no renewal announcements issued by broadcasters.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309125/
  2. https://www.cgw.com/Publications/CGW/2004/Volume-27-Issue-2-Feb-2004-/Like-Lightning.aspx
  3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309125/plotsummary/
  4. https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/ace-lightning/1030313538/
  5. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309125/episodes/
  6. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/582400-ace-lightning/data
  7. https://www.reddit.com/r/JARMEDIA/comments/1d7cuev/does_anyone_remember_or_watch_ace_lighting_as_a/
  8. https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/26288/ace-lightning
  9. https://ap2hyc.com/2024/04/ace-lightning-unleashing-a-heroic-childrens-classic/
  10. https://ap2hyc.com/2017/01/top-10-ace-lightning-episodes/
  11. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1017727/
  12. https://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/acelight.htm
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309125/fullcredits/
  14. http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/acelight.htm
  15. https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/1003103
  16. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/AceLightning
  17. https://www.deviantart.com/evilgidgit/art/Review-Ace-Lightning-1039435577
  18. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NightmareFuel/AceLightning
  19. https://neoencyclopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Ace_Lightning
  20. https://playbackonline.ca/page/2386/?ctr=2&ctre=42644&ctrb=100702
  21. https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2002/04_april/ace_lightning_miptv.shtml
  22. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2006/07/bbc-cci-producing-dinosapien/
  23. https://acelightning.fandom.com/wiki/Ace_Lightning
  24. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0911225/
  25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB7xwogPWcQ
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLH_RNJAa84
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309125/locations/
  28. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p032vj8j
  29. https://epguides.com/AceLightning/
  30. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03rdqr4
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0504956/
  32. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309125/episodes/?season=2
  33. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p032vw31/episodes/guide
  34. https://www.thetvdb.com/series/ace-lightning/seasons/official/1
  35. https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2004/03_march/mip_ace.shtml
  36. https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2002/06_june/ace_lightning_sales.shtml
  37. https://variety.com/2004/tv/news/kids-ace-in-dic-lineup-1117901490/
  38. https://www.cbc.ca/programguide/program/ace_lightning
  39. https://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc2/200506/programs/ZY6232A001D4062005T104500.htm
  40. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2004/03/dic-kids-network-adds-new-lineup/
  41. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291432013_Like_lightning
  42. https://www.mobygames.com/game/21109/ace-lightning/
  43. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1387975/BBCs-secret-plan-to-siphon-off-childrens-pocket-money.html
  44. https://www.awn.com/news/yowza-digital-brings-dinosapien-digital-life
  45. https://www.awn.com/news/dic-kids-network-sets-fall-2004-slate
  46. https://www.awn.com/news/dic-kids-network-high-ratings
  47. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309125/reviews/
  48. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/AceLightning
  49. https://a4d.fandom.com/wiki/Ace_Lightning_%28video_game%29
  50. https://www.mobygames.com/game/21130/ace-lightning/
  51. https://acelightning.fandom.com/wiki/Ace_Lightning_%28GBA_game%29
  52. https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Ace_Lightning
  53. https://www.myabandonware.com/game/ace-lightning-bgs
  54. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32569370/
  55. https://www.giantbomb.com/ace-lightning/3030-3915/releases/
  56. https://lostmediaarchive.fandom.com/wiki/Ace_Lighting_%28Cancelled_3rd_season%29
  57. https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/acelightning/ace-lightning-season-3-petition-t697-s20.html
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