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Megas XLR
Genre
Created byJody Schaeffer
George Krstic
Voices of
Opening theme"Chicks Dig Giant Robots" (performed by Ragtime Revolutionaries)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producersJody Schaeffer
George Krstic
Brian A. Miller (season 2)
EditorRoger Hinze
Running time26 minutes
Production companyCartoon Network Studios
Original release
NetworkCartoon Network
ReleaseMay 1, 2004 (2004-05-01) –
January 15, 2005 (2005-01-15)
Related
What a Cartoon!

Megas XLR is an American animated television series created by Jody Schaeffer and George Krstic for Cartoon Network.[1] The series revolves around two slackers: mechanic Coop and his best friend Jamie, who find a mecha robot from the future called MEGAS (Mechanized Earth Guard Attack System) in a Jersey City, New Jersey junkyard.[2] Coop modifies Megas and replaces his head, the control center, with a classic muscle car, and names him XLR (eXtra Large Robot). Together with Megas's original pilot Kiva, they must defend Earth from the evil alien race called "the Glorft". The series is an homage and parody of mecha anime. Krstic was originally one of the co-creators of MTV's Downtown.

Schaeffer and Krstic conceived the idea of an animated series where the main character would pilot a giant robot utilizing his video gaming skills. The pilot episode, LowBrow, was shown in 2002 during Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoon Weekend Summerfest, to determine which pilot would become a new Cartoon Cartoon; it was the most popular among viewers. It aired on the Toonami block from May 1, 2004, to January 15, 2005, for two seasons (totaling 26 episodes), before being cancelled due to low ratings.

Despite low ratings, the series was met with positive reception,[3][4] and was ranked at No. 4 on ToonZone's "Toons of the 2000s: Top 5 Cartoon Network Originals".[5] There have been various fan efforts and petitions to revive the show since its cancellation.

Megas XLR was produced by Cartoon Network Studios; Titmouse, Inc. animated the main title and did animation work on Season 1.

Overview

[edit]

In the year 3037, Earth is fighting a losing war against the Glorft, a hostile alien race led by Gorrath (Clancy Brown). In a last, desperate attempt to save the planet, the human resistance steals a prototype mecha robot from the Glorft and modifies it into a powerful war machine, renaming it Megas (Mechanized Earth Guard Attack System). Their plan is to use a time-traveling device called a time drive to send Megas and its assigned pilot, Kiva Andru (Wendee Lee), two years into the past to the Battle of the Last Stand, which was the last major offensive fought by humanity against the Glorft. Humanity lost that battle, but the members of the resistance, particularly Kiva, believe that Megas can tip the scales and hand the Glorft a decisive defeat.

Before the plan can be executed, however, an attack by the Glorft forces the human resistance to send Megas back in time before proper preparations are made. Megas' head is blown off in the attack and its time drive is damaged, and the crippled robot is inadvertently sent to a junkyard in 1930s Jersey City, New Jersey.[2] It remains there until a slacker mechanic named Harold "Coop" Cooplowski (David DeLuise) discovers it in approximately the year 2004. Coop turns Megas into a hot rod project by giving it a flaming paint job, replacing its head with a classic muscle car (resembling a car from the '70s MOPAR family; most likely a Plymouth Barracuda) and adding XLR (eXtra Large Robot) to its name.

While Coop is showing off the robot to his best friend Jamie (Steve Blum), Kiva travels to the 21st century to retrieve Megas and, upon discovering that only Coop can now pilot the robot due to his modifications to it, grudgingly agrees to train him in its use. However, Gorrath has followed her through time, forcing Kiva, Coop, and Jamie to team up and defend Earth against both Gorrath's forces and various other threats.

Episodes

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Series overview

[edit]
Seasons of Megas XLR
Season Episodes Originally aired
Season premiere Season finale
Pilot — August 23, 2002 (2002-08-23)
1 13 May 1, 2004 (2004-05-01) September 4, 2004 (2004-09-04)
2 13 October 16, 2004 (2004-10-16) January 15, 2005 (2005-01-15)

Pilot (2002)

[edit]
No. in
series 		Title Written by Storyboarded and directed by Original air date
Pilot"LowBrow: Test Drive"George KrsticChris PrynoskiAugust 23, 2002 (2002-08-23)
During a routine trip to the garbage dump, suburban misfit Coop discovers an advanced robot from the future. Coop brings the treasure home and retools it to suit his modern-day slacker needs.
Note: The pilot episode was aired as part of Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoon Weekend Summerfest marathon.

Season 1 (2004)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byStoryboarded byOriginal release date [6][7]
11"Test Drive"Chris PrynoskiGeorge KrsticChris Prynoski and Kelsey MannMay 1, 2004 (2004-05-01)

In the future, the Earth Coalition is fighting a losing war against the Glorft Imperium, a highly advanced extraterrestrial race with an insatiable hunger for conquest who are currently trying to recover a stolen mech codenamed "Avatar Prototype". Skilled 'mech pilot Kiva wants to send said mech, now renamed "Megas", back to a crucial part of the conflict, but accidentally sends it too far, and Megas winds up in the hands of couch potatoes Coop and Jamie. Worse, Kiva is stuck in the past with these boneheads, not to mention a Legion of really angry Glorft intent on capturing the Megas, even if they have to resort to using the giant UMD Mech to do it, which is at least 20 times bigger than the original Glorft mechs.

Note: In this episode, some scenes are reanimated from "LowBrow".
22"Battle Royale"Chris PrynoskiAlain MatzChris Prynoski and Kelsey MannMay 8, 2004 (2004-05-08)
A floating alien head named Magnanimous (voiced by Bruce Campbell) sees Coop's fighting skills and invites him to the Galactic Combat Federation to fight various other powerful robots. Coop agrees, but maybe it would have been better if he had stayed home because, after a couple of fights, Magnanimous reveals he wants Coop to lose so Magnanimous can make a fortune. Coop refuses to accept those terms, so Magnanimous resorts to some dirty tricks to this end.
33"All I Wanted Was a Slushie"Chris PrynoskiJack MonacoKelsey Mann and Bob MillerMay 15, 2004 (2004-05-15)
It's a hot day in the city, and Coop just wants a big old thirst quenching Megaslush. However, he accidentally causes a highly destructive robot named the Replicant Engineered for Galactic Infiltration and Sabotage (R.E.G.I.S.) Mk V (voiced by Michael Dorn) to fall to Earth. Every time Coop gets close to getting his slush, the R.E.G.I.S. shows up and causes the store to be destroyed. Coop is tired of R.E.G.I.S.' continuous desire of destruction and shop-ravaging, but how is he supposed to stop a robot that gets bigger and stronger every time you smash it?
44"The Fat & the Furious"Chris PrynoskiMichael KramerKelsey Mann, Jeff Hua, and Renato OtacanMay 1, 2004 (2004-05-01)
Coop begins a bad day by accidentally creating a giant cheese monster and has to stop it, but the method he uses gets cheese in Megas's CPU core. Unaware of this, Coop enters Megas in an auto show, and is putting up a very good showing until Megas breaks down and nearly destroys the building. Fortunately, he's able to stop it, but now the Glorft see an opening to attack and invade the city, hoping to capture Megas. But first they need to find the CPU core.
55"Buggin' the System"Chris PrynoskiGeorge KrsticJuno Lee and Rick Del CarmenMay 29, 2004 (2004-05-29)
Coop, Jamie and Kiva discover an ancient Ringworld while training. They discover it is actually a giant interstellar library with information on almost every species in the universe. Kiva is excited, because this could contain the key to defeating the Glorft and traveling back to the future. However, this Ringworld is infested with robotic, worm-like, energy loving bugs. Coop, in the end, ends up destroying the entire Ringworld when he destroys the worms' Queen.
66"TV Dinner"Chris PrynoskiAlain MatzRenato Otacan and Jeff HuaAugust 21, 2004 (2004-08-21)
In an attempt to fix the television, Coop accidentally causes a blast of concentrated television waves to go out into space and attracts a giant, radio-wave eating monster to Earth. Due to the fact it is eating all the TV-satellites, it is impossible for anyone to watch any TV. Coop needs to stop this thing at all costs, but there's one major snag - how do you stop a monster the size of a planet that eats television waves, not to mention that it has a bunch of killer boogers inside its body?
77"Breakout"Chris PrynoskiJack MonacoRick Del Carmen and Juno LeeJune 5, 2004 (2004-06-05)
Coop buys a game cartridge from a garage sale, thinking it's a video game. In reality, it's an inter-dimensional prison for the galaxy's most dangerous criminals-the most dangerous of which is Grrkek The Planet Killer. So, naturally, Coop unleashes Grrkek first, but is able to beat him with a cool looking laser that traps Grrkek. However, he proceeds to unleash all the other prisoners (including one that looks like a robotic Gamera), which show their gratitude by trying to destroy the city. Naturally, Coop must clean up another one of his own series of messes.
88"Dude, Where's My Head?"Chris PrynoskiMichael Kramer and Alain MatzJeffrey Hua, Kelsey Mann,
and Renato Otacan		July 31, 2004 (2004-07-31)
In order to impress a girl, Jamie borrows Coop's car to take her for a ride. Unfortunately, Warmaster Gorrath arrives piloting a deadly replica of Megas (dubbed Mecha-Megas) who's destroying Jersey searching for Megas; naturally, everyone thinks that the fake is just Coop being destructive. So Coop must use his secondary command bridge to control Megas. However, this method is much more difficult, so Coop does rather badly. Even worse, Jamie accidentally activates the car's connection to Megas, so now he's in control of Megas, but he has no idea - he's just trying to have a date.
99"Bad Guy"Chris PrynoskiGeorge KrsticRick Del Carmen and Juno LeeMay 22, 2004 (2004-05-22)
A group of crime-fighting teenagers, called the S-Force, think Coop's the ultimate villain, so they come to Earth to try to "stop" him. Coop tries to fight them off and explain he's actually a hero, when darn the luck, Ender, a dangerous intergalactic criminal and The S-Force's Arch Nemesis, shows up to help him. Coop needs to defeat Ender, but the S-Force (and Ender) still don't get it.
1010"Junk in the Trunk"Chris PrynoskiJack AlvinoJeff Hua and Kelsey MannAugust 14, 2004 (2004-08-14)
Coop accidentally damages a vital part of Megas, the photonic stabilizer. Without it, Megas will go up in a blaze of fiery glory and explode, which will not only destroy Megas, but also, everything within a 100-mile radius. Fortunately, Coop found a junk planet that probably has just about everything. Unfortunately, Varshin the Dealer wants Megas' time drive to complete his own robot and sends various "zombie" robots to retrieve it. Even more unfortunate, Goat has come along for the ride, and is thoroughly annoying Kiva, not to mention he's fantasizing about a personal robot of his own without any idea how to get or build one properly.
1111"DMV: Department of Megas Violations"Chris PrynoskiJack MonacoEnrique Del Carmen and Juno LeeJune 7, 2004 (2004-06-07)
An intergalactic bounty hunter arrives, and soon after Megas is impounded due to parking regulations. Coop needs to get it back in order to save Kiva, who is the target of the bounty hunter. Unfortunately, Coop's license has expired, so now he has to pass for a new one at the DMV. As Kiva battles with the evil bounty hunter, Coop has to deal with an even scarier villain - the red tape of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
1212"Coop D'Etat"Chris PrynoskiAlain MatzJeff Hua and Juno LeeSeptember 4, 2004 (2004-09-04)
Coop accidentally destroys a sacred treasure of the Halcyon Worlds, a robotic, alien empire - the Flame of Azeroth. The Emperor declares whoever captures Megas and bring it to judgment will be named as the new Emperor, so now Coop has to fight off a bunch of Halcyonites in the deep, dark reaches of the final frontier, all of which are, if necessary, willing to destroy each other to become the Emperor.
1313"The Driver's Seat"Chris PrynoskiGeorge KrsticKelsey MannAugust 28, 2004 (2004-08-28)
Coop accidentally teleports himself directly into the Karrajor, the Glorft Mothership, and now Kiva and Jamie have to figure out how to pilot Megas to save him. They do okay at first, but eventually crash into the Glorft mothership and get themselves - and Megas - captured. Fortunately, Gorrath foolishly lets Coop get the car, so Coop tears through the ship, intent on rescuing his friends and Megas. Now Coop must rescue everyone while finishing off the Glorft invasion once and for all, but how is he supposed to do that when the sheer amount of Glorft mech's overpowers even Megas and tears off several vital parts? Even worse, the Glorft have a new mech, the Karrajor in Mech mode, which is approx. 5 times larger than the UMD, which raises the question: how will Coop defeat this new threat with a critically damaged Megas?

Season 2 (2004–05)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byStoryboarded byOriginal release date [8]
141"Ultra Chicks"Kelsey MannAlain MatzVincent Edwards, Juno Lee, and Bob MillerOctober 16, 2004 (2004-10-16)
In an effort to impress some Sailor Guardian-style alien space girls, known as the Ultra-Cadets, Jamie poses as Coop and is taken to their planet, where he learns the Ultra Cadets' city is in trouble from a giant fire monster. Armed only with an age-old, feminine robot, Jamie "fights" the monster and defeats it the way Coop always does: sheer luck. However, Coop arrives with Megas to save Jamie and gets into a fight with the giant mechanized Ultra Cadets. After leaving the planet, the Ultra Cadets find out that Jamie had thrown the fire monster into a volcano which made him more powerful. The episode ends with the more powerful fire monster about to attack their city.
152"The Return"Sue PerrottoJack Monaco and Alain MatzVincent Edwards, Juno Lee, and Jason ParkOctober 23, 2004 (2004-10-23)
It's 5:01 and a video is due back at the rental store by 5:30, and Coop has to get it there on time to keep his membership from being revoked. However, Magnanimous appears and challenges Coop to protect his title against several robots, including one resembling Mr. T. Coop manages to beat the robots, but inadvertently challenges the entire galaxy to fight him - and the galaxy takes him up on the offer.
163"Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Coop"Kelsey MannJack AlvinoBob Miller, Brad Rader, and Fred ReyesOctober 30, 2004 (2004-10-30)
Coop inadvertently frees the Glorft from no-space, allowing Gorrath to start his revenge. The only thing Coop is worried about, however, is babysitting cousin Skippy, who is easily bored and hates everything about Coop's house. In an effort to get him to shut up, Coop takes Skippy to the moon in Megas. (Incredibly, he is still bored.) There he discovers the Glorft is plotting to smash the moon into the Earth. Coop has to fight off the Glorft while making sure Skippy doesn't end up Glorft fodder.
174"Viva Las Megas"Sue PerrottoAndrew Robinson and Alain MatzDave Chlystek, Vincent Edwards,
Juno Lee, and Jason Park		November 6, 2004 (2004-11-06)
Coop, Jamie and Kiva head off to Las Vegas, and inadvertently discover Area 50. Coop accidentally activates a destructive energy-leech robot, who, due to severe and fatal programming errors, sees everything as "the enemy." Coop further screws up by directing the robot to Las Vegas. Now Coop must find a way to shut down the robot permanently before Las Vegas loses all its power. Coop in the end destroying the cities power source causing the robot to deactivate. And he then buried the robot in the Grand Canyon which he had to fill with dirt.
185"Thanksgiving Throwdown!"Kelsey MannFord RileyBrad Rader, Fred Reyes,
and Octavio Rodríguez		November 27, 2004 (2004-11-27)
Once again, Coop mistakenly releases a giant, plant-type alien menace that wants to destroy Earth and acquire its heat. Fortunately, Megas is too big for the plant to handle, so it has to find a bigger form. Unfortunately, this is Thanksgiving, and the spore fuses with a bunch of parade balloons to this end. Coop now must prevent the plant from wrecking the holiday.
196"S-Force S.O.S."Juno Lee,
Kelsey Mann,
and Sue Perrotto		Zeke Kamm and George KrsticVincent Edwards, Juno Lee, and Jason ParkNovember 13, 2004 (2004-11-13)
The S-Force has been captured by an evil villain named Zarek, and he is planning to execute them. Fortunately, Jax escapes and (through the S-Force's mentor, Targon) manages to enlist Coop's help. Coop manages to save the S-Force from the "infinity zone," which Coop, Jamie, Kiva, the S-Force, and Megas fall into, but now Zarek is sending down an entire army to terminate them. It's Megas and the Ultra-Dimensional Power Zorp vs. a bunch of insect robots! The "gift" that Zarek offers Coop, Jamie and Kiva is an end to their lives, whereas the "gifts" Coop tries to give Zarek, but almost destroys the S-Force with, is actually thousands of missiles being fired at Zarek, due to the new Super Destructor Mode.
207"Space Booty"Sue PerrottoGeorge Krstic and Alain MatzBrad Rader, Fred Reyes,
and Octavio Rodríguez		November 20, 2004 (2004-11-20)
Kiva gets some unwanted attention from Captain Warlock, a space pirate who goes for red heads, and now must make a choice between a possible time drive or two complete idiots. As usual, one wrong choice means certain death. Now Kiva must find a way to free Coop and Jamie as well as fend off the advances of one love sick space pirate and his mechanized crew.
218"Terminate Her"Kelsey MannJack MonacoDave Chlystek, Vincent Edwards,
and Jason Park		December 4, 2004 (2004-12-04)
The Glorft, disguised as a motorcycle gang thanks to their latest Holo-Camouflages, comes to a rock concert. They're not there for entertainment, however - they want to eliminate Kiva's ancestor, which in turn would cause Kiva to cease to exist, which in turn would mean Megas would stay with the Glorft and never reach Coop, which would in turn doom Earth into extinction. Kiva and Jamie must protect the ancestor until Coop can get to Megas. To make matters worse, it seems that Jamie has fallen for Kiva's ancestor and she has fallen for him.
229"Ice Ice Megas"Sue PerrottoJack AlvinoBrad Rader, Fred Reyes,
and Octavio Rodríguez		December 11, 2004 (2004-12-11)
Coop crash-lands on an icy planet and ends up destroying its only mechanized guardian, who was a Cerilian gone rogue. Now he must protect the Yetis there from selfish, ice-hungry robots named the Cerilians, who use it to maintain their cooling systems. Trouble is, Megas is iced over, and does some of the Cerilian Army's work for them.
2310"A Clockwork Megas"Sue Perrotto and
Kelsey Mann		Zeke Kamm and Alain MatzBrad Rader, Fred Reyes, and Bob MillerDecember 18, 2004 (2004-12-18)
Coop, Jamie and Kiva teleport themselves to a planet with brainwashed robots who act like sissies and workers. The alien who did it tries to do the same to Megas, but his brainwasher device only works on sentient robots. (Obviously, Coop's doesn't count.) Coop tries to put the alien out of business for good without unnecessarily destroying the prisoners. Coop in the end destroys the mind control device, freeing the robots. He then leaves the planet, unfortunately as the group leaves it's shown that the planet was actually a prison to the worst robots in the universe, who start destroying the planet after they leave.
2411"Universal Remote"Kelsey MannJack MonacoDave Chlystek, Vincent Edwards,
and Jason Park		January 1, 2005 (2005-01-01)
Coop's builds the world's most powerful universal remote - and Skalgar (who Coop and Jamie called "School Girl"), an ignorant, alien criminal with an inferiority complex, wants it, believing its (non-existent) destructive power can boost his reputation. Coop underestimates his short opponent and his equally short mech, and Skalgar teleports the remote to his own mech. Coop then typically destroys all of Jersey City (again), attempting to recover the remote.
2512"Rearview Mirror, Mirror" (Part One)Sue PerrottoAlain MatzBrad Rader, Fred Reyes, and Bob MillerJanuary 8, 2005 (2005-01-08)
In the last days of the Earth War, Jamie and Kiva were busy shutting down the Glorft Core Destroyer, while Coop and the Glorft, led by Gorrath as usual, were fighting out. However, Coop and Gorrath get transported to a mirror dimension - because of a game-pad combo that activated the Trans-dimension Device - where Coop meets his alternate self, a futuristic, evil, and muscular warlord version of himself at that, having defeated the Glorft, abandoned Megas, formed an Empire, and keeps on destroying - no matter the location, time, dimension and enemy. He also sees that Kiva has turned cyborg as well and is evil Coop's sidekick. Alternate Jamie, on the other hand, has lost his cowardice forever and became strong enough to try and defeat evil Coop and his empire with his Resistance (and on a side note, Jamie and Kiva were dating in the future). Coop and Gorrath must work together this time to stop mirror Coop and prevent him from ever destroying Earth again. In an attempt to stop evil Coop from destroying their dimension, Coop and Gorrath, assisted by alternate Jamie, launch a desperate assault on the evil Coop.
2613"Rearview Mirror, Mirror" (Part Two)Kelsey MannGeorge Krstic and Jack AlvinoDave Chlystek, Vincent Edwards,
and Jason Park		January 15, 2005 (2005-01-15)
Tragically, Megas is (once again) critically damaged and Coop (in a suicide charge) gambles everything in attempting to stop the evil Coop, but only succeeds in getting his core critically damaged and causing Megas to finally be destroyed, but the protagonists suddenly realize that evil Coop abandoned his Megas in favor of his more warlike mech. Then evil Coop and his massive Grunt army invades Coop's dimension, and both of them swiftly create a giant battlefield, starting the big but short Dimensional War. On the Evil side, is evil Coop in his Black and Red Warlord Mech with hundreds of mindless Grunt 'Mechs and evil Kiva in her separate EC Mech, while the Good side, contains Coop in evil Coop's MEGAS, Gorrath in his personal Mech, including his army of Glorft Grunt 'Mechs. After a long and devastating battle that reduced the evil Coop's army into mere junk, mirror Coop and mirror Kiva retreat into the Dimensional Gate to return to his dimension. As soon as the mirror leaders entered the Dimensional Gate, Coop orders alternate Jamie (who remained in evil Coop's stronghold) to destroy the Gate, trapping Evil Coop and Evil Kiva stuck between worlds forever, never to cause annihilation of any dimension again (in this case, it was a world filled with Lerps - elf-like creatures similar to the Smurfs, but they can breathe flowers and go angry when attacked). Meanwhile, Coop decides to test what new gadgets the evil Coop installed into Megas and destroys the city once more in the process.

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

While playing video games, Jody Schaeffer and George Krstic came up with an idea of making an animated series in which the main character would use his video gaming skills to pilot a giant robot.[9] The pilot short (LowBrow) was shown in 2002 as part of Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoon Weekend Summerfest, a contest to determine which pilot would be selected as the next Cartoon Cartoon. It was the most popular among viewers, and was greenlit as a series.

Much of the series is inspired by Japanese mecha anime which the two grew up watching, with the animation being inspired by both anime and Western animation.[9] The humour often pays homage to or mocks anime conventions.[9]

Broadcast

[edit]

After being delayed from its original debut in December 2003, Megas XLR finally debuted on the Toonami block on May 1, 2004. However, due to low ratings, the series was cancelled after two seasons, with the final episode airing on January 15, 2005.

Reruns continued to air sporadically from January 16 to September 24, 2005. During this time, the series was later moved to the graveyard slot of 3:30am on Friday nights/Saturday mornings, before being removed from the network altogether.

The entire series is available at the Xbox Video.[10]

Future

[edit]

Possible revival

[edit]

In late 2012, fans of the show on Twitter started using the hashtag #BringBackMegasXLR. The co-creator George Krstic and director Chris Prynoski announced they would bring back the show; seeing as Megas XLR had been written off by Cartoon Network, the studio Titmouse, Inc. would have to get the rights to the show.[11] On April 29, 2013, George Krstic posted a tweet saying that he and Chris Prynoski were having a meeting at Titmouse to discuss bringing back the show along with Motorcity. However, in a 2014 interview George Krstic was quoted as saying: "Megas was written off as a tax loss and as such can not be exploited, at least domestically, in any way, or the network will get into some sort of tax/legal trouble." Because the show was used as a tax write-off the network would have to pay back the taxes they received from it and face large fines. It could also open the network up to tax fraud investigation.[12][how?] As of 8 February 2019, Krstic has stated that the rights to the series had successfully transferred ownership to Warner Brothers, though at this point it's too early and uncertain to tell what it could mean for the show's future.[13]

In June 2025, co-creator Jody Schaeffer revealed that through its iTunes release and international sales, the show was able to make its money back and had been greenlit for a reboot a few years prior. However, the project was scrapped amidst the Warner Bros. Discovery merger.[14]

Potential video game

[edit]

In December 2012, a series of messages were posted on Twitter by series director Chris Prynoski, hinting at production of a video game based on the series with Valve. No official comment on the project has yet been made by Valve or Cartoon Network.[15] However, in 2015 Chris Prynoski mentioned on Twitter that he had been unable to sort out the licensing needed.[16]

Reception

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]

The series was well received. In a retrospective analysis of Dave Trumbore from Collider said "It's actually a really funny and well-done series, but also because a listener (MrJake!) called in to recommend it; our cartoon lawyers say we're legally obligated to cover it. Just happy it's a good toon this time!".[17]

Roy from Cinemahub.com gave the show 3.5 rating out of 5 (Great) and wrote "While it’s still hilarious and fun to watch, its action scenes fall short in comparison to present-day animated series."[18]

Noah Dominguez of CBR.com said "It's clear the creative team behind Megas XLR had a lot of fun making it. As such, the fans had a lot of fun watching it. Its over-the-top premise and delightfully self-aware humor were complemented nicely by the dynamic between Coop, Jamie and Kiva. Coop is the slacker who's actually fairly capable despite himself, Jamie offers comic relief and Kiva is the straight man who also has a nice fish-out-of-water angle to work with. Plus, let's not forget that the show had an absolute banger of a theme song in Ragtime Revolutionaries' "Chicks Dig Giant Robots."[19]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Megas XLR

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Megas XLR is an American adult animated series created by Jody Schaeffer and George Krstic that originally aired on Cartoon Network's programming block from May 1, 2004, to January 15, 2005. The series follows Harold "Coop" Cooplowski, a slacker mechanic in , who discovers a massive from the 23rd century in a junkyard and outfits it with dispensers, a massive TV screen, and video game-style controls, turning it into his personal ride named M.E.G.A.S. (Mechanized Earth Guard Attack System). Accompanied by his best friend Jamie and the robot's time-displaced Kiva Andru, who is determined to reclaim the machine for its original purpose of defending Earth against the alien Glorft race, Coop pilots the customized in chaotic battles while dealing with everyday teenage antics. The show's premise originated from a 2002 pilot titled Lowbrow, which featured a more crude and lowbrow tone but evolved into a satirical take on anime tropes blended with American slacker humor. Produced by in collaboration with Sunmin Animation, , and , the series ran for two seasons comprising 20 aired episodes, though 26 were produced in total, with the remaining six left unaired due to the show's cancellation. Key voice actors include as Coop, as Kiva, as Jamie, and as the Glorft leader Gorrath, bringing a mix of comedic timing and action to the characters. Despite its short run, Megas XLR garnered a dedicated for its unique fusion of over-the-top robot action, pop culture references, and irreverent , earning an 8.2/10 rating on from over 6,700 user votes (as of November 2025). The series was praised for its animation quality and humor in industry outlets like , which highlighted its innovative junkyard-customized concept upon premiere. However, it struggled with low viewership ratings, leading to its abrupt cancellation after the second season, though creators have discussed potential revivals in interviews over the years, including a planned revival in 2025 that was ultimately canceled by CEO .

Premise and Characters

Plot Overview

Megas XLR centers on two teenage slackers, Coop and his best friend , who discover a massive robot named Megas, originating from the year 3037, buried in a junkyard. They extensively modify the with everyday junk like hot rods, flame decals, video game controllers, and even junk food dispensers, transforming it into a chaotic weapon against threats. Accompanied by , the robot's original pilot from the future who time-travels to the present, the duo pilots Megas to defend from the Glorft, a hostile alien race intent on reclaiming the machine to alter history in their favor. The series unfolds in present-day , juxtaposing mundane suburban life—such as convenience store runs and local car shows—with high-stakes, over-the-top battles that often spill into urban streets or extraterrestrial locales. Time-travel elements recur as the Glorft repeatedly send forces across eras to capture Megas, forcing Coop and his companions into improvised defenses that blend futuristic technology with contemporary American . Thematically, Megas XLR satirizes mecha anime conventions through humor derived from incompetence, as Coop's unorthodox piloting and modifications frequently cause Megas' systems to malfunction, leading to unpredictable and destructive fight sequences. It emphasizes junk culture by portraying the robot's enhancements as extensions of slacker ingenuity, while exaggerated action highlights themes of underdog heroism amid absurdity. Recurring plot devices include these system glitches turning battles into farcical spectacles and ongoing time-travel incursions that escalate the stakes without resolving the central conflict.

Main Characters

The central protagonist of Megas XLR is Harold "Coop" Cooplowski, a laid-back, overweight mechanic in his early twenties who lives in a junkyard and spends his days playing video games, eating , and tinkering with . Coop's carefree and foolhardy personality often leads to chaotic situations, but his persistence and intuitive approach to piloting the Megas robot make him an unlikely hero in defending from alien threats. He discovered the damaged Megas in the junkyard and extensively modified it to suit his gaming habits, turning it into a customizable weapon controlled via joysticks and a . Coop's best friend and sidekick, , is a sarcastic, level-headed slacker who provides through his cowardly tendencies and failed attempts at . In his early twenties, Jamie often accompanies Coop on adventures, handling minor repairs on Megas and pointing out the dangers of their reckless escapades, though he prefers to avoid direct combat. Their lifelong friendship, dating back to elementary school, forms the core dynamic of the series, with Jamie serving as the voice of reason amid Coop's bravado. Kiva Andru, a skilled and pilot from the year 3037, travels back in time to retrieve Megas and alter the course of a future war against the Glorft. Intelligent and no-nonsense, Kiva clashes frequently with Coop's sloppy methods, providing technical expertise and combat training while gradually adapting to the present-day world's casual lifestyle. Her relationship with the duo evolves from frustration to a reluctant camaraderie, with underlying romantic tension hinted at with . Megas itself is a massive, 80-foot-tall E-frame originally designed by the Glorft as a called the Avatar to conquer humanity. After being captured and upgraded by future humans with advanced weaponry like energy swords, missiles, and flight capabilities, it crash-landed in the past, where Coop's modifications filled its interior with junk and transformed its controls into a interface. As the series' titular machine, Megas embodies the blend of high-tech future engineering and lowbrow present-day improvisation, serving as the primary tool for the protagonists' battles. The primary antagonists are the Glorft, a squid-like alien race intent on reclaiming Megas to ensure their victory in the . Led by the tactical and vengeful Warmaster Gorrath, a green-skinned commander with tentacles and a mechanical exoskeleton, the Glorft deploy advanced mechs and armadas in repeated attempts to capture the robot and destroy . Gorrath's intense rivalry with Coop drives many conflicts, marked by mutual taunts and strategic schemes. Supporting characters include Coop's stern grandmother, who occasionally scolds him for his laziness, and minor figures like the junkyard alien , who adds humorous interactions through his quirky personality. These elements enhance the series' comedic tone without dominating the narrative.

Production

Development

Megas XLR was conceived in 1999 by Jody Schaeffer and George Krstic, who met at New York's and had previously collaborated on MTV's Downtown. While playing video games together, the duo developed the core concept of a piloting a massive using gaming skills, initially pitched under the working title "Lowbrow." This idea evolved from their shared interests in and pop culture, with contributions from artist on the robot design and producer Tony Cupo. The series' origin as a short pilot, titled "LowBrow: Test Drive," was animated by Madhouse. The show's influences drew heavily from mecha anime genres, parodying elements of series like and Evangelion through exaggerated robot battles and time-travel tropes, while incorporating American slacker comedy reminiscent of and the irreverent humor of . Additional inspirations included video games, pro wrestling, customized cars, and junkyard aesthetics, creating a visual style that emphasized Coop's garage tinkering and over-the-top action sequences. These elements were blended to satirize giant robot archetypes from shows like Transformers and , reimagining them with a laid-back, Nintendo-era protagonist. In 2000, Schaeffer and Krstic pitched the concept to Cartoon Network executive Linda Simensky at San Diego Comic-Con via a VHS tape, leveraging Schaeffer's prior student-teacher relationship with her. The network greenlit the project following the 2002 pilot's success in the Cartoon Cartoon Weekend Summerfest competition, leading to an initial order for 26 episodes despite production delays caused by the September 11, 2001, attacks. Key creative decisions included prioritizing adult-oriented humor through Coop's immature antics and pop culture references, while adapting to a limited animation budget by stylizing action scenes with minimal backgrounds and exaggerated physics. The series was structured around mostly standalone episodes, though the creators envisioned incorporating long-term arcs involving time travel and dimensional shifts to deepen the narrative. Development faced challenges in balancing the parody of mecha tropes with engaging action, ensuring the slacker comedy did not undermine the robot fights' spectacle. The initial 26-episode commitment was partially realized, with Season 2 produced unofficially through early scriptwriting amid network shifts, but ultimately reduced due to concerns over ratings performance and a pivot toward other properties like . Creators aimed for a mature tone suited to older audiences, though scheduling placed it on Cartoon Network's block rather than .

Animation and Voice Cast

The animation of Megas XLR employed a 2D style that blended elements of traditional Western cartooning with influences from Japanese mecha , resulting in fluid, exaggerated character movements and high-energy combat sequences. This approach paid homage to classic giant while incorporating Western humor through over-the-top poses and dynamic fight choreography. The series was produced by in , with overseas handled by South Korean facilities including Sunmin Image Pictures for several episodes, for six episodes, and for 2 production. Titmouse, Inc. provided assistant across all episodes and handled the main along with much of 1's work. Key production staff included co-creators and executive producers Jody Schaeffer and George Krstic, who also contributed to writing duties. served as supervising producer and director, overseeing the integration of anime-inspired action with comedic elements. Line producers John Cawley and Kelly Crews managed the workflow, while Alain Matz and staff writer Jack Monaco developed scripts that emphasized satirical takes on sci-fi tropes. Music supervision was led by , with Shawn K. Clement composing the score, which featured a rock-infused electronic soundtrack to match the show's energetic pace. The opening theme, "Chicks Dig Giant Robots," was performed by the Revolutionaries, capturing the series' playful tone with its upbeat, robot-themed lyrics. The voice cast was assembled in Los Angeles under casting director Collette Sunderman, drawing on actors experienced in both and dubs to deliver lines with an exaggerated, anime-inspired flair that amplified the comedic timing. provided the boisterous voice of Coop, the laid-back mechanic protagonist. voiced , Coop's sarcastic best friend, bringing a gravelly edge reminiscent of his anime roles. , known for her extensive work, portrayed Andru, the time-displaced engineer with a determined, high-pitched delivery. Scot Rienecker lent his voice to the alien , adding quirky sound effects for emphasis. Notable guest voices included as the bombastic Glorft Commander, in various authoritative roles, and as the egotistical Magnanimous. Sound design for Megas XLR highlighted the series' blend of action and through amplified, cartoonish effects for battles, such as booming impacts and whirring machinery, which underscored the chaotic robot fights. sound services were provided by Hacienda Post, ensuring precise comedic pauses in alongside the explosive audio cues for Megas' weaponry and transformations. This approach enhanced the over-the-top nature of the show's humor, making the audio as irreverent as the visuals.

Episodes

Pilot Episode

The pilot episode of Megas XLR, originally titled "Lowbrow," aired on August 23, 2002, as part of Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoon Weekend Summerfest, a viewer-voting event to select new series from eight shorts. In the approximately 7-minute short, directed by co-creator Jody Schaeffer, slackers Harold "Coop" Cooplowski and his friend discover a massive called MEGAS buried in a junkyard. The robot originates from the year 3037, sent back in time by the Earth Coalition to evade destruction by the invading alien Glorft forces; Coop quickly customizes it with junkyard parts, including a for the , turning it into a high-performance . When a Glorft ship arrives to eliminate the threat, Coop activates Megas and engages in a destructive battle, showcasing the robot's power while causing chaos in the city. Andru, the robot's intended pilot from the future, pursues it through time and arrives to reclaim Megas, only to discover that Coop's modifications have locked her out of the controls, compelling her to reluctantly team up with him against the Glorft. Produced on a modest budget using early techniques combined with 3D elements, the pilot served as a proof-of-concept pitched by Schaeffer and co-creator George Krstic at , drawing from influences like mecha , pro wrestling, and video games. Its rougher style and shorter runtime reflected the experimental nature of the format, with Schaeffer handling much of the initial assembly on personal hardware. The episode featured temporary that was recast for the series, and its content included more mature humor and destruction sequences deemed edgier for a kids' network. Compared to the full series, the pilot adopted a more serious, action-driven tone with limited comedic elements, focusing primarily on the initial discovery and battle rather than the ongoing and junkyard upgrades that defined later episodes. Megas appears less extensively modified at the outset, emphasizing the setup over the elaborate, humorous customizations seen in the show; Kiva's introduction is more straightforward, without the expanded interpersonal dynamics developed in the series. Viewer reception during the Summerfest voting was overwhelmingly positive, with "Lowbrow" winning the contest and prompting to greenlight a 26-episode order, though internal notes highlighted the need to tone down adult-oriented themes for wider appeal in the refined series. This success validated the creators' vision of a slacker piloting a giant , bridging the gap between the short's raw energy and the polished production that premiered in 2004.

Season 1

Season 1 of Megas XLR comprises 13 episodes, which premiered on Cartoon Network's block on May 1, 2004, and concluded on September 4, 2004. The season introduces the core through episodic adventures, focusing on Coop's haphazard piloting of the Megas amid escalating Glorft invasions from the future. Episodes blend over-the-top battles with the protagonists' everyday suburban life, establishing the series' signature mix of crude humor, pop culture references, and high-stakes action. The season's episodes are primarily standalone, highlighting Coop's learning curve with Megas' manual controls, Jamie's opportunistic schemes, and Kiva's frustrated attempts to steer the team toward strategic victories against the Glorft. Early installments emphasize comedic mishaps, such as bureaucratic entanglements or junkyard repairs, while later ones ramp up the spectacle with interstellar chases and alien tech malfunctions. Representative examples include the premiere "," where Coop customizes the dormant Megas and faces its original Glorft pursuers, setting up the team's dynamic; "," in which Megas is impounded, forcing a satirical run-in with and an alien hunter; and the finale "Coop D'Etat," involving a robotic empire's power struggle that tests the group's coordination. No overarching narrative arc spans the season, but recurring Glorft skirmishes build tension around their time-travel pursuit of Megas.
EpisodeTitleAir DateSynopsis
1Test DriveMay 1, 2004Coop discovers and hot-rods the Megas robot from a junkyard, sparking his first clash with the Glorft who seek to reclaim it.
2The Fat and the FuriousMay 1, 2004At a car show, Coop's rivalry escalates when Glorft forces attack, requiring manual overrides and teamwork to defend the venue.
3Battle RoyaleMay 8, 2004Coop joins an intergalactic robot tournament rigged by a shady promoter, uncovering threats while Jamie places bets.
4All I Wanted Was a SlushieMay 15, 2004A simple errand for a snack turns chaotic as Glorft tech disrupts the city, forcing an impromptu defense.
5Buggin' the SystemMay 22, 2004Coop hacks into a virtual reality setup, battling digital Glorft incursions that spill into the real world.
6Robo-RoundhouseMay 29, 2004Alien prisoners escape a simulation game, manifesting as monsters that the team must contain.
7S.S. GlorftasticJune 5, 2004A space library holds anti-Glorft secrets, but energy parasites jeopardize the mission.
8Coop: The Big ScoreJune 12, 2004Jamie commandeers Coop's vehicle for a date, leaving Megas' backup systems to handle a Glorft assault.
9DMV: Department of Motor VehiclesJune 26, 2004Megas gets towed for violations, entangling the team in paperwork while dodging a bounty hunter.
10Junk in the TrunkJuly 3, 2004Repairs lead to a scrap planet run by a treacherous host, amid Glorft sabotage attempts.
11Greetings from the FutureJuly 10, 2004A satellite-munching beast interrupts Coop's downtime, revealing future tech anomalies.
12The Driver's SeatAugust 28, 2004Coop is abducted to the Glorft flagship, prompting Kiva and Jamie to mount a rescue operation.
13Coop D'EtatSeptember 4, 2004Megas enters a contest for a robot empire's throne, navigating political intrigue and battles.
In production, scripts for Season 1 were refined after the pilot to emphasize character-driven alongside mecha action, with creators George Krstic and Jody Schaeffer overseeing storyboards and overseas animation by Action sequences grew more intricate across episodes, incorporating dynamic robot fights and environmental destruction under supervising director . Despite initial low ratings that threatened the series, the season cultivated a dedicated through its irreverent tone and fan engagement, leading to Season 2's approval.

Season 2

Season 2 of Megas XLR comprises 13 episodes that aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami block from October 16, 2004, to January 15, 2005, building on the foundational elements established in the first season by escalating conflicts with the Glorft and introducing more complex narrative threads. The season shifts toward deeper exploration of time-travel mechanics and alternate realities, while intensifying action sequences and allowing for subtle character development among Coop, Kiva, and Jamie as they navigate increasingly high-stakes threats. The episodes maintain the series' blend of humor, mecha battles, and sci-fi tropes but incorporate more serialized storytelling, particularly in the two-part finale that addresses major ongoing arcs involving the Glorft invasion. Below is a list of Season 2 episodes, including titles, original air dates, and brief non-spoiler synopses:
EpisodeTitleAir DateSynopsis
14 (S2E1)Ultra ChicksOctober 16, 2004Attractive alien women seek Coop as a savior; Jamie tries to impersonate him to win their favor.
15 (S2E2)The ReturnOctober 23, 2004Coop races to return a video rental while facing numerous enemies challenging Megas in a high-stakes competition.
16 (S2E3)Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's CoopOctober 30, 2004Coop babysits his cousin Skippy and must team up with him to fend off a Glorft attack.
17 (S2E4)Viva Las MegasNovember 6, 2004The trio visits Las Vegas, encountering a giant robot threatening the city’s power supply at a secret facility.
18 (S2E5)S-Force S.O.S.November 13, 2004Coop helps the S-Force team against a warlord, while Jamie tries to impress one of its members.
19 (S2E6)Space BootyNovember 20, 2004Megas is pulled into a pirate ship; Kiva faces a dilemma when the captain targets her specifically.
20 (S2E7)Thanksgiving ThrowdownNovember 27, 2004A virus monster crash-lands on Earth, disrupting holiday plans after Coop accidentally releases it.
21 (S2E8)Terminate HerDecember 4, 2004The Glorft target Kiva’s ancestor at a concert; Coop must protect her to safeguard Kiva’s future existence.
22 (S2E9)Ice Ice MegasDecember 11, 2004Megas crashes on a frozen planet, where Coop accidentally unleashes an invasion of hostile robots.
23 (S2E10)A Clockwork MegasDecember 18, 2004Tweaking Megas' sound system lands the team on a planet of peace-loving robots controlled by a brainwashing device.
24 (S2E11)Universal RemoteJanuary 1, 2005An alien robot schemes to steal Coop’s universal remote for its potential to control realities.
25 (S2E12)Rearview Mirror, Mirror (Part 1)January 8, 2005Coop and Gorrath are transported to an alternate reality featuring a hardened version of Jamie leading a resistance.
26 (S2E13)Rearview Mirror, Mirror (Part 2)January 15, 2005Coop confronts his evil counterpart from the alternate dimension to prevent catastrophic destruction.
Throughout the season, storytelling progresses from standalone adventures to interconnected arcs, particularly emphasizing time-travel lore in episodes like "Terminate Her" and the "Rearview Mirror, Mirror" finale, which wraps up the central Glorft conflict while hinting at broader multiversal implications. Character growth is evident in Coop's occasional displays of responsibility amid his persona, Kiva's strategic refinements, and Jamie's opportunistic schemes, all set against more intense battles that showcase Megas' upgraded capabilities. This serialization marks a departure from Season 1's episodic format, fostering a of culmination despite the abrupt end. Production on the final episodes was impacted by Cartoon Network's decision to prioritize other series like and , leading to the show's cancellation after 26 total episodes despite solid but not standout ratings. The two-part finale was crafted to provide some resolution to major plotlines, including the Glorft war, but left several cliffhangers—such as lingering time-travel paradoxes and unresolved alliances—unaddressed due to the sudden halt in production. The series concluded without a third season, marking an abrupt end to its run on .

Broadcast and Release

Original Broadcast

Megas XLR debuted in the United States on on May 1, 2004, airing at 9:00 p.m. ET as part of the programming block on Saturdays. The series, produced as an original for the network's main daytime schedule, featured a mix of action and humor targeted at a broad audience, though its tone drew comparisons to content more aligned with the late-night block. Initial episodes aired weekly in this prime evening slot, but scheduling shifts later repositioned it to less prominent times, including early morning hours on weekends, which reduced its overall visibility. The broadcast run faced interruptions from pre-emptions and further time slot adjustments amid network programming changes, contributing to inconsistent exposure. Despite these challenges, the series maintained a regular rotation through its two seasons, averaging modest viewership that ultimately led to its cancellation; specific metrics indicated delivery growth in select weeks but overall insufficient audience draw for continuation. The final episode aired on January 15, 2005, marking the end of its original linear television run on the network. Internationally, Megas XLR saw distribution through affiliates and other channels, premiering in on in fall 2004 with English and options. In the , it later aired on starting in 2008, while various European markets received dubbed versions, including French on and Club RTL in . Asian broadcasts included localized versions on regional channels, such as in and Mandarin in , though no Japanese dub or premiere was produced. These international airings followed the U.S. pattern but adapted to local schedules, often in afternoon or evening blocks for youth audiences.

Home Media and Streaming

The home media releases for Megas XLR have been limited due to the series being written off as a tax loss by following its cancellation, which restricts domestic exploitation in the United States, including official physical distributions. No official DVD or Blu-ray releases were issued in Region 1 by Warner Home Video or . In the , a limited DVD containing the first three episodes was released in 2013 by , featuring basic episode playback without additional extras. Unofficial complete series DVD sets and fan-restored Blu-ray compilations in HD have circulated through third-party sellers, but these lack official licensing and vary in quality. As of November 2025, Megas XLR is not available for subscription streaming on major U.S. platforms like Netflix, but Season 1 can be purchased or rented digitally on Amazon Prime Video at approximately $1.99 per episode or $9.99 for the season; Season 2 is not available on Amazon. Both seasons are available for digital purchase on Apple TV at $19.99 each in the United States, allowing downloads in HD. Internationally, following Warner Bros. Discovery's content purge in August 2025, availability on Max (formerly HBO Max) has been significantly reduced; as of September 2025, both seasons were still streaming in select Southeast Asian markets such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, but access in regions like Latin America, Brazil, and Australia is now limited or unavailable. Some episodes have been removed from platforms following corporate mergers, such as the WarnerMedia-Discovery consolidation in 2022 and subsequent purges, reducing overall availability. Archived full episodes, including the 2002 pilot, are viewable for free on the Internet Archive, preserved from original Cartoon Network broadcasts.

Reception

Critical Reception

Upon its 2004 premiere, Megas XLR received limited professional critical attention, with trade publications like Variety and highlighting its premise as an action-comedy featuring a slacker piloting a modified future robot against aliens, positioning it as a fresh addition to Cartoon Network's block. These early mentions praised the show's parody of anime tropes but noted its niche appeal amid Cartoon Network's lineup. No major review outlets assigned numerical scores during its run, reflecting its brief two-season lifespan and low ratings that led to cancellation. In retrospective analyses during the 2020s, critics have lauded Megas XLR as an underrated gem of early animation, emphasizing its blend of over-the-top action, self-aware humor, and cultural references. A 2020 podcast review described it as a "fantastic action-comedy mech series," commending the humor that effectively skewers conventions and the fluid produced by studios like Titmouse. Similarly, a retrospective called it a "standout" for balancing extravagant robot battles with mundane slacker life, noting standout episodes like "DMV: Department of Megas Violations" for their absurd wit, though its unresolved plot due to early cancellation was a drawback. The Avocado's 2020 piece further praised the series' "gleeful and ironic" tone, packed with sly nods to 1980s and 1990s anime like Gatchaman and Transformers, crediting Titmouse's efficient animation style for dynamic sequences despite budget constraints. A 2025 United article reflected on its nostalgic appeal, questioning its remembrance while affirming its comfortable, humorous legacy among fans. These reviews consistently highlight its cult status, attributing enduring appeal to the creative team's evident enthusiasm, even as mainstream success eluded it. The series received no major awards or nominations, including at the , despite its voice cast and animation ambitions.

Fan Response

Despite its brief two-season run from 2004 to 2005, Megas XLR quickly developed a dedicated among animation enthusiasts, particularly those drawn to its irreverent take on tropes. Fans expressed strong initial support through online discussions and niche merchandise purchases, though overall sales were insufficient to sustain the series commercially. This enthusiasm highlighted a loyal but underserved audience segment, with early buzz contributing to the show's enduring appeal despite low broadcast ratings. The series' cult status has been bolstered by ongoing fan campaigns for revival efforts dating back to its 2005 cancellation, including petitions and organized pushes by viewers and creators alike. In June 2025, news of a planned that was ultimately canceled due to the merger reignited fan discussions on platforms like , further energizing the community. Active online communities continue to foster engagement, with dedicated forums and subreddits hosting discussions, while convention appearances, such as reunion panels at events like Toon Con in 2019, allow fans to connect over shared nostalgia. These activities underscore the show's persistent popularity, appealing primarily to fans and older viewers who appreciate its mature humor and influences. Iconic elements like Coop's exasperated rant in the episode "All I Wanted Was a Slushie"—where he laments, "All I wanted was a mega slush, just one mega slush"—have become memorable touchstones, inspiring widespread memes and parodies within fan circles. The series has also spurred creative output, including extensive fan art on platforms like , recreations of characters such as Coop and Megas, and music videos (AMVs) that remix its action sequences with popular tracks. Audience polls reflect high positive recall, with user ratings averaging 8.2 out of 10 on from over 6,600 votes, indicating strong sentimental attachment among its demographic of primarily 18- to 35-year-old male viewers interested in sci-fi animation.

Legacy

Revival Attempts

Following the series' cancellation in January 2005 due to low ratings, co-creators Jody Schaeffer and George Krstic explored options for a third season, including proposed storylines that would delve into the Glorft aliens' origins, such as an where Coop's in a dump inadvertently sparks their evolution and the interstellar war. These pitches, discussed during production wind-down, were ultimately rejected as shifted focus amid the show's abrupt end. Throughout the 2010s, fan-driven efforts gained traction, including a 2012 social media campaign under #BringBackMEGASXLR that trended online and prompted the creators to investigate or adaptations. However, these initiatives stalled due to the series' tax write-off status, which legally restricted domestic distribution and exploitation rights, preventing sanctioned revivals despite ongoing international airings. In the early 2020s, renewed interest stemmed from the show's profitability through international sales and revenue, which recouped its original production costs and positioned it for potential . Schaeffer and Krstic pitched a reboot to , which was greenlit prior to the 2022 Warner Bros.-Discovery merger, with plans aimed at to capitalize on the cult following. Talks progressed into development, reflecting the series' enduring appeal beyond its initial run. The project was axed in 2022 amid cost-cutting measures following the merger, under new CEO David Zaslav's leadership, which consolidated with and prioritized fiscal restructuring over animated revivals. Schaeffer confirmed the cancellation on June 12, 2025, in a public statement highlighting Zaslav's direct intervention as a key factor. As of November 2025, no further revival efforts have been announced, leaving the series' future uncertain.

Merchandise and Adaptations

Due to the series' abrupt cancellation after two seasons, official merchandise for Megas XLR was produced in limited quantities, primarily through promotions and tie-in retailers. Toys included rare action figures, such as the non-articulated Megas prototype and promotional figurines bundled with early episode DVDs, which have since become collector's items on secondary markets. Apparel options were similarly constrained, featuring T-shirts and posters sold via specialty stores like during the show's original run, though no large-scale lines were developed. Model kits for Megas were not officially released by major manufacturers like , leaving fans to rely on custom builds or 3D-printed replicas. Video game adaptations were confined to browser-based titles developed by between 2004 and 2005. The primary official game, Megas XLR vs. the Universe, is a 2D side-scrolling shooter where players control Megas to battle alien enemies using rockets and energy weapons. Other flash games included Appetite for Demolition, a destruction-focused title, and , emphasizing combat mechanics, all hosted on the website but now preserved through emulators due to the discontinuation of Flash support. No console or full retail video games were produced, though fan-created mods integrating Megas into titles like Super Smash Bros. have circulated in online communities, reflecting ongoing enthusiast interest. In print media, Megas XLR appeared in DC Comics' Cartoon Network Action Pack series, with stories spanning multiple issues from 2006 onward. These one-shot adventures, often co-featuring characters from shows like and , adapted episode-like plots involving Coop's chaotic piloting of Megas against Glorft threats; for example, issue #1 includes an original tale of interdimensional mayhem. No full comic series or novels were published, limiting the franchise's expansion in this medium. Beyond official extensions, adaptation efforts remained unofficial or unproduced. A 2006 pitch for a console was discussed internally at contingent on a third season renewal, but it never advanced due to the show's cancellation. Fan-driven projects have sustained interest, including short films and , with a notable 2025 YouTube concept trailer presenting a live-action version starring actors like as Coop, garnering attention for its high-production homage to the series' humor and action.

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  48. https://www.reddit.com/r/megasxlr/comments/1nhn9vu/megas_xlr_is_now_streaming_on_hbo_max_southeast/
  49. https://www.facebook.com/BeyondHollywoodUpdates/posts/hbo-max-has-removed-nearly-all-classic-cartoon-network-throwback-shows-from-its-/727190166749142/
  50. https://archive.org/details/MegasXLRFullShow
  51. https://variety.com/2004/scene/markets-festivals/toon-net-tunes-sked-with-kids-wb-1117900751/
  52. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/11/cartoon-networkkids-wb-upfront-report-part-2
  53. https://collider.com/megas-xlr-review/
  54. https://kaijuunited.com/2025/08/02/megas-xlr-does-anyone-even-remember-this-cartoon/
  55. https://annieawards.org/legacy/33rd-annie-awards
  56. https://comicbook.com/anime/news/megas-xlr-revival-cartoon-network/
  57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxgk4iJ29_w
  58. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361201/reviews/
  59. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0645836/quotes/
  60. https://www.deviantart.com/tag/megas_xlr
  61. https://fandomwire.com/david-zaslav-was-behind-the-cancellation-of-a-major-mecha-anime-revival/
  62. https://megasxlr.fandom.com/wiki/Megas_XLR_Merchandise
  63. https://www.ebay.com/shop/megas-xlr?_nkw=megas%2Bxlr
  64. https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunpla/comments/1h3ow72/working_on_a_124_scale_megas_xlr_bust_just_got/
  65. https://www.gamezhero.com/games/megasxlpvstheuniverse
  66. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1XmOQ81Deg
  67. https://www.reddit.com/r/megasxlr/comments/po58hw/megas_xlr_videogame_megas_xlr_vs_the_world/
  68. https://www.dc.com/comics/cartoon-network-action-pack-2006/cartoon-network-action-pack-1
  69. https://www.amazon.com/Cartoon-Network-Action-Pack-11/dp/B000RJ4QTK
  70. https://megasxlr.fandom.com/wiki/Megas_XLR_Games
  71. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FahWRh622Vs
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