Butt-Ugly Martians Explained

Genre:Comedy
Science fiction
Action
Adventure
Superhero
Creator:Michael Train
Developer:Mike Young
Bill Schultz
Pamela Hickey
Dennys McCoy
Voices:Ogie Banks
S. Scott Bullock
Jess Harnell
Rob Paulsen
Charlie Schlatter
Kath Soucie
Robert Stack
Composer:Michael Tavera
Country:United States
Hong Kong
United Kingdom
Language:English
Network:CITV[1]
Executive Producer:Mike Young
Wendy Choi
Producer:David Garber
Company:Mike Young Productions
DCDC Limited
Just Entertainment
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:26
Runtime:22–23 minutes
First Aired:[2]

Butt-Ugly Martians is an animated television series co-produced by Mike Young Productions, Digital Content Development Corporation Limited and Just Entertainment. It was sold to ITV on October 2, 2000, for the original television pilot[3] and premiered on CITV in the UK on February 19, 2001. It also premiered on Nickelodeon on November 9, 2001, in the United States. But also aired on Nicktoons until 2003.

The series is produced using Alias Wavefront Maya 3D software.[4]

Premise

The plot of the series begins when the Butt-Ugly Martians (B.U.M.) are forced to invade planets for the evil Emperor Bog. When they are sent to Earth, they become addicted to American culture.[5] Deciding not to hurt Earth, they simply pretend to be occupying the planet for Bog. They are shown around by their Earthling friends: Mike, Cedric, and Angela. The Butt-Ugly Martians continue to hang out on Earth as long as Emperor Bog never finds out.

Characters

Main

Enemies

Merchandise

Video games

There were also three video games based on the series named Butt Ugly Martians: Zoom or Doom for PlayStation 2 and GameCube, Butt-Ugly Martians: B.K.M. Battles[7] for Game Boy Advance, and Butt-Ugly Martians: Martian Boot Camp for PC. The franchise also had a toy line by Hasbro.

Broadcast and home media

Butt-Ugly Martians was sold to ITV on October 2, 2000, for the original television pilot[3] and premiered on CITV on February 19, 2001.

It also premiered on both Nickelodeon and Nicktoons (until 2003) in the United States.

VHS and DVD

As part of Universal's broad arrangement for the franchise, Universal Pictures Video obtained worldwide video rights to the series in October 2001, with the exclusion of two European countries: UK and Germany,[8] where Just Entertainment (Abbey Home Media post-2002, following Just's insolvency) and BMG each held the rights.

UK

nameformatEpisodesRelease dateDistributorAdditional information
Volume ZeroVHSPromotional Video about the seriesEarly-2001Just EntertainmentPromotional Release
Playback/Payback[9] VHS"Playback/Payback"
"Jax the Conqueror"
March 5, 2001Just Entertainment
Meet Gorgon[10] VHS"Meet Gorgon"
"You Bet Your Planet"
March 5, 2001Just Entertainment
The Martians Have Landed![11] DVD"Playback/Payback"
"Jax the Conqueror"
"Meet Gorgon"
"You Bet Your Planet"
March 12, 2001Just EntertainmentDVD version of the above VHS releases. Also includes several Special Features:
  • Interactive Games
  • Photo Gallery
  • Comic Strip
  • Behind-the-scenes Interviews
  • Promo Trailers
Special EditionVHSBehind-the-Scenes FeaturetteSpring 2001Just EntertainmentPromotional release
Big Bang Theory[12] VHS"Big Bang Theory"
"Introducing... the Ultimate Infi-Knight"
May 28, 2001Just Entertainment
Mike in SpaceVHS"Mike in Space"Summer 2001Just EntertainmentPromotional release that was included with a Figure Set
KooFoo[13] VHS"KooFoo
"Mike in Space"
September 17, 2001Just Entertainment
Brothers From Another Planet[14] VHS"Brothers From Another Planet"
"That's No Puddle, That's Angela"
October 22, 2001Just Entertainment
Out of Sync[15] VHS"Out of Sync"
"If the Suit Fits"
Unknown 2001Just EntertainmentMarks & Spencer Exclusive release
Bog's Not So Dumb After All[16] VHSBog's Not So Dumb After All"
"Bog in Charge"
April 29, 2002Just Entertainment
Emperor Damage[17] VHS"Emperor Damage"
"Bog's Missing Trophy"
May 27, 2002Abbey Home Media
Muldoon's Big Catch[18] VHS"Muldoon's Big Catch"
"Damage's Little Girl"
June 24, 2002Abbey Home Media
3 Episodes[19] DVD"KooFoo"
"Mike in Space"
"Bog in Charge"
April 14, 2003Prism Leisure
The Martians Have Landed!DVD"Playback/Payback"
"Meet Gorgon"
"You Bet Your Planet"
2004Abbey Home MediaDisc is labeled as "You Bet Your Planet".
This reissue removes the second episode and the extra features.
Same product number as the original release.
Triple Set[20] DVD"Big Bang Theory"
"Introducing... the Ultimate Infi-Knight"
"Brothers From Another Planet"
"That's No Puddle, That's Angela"
"Emperor Damage"
"Bog's Missing Trophy"
October 31, 2005Abbey Home MediaIncludes DVD versions of:
  • "Big Bang Theory"
  • "Brothers From Another Planet"
  • "Emperor Damage"

United States

nameformatEpisodesRelease dateAdditional information
Best of the Bad Guys[21] [22] VHS/DVD"Bog's Not So Dumb After All"
"Bog in Charge"
"Jax the Conqueror" (Bonus Episode)
July 30, 2002Martian Boot Camp PC Demo (DVD)
Hoverboard Heroes[23] [24] VHS/DVD"Damage's Little Girl"
"Playback/Payback"
"Everybody Loves Angie"
July 30, 2002Martian Boot Camp PC Demo (DVD)
Boyz to Martians[25] [26] VHS/DVD"Alien Games"
"Out Of Sync"
"This Is... the Butt-Uglies"
July 30, 2002Martian Boot Camp PC Demo (DVD)

Germany

nameformatEpisodesRelease dateAdditional information
Band 1[27] VHS"Playback/Payback"
"Jax the Conqueror"
August 1, 2002
Band 2[28] VHS"Meet Gorgon"
"You Bet Your Planet"
August 1, 2002
Band 3[29] VHS"Mike in Space"
"Meet Koo Foo"
August 1, 2002
Band 4[30] VHS"The Big Bang Theory on Mars"
"Damage's Little Girl"
August 1, 2002

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Godfrey . Leigh . October 24, 2001 . Butt-Ugly Martians Have Universal Appeal . April 17, 2021 . Animation World Network.
  2. News: February 19, 2001 . Earthlings beware . . April 17, 2021.
  3. Web site: July 4, 2000 . Just Group PLC Final Results . April 17, 2021 . investegate.co.uk.
  4. Web site: DragonBlade.
  5. Book: Erickson, Hal . Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 . 2005 . McFarland & Co . 978-1476665993 . 2nd . 167–168.
  6. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians (2002 TV Show) . Behind The Voice Actors . 3 March 2022.
  7. Web site: August 23, 2023 . Butt Ugly Martians: B.K.M. Battles . August 23, 2023 . Rec0deD:88.
  8. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians Have Universal Appeal .
  9. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians - Playback/Payback . Amazon UK .
  10. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians - Meet Gordon . Amazon UK .
  11. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians - the Martians Have Landed . Amazon UK .
  12. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians: Big Bang Theory . Amazon UK .
  13. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians: Koofoo . Amazon UK .
  14. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians . Amazon UK . October 22, 2001 .
  15. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians - Out of Sync . Amazon UK .
  16. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians: Bog's Not So Dumb After All . Amazon UK . April 29, 2002 .
  17. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians: Emperor Damage . Amazon UK . May 13, 2002 .
  18. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians: Muldoon's Big Catch . Amazon UK . June 24, 2002 .
  19. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians: 3 Episodes . Amazon UK .
  20. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Butt-Ugly-Martians-Triple-Set-DVD/
  21. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians - Best of the Bad Guys . Amazon .
  22. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians - Best of the Bad Guys . Amazon .
  23. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians - Hoverboard Heroes . Amazon .
  24. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians - Hoverboard Heroes . Amazon .
  25. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians - Boyz to Martians . Amazon .
  26. Web site: Butt-Ugly Martians - Boyz to Martians . Amazon .
  27. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians 01 - der falsche Bericht/Jan der Eroberer . Amazon Germany . August 2002 .
  28. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians 02 - Kampf gegen Gorgon/Jan der Eroberer . Amazon Germany . August 2002 .
  29. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians 03 - Mike auf dem Mars/Koofoo, der Außerirdische . Amazon Germany . August 2002 .
  30. Web site: Butt Ugly Martians 04 - Auf den Hund gekommen/Die Schöne vom Mars . Amazon Germany . August 2002 .