Ben 10 Explained

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Ben 10
Creator:Man of Action
Origin:Ben 10 (2005)
Owner:Cartoon Network
Years:2005–present
Films:Ben 10 films
Atv:Ben 10 television series
Tv Specials: (2011)
Video Games:Ben 10 video games
Otherlabel1:Related shows
Otherdata1:Generator Rex (2010–2013)
The Secret Saturdays (2008–2010)

Ben 10 is an American media franchise conceived by Man of Action, produced by Cartoon Network Studios, and owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment. The franchise revolves around a young boy named Ben Tennyson, who discovers the Omnitrix — a high-tech, extraterrestrial device shaped like a wristwatch. This remarkable gadget contains the DNA of various alien species, allowing Ben to transform into them at will. Initially, the Omnitrix features ten alien transformations, but over time, Ben gains the ability to unlock additional species.

The franchise has garnered considerable critical acclaim, securing three Emmy Awards. It encompasses five primary television series, five feature films, and numerous video games. It ranks as Cartoon Network's second longest existing franchise. Furthermore, Ben 10 has inspired a line of toys produced initially by Bandai for the franchise's first four series and later by Playmates Toys for the reboot. The Ben 10 franchise is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

On February 17, 2021, Cartoon Network announced three 44-minute specials slated for April 2021, titled Ben 10,010, Ben Gen 10, and Alien X-Tinction. These specials serve as both the series finale for the 2016 reboot and a crossover event involving the first four television series in the franchise.[1]

Television series

See main article: List of Ben 10 television series. As of 2024, the five concluded series are split into two continuities: the classic continuity, including the original series and its sequelsBen 10 (20052008), (20082010), (20102012), and (20122014), and the reboot continuity of Ben 10 (20162021), with its 2021 April specials serving as both the series finale for the 2016 reboot and a crossover event connecting both continuities.

Series overview

Films

See main article: List of Ben 10 films.

As of 2020, there have been three animated films Secret of the Omnitrix (2007), Destroy All Aliens (2012), Versus the Universe (2020) and two live-action films Race Against Time (2007), Alien Swarm (2009) released in the franchise.

Animated films

OccupationSecret of the Omnitrix (2007)Destroy All Aliens (2012)Versus the Universe (2020)
Director(s)Sebastian O. Montes III and Scooter TidwellVictor CookArthur Henrique Nazareth and John McIntyre
Producer(s)Donna Smith, Alex Soto & Jennifer Pelphrey Kurt Weldon and Victor Cook Shareena Carlson and Will Patrick
Production company(s)Cartoon Network StudiosTiny Island Productions, Cartoon Network Asia and Cartoon Network StudiosCartoon Network Studios
DistributorCartoon NetworkCartoon NetworkWarner Bros. Home Entertainment
Runtime67 minutes69 minutes72 minutes
ReleasedAugust 10, 2007March 23, 2012October 10, 2020

Live-action films

OccupationLive-action films
Race Against Time (2007)Alien Swarm (2009)
Director(s)Alex Winter
Producer(s)Evan W. Adler and Victor Ho Gideon Amir
Production company(s)Trouper Productions with Cartoon Network Studios
DistributorWarner Bros. and Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network
Runtime67 minutes69 minutes
ReleasedNovember 21, 2007November 25, 2009

Other media

Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge

is a game show developed for television by United Kingdom-based company Twenty Twenty, which airs on Cartoon Network in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Bulgaria, the Nordic region, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Chile, United States and the Middle East. Ultimate Challenge is a trivia show that tasks children with answering questions about all three series.[2] Ultimate Challenge is produced by Mandy Morris and executive produced by Daniel Marlowe.[3]

References in other shows

References in video games

Ben 10 is featured as a crossover character in Brawlhalla, a 2D platform fighting game. He appears as his alien forms Heatblast, Diamondhead, and Four Arms in the form of the crossover "skins" for certain playable characters.[5]

Cartoon Network promotion

Titanic Kungfubot Offensive

The game features famous and notable Cartoon Network characters in robot-type form. Big Chill, Swampfire, a DNAlien, Kevin, Vilgax, Rath, Armodrillo, Ultimate Humongousaur, Ultimate Echo Echo, and Ultimate Big Chill appear as playable characters.

To promote the special, Cartoon Network updated Titanic Kungfubot Offensive, adding new bots, such as "Shocksquatch" and "Clockwork"; both of which are aliens accessible to Ben.

Cartoon Network Universe: Fusion Fall

See main article: Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall.

The character design for Ben Tennyson was changed when the original Ben 10 series ended and was replaced by Alien Force. In the game, he serves as a "Player Guide" offering guide-based missions and special items.

Cartoon Network Universe: Project Exonaut

In another browser-based game entitled Cartoon Network Universe: Project Exonaut, Ben's aliens, alongside Gwen and Vilgax, appear as "exosuits". The exosuits' purpose is protecting the player and giving them unique abilities and powers. The planet Kylmyys (the home of one of Ben's aliens, Big Chill) and the Perplexhedron are featured as battle arenas. Ultimate Kevin and Alien X are currently the new exosuits for Project Exonaut representing Ben 10. The new exosuits feature Gold versions of Manus, Marceline, Mojo Jojo, and Rath.

Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion

See main article: Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion.

Ben appears in the game as a playable character. Swampfire, Humongousaur, Big Chill, and AmpFibian appear as Ben's playable aliens. Vilgax, the archenemy of Ben Tennyson appears as a playable character for the first time. Gwen and the Vreedle Brothers are "summons" in the game. Additionally, Bellwood and the Null Void are included as battle arenas. Kevin also appears as a "summon" in the game, but is featured as a playable character on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii versions called Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL. Kevin in Ultimate Kevin form appears in the game as a boss. The young version of Ben appears in the console version of the game as a playable character.[6]

Cast and characters

See main article: List of Ben 10 characters and List of Ben 10 aliens.

The main characters include Ben Tennyson and his cousin Gwen Tennyson, Grandpa Max Tennyson, Kevin Levin and Rook Blonko, along with the villains Vilgax, Aggregor, Doctor Animo, Eon, Hex and Khyber.

Accolades

Original series

YearAwardCategoryRecipients and nomineesResult
200734th Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Individual in AnimationThomas Perkins
Golden Reel AwardBest Sound Editing in Sound Effects, Foley,
Dialogue, ADR and Music for Television Animation
Otis Van Osten, Melinda Rediger, Trevor Sperry, Matt Brown,
Jody Thomas, Andy Sturmer, Ron Salaises, Keith Dickens
for the episode "Ben 10,000"
200835th Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Special Class Animated ProgramBrian A. Miller, Sam Register, Jennifer Pelphrey,
Alex Soto, Donna Smith, Tramm Wigzell

Race Against Time

YearAwardCategoryRecipients and nomineesResult
2008 Best Leading Young Actor Graham Phillips as Ben Tennyson
Best Supporting Young Actor Tyler Patrick Jones as Cash Murray
Best Supporting Young Actress Haley Ramm as Gwen Tennyson
6th Visual Effects Society Awards[7] Outstanding Animated Character in a
Live Action Broadcast Program or Commercial
Brent Young, Smith, Michael For the Grey Matter sequence
Outstanding Visual Effects in a
Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or Special
Dina Benadon, Evan Jacobs, Brent Young, Chris Christman
for visual effects compilation

Alien Force

YearAwardCategoryRecipients and nomineesResult
2009 36th Daytime Emmy Awards[8] Outstanding Sound Mixing
Live Action and Animation
Robert Hargreaves, Robert Serda and John Hegedes
Outstanding Sound Editing
Live Action and Animation
Robert Hargreaves and George Brooks
Outstanding Special Class Animated Program Brian A. Miller, Sam Register, Glen Murakami,
Jennifer Pelphrey and Donna Smith

Alien Swarm

YearAwardCategoryRecipients and nomineesResult
2010 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards[9] Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a
Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Evan Jacobs, Sean McPherson, Andrew Orloff, Brent Young
Outstanding Visual Effects in a
Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Evan Jacobs, Sean McPherson, Andrew Orloff
15th Art Directors Guild Award[10] Television Movie or Mini-Series Yuda Acco Harry Matheu, Hugh D.G. Moody, Rouzier,
Pierre, Robb Bihun, Ann Stacy, Dan Post

Omniverse

YearAwardCategoryRecipients and nomineesResult
2013Character Design in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production Chap Yaep, Steven Choi, Derrick Wyatt
for the episode "The More Things Change Part 2"
Outstanding Sound MixingAnimation Carlos Sanches
Outstanding Sound EditingAnimation Jeff Shiffman, Roger Pallan, Matthew Thomas Hall,
Otis Van Osten, Tony Ostyn, Gerardo Gonzalez

Outside media

Merchandise

Following the success of the Ben 10 animated TV series and films, various Ben 10 merchandise has been released for general sale. These items include comic books, board games, card games (such as Top Trumps), toys, video games, Lego construction sets, bedding, coloring books, footwear, and watches (the Omnitrix and the Ultimatrix). All four shows have been released on DVD.

Video games

The game franchise has many different formats. The video games franchise started in 2006 with the release of Ben 10 for the HyperScan, while the franchise's first official video game Protector of Earth came out in 2007. Twelve games have been released:

!Name!Developer!Publisher!Series!Release date!Platforms
Ben 10HyperScanSemi Logic EntertainmentsBen 10 (2005 TV series)October 23, 2006HyperScan only
High Voltage Software (PS2, PSP, Wii)

1st Playable Productions (DS)

D3 PublisherOctober 30, 2007Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
Ben 10: Alien ForceMonkey Bar Games (PS2, PSP, Wii)1st Playable Productions (DS)October 28, 2008
Papaya Studio (PS2, PSP, Wii, X360)1st Playable Productions (DS)October 27, 2009Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360
Black Lantern StudiosKonamiMay 31, 2010Wii, Xbox 360
Papaya Studio (PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360)Griptonite Games (DS)D3 PublisherOctober 5, 2010Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360
Monkey Bar Games(PS3, Wii, X360, 3DS, PS Vita)

Tantalus Media

(DS)

October 18, 2011PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS
Ben 10: OmniverseVicious Cycle Software (Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 and PS3)1st Playable Productions (DS and 3DS)D3 Publisher (NA)Bandai Namco Games (EU/AUS)November 13, 2012PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Wii U
High Voltage Software (Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 and PS3)1st Playable Productions (3DS)D3 Publisher (NA)Bandai Namco Entertainment (PAL)November 9, 2013PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Wii U
Ben 10: All Out Attack!Massively Mobile, LLCCartoon NetworkBen 10 (2005 TV series)Nov 4, 2008J2ME
Ben 10 (2017 video game)Torus GamesOutright GamesBen 10 (2016 TV series)November 10, 2017PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Ben 10: Power TripPHL CollectiveOctober 9, 2020PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Ben 10: DLCMinecraftMinecraftBen 10 (2005 TV series)June 2, 2021PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC

Toy line

Bandai manufactured Ben 10 toys from the first four series,[11] while Playmates Toys has produced toys for the 2016 reboot.

Six construction sets were produced by Lego, depicting Spidermonkey, Humunousaur, Swampfire, Chromastone, Jet Ray, and Big Chill.[12]

The series received three McDonald's Happy Meal promotions internationally, as well as one in America in August 2011.[13] The toys are colored translucent figures of some Omnitrix/Ultimatrix aliens and their Ultimate forms, with a small photo of Ben inside. The Alien Force toys are four rings, each one is an alien (Goop, Jetray, Alien X, Chromastone) with features linked with their powers.

Comic books

Developed by Jason Hall, Min G. Kuand and Heroic Age, the Ben 10 comic revolves around Ben's summer vacation with Gwen and their Grandpa Max, travelling in the Rust Bucket. The Ben 10: Alien Force comic revolves around Ben, with Gwen and a reformed Kevin, battling the Highbreed and the DNAliens.

Cartoon Network Action Pack was a 2006–2012 comic book series made by DC Comics which showcased Ben 10 alongside Samurai Jack, , The Secret Saturdays, or Generator Rex. Some of the issues were connected with the franchise, while others are non-canon.

In February 2013, IDW Publishing announced a partnership with Cartoon Network to produce comics based on Cartoon Network properties. Ben 10 was one of the titles announced to be published.[14]

In July 2024, Dynamite Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Brands and Experiences announced new comic books featuring Ben 10.[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. February 17, 2021. WarnerMedia Expands Kids & Family Offerings on Cartoon Network and HBO Max Under New Tagline Redraw Your World. live. February 17, 2021. WarnerMedia. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210217181729/https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/warnermedia-expands-kids-family-offerings-cartoon-network-and-hbo-max-under-new?language_content_entity=en. February 17, 2021.
  2. http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/06/07/ben-10-gets-a-live-action-game-show-ben-10-ultimate-challenge/ "'Ben 10' Gets A Live-Action Game Show: 'Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge'"
  3. Web site: Calling all Ben 10 fanatics - IOL. 2011-11-27. 2013-06-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20130617021141/http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/tv-radio/calling-all-ben-10-fanatics-1.1186079. live.
  4. Web site: Peep Show - On-Demand - All 4. 2015-11-30. 2015-11-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20151123063249/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/peep-show/on-demand/47548-002. live.
  5. Web site: Mammoth. Blue. 2020-06-10. Ben 10 comes to Brawlhalla! - Patch 4.02. 2020-06-22. Brawlhalla. en-US. 2020-06-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20200624174431/https://www.brawlhalla.com/news/ben-10-comes-to-brawlhalla-patch-4-02/. live.
  6. Web site: 'Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL' Aims to Supersize Original Game on Consoles [Video]]. 7 November 2011 . 2017-04-20. 2017-04-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20170421033219/http://comicsalliance.com/cartoon-network-punch-time-explosion-xl-video/. live.
  7. Web site: Heusser . Jeff . 7 January 2008 . VES announces nominees for 6th annual VES Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20081025122101/http://www.fxguide.com/qt/217/visual-effects-society-announces-nominees-for-6th-annual-ves-awards . 25 October 2008 . 15 November 2011.
  8. News: Zahed. Ramin. Daytime Emmy Noms Announced. October 1, 2012. Animation Magazine. May 19, 2009. March 8, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140308080325/http://www.animationmagazine.net/events/daytime-emmy-noms-announced/. live.
  9. Web site: Ben 10: Alien Swarm. Emmys.com. October 1, 2012. February 1, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201220652/http://www.emmys.com/shows/ben-10-alien-swarm. live.
  10. Web site: Television Movie or Mini-Series. Arti Directors Guild. October 1, 2012. January 11, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150111213615/http://www.adg.org/?content=videos&Vyear=2009&Vsection=ADG%20Awards&Vcategory=Television%20Movie%20or%20Mini-Series. live.
  11. News: Jennifer . Wolfe . 'Ben 10 Omniverse: Aliens at War' DVD Announced . . August 16, 2013 . August 14, 2018 . August 14, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180814233044/https://www.awn.com/news/ben-10-omniverse-aliens-war-dvd-announced . live.
  12. Web site: Ben 10: Alien Force. Brickset.com. April 30, 2019. October 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191013191126/https://brickset.com/sets/theme-Ben-10-Alien-Force. live.
  13. Web site: Ben 10: Ultimate Alien McDonald's USA Toys. 2011-07-30. 2015-01-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20150106060032/http://api.ning.com/files/Tz8mW7nYVzXfk6EDkZwf2BUReVcQUQ*wbguKs0k2z6vdHyN7XrKW0OfnZDDO5Tt8PQGbsFL3qx4S*T1XlxYWRcTkMx08XYQO/ben10mcdonalds.bmp. live.
  14. Web site: IDW Teams Up with Cartoon Network! . IDW Publishing . 2013-05-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140804051016/http://idwpublishing.com/news/article/2507 . 2014-08-04.
  15. Web site: New Dynamite/Warner comics for Ben 10, Captain Planet, and more announced . Brooke . David . July 26, 2024 . August 3, 2024.