Megas XLR cast
The Return of Megas XLR? by Jerry Whitworth
Created by New York’s School of Visual Arts students George Krstic and Jody Schaeffer, Megas XLR was conceived by Krstic while playing a video game with Schaeffer as a series that combines elements of cartoons, anime, comic books, video games, and more in an animated series. Using Schaeffer’s high end computer, the pair were joined by fellow SVA alumni Tony Cupo and Chris Prynoski culminating in a pilot for the series that was transferred to VHS cassette (though the computer went through many upgrades in order to support the software the group used). Krstic and Prynoski had previously collaborated with Anne D. Berstein on the Emmy-nominated animated series Downtown for MTV in 1999 that was canceled after only a single season (leading to numerous jabs against the network in the form of Pop TV on Megas XLR). Chasing down a Cartoon Network executive at San Diego Comic-Con International, the group passed over the tape and the pilot aired on the channel in 2002 as part of a contest judged by fans to decide the next Cartoon Cartoon. After winning the vote, Megas XLR went into production premiering as part of Cartoon Network’s successful Toonami afternoon animation block of action/adventure programming in 2004.
Megas XLR
One of the show’s most memorable measures was its use of renowned guest stars such as Peter Cullen and Frank Welker somewhat reprising their roles as Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively, of Transformers fame and Bruce Campbell voicing the MODOK-inspired reoccurring villain Magnanimous (Campbell joining the cast shortly after Prynoski chased him down at a convention to hand him a script for the episode that introduced the antagonist). Major characters Jamie and Kiva were played by prolific voice actors Steve Blum and Wendee Lee, respectively, after a suggestion by Krstic to the casting director to try to hire the pair following their work on the wildly successful anime series Cowboy Bebop as its stars Spike Spiegel and Faye Valentine (with Megas XLR characters Coop and Goat based on real life friends of Krstic, the former on Tony Cupo). Blum was also known at the time for his role as the voice of Toonami’s host TOM. The series is also remembered for its opening credits including the popular line “Chicks dig giant robots.” Unfortunately, Megas XLR would be canceled after two seasons due to low ratings despite developing a cult-like following by viewers (various sources such as ToonZone citing the show as one of the best cartoons of its decade).
Megas XLR
Chris Prynoski would go on to found Titmouse Animation Studios which became a huge force for Cartoon Network’s [adult swim] late night block of animation geared towards adults. George Krstic would become a guiding force for Genndy Tartakovsky’s Emmy award winning Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series for Cartoon Network before later joining Prynoski to produce the animated series Motorcity for Disney XD (which was a spiritual successor to Megas XLR and was recently canceled after only a single season). In October 2012, Jason DeMarco (a founding father of Toonami and an executive for Cartoon Network and [adult swim]) tweeted that Cartoon Network had abandoned the rights to air Megas XLR domestically (though it still airs internationally having developed a following in other countries) which led to Krstic inquiring about the rights to the series. At present, Krstic and his fellow Megas XLR creators are in talks with the network to see if they can acquire the rights to the series or work with Cartoon Network to allow them to air the series on another station. While Megas XLR is available on iTunes and Xbox Live, there is as yet no official DVD release in the US which the creators are also looking into seeing happen as well as about continuing the series or producing a sequel. Krstic and others involved such as Prynoski and Steve Blum have been vocal about support of the show which has seen growing support online such as in petitions being compiled and communities established in an effort to help the see Megas XLR brought back. These efforts have included Krstic appearing on various podcasts in the past few weeks spreading word of the situation and raising awareness among the show’s fans. For the latest on the show’s development, you can follow Krstic on Twitter.
I loved that show.
Really hoping it comes back. Just not at CN. lol
We love giant robots!
Living here in Jersey, fighting villains from afar!
It's amazing, i would love to see it back for one more time. ^^
if it comes back maybe it should on toonami or adultswim.
Please BRING MEGAS BACK!!!
Hope they pull through with a 3rd season. They might wanna try making it for Netflix or possibly YouTube. The show might have a better chance survival in this generation that way & they would probably have more creator control. The hard part would be getting all the original main voice actors back for a 3rd season after 12 years. One of their first mistakes was trusting the show to CN a network that relies solely on ratings for a shows survival. I personally watched the show like clockwork every new episode but I was majorly disappointed to find out it stopped airing right after the last episode of season 2. The show had pretty much everything me and my friends are into; muscle cars, video games, giant robots & more. This show was canceled too early if you ask me. If not a 3rd season then at least a movie. They could have Megas & the gang finally return to Kiva’s time to fight the glorft at the battle of the last stand like Kiva originally planned only with Coop behind the wheel.
Please bring back Megas xlr, I dig giant Roberts. And oh yh, I’m 42 years old and I still love watching thesee with mthe kid’s lol
As any kid loving comics and shows, Megas XLR was really exellent and for me one of the best, I would love to see an epic return.
I hope to god this happens & I cant think of any other network than Adult Swim taking bringing it back. They would also be able to do more adult comedy stuff on Adult Swim making the show much cooler than it already was. Basicaly I picture the Venture Bros meets Gundum Wing if Megas XLR were in Adult Swim. Megas XLR was a middle school favorite I wached every new episode & one of the few watchable shows on CN at the time & had everything I’m into; miscle cars, giant robots, video games & hot girls.