Sym-Bionic Titan

Last updated

Sym-Bionic Titan
Sym-Bionic Titan logo.svg
Genre
Created by
Directed byGenndy Tartakovsky
Voices of
Theme music composer Tyler Bates
Composers
Country of origin
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes20 (+1 unaired pilot)
Production
Executive producerGenndy Tartakovsky
ProducerShareena Carlson
Running time22 minutes approx.
Production companies
Original release
Network Cartoon Network
ReleaseSeptember 17, 2010 (2010-09-17) –
April 9, 2011 (2011-04-09)

Sym-Bionic Titan is an American animated television series created by Genndy Tartakovsky (in his fourth collaboration with the channel), Bryan Andrews and Paul Rudish for Cartoon Network. The series focuses on a trio consisting of the alien princess Ilana, the strict but rebellious alien soldier Lance, and the robot Octus, who arrive on Earth and combine themselves to create the titular Sym-Bionic Titan.

Contents

A preview of the series was first shown at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International, [1] and further details were revealed at Cartoon Network's 2010 upfront. [2] [3] The series premiered on September 17, 2010, and ended on April 9, 2011, with a total of 20 episodes as ordered by the channel; Tartakovsky had hoped to expand on that, [4] but the series was not renewed for a second season, as it "did not have any toys connected to it". [5]

While Sym-Bionic Titan has never been released to DVD in the United States, all 20 episodes were available for purchase on iTunes and the Microsoft Store. On October 7, 2012, reruns of the series began airing on Adult Swim's Toonami block along with the 2011 television series of ThunderCats [6] [7] until Cartoon Network wrote-off Sym-Bionic Titan for financial reasons in September 2014. The series was later released on Netflix in 2019, but was removed from the service in December 2020. [8]

Premise

Billed as "an exciting hybrid of high school drama and giant robot battles", Sym-Bionic Titan features "the adventures of three beings from the planet Galaluna who crash-land on Earth while attempting to escape their war-torn world". The series follows the lives of Lance (voiced by Kevin Thoms), Ilana (voiced by Tara Strong) and Octus (voiced by Brian Posehn), two alien teenagers and a robot respectively in the form of humanoids living on Earth, an "identical" planet to Galaluna, while fleeing an evil general who has taken over their home planet with the help of monstrous creatures called Mutraddi. Ilana is the kind princess of the Galalunan royal family, Lance is a dark-hearted but capable soldier and Octus is a bio-cybernetic robot created by Ilana's father to protect her: all three having to now pose as normal high school students to blend into everyday life in Sherman, Illinois so Lance and Octus can conceal Ilana from General Modula (Don Leslie) and his hideous space mutants sent to kill the sole heir of Galaluna and complete his conquest.

When called into battle, the Galalunans are outfitted with individual armor that provides more than ample protection. It is when the gravest of danger appears that Octus activates the sym-bionic defense program and he, Ilana, and Lance unite "Heart (Ilana), Body (Lance) and Mind (Octus)" and come together to form the spectacular cyber-giant, Sym-Bionic Titan.

Production

Series co-creator Genndy Tartakovsky, best known for creating Dexter's Laboratory , Star Wars: Clone Wars and Samurai Jack for Cartoon Network, drew inspiration for the show from many sources. He grew up with various mecha anime series from the 1980s such as Robotech and Voltron : "For whatever reason, I have always loved the idea of kids driving giant robots". His biggest influence for the show were John Hughes films (such as Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club ) and 1980s pop culture, while the relationship between the two teenage leads, Ilana and Lance, was inspired by that of Sheeta and Pazu, the two leads in Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky .

An episode of Samurai Jack with a similar plot, "Jack and the Flying Prince and Princess" (which had two aliens and a robot fleeing to seek help for their planet), may have also provided inspiration for the show. Tara Strong also voiced the princess in said episode.

Tartakovsky came up with Octus and the high-school setting first and later, together with co-creators Paul Rudish and Bryan Andrews, added Ilana and Lance as the protagonists. The creators of the show took a long time to develop the female lead: "A positive strong female character is something I've always wanted to create".

Tartakovsky had called Sym-Bionic Titan "the most challenging project I have ever done". [4] Despite airing on Cartoon Network, Tartakovsky stated that he "doesn't consider Sym-Bionic Titan a kids show". [4]

Cancellation and possible revival

In March 2011, it was announced that Cartoon Network has cancelled Sym-Bionic Titan due to the show being unable to acquire a toy license. [9] Adult Swim's Tumblr later revealed that both Beware the Batman and Sym-Bionic Titan were both written off by the network in September 2014. [10]

In a 2018 interview with Syfy, Tartakovsky revealed that he and his crew had written 10 more episodes before the show was cancelled. [11]

In February 2017, Tartakovsky mentioned that, during an interview about the revival of Samurai Jack on Adult Swim, he could also return to Cartoon Network someday and bring Sym-Bionic Titan back in order to end the story of season one and resolve its cliffhanger in the style of Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim . [12] Ilana and Octus later made cameo appearances in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode "Crossover Nexus", with Tara Strong reprising her role as Ilana.

In 2023, Tartakovsky reiterated his interest in continuing the story. [13]

Episodes

No.TitleAnimation direction byWritten byStoryboard byOriginal air date  [14] US viewers
(millions)
1"Escape to Sherman High" Genndy Tartakovsky
Bryan Andrews and Genndy TartakovskySeptember 17, 2010 (2010-09-17)1.738 [15]
Lance, Ilana, and Octus, two alien humanoid teenagers and a robot, crash-land on Earth while fleeing the evil General Modula, who has conquered their home world, Galaluna. They try to blend in with Earth society by going to high school at the nearby town of Sherman, Illinois. During their first day at school, Modula sends a fire monster to destroy the princess. While battling the beast, Lance, Ilana, and Octus form "Sym-Bionic Titan" with their robotically enhanced and energized battle-suits and defeat the monster, with some help from the mysterious Solomon.
2"Neighbors in Disguise"Randy MyersDarrick Bachman; Amy Wolfram (additional)Sung Jin Ahn, Ricardo Delgado,
and Rafael Rosado		September 24, 2010 (2010-09-24)1.540 [16]
Ilana visits the mall to buy furniture for their new home, but Lance sees everyone around them as enemies, leading to a confrontation with mall security. Lance activates his powered Manus armored suit in Ilana's defense, attracting the attention of a five-headed robot beast sent by Modula. Lance tries to redeem himself for the mess he has caused by being swallowed so that he can destroy the beast's power core from within. Later, Solomon takes security footage of Lance transforming into a titan.

The series was positively received. Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media said that the series had "action, adventure, and positive messages for tweens." She argued that while there is cartoon violence, the show has positive like Ilana, describing her a "role model-worthy main female character." She also noted that there is a "gentle side to the show" which makes it different from "many action-adventure cartoons for kids." [30]

See also

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References

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  10. ↑ "GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS BATMAN FANS". toonami.tumblr.com. September 22, 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
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  12. ↑ Wilbur, Brock (February 9, 2017). "Samurai Jack is back — with a darker take and a 'traumatized' samurai". Polygon. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017.
  13. ↑ Valdez, Nick (April 24, 2023). "Genndy Tartakovsky Still Hopes to Finish Sym-Bionic Titan (Exclusive)". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
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