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Ben 10

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Not to be confused with Ben X or Benten_(Urusei_Yatsura).
For the TV series, see Ben 10 (2005 TV series) and Ben 10 (2016 TV series).

Ben 10
Created byMan of Action
Original workBen 10 (2005)
OwnerThe Cartoon Network, Inc.
Years2005–present
Films and television
Film(s)Ben 10 films
Animated seriesBen 10 television series
Television special(s)Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United (2011)
Games
Video game(s)Ben 10 video games
Miscellaneous
Related showsGenerator Rex (2010–2013)
The Secret Saturdays (2008–2010)

Ben 10 is an American media franchise conceived by Man of Action and owned by The Cartoon Network, Inc. The franchise, mainly consisting of animated series produced by Cartoon Network Studios, 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

[edit]
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 sequels–Ben 10 (2005–2008), Ben 10: Alien Force (2008–2010), Ben 10: Ultimate Alien (2010–2012), and Ben 10: Omniverse (2012–2014), and the reboot continuity of Ben 10 (2016–2021), with its 2021 April specials serving as both the series finale for the 2016 reboot and a crossover event connecting both continuities. As of 2024, there are a total of 393 episodes.

Series overview

[edit]
SeriesSeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
Ben 10 (2005)113December 27, 2005 (2005-12-27)March 25, 2006 (2006-03-25)
213May 29, 2006 (2006-05-29)October 9, 2006 (2006-10-09)
313November 25, 2006 (2006-11-25)April 21, 2007 (2007-04-21)
410July 14, 2007 (2007-07-14)April 15, 2008 (2008-04-15)
Ben 10: Alien Force113April 18, 2008 (2008-04-18)August 31, 2008 (2008-08-31)
213October 10, 2008 (2008-10-10)March 27, 2009 (2009-03-27)
320September 11, 2009 (2009-09-11)March 26, 2010 (2010-03-26)
Ben 10: Ultimate Alien120April 23, 2010 (2010-04-23)December 10, 2010 (2010-12-10)
212February 4, 2011 (2011-02-04)April 29, 2011 (2011-04-29)
320September 16, 2011 (2011-09-16)March 31, 2012 (2012-03-31)
Ben 10: Omniverse110August 1, 2012 (2012-08-01)November 17, 2012 (2012-11-17)
210November 24, 2012 (2012-11-24)February 2, 2013 (2013-02-02)
310February 9, 2013 (2013-02-09)April 6, 2013 (2013-04-06)
410October 5, 2013 (2013-10-05)December 7, 2013 (2013-12-07)
510February 15, 2014 (2014-02-15)April 19, 2014 (2014-04-19)
610October 6, 2014 (2014-10-06)October 17, 2014 (2014-10-17)
710October 20, 2014 (2014-10-20)October 31, 2014 (2014-10-31)
810November 3, 2014 (2014-11-03)November 14, 2014 (2014-11-14)
Ben 10 (2016)140October 1, 2016 (2016-10-01)November 22, 2017 (2017-11-22)
240October 3, 2017 (2017-10-03)October 26, 2018 (2018-10-26)
352January 26, 2019 (2019-01-26)July 25, 2019 (2019-07-25)
434December 13, 2019 (2019-12-13)September 18, 2020 (2020-09-18)

Films

[edit]
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

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Occupation Secret of the Omnitrix (2007) Destroy All Aliens (2012) Versus the Universe (2020)
Director(s) Sebastian O. Montes III and Scooter Tidwell Victor Cook Arthur Henrique Nazareth and John McIntyre
Producer(s) Donna Smith, Alex Soto & Jennifer Pelphrey (supervising) Kurt Weldon (line) and Victor Cook (supervising) Shareena Carlson and Will Patrick
Production company(s) Cartoon Network Studios Tiny Island Productions, Cartoon Network Asia and Cartoon Network Studios Cartoon Network Studios
Distributor Cartoon Network Cartoon Network Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Runtime 67 minutes 69 minutes 72 minutes
Released August 10, 2007 March 23, 2012 October 10, 2020

Live-action films

[edit]
Occupation Live-action films
Race Against Time (2007) Alien Swarm (2009)
Director(s) Alex Winter
Producer(s) Evan W. Adler and Victor Ho (line) Gideon Amir
Production company(s) Trouper Productions with Cartoon Network Studios
Distributor Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network Cartoon Network
Runtime 67 minutes 69 minutes
Released November 21, 2007 November 25, 2009

Other media

[edit]

Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge

[edit]

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.[2] 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

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  • Ben appeared as a parody of Benjamin Franklin on the show MAD, in an episode titled "Ben 10 Franklin". Franklin was flying his kite when he was struck by a lightning bolt, gaining the Omnitrix. He used Swampfire to sign the Declaration of Independence. He also used Humongousaur to defeat the British and smash down a junior high school bully's house in revenge. He used other aliens from Alien Force and Ultimate Alien, where they have his hair and glasses.
  • Also in MAD, a reference to Alien Force was made with a parody of the movie Cowboys & Aliens, with many titles: "Cowboys & Alien Force", "Cowboys & Equestrians", and "Cowboys & Silly Bands". The reference was made at the beginning when Jake awakes with Ben on his side, but with Jake wearing Ben's pants and hat, with the Onmitrix on his wrist. He also used the Omnitrix to become an alien with the mix of Diamondhead, Chromastone, and Way Big to smash a cowboy.
  • In the South Park episode "You're Getting Old", Cartman's Mother mentions that Cartman gets upset when he does not get a present every time someone else gets a present at a party. One of the presents Cartman gets is a "Ben 10 Wrist Rocket".
  • The Robot Chicken episode "Hurtled from a Helicopter into a Speeding Train" shows Ben on his 14th birthday party, where he complains about his gifts given by Azmuth.
  • Ben 10 villains, such as the Enoch, Hex and Animo, make a brief cameo in The Secret Saturdays episode "Van Rook's Apprentice". References to Galvan Prime and Wildvine's species also appear in "Guess Who's Going to Be Dinner?" and "Eterno" respectively. Both references were made by the Secret Scientist Dr. Arthur Beeman, the UFOlogist for the series.
  • In the Peep Show episode, "Man Jam", Jeremy jokingly refers to Ben, the boyfriend of a woman he admires, as "Ben 10" during a phone call to him.[4]
  • Teenage Ben Tennyson appeared in The Official BBC Children in Need Medley in 2009.

References in video games

[edit]

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

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Titanic Kungfubot Offensive

[edit]

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 Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United 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

[edit]
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

[edit]

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

[edit]
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

[edit]
Main articles: 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

[edit]

Original series

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
2007 34th Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Individual in Animation Thomas Perkins Won
Golden Reel Award Best 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" 		Nominated
2008 35th Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Special Class Animated Program Brian A. Miller, Sam Register, Jennifer Pelphrey,
Alex Soto, Donna Smith, Tramm Wigzell 		Nominated

Race Against Time

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
2008 29th Young Artist Awards Best Leading Young Actor Graham Phillips as Ben Tennyson Nominated
Best Supporting Young Actor Tyler Patrick Jones as Cash Murray Nominated
Best Supporting Young Actress Haley Ramm as Gwen Tennyson Nominated
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 Nominated
Outstanding Visual Effects in a
Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or Special		 Dina Benadon, Evan Jacobs, Brent Young, Chris Christman
for visual effects compilation		 Nominated

Alien Force

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
2009 36th Daytime Emmy Awards[8] Outstanding Sound Mixing –
Live Action and Animation		 Robert Hargreaves, Robert Serda and John Hegedes Won
Outstanding Sound Editing –
Live Action and Animation		 Robert Hargreaves and George Brooks Nominated
Outstanding Special Class Animated Program Brian A. Miller, Sam Register, Glen Murakami,
Jennifer Pelphrey and Donna Smith		 Nominated

Alien Swarm

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
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 Nominated
8th Visual Effects Society Awards Outstanding Visual Effects in a
Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or a Special		 Evan Jacobs, Sean McPherson, Andrew Orloff Nominated
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		 Nominated

Ultimate Alien

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
2011 64th Writers Guild of America Awards Animation Len Uhley for the episode "Moonstruck" Nominated

Omniverse

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
2013 Annie Award Character Design in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production Chap Yaep, Steven Choi, Derrick Wyatt
for the episode "The More Things Change Part 2"		 Nominated
40th Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Sound Mixing – Animation Carlos Sanches Won
Outstanding Sound Editing – Animation Jeff Shiffman, Roger Pallan, Matthew Thomas Hall,
Otis Van Osten, Tony Ostyn, Gerardo Gonzalez		 Nominated

Outside media

[edit]

Merchandise

[edit]
Further information: List of Ben 10 episodes § DVD releases, List of Ben 10: Alien Force episodes § DVD releases, and List of Ben 10: Ultimate Alien episodes § DVD releases

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

[edit]

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 10 HyperScan Semi Logic Entertainments Ben 10 (2005) October 23, 2006 HyperScan only
Ben 10: Protector of Earth High Voltage Software (PS2, PSP, Wii)
1st Playable Productions (DS) 		D3 Publisher October 30, 2007 Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
Ben 10: Alien Force Monkey Bar Games (PS2, PSP, Wii)
1st Playable Productions (DS) 		Ben 10: Alien Force October 28, 2008
Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks Papaya Studio (PS2, PSP, Wii, X360)
1st Playable Productions (DS) 		October 27, 2009 Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360
Ben 10 Alien Force: The Rise of Hex Black Lantern Studios Konami May 31, 2010 Wii, Xbox 360
Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction Papaya Studio (PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360)
Griptonite Games (DS) 		D3 Publisher Ben 10: Ultimate Alien October 5, 2010 Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360
Ben 10: Galactic Racing Monkey Bar Games (PS3, Wii, X360, 3DS, PS Vita)
Tantalus Media (DS) 		October 18, 2011 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS
Ben 10: Omniverse Vicious Cycle Software (Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 and PS3)
1st Playable Productions (DS and 3DS) 		D3 Publisher (NA)

Bandai Namco Games (EU/AUS)

Ben 10: Omniverse November 13, 2012 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Wii U
Ben 10: Omniverse 2 High Voltage Software (Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 and PS3)
1st Playable Productions (3DS) 		D3 Publisher (NA)
Bandai Namco Entertainment (PAL) 		November 9, 2013 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Wii U
Ben 10: All Out Attack! Massively Mobile, LLC Cartoon Network Ben 10 (2005) November 4, 2008 J2ME
Ben 10 (2017 video game) Torus Games Outright Games Ben 10 (2016) November 10, 2017 PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
Ben 10: Power Trip PHL Collective October 9, 2020 PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
Minecraft (Ben 10: DLC) Mojang Studios
Blockception Ltd 		Xbox Game Studios June 2, 2021 PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC

Toy line

[edit]

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, Humungousaur, 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

[edit]

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, Codename: Kids Next Door, 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]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "WarnerMedia Expands Kids & Family Offerings on Cartoon Network and HBO Max Under New Tagline Redraw Your World" (Press release). WarnerMedia. February 17, 2021. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "'Ben 10' Gets A Live-Action Game Show: 'Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge'" Archived 2011-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Calling all Ben 10 fanatics - IOL". Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  4. ^ "Peep Show - On-Demand - All 4". Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  5. ^ Mammoth, Blue (June 10, 2020). "Ben 10 comes to Brawlhalla! - Patch 4.02". Brawlhalla. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  6. ^ "'Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL' Aims to Supersize Original Game on Consoles [Video]". November 7, 2011. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  7. ^ Heusser, Jeff (January 7, 2008). "VES announces nominees for 6th annual VES Awards". Archived from the original on October 25, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  8. ^ Zahed, Ramin (May 19, 2009). "Daytime Emmy Noms Announced". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  9. ^ "Ben 10: Alien Swarm". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  10. ^ "Television Movie or Mini-Series". Arti Directors Guild. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  11. ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (August 16, 2013). "'Ben 10 Omniverse: Aliens at War' DVD Announced". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  12. ^ "Ben 10: Alien Force". Brickset.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  13. ^ "Ben 10: Ultimate Alien– McDonald's USA Toys". Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  14. ^ "IDW Teams Up with Cartoon Network!". IDW Publishing. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  15. ^ Brooke, David (July 26, 2024). "New Dynamite/Warner comics for Ben 10, Captain Planet, and more announced". Retrieved August 3, 2024.
[edit]
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