For the comic book series, see Invader Zim (comics). For the feature film, see Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus.
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Invader Zim
Genre
Science fiction[1][2][3][4][5]
Dark comedy[1][6][7][8][9]
Horror fiction
Created by
Jhonen Vasquez
Directed by
Jordan Reichek (pilot)
Steve Ressel
Voices of
Richard Steven Horvitz
Andy Berman
Rosearik Rikki Simons
Melissa Fahn
Jhonen Vasquez
Rodger Bumpass
Lucille Bliss
Wally Wingert
Kevin McDonald
Theme music composer
Kevin Manthei Mark Tortorici
Composers
Michael Tavera (pilot)
Kevin Manthei
Country of origin
United States
Original language
English
No. of seasons
2
No. of episodes
27 (46 segments) (+1 pilot) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Jhonen Vasquez
Mary Harrington[10]
Producers
Monique Beatty
Christine Griswold
Steve Ressel
Animator
Sunwoo Entertainment
Running time
24 minutes
Production companies
Wumberlog Productions (pilot)
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Original release
Network
Nickelodeon
Release
March 30, 2001 (2001-03-30)[11] – December 10, 2002 (2002-12-10)
Network
Nicktoons
Release
June 10 (2006-06-10) – August 19, 2006 (2006-08-19)
Related
Invader Zim (comics) Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)
Invader Zim is an American animated science fiction dark comedy television series created by comic book writer and cartoonist Jhonen Vasquez for Nickelodeon. The series centers on an extraterrestrial named Zim (voiced by Richard Steven Horvitz), from the planet Irk, and his mission is to conquer Earth and enslave the human race along with his malfunctioning robot servant GIR (Rosearik Rikki Simons). He is antagonized by Dib (Andy Berman), a young paranormal investigator who is determined to stop Zim from succeeding.
Nickelodeon contacted Jhonen Vasquez about pitching ideas for an animated series for their older demographic[12][13][14] and Invader Zim was the first thing he pitched. In Vasquez's words "it went from pitch to series without hardly any waiting".[15] As the series went on, ratings declined and budgetary issues became more frequent.[16] Before the second season was completed, Nickelodeon cancelled the series, leaving several episodes unfinished.[17] The show originally aired on Nickelodeon from 2001 to 2002,[16][11] with six of the completed second-season episodes initially going unreleased. These episodes were first made available on DVD in 2004 and later made their television debut on the Nicktoons Network in 2006.[16][18]
Invader Zim received positive reviews from critics and audiences,[16] with praise primarily directed at its humor, writing, animation, art-style, and the way it pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable on children's television. In the years following its cancellation, Invader Zim has often been listed as one of Nickelodeon's best shows.[19][20][21][22][23] The series won an Annie Award, an Emmy Award and a World Animation Celebration Award, and received nominations for seven additional Annie Awards and two Golden Reel Awards. Invader Zim has spawned its own fan convention called InvaderCON and a plethora of official merchandise,[16] including video games, toys, clothing and accessories, among many other products. Despite its early cancellation and short run, due to increasing popularity and above-average merchandise sales[9][24][25] it has been widely regarded as a cult classic.[9][25][26][27][28][29]
A monthly comic book series of the same name was released on July 8, 2015, as a continuation of the television series and published by Oni Press until August 4, 2021.[30][31] A film based on the television and comic series[32][33] titled Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus, premiered on Netflix on August 16, 2019, marking Invader Zim's first new animated production since its Nickelodeon airing.[34]
^ abAvina, Anthony (October 13, 2019). "Creepy Cartoons: 10 Scariest Animated Horror Series". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
^A.C. Levine (July 10, 2015). "Invader Zim creator on keeping his absurdist humor grounded". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
^Lynne Heffley (March 30, 2001). "Zany 'ZIM,' 'Odd-parents' Land on Nickelodeon Lineup". LA Times. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
^Cite error: The named reference NYT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Kathryn Shattuck (April 4, 2017). "Nickelodeon's Invader Zim is Returning to Earth as a TV Movie". Outer Places. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
^Allegra Frank (July 20, 2018). "Invader Zim's creator on the alien's return: 'What I'm making isn't going to be the best episode'". Polygon. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
^Natalie Hoover (August 9, 2018). "'Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus' Will Hopefully Bring Doom to All Humanity". Study Breaks Magazine. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
^Cite error: The named reference about was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abcCite error: The named reference Jones, Tim was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Mary Harrington Credits". TV Guide. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
^ abCite error: The named reference S1RT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^McDonnell, Chris (July 28, 2020). The Art of Invader Zim. Abrams Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1419734601.
^Cite error: The named reference no good was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Ziss, Sophy (July 22, 2018). "The 'Invader Zim' Movie Teaser Premiered At Comic-Con & It's Just As Weird As '00s Kids Dreamed It Would Be". Bustle. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
^"Invader Zim Meet the Creator: Jhonen Vasquez Nick Animation". Nick Animation. October 2, 2018. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
^ abcdeMcDonnell, Chris (July 28, 2020). The Art of Invader Zim. Abrams Books. p. 187. ISBN 978-1419734601.
^Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 432–433. ISBN 978-1476665993.
^"Invader Zim season two". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
^Cite error: The named reference Screen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Nikeita Hoyte (September 25, 2018). "The 20 Best Nickelodeon Cartoons". Complex. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
^Richard Pruit (September 30, 2017). "The Top 10 Nicktoons of All Time". TBK Magazine. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
^Cite error: The named reference Guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Sarah Cooke (April 28, 2016). "13 Best Old-School Nickelodeon Shows". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
^Cite error: The named reference Barry was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abFrank, Allegra (April 6, 2017). "Invader Zim's strange path from cult hit to all-time classic". Polygon. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
^Marnell, Blair (April 4, 2017). "Invader Zim Is Returning to Nickelodeon in the Best Way Possible". Nerdist. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
^Milligan, Mercedes (April 4, 2017). "'Invader Zim' Re-Invades Nick in Original TV Movie". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
^Holub, Christian (April 5, 2017). "Invader Zim still wants to conquer the world in new teaser". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
^Amid Amidi (November 20, 2009). "The 2000s: TV Animation". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
^Cite error: The named reference Invader Zim comic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Oni Press partners with Jhonen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Petski, Denise (April 4, 2017). "'Invader Zim' TV Movie Based On Series Greenlighted By Nickelodeon". Deadline. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
^Balach, Katelyn (April 4, 2017). "Invader Zim Returns To Nickelodeon In All-New Original TV Movie Based On Fan-Favorite Animated Series". Nick Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
^"You asked for it, so we're delivering a fresh order of doom right to your doorstep. Zim is back". Twitter. @NetflixNX. July 23, 2019. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
InvaderZim is an American animated science fiction dark comedy television series created by comic book writer and cartoonist Jhonen Vasquez for Nickelodeon...
InvaderZim is an American animated dark comedy science fiction television series that was created by comic book writer and cartoonist Jhonen Vasquez...
is best known as the voice of GIR in the Nickelodeon animated series, InvaderZim. Simons has also written a number of novels and comic series, often working...
in Ben 10, Rodney in Squirrel Boy, Daggett in The Angry Beavers, Zim in InvaderZim, Orthopox in Destroy All Humans!, the Zoni in Ratchet & Clank, Bumble...
Zimbabwe Zim Dollar, shorthand for the Zimbabwean dollar ZIM (shipping company), Israel InvaderZim, a 2001 animated television series Zim and Co., 2005...
writer, and comedian. He is best known for his role as Dib Membrane in InvaderZim, Dennis in The Jamie Foxx Show (1996-1997), Chuck in The Wonder Years...
and others. Ressel directed and produced the entire run of InvaderZim. After InvaderZim he went on to develop his own ideas. "Trubble Bub", a CGI children's...
television series That '70s Show Career Day (InvaderZim), an episode of the television series InvaderZim "Career Day", a song from the album Interventions...
Begins" is the series premiere of the American animated television series InvaderZim. It originally aired in the United States on Nickelodeon on March 30...
Family Germ (film), a 2010 Hindi-language film "Germs" (InvaderZim), an episode of InvaderZim The Germ (periodical), a British art magazine published...
animated series Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Professor Membrane from InvaderZim and Mr. Besser, the school principal in the animated series The Kids...
franchise, Waffle in Catscratch, and the Almighty Tallest Purple in InvaderZim. He starred alongside Rodney Dangerfield and Dom DeLuise as the titular...
known as the voice of Gaz Membrane in the Nickelodeon animated series InvaderZim, Dendy in the Cartoon Network animated series OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes...
a series pitch after reading his Squee! comic books. Vasquez pitched InvaderZim, which satisfied Nickelodeon's requests for "something 'edgy'." Nickelodeon...
"Movies". "Nick commits to made-fors". November 8, 1999. "Rocko and InvaderZim TV Movies Acquired by Netflix". May 10, 2019. Dade Hayes (July 30, 2020)...
voice actor and former DJ. His roles include Almighty Tallest Red in InvaderZim, Renji Abarai in Bleach, Kotetsu T. Kaburagi / Wild Tiger in Tiger &...
Vasquez's InvaderZIM, and on the back of the second InvaderZIM DVD it says "Made with 100% more Dirge" with a picture of him on it, InvaderZim style....
such as Friends and Cow and Chicken. She was also an impersonator on InvaderZim that voiced a few background characters, notably Jessica. The celebrities...
other voice-over credits include guest roles on The Wild Thornberrys, InvaderZim, Ice Age: The Meltdown, American Dragon: Jake Long, Higglytown Heroes...
cartoon The Smurfs and Ms. Bitters on the Nickelodeon animated series InvaderZim. In addition to her television roles, she was known for her work as a...
series Bones Special Agent Jamie Kenton Episode: "Two Bodies in the Lab" InvaderZim Various Voice, episode: "The Frycook What Came from All That Space" 2006–2008...
Ascended Ancients/Ori, Ben 10: Alien Force's Anodites, or the Meekrob from InvaderZim possess god-like powers. Vorlons (Babylon 5) Some of the First Ones (Babylon...
Baywatch, and Supernatural. He has had voice roles in the television series InvaderZim and Code Monkeys, and in the video games Evil Dead: Regeneration and...