Ben 10 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben 10 |
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| Creator | Man of Action |
| Original work | Ben 10 (2005) |
| Owner | Cartoon Network (Warner Bros. Entertainment) |
| Films and television | |
| Films | Ben 10 films |
| Animated series | Ben 10 television series |
| Television specials | Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United (2011) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Related shows | 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. Overall, the franchise has amassed over $6 billion in retail sales.
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.
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.
Series overview
List of Ben 10 television series
Films
As of 2020, there has 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
| 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
| 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
Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge
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. Ultimate Challenge is produced by Mandy Morris and executive produced by Daniel Marlowe.
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 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
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
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.
Cast and characters
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
| 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
| 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 | 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
| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 36th Daytime Emmy Awards | 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
| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards | 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 | Television Movie or Mini-Series | Yuda Acco Harry Matheu, Hugh D.G. Moody, Rouzier, Pierre, Robb Bihun, Ann Stacy, Dan Post |
Nominated |
Ultimate Alien
| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 64th Writers Guild of America Awards | Animation | Len Uhley for the episode "Moonstruck" | Nominated |
Omniverse
| 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
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 10 | HyperScan | Semi Logic Entertainments | Ben 10 (2005 TV series) | 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 TV series) | Nov 4, 2008 | J2ME |
| Ben 10 (2017 video game) | Torus Games | Outright Games | Ben 10 (2016 TV series) | November 10, 2017 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| Ben 10: Power Trip | PHL Collective | October 9, 2020 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch | ||
| Ben 10: DLC | Minecraft | Minecraft | Ben 10 (2005 TV series) | June 2, 2021 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC |
Toy line
Bandai manufactured Ben 10 toys from the first four series, 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.
The series received three McDonald's Happy Meal promotions internationally, as well as one in America in August 2011. 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, 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.
