Ben 10 Versus the Universe: The Film is a good Saturday morning revival

If there may be one fixed on the planet of Cartoon Community, it’s Ben 10.

There was some type of Ben 10 airing on the channel for the previous 15 years. Which may not appear odd when you think about exhibits like SpongeBob Squarepants on Nickelodeon, which turned 20 final 12 months. However Ben 10 — a much more plot-driven cartoon — hasn’t existed as the identical present. The primary sequence, which ran for 3 years beginning in 2005, spun off right into a direct sequel with teenage characters— which itself obtained two extra sequels, after which a mushy reboot in 2016. It’s presently Cartoon Community’s longest working franchise to this point, totally bridging the mid-2000s anime-influenced fashion to the softer, rounder “Cal-Arts” fashion of the present period.

The primary sequence adopted ten-year-old Ben Tennyson and his cousin Gwen, as they street tripped throughout the U.S. one summer time with their grandfather. Ben discovers an alien watch which permits him to rework into a wide range of alien creatures — cue intergalactic battles and hijinks, as they save the world repeatedly from aliens. Every subsequent sequence has expanded upon the threats, grown Ben’s personal skills (and previous a sure level, Gwen’s too), and seen the characters develop up, however within the newest sequence, Ben is 10 once more.

Picture: Cartoon Community

The brand new film, Ben 10 Versus the Universe: The Film, relies on new younger Ben. However when you haven’t watched Ben 10 since his early days or if the final time you tuned in was when his cousin Gwen went off to school in Ben 10: Omniverse, don’t fear. You don’t have a lot lore to atone for. The principle parts of Ben 10 stay the identical throughout sequence, art-style, and time, so Ben 10 Versus the Universe: The Film is a enjoyable flashback even for individuals who haven’t stored up with the present.

Ben 10 Versus the Universe: The Film begins off with Ben in mid-battle. However as a substitute of leaping to save lots of the day, he’s kinda tired of the routine villains and beating them so rapidly. Loads of the humor of Ben 10 has at all times been based mostly on the truth that Ben is, effectively, a ten year-old boy, who’s enthusiastic about having superpowers. Initially of this film, Ben treats heroic encounters as simply one other humdrum duty, which makes for the hilarious juxtaposition of his blase angle and the high-stakes motion.

However fortunately for Ben — although maybe unluckily for actually everybody else on the planet — a mysterious asteroid is on a collision path with Earth. Lastly, a problem value his time! After all, issues aren’t as they appear and Ben finds himself dealing with outdated enemies, whereas Gwen and the others again on Earth attempt to save the planet.

Picture: Cartoon Community

Ben shares the identical form of fizzy soda-pop, dynamic power that has pushed earlier iterations of the hero, particularly in his youthful years, although maybe taken as much as 11 (ha). The opposite characters — snarky cousin Gwen, stalwart Grandpa, and unhealthy boy Kevin — share similarities with their earlier iterations, although they maybe lean a bit extra comedically. That is notably true of Kevin, who within the authentic sequence turns into one in all Ben’s most notable enemies and the primary antagonist of the second season. He’s not precisely pleasant in Ben 10 Versus the Universe: The Film, however his character is extra comedic, coming off as an over-dramatic pre-teen. It matches in with the much more high-energy Ben, which in flip match the extra exaggerated animation fashion.

The animation fashion might have shifted from the angular fashion of the mid-2000s to the rounder fashion of at present, however the battle scenes are simply as thrilling as ever. It’s all brilliant colours and a number of transformation sequences, as Ben’s physique shifts between alien-forms. They’re all endowed with completely different, distinctive powers: Diamondhead is made from crystals and might generate projectiles and buildings, whereas Cannonbolt can roll into an enormous ball and steamroll over enemies. It’s nonetheless simply as thrilling to see the aliens in motion. One of many strengths of Ben 10’s motion scenes have at all times been how various they’re, thanks partially to the ever-growing roster of aliens at Ben’s disposal. Ben 10 Versus the Universe: The Film is not any exception.

Like most hero-kid narratives, Ben 10 Versus the Universe: The Film ultimately leans on Ben studying use his powers higher and to maybe not be as hot-headed and reactive. It’s a ceremony of passage, although to anybody who’s already seen Ben come to this epiphany a number of instances throughout the years, it maybe won’t hit as onerous. However, then once more, the present sequence isn’t for individuals who grew up with the present however quite an entire new era tuning in to Ben’s adventures.

Ben 10 Versus the Universe: The Film airs on Cartoon Community on Oct. 10 at 10 am EDT.