Twenty-one years ago, Cartoon Network cancelled a unique and highly-regarded science fiction show, and it’s been largely forgotten ever since, with no plans for a revival. While some classic Cartoon Network series are getting new life through reboots and sequels, others have disappeared from streaming services and are no longer available.
However, some classic Cartoon Network shows have been removed from the network’s history, and Megas XLR is a prime example. The series finished airing 21 years ago, on January 15, 2001, and has since been completely erased from the network’s records. A revival was even considered, but it fell through during the early stages of the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger. It seems like this show has consistently faced unfortunate circumstances.
Megas XLR Made Its Cartoon Network Premiere 21 Years Ago
Megas XLR started as a pilot episode called “Lowbrow,” created by Jody Schaeffer and George Krstic for Cartoon Network. It was part of a summer event in 2002 called “Cartoon Cartoon Weekend Summerfest,” where viewers voted for their favorite pilots to potentially become full series. After receiving positive feedback, Megas XLR officially premiered in 2004 and ran for two seasons before ending in 2005.
Megas XLR was a truly unique show on Cartoon Network. It centered around Coop and his friend Jamie, who discovered a giant robot in their New Jersey junkyard – a robot that had traveled from the future! Coop, a skilled mechanic, got the robot working again, and they began battling aliens and enormous monsters. They were joined by Kiva, a pilot from the future who had been searching for the robot, and together they created a hilarious parody of mecha anime, comics, and other influences, all rolled into one fun series.
This series was full of exciting action and stood out because it treated its young audience with respect. It appealed to both teens and younger kids with its playful humor. The main character, Coop, was a great mecha pilot who didn’t take himself too seriously, making him perfect for battling an alien empire. The show included jokes that kids might not understand at first, but they were memorable and really resonated once you got them.
What Happened to Megas XLR?
Despite being a beloved cult classic, Megas XLR wasn’t a ratings success for Cartoon Network. Although the initial pilot episode performed well, and a brief run on Toonami didn’t help, the show was cancelled after two seasons. To make matters worse, the series was essentially written off as a loss for tax reasons, preventing any chance of success through DVD or streaming releases.
Due to legal issues, Cartoon Network couldn’t create any new content for the series in the United States. This also affected any possible future releases. Although the show continued to do well internationally through digital sales, and a new Megas XLR project was briefly considered when the rights returned to Warner Bros., co-creator Jody Schaeffer revealed that a reboot was approved but ultimately cancelled due to the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. As a result, any hope of the show returning has been abandoned.
It’s disappointing that there isn’t a high-definition version of the series available in the US, especially since Cartoon Network is revisiting many of its older shows. Megas XLR could really appeal to viewers who grew up with it now, as it was surprisingly innovative for its time. Unfortunately, it’s hard to rediscover what made it so good, which makes its cancellation 21 years ago feel even more frustrating.
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2026-01-18 02:42