22 Years Later, This Is Still Cartoon Network’s Coolest Show (But You Can’t Watch It Anywhere)

by

Over two decades ago, Cartoon Network aired a truly unique show that has since disappeared – it’s no longer available to watch, and almost all traces of it have been erased. The late 1990s and early 2000s were a time of creative experimentation for the network as it developed its identity, giving us many of the shows we still remember fondly today. Unfortunately, not all of these shows have had a lasting presence, and some have fallen into obscurity.

Back in 2004, Cartoon Network premiered Megas XLR, a unique action show that blended influences from giant robot anime, video games, and classic cartoons. Unfortunately, you can’t stream or watch it on Cartoon Network now – it’s been removed from their library, and attempts to revive it haven’t been successful. This has strangely made the show even more beloved over time, turning it into a bit of a hidden treasure for those who remember watching it when it first aired.

Megas XLR Premiered on Cartoon Network 22 Years Ago

Megas XLR began as a pilot episode called “Lowbrow,” created by Jody Schaeffer and George Krstic. It first appeared in 2002 during Cartoon Network’s Cartoon Cartoon Weekend Summerfest, an event where viewers could vote on which pilot episodes they’d like to see become full series. Thanks to this event and positive fan response, Megas XLR was developed into the full show we know and love.

The animated series Megas XLR takes place in New Jersey and centers around Coop, a mechanic who discovers a massive robot in a scrapyard. With the help of his laid-back friend Jamie, Coop rebuilds the robot, only to learn it’s a futuristic machine sent back in time by its pilot, Kiva. Kiva hopes to use the robot to prevent an alien invasion called the Glorft. Surprisingly, Coop’s hobbies—like cars, video games, anime, and junk food—make him an ideal pilot for this powerful robot.

I remember watching Megas XLR when it was on Cartoon Network – it was a shame it only lasted two seasons. Ratings weren’t great, and despite feeling like a show that could have really taken off with toys and other merchandise, it never got that opportunity. The show didn’t hide its love for giant robot anime, and it was packed with awesome action. It was funny watching Coop bumble his way to winning battles against incredibly strong aliens, all while clearly enjoying himself. It really stood out from everything else on Cartoon Network back then, and it’s unlikely we’ll ever see a proper revival, which is a real loss.

Megas XLR Can’t Ever Come Back to Cartoon Network

Sadly, fans hoping for a Megas XLR revival on Cartoon Network will likely be disappointed. Unlike some other classic shows that have returned with new seasons or reboots, Megas XLR won’t be getting that chance. The show was essentially written off for tax reasons, which prevented any future production in the United States. This also limited its availability – it’s only available to buy digitally on various platforms.

You won’t believe this, but even after the show seemed to pull itself together, I found out Megas XLR actually was being considered for a revival! Sadly, when Warner Bros. and Discovery merged, everything got put on hold, and it feels like that’s pretty much the end of any hope for a proper continuation. To make things even more frustrating, it doesn’t look like we’ll even get a re-release on streaming like we’ve seen with a lot of other great Cartoon Network shows from that time. It’s a real bummer!

Tubi recently made a big deal to stream classic Warner Bros. cartoons, including many former Cartoon Network favorites that you can’t find anywhere else. However, despite this influx of shows, Megas XLR is still missing. While you can purchase individual episodes on platforms like Apple, or find it streaming in some countries, it’s frustrating not to be able to watch the whole series easily.

Looking back, it’s amazing to have seen it happen live, but it’s a shame so many animation fans over the years have missed out on it.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/anime/feature/15-years-ago-a-cartoon-network-series-ended-and-the-creator-still-wants-it-back/embed/#

Read More

2026-05-04 00:10