The Crucial Mistake That Doomed Invader Zim's Salvation
Missed Opportunities: The Untold Story of Invader Zim's Potential Resurrection on MTV Find out how the beloved series could have thrived on a channel catering to an older audience
Article Overview
Nickelodeon reportedly canceled Invader Zim due to low ratings, but the exact reason for its premature conclusion has been debated.
Jhonen Vasquez, the creator of Invader Zim, desired to shift the show to MTV; however, Nickelodeon did not back the concept.
Invader Zim had the potential for prosperous reception among an older audience on alternative networks like MTV or Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.
Had Nickelodeon made a different decision, the beloved show Invader Zim could have had a longer run on television. Instead, the show was canceled after only two seasons due to low ratings. While Nickelodeon cited poor ratings from the target demographic of kids ages 2 to 11 as the reason for the cancellation, rumors have circulated over the years that the show's dark tone played a role in its demise.
The exact reasons for the cancellation remain unclear, as the show's creator, Jhonen Vasquez, has offered different explanations at different times. Vasquez has suggested that the low ratings, the high cost of production, and the show's mismatch with Nickelodeon's brand image all contributed to its cancellation. Regardless, Vasquez expressed a desire for the show to continue beyond the episodes that aired, but Nickelodeon did not take advantage of this opportunity.
Experience more of Invader Zim with Jhonen Vasquez's Invader Zim comic series, as it serves as a continuation of the TV show.
Invader Zim Creator Jhonen Vasquez Wanted The Series To Move To MTV
Invader Zim depicted the conquests of the extraterrestrial Irken alien Zim as he focused on dominating Earth. While not particularly frightening, the show's narrative and darker style contrasted with the lighter content of Nickelodeon's popular TV shows at the time, such as The Fairly OddParents, SpongeBob SquarePants, and The Amanda Show. Recognizing that Invader Zim wasn't a good fit for the children's channel, Vasquez took matters into his own hands and sought a change in network by approaching MTV.
When asked about why Nick didn't consider transferring Invader Zim to sister network MTV, similar to what they did with the controversial Ren and Stimpy show, Vasquez explained to IGN his response:
"We actually requested to move Invader Zim to MTV when it became clear that Nick was focused more on being a network for children rather than catering to the tastes of children who enjoyed more edgy content. It seemed like Nick's intention was to bury the show by constantly changing its time slot. Therefore, the prospect of moving the show to a channel where it could receive more attention was not appealing to them. Having the support of a network that believes in your show is a dream come true. Unfortunately, this was not our experience, so we ended up spending a significant amount of time feeling defeated and upset."
Invader Zim Could Have Prospered On A Channel With An Older Demographic
It appears that Vasquez believed that Invader Zim not only lacked the necessary support to succeed, but also had the potential to thrive even more in another location. The reasons behind Nickelodeon's apparent desire to "bury the show" are still open to discussion, but the absence of a network change prevented Invader Zim from proving its worth elsewhere.
Invader Zim, known for its two short seasons and one rebooted movie, has gained a cult following since its premature cancellation. Vasquez's prediction of how well the series would have fared on a different network is hard to dispute, considering the enduring fan enthusiasm for Invader Zim. However, like many other shows that ended too soon, it remains challenging to accurately gauge the potential success of Invader Zim.
Invader Zim could have received higher ratings among older viewers if it had been aired on MTV instead of targeting a young audience aged 2 to 11. MTV already had successful animated series like Daria, Beevis and Butthead, and Clone High that appealed to both young and older adults. Alternatively, Invader Zim could have thrived on Cartoon Network, airing alongside popular animated shows of the 2000s such as Adult Swim's The Boondocks and Robot Chicken. Unfortunately, Nickelodeon, even with its own sister network, had reservations about sharing Invader Zim, ultimately leading to its unfortunate cancellation.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I grew up watching Invader Zim and it was one of my favorite shows. I was really disappointed when it was canceled after only two seasons. I think the show had a lot of potential and could have been even more successful if it had been on a different network.
I think Nickelodeon made a mistake by not moving Invader Zim to MTV. MTV is a network that is known for airing more edgy and adult-oriented content, which would have been a better fit for Invader Zim. I think the show would have done really well on MTV and could have had a longer run.
I also think it's a shame that Nickelodeon didn't give Invader Zim more support. The show had a lot of potential, but it was never really given a chance to succeed. I think if Nickelodeon had given the show more support, it could have been a lot more successful.
