Interactive GIR Robot

The quest for an interactive GIR robot didn't die when Nickelodeon's animated series Invader Zim was cancelled in 2002. The Emmy winning series survives as a cult hit on DVD, sparking continued interest in its characters and a market for the likenesses of Zim, GIR, and Dib on everything from action figures to pajamas.

All types of robots remain popular with young and old alike.

Invader Zim was first broadcast in 2001 and ran for less than two seasons. When Nickelodeon canceled the show, over seven episodes were still in the planning stages, including a two-part season finale and a TV movie. Originally intended for an early teen audience, Invader Zim got off to a slow start, but while it didn't have the best viewership numbers, it was something of a critical success, garnering an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for Kyle Menke, a storyboard artist.

Chronicling the exploits of Zim, an alien visitor bent on destroying earth, his frenetic and hilarious robot GIR, and Dib, his archenemy, Invader Zim took a dark and witty look at modern life.

GIR, as much of a hindrance to Zim as an asset, has a pivotal role in many of the episodes. He's a hyperactive and disruptive influence whose unpredictable actions make for good storytelling and contribute to the shows nostalgic appeal.

Palisades Entertainment, LLC (Palisades Toys) had the exclusive contract from Nickelodeon for development of Invader Zim merchandise until it went bankrupt in 2006. Today, there are a number of manufacturers making Invader Zim merchandise, but the market isn't what it was when the show went off the air.

Although the prospect of a functioning, interactive GIR robot has some support from dedicated fans, interest in products based on Invader Zim remains static. Currently, although merchandise is available in the form of graphics on clothing and action and plush figures, what's out there is limited. Most fan sites that have active forum boards have little news to report beyond listings of functioning download pages for wave files and screensavers. A couple of sites have fan fiction listings and partial scripts from uncompleted shows. One enterprising site, Project GIR was in the developmental stages of a functioning GIR robot at one time, but there seems to be little recent activity. The cartoon stills and full sized mock-ups of a GIR head are worth a quick visit though. With a little encouragement, more might even be forthcoming.

For a GIR fix, you can try some games in which he's featured, like the two Nicktoons titles, Attack of the Toybots and Gobs of Doom.

• Of the 40 Invader Zim episodes that were originally ordered, only 27 were completed.

• An average Invader Zim episode cost about 13 million dollars to make. That wasn't cheap for the time, but it wasn't a budget buster either.

• According to The Amazing Invader Zim Site, the tantalizing titles of the proposed or only partially finished episodes were:

• • 0 Minutes To Doom
  • GIR's Big Day
  • Invader Poonchy
  • It Feeds on Noodles
  • Mopiness of Doom
  • Nubs of Doom
  • Return of Keef
  • Roboparents Gone Wild
  • Simon Says Doom
  • Squishy: Hugger of Worlds
  • Those!
  • The Trial
  • Day of Da Spookies
  • Top of the Line
  • When Pants Ruled!

Invader Dib was the title of a planned TV movie that would have aired in the fifth season, and the second season finale was a proposed two parter that was never titled or finalized.

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• Category:Science Fiction TV