The top rated “Invader Zim” episodes shown on NickToons gets a special compilation DVD release – “Invader Zim: Operation Doom”. Feature 13 episodes from season 1 and season 2 and offered for a very good price, fans of “Invader Zim” will definitely enjoy this DVD release!
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DVD TITLE: Invader Zim: Operation Doom
DURATION: 13 Episodes (179 Minutes)
DVD INFORMATION: Full Screen, Dolby Digital
COMPANY: Nickelodeon/Paramount
RATED: NOT RATED
RELEASE DATE: February 22, 2011
Executive Producers: Mary Harrington, Jhonen Vasquez
Producer: Steve Ressel
Line Producer: Monique Beatty
Head Writer: Jhonen Vasquez
Story Editor: Rob Hummel
Original Music by Kevin Manthei
Main Title Theme by Mark Tortorici
End Credit Music by Kevin Manthei
Casting Director: Donna Grillo Gonzales
Casting Coordinator: Anna Henry
Original Character Design by Jhonen Vasquez
Character Design by Aaron Alexovich
Featuring the voices of:
Richard Horvitz as Zim
Rosearik Rikki Simons as Gir/Pigboy
Andy Berman as Dib
Adam Baldwin as Announcer
Mo Collins as Zita
Paul Greenberg as Poonchy/Cashloog
Kevin Hamilton McDonald as Purple
Eric Trueheart as Eric
Wally Wingert as Red
Jim Wise as Sizz-Lorr
Well, a compendium of highlights from a mission of doom that isn’t going quite as planned. But be warned, INVADER ZIM has come to assume control of Earth and its annoying inhabitants, and he WILL succeed. But until then, you, vile earth fiend, can watch. Watch and learn how to infiltrate the masses and, well, um…just WATCH!
In 2001, “Invader Zim”, an animated television series by Jhonen Vasquez (the comic book creator of “Johnny the Homicidal Maniac”) began airing on Nickelodeon.
The series received critical acclaim during its first season but was canceled due to declining ratings for its second. But the series and its toy line have had a strong fan base and the animated series had become a cult hit. While all episodes have been released on DVD, the series was shown ala reruns on Nicktoons in 2010 and became the second highest-rated show on the network and thus, the DVD “Invader Zim: Operation Doom” has been released.
The DVD is a compilation of Nicktoon’s highest rated “Invader Zim” episodes from the first and second season.
“Invader Zim” revolves around an alien named Zim who comes from the imperialistic Irken race. The race features a species in which its hierarchy is based on height, needless to say, Zim is short and thus is not expected to have any power. But because he is a pest and nearly destroy the planet and their people, the Almighty Tallest send Zim on a fake mission to Earth in order to get rid of him, but Zim thinks it’s an actual mission and he must do what he can to earn world domination and eradicate the human race.
Zim is accompanied to Earth by his robotic companion GIR that is a Irken standard issue robot.
Meanwhile, Zim tries to fit into the human race and goes to school. No one questions him being an alien except Dib, a kid who is obsessed with the paranormal and supernatural and knows Zim is an alien and tries to let everyone know that. Unfortunately, no one listens to Dib and they think he is crazy.
As Dib tries to expose Zim’s secret, his younger sister Gaz, knows that Zim is an alien but instead of helping her brother Dib out, she likes to quarrel with her brother and eat pizza. Meanwhile, each time Zim has a scheme, Gaz is more likely the person who will thwart his plans, rather than her brother who ends up getting ridiculed for always trying to prove that Zim is an alien.
“Invader Zim” is ultimately about one alien’s desire to eradicate humanity but is too dumb and unsuccessful, while the human Div tries to reveal Zim’s secret that he is an alien but somehow annoys people that no one believes anything that comes out of his mouth.
Included on this DVD are the following “Invader Zim” episodes on one disc (note: While most episodes are 11 minutes long, there are some episodes that are 22 minutes long):
- The Fly Cook What Came From All That Space – (Season 2, Episode 23) Zim is recaptured and is forced to stand trial and work in Foodcourtia. Can Zim escape the planet?
- Career Day – (Season 1, Episode 6A) The students are assigned with an adult that matches the qualifications of their self aptitude test and what career they will have in the future. Dib is assigned to a paranormal investigator and Zim works at the fast food restaurant, McMeaty.
- Battle Dib – (Season 1, Episode 6B) Dib does a presentation about Zim for a meeting of the Swollen Eyeball Secret Society. But before he can join, Dib must endure various trials.
- The Nightmare Begins – (Season 1, Episode 1) – A story of how Zim nearly destroys the planet and the Irken race.
- Gaz, Taster of Pork – (Season 2, Episode 26) Dib uses an electronic spell on her sister and making everything she eats or drink , taste like pork.
- Vindicated! – (Season 2, Episode 24B) Div goes to see the school counselor and tells Mr. Dwicky that Zim is an alien. Will Mr. Dwicky believe him?
- The Voting of the Doom – (Season 2, Episode 24A) Zim uses the school election to gain power, Dib will do whatever to stop him and both candidates go against each other in mindless debates.
- Hobo 13 -(Season 1, Episode 15A) Invader Zim wants more weapons but the Almight Tallest don’t want to give it to him. So, now Zim must prove himself worthy of getting them.
- Walk For Your Lives – (Season 1, Episode 18A) Zim is doing experiments on Dib, but it explodes and Dib manages to escape it…very slowly.
- Mysterious Mysteries – (Season 1, Episode 14A) – Dib is interviewed by the TV host of Mysterious Mysteries to tell the world about Zim and show them footage that he captured of the alien.
- FutureDib – (Season 1, Episode 15B) Dib comes across himself from the future, who asks his help to stop Zim.
- Plague of Babies – (Season 1, Episode 10A) – Zim believes a baby who saw him out of his disguise will be a threat to his mission.
- Bloaty’s Pizza Hog – (Season 1, Episode 10B) – Dib is kidnapped by Zim and Gaz needs to save him, so she can have dinner with her dad at her favorite restaurant.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
“Invader Zim: Operation Doom” is presented in standard definition (4:3), color. Colors are vibrant and looks very good on DVD. I must admit that when I found out that a total of 13 episodes were going to be on one DVD disc, I thought the DVD would feature quite a bit of artifacting. But the fact that the episodes are two parters at 11-minutes long and a few that are full episodes at 22 long, having 13 episodes works out just fine.
Because this is on DVD, I did notice interlacing and edge enhancement but for the most part, the blacks are nice and deep and the episodes feature a good amount of color. There is slight artifacting but I doubt that the children who do watch this show will complain about its picture quality.
Audio is presented in Dolby Digital stereo and dialogue is clear and understandable. Â The music for “Invader Zim” is fantastic and definitely one of the better, musically scored animated series out there.
There are no English subtitles but closed captions are included.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Unfortunately, there are no special features in this DVD release.
“Invader Zim: Operation Doom” features 13 of NickToons highest rated episodes from the series. Because a lot of adults and children are discovering the series for the first time, it helps to have a DVD like this and perhaps, maybe inspire an “Invader Zim” comeback for the fans who absolutely love the series.
“Invader Zim” is a pretty cool show as it has a pretty unique animated style to it. I like the dark strokes around the characters and the amount of black and colors used in every episode. Also, the animated series features a pretty awesome musical score and overall, I like it’s dark humor.
With that being said, although this is a Nickelodeon animated series, this is a series not for young kids, I would say that it’s more for children in their early teens as it does sport a more mature tone. As mentioned, it is a bit dark. For example, the man working at the Bloated Pizza restaurant, which the characters frequent, is a huge slob, pig looking guy in which children are able to get sucked up through its belly and come out. Another scene features a homeless guy who kidnaps a kid from the restaurant.  And of course, the more mature bantering between Zim and Dib, especially Dib and his sister Gaz may not agree with many parents at all.
I do feel that because of the Nickelodeon tie-in, especially on the cover, some parents may find this to be a “SpongeBob Squarepants” type of series and buy it for their young children. I emphasize, this is not an animated series for younger kids.
As for the DVD, you get 13 episodes (full episodes and half-length episodes) on one disc. I wish Nickelodeon had included special features but considering the number of episodes on one DVD and for the price it’s being sold for, it’s a pretty good deal.
Overall, for those who are old enough to watch this series and even for adults, “Invader Zim” is an entertaining animated series that probably came out a little to early for its time because it’s content would probably resonate strongly with today’s viewers and do better in the ratings than it did back in 2001.
It is kind of interesting to see how the series is starting to get more attention and in 2010, when it was re-aired, it was quite intriguing to see the series gain stronger ratings. It’ll be interesting if we will see a revival of “Invader Zim” but for now if you are looking for a DVD which compiles episodes from both seasons of “Invader Zim”, “Invader Zim: Operation Doom” is for you!
