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Invader Zim

Series, 2001, The 2000s, Set in A doomed Earth

Invader Zim is #14 of 21 in release order and #14 of 21 in chronological order in the Nickelodeon Classics.

The story

Zim dreams of greatness. Unfortunately, though, he's hopelessly inept as a space invader. Desperate to be rid of the annoying Zim, his planet's leaders send him on a mission to infiltrate Earth, providing him with leftover, cobbled-together equipment. To their consternation, Zim succeeds in setting up a base on Earth and infiltrating human culture, posing as a human child as he plots the planet's downfall. Only Zim's archnemesis, Dib, recognizes that Zim is an alien, and of course, nobody believes Dib's claims.

Invader Zim recap

Zim is a tiny, loud and incompetent soldier of the Irken Empire. After he wrecks a previous invasion, his leaders, the Almighty Tallest Red and Purple, send him to a distant planet, Earth, just to get rid of him. Zim believes he is on a real mission and disguises himself as a schoolboy with a wig and contact lenses, helped by GIR, a broken robot assistant who loves tacos and singing. Nobody on Earth notices he is an alien except his classmate Dib, a paranormal investigator everyone thinks is crazy. Dib's sister Gaz plays video games and ignores both of them, and their father, Professor Membrane, is a famous scientist who never believes Dib. Each episode is a new invasion plan that collapses, with a dark, grim tone. The series runs from 2001 to 2002, and later episodes bring in Tak, another Irken who wants revenge on Zim.

Invader Zim ending explained

Nickelodeon cancels Invader Zim partway through its second season, so it ends without a finale; the completed but unaired episodes appear on Nicktoons in 2006. The story resumes in the 2019 Netflix film Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus, in which Zim launches "Phase 2" of his plan, moves Earth into the path of the Irken Armada and opens a rift between realities, before Dib and Professor Membrane send the planet home.

Where to watch Invader Zim

Invader Zim is streaming on Paramount+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.

Ratings

IMDb 8.4/10

Where it fits

Cast

Created by Jhonen Vasquez.