As far as Nick Toons go, Invader Zim holds a special place in our heart.
It’s dark, twisted and downright bizarre story and art style was a refreshing change
for those of us who grew up watching the show.
Afterall, what’s more wholesome and lovable than a little green alien hell-bent on conquering
the world?
But with such an creatively twisted mind behind the show, it’s no surprise that there was
so much hidden throughout the series that many fans didn’t catch.
Not to mention all the edgy stuff that raised red flags at Nickelodeon Studios.
I’m ____ with WickedBinge and today, we’re going through 30 Twisted Invader Zim Facts
That Will Shock You.
Let’s get started!
(1) Given the significance of Invader Zim and the critical acclaim the show has received,
you’d think that it must have took forever to come up with the concept.
Well… quite the opposite.
According to creator Jhonen Vasquez, he came up with the concept in under an hour…
While in bed.
(2) Vasquez was actually quite young when he started Invader Zim.
Only 22.
Which is really young for a showrunner.
After dropping out of film school, Vasquez began his career as a comic book artist and
quickly transitioned to animation.
He definitely made the right choice!
(3) Even more amazing was that Vasquez’s prior work, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, was
really dark.
Making it a bit of a shock that Nickelodeon approached him to develop a kid’s cartoon.
That said, it was actually later comic Squee! -- a spinoff of Johnny -- that got him the
attention.
(4) When it came to what influenced him specifically, Vasquez has said that Zim came from many of
the things he obsessed over as a child.
Including paranormal investigations, aliens, monsters and all sorts of science fiction.
And of course, his dark sense of humor that his previous work was notorious for, was still
present in Zim.
Kid show or not.
(5) When it comes to why Vasquez went with the name “Zim”, many people speculated
that he chose the name in reference to the character Sergeant Charles Zim from the sci
fi film Starship Troopers.
The speculation began after Vasquez recorded at Nickelodeon Studios with the actor who
played the character, Clancy Brown.
Who of course, voices Mr. Krabs.
But, as it turns out, Vasquez chose the name Zim because that’s the name he chose for
his girlfriend’s old Tamagotchi.
(6) Invader Zim’s production was very unique for Nickelodeon.
In fact, it was one of the first cartoons to blend 2D and 3D animation.
Some of the show’s animators even said Vasquez’s style was the most difficult they’d ever
learned.
Invader Zim also utilized twice as many storyboards as the average cartoon, which impressed Nickelodeon.
(7) The animation was so impressive, in fact, that animator Kyle Menke won a Primetime Emmy
for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for the episode The Nightmare Begins.
Steve Ressel also won an Annie award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Storyboarding in
an Animated TV Program.
(8) The gaming console, The Game Slave 2, that Gaz goes to extreme lengths to acquire
in the episode Game Slave 2 is a reference to all the chaos people went through at the
time when the Playstation 2 came out.
Apparently, the name of the console was going to be a play on the Game Boy Advance -- The
Game Slave Advanced.
But Nintendo wasn’t having.
And threatened to sue the pants off of Nickelodeon.
Yikes.
(9) The show often included grotesque scenes that surprisingly made it past censors.
But there was also quite a bit that didn’t.
For example, at the end of the Game Slave 2 episode, the character Iggins was going
to originally be killed.
(10) Blood and gore was something that Nickelodeon was afraid to showcase.
There were several scenes that planned to have blood splattered on the walls.
In the episode GIR Goes Crazy and Stuff, GIR was going to be covered in blood.
And the episode Hobo 13 was going to have Skoodge eating his own skin to survive.
I guess that was a bit too demented for a kid show…
(11) But that didn’t stop Vasquez from sneaking in some morbid stuff.
A perfect example of this is the single frames of Grr covered in blood that were snuck in
throughout several episodes.
Creepy...
(12) Speaking of creepy, one of the characters that has creeped fans out quite a bit is Ms.
Bitters.
So much so that some have speculated that she isn’t human.
With her clawed hands, snake like movements and ability to materialize from the shadows,
as well as levitate, this makes a lot of sense.
Some have claimed that because of her height and ability to float, she is an irken and
used to be one of the Tallest.
Well, interestingly enough, although they didn’t specify what she is, creators have
confirmed that she is indeed, not human.
(13) Perhaps more of her backstory and details of her identity were planned to be unveiled,
as the show’s DVD commentary claims that Ms. Bitters flashbacks were to occur in the
series, but they were cut due to time constraints.
Bummer.
(14) If you’ve watched the more recent Nickelodeon cartoon, The Loud House, you’ll see a quick
Ms. Bitters easter egg cameo in the episode Linc or Swim.
At the pool, there are several former nick toon senior citizen characters, including
Bitters, Grampa Phil, Miss Fowl and Lou Pickles.
(15) Ms. Bitter also appeared in Vasquez’s comic Squee!
Although her character was unnamed at the time.
There are other references between the two properties.
For example, in the pilot episode of Zim, there’s a child in the cafeteria that bares
a striking similarity to Squee.
(16) On the topic of crossovers…
You may have missed the one in the 2008 videogame Spongebob Squarepants: Nicktoons Globs of
Doom.
Maybe because it’s kind of an obscure title…
But Zim and Dib appear early on to assist in the player’s adventure.
(17) Another game that featured Invader Zim character was Nicktoons MLB, which came out
in 2011.
Zim and Gaz are playable characters and GIR is the greatest announcer in sports history.
Right up there with Harry Carey.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing Zim as an unlockable character in other games…
(18) We mentioned how Zim was one of the earliest 2D and 3D hybrid cartoons.
Well, it also attempted something else unique.
In an unaired episode titled Zim Eats Waffles, the goal was to make the entire episode one
long, continual shot.
Although it didn’t air, it was quite an impressive task to attempt.
(19) One another dark note, Dib’s iconic trench coat almost got the axe by Nickelodeon.
Although it really fit his misfit character’s personality, the network felt as though it
would remind people of the Columbine shooters, which happened not long before the show came
out.
They attempted to have this changed, but it was ultimately left the way it was.
(20) In the episode Door 2 Door, the virtual reality scene was actually going include the
Irken fleet obliterating New York City.
But after 9/11, it was changed.
That said, on the episode’s first airing, it was shown uncut.
Vansquez has actually said he prefers the revised version as he likes the idea of not
using real life cities in the universe.
(21) Another awkwardly dark connection comes from the controversial Dark Harvest episode
in which Zim has to harvest organs to pass off as his own.
Well, in 2006, when a man named Scott Dyleski was convicted of murder, prosecutors referenced
comments he made about the episode and his fascination with human organs.
But according to his defense, he was only joking.
(22) Another censored scene happened in Burritos Don’t Like Me!
When Gir is watching TV, the word “Diarrhea” is shown in brown letters.
Nickelodeon made the creators change the color to red.
(23) The music in Invader Zim was composed by Michael Tavera.
His previous work includes The Land Before Time, An American Tail and one of the old
Adventures of Super Mario Bros. cartoon.
(24) Although Dib turned out to be Vasquez’s favorite character, the original concept involved
Zim killing Dib early in the first season and replacing him with a character named Louie.
As you probably expect by now…
Nickelodeon denied this request.
(25) The magazine Christian Parenting Today took great issue with Invader Zim.
Calling it non-Christian, immoral and insulting towards their religious values and beliefs.”
Interestingly enough, the organization also took issue with the Fairly Odd Parents, which
was released alongside Invader Zim on Nickelodeon.
(26) A lot of tough decisions had to be made with casting for Zim’s role.
Originally, Mark Hamill was first in line to play our favorite little green alien.
And after him, Billy West went as far as recording the pilot episode.
West was already doing voice over work for Futurama at the time, and Vasquez decided
against using a voice over artist that had such a recognizable voice.
(27) The character Tak who appeared in Tak The Hideous New Girl, was planned to reappear
in the series later on.
But due to it’s cancellation, she never returned.
However, there’s speculation that she will return to the movie, as her original voice
actress Olivia D’ Abo, confirmed that she is working on the upcoming movie.
(28) For hardcore Zim fans out there, did you know that there was a convention dedicated
to the show?
In 2011, InvaderCon was launched by fans and was organized by Green Mustard Entertainment
as a 10th anniversary celebration of the series.
(29) As any other show in existence, Invader Zim was not spared from fan fiction and character
shipping.
Some fans even shipped Zim and Dib.
Calling it ZADR -- or Zim and Dib relationship.
Vasquez, personally, hated the idea.
But it was more against the idea of any sort of romance in the show.
Saying that anyone watching the show for romance was watching it wrong.
(30) Although the show was originally cancelled way too soon…
In 2010, NickToons began rerunning old episodes to test the waters for a future sequel.
And fortunately, it did incredibly well, ranking second in the ratings behind Avatar The Last
Airbender.
In 2018, Vasquez announced the Invader Zim movie: Enter the Florpus!
Are you excited for Invader Zim to finally make it’s return in the form of a feature
film?
And what was your favorite part about this twisted cartoon?
Let us know in the comment section below.
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But most importantly, stay wicked