Megas XLR: Cartoon Network's RADDEST Failure (And How It Was Sabotaged) - Hats Off

Today we're taking an in-depth look at Megas XLR and it's short lived sucess, and how maybe Cartoon Network stopped it from having more. Come find out why Megas XLR was Cartoon Network's RADDEST Failure, and how it was sabotaged.
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Merch: my-store-befea...

[@Yolani14]

The fact Coop got a giant alien robot from the future for just 2 bucks and yet still never paid Goat is hilarious to me😂

[@nubreed13]

It really is such a shame that the executives just cut the show at its knees. Had they just moved it to adult swim it would have flourished.

[@ShadowWolfRising]

I think Adult Swim was even interested in airing re-runs, but when they approached the then CEO, said CEO went "Never bring that show up again.".

[@zaczane]

@@ShadowWolfRisingsounds like a guy who needs to watch more Pay per view wrestling….

[@xcmet]

9:50 you bring great points to why Coop is truley unique amongst other fictional heroes. Coop is one of the few cartoon hero based protagonist that is obese and he's genuinely not ashamed of being himself. He's not trying to act as some role model, but just does heroic things because he feels its just necessary. You could even compare him to Baloo the pilot from Disney's tailspin. You could even compare Coop's idle demeanor similar to Goku, as both are nonchalant about their heathen lifestyles and are genuinely happy with how they are, despite their character flaws. What I like about Coop is that he's okay with who he is, especially his obesity and is not ashamed with how others think. A lesson I think is needed for todays youth.

[@Jvnet10]

This! Even though I had a rough time remembering how the show was called (lol), seeing Coop feeling fine on his own skin despite not being considered a conventional hero archetype really left a mark on me. It's one of the reasons that Megas was so special, imo.

[@RavenCloak13]

Well, also helps that Coop also isn't physically fighting himself most the time. He's usually just the pilot and unlike the military centered Gundam series and so on Coop was just a dude living with his mom living his life. Way different to a lot of other series. Hell, thing is Coop is ALSO SMART. He's a damn fine mechanic given he was able to work on cars and mod the fuck out of Megas. He probably could have gotten a job as a mechanic easy. He's also not perfect though in how he modded Megas like how it actually is working on cars. Somethings don't work properly but it still works. Hell, he's even not really interested in girls and just like doing his own thing. He's just living his best life.

[@kmalm4776]

Good comparison with Baloo which I also thought would be the closest in similarity to Coop over at Disney.

[@silvermknight]

I once ran into Steve Blum at a con and asked him to sign my bootleg of this show and promised to buy a legit copy if it ever released. He said "Sure I'll sign this because you'll never get a legit copy".

[@Grepp_]

Steve handing out the truth like its candy

[@sturmley]

The most POWERFULLY based cartoon ever made

[@HatsOffMedias]

No lies here

[@scribbled1990]

LMFAO "All I wanted was a Mega Slush" is always living in my heart because while plating my hair my mom was watching this episode with me and she would never let my live it down that she "Can't believe you made me watch a cartoon about a slushy"

[@valinsummers2565]

Megas XLR really deserves the Samurai Jack Revival treatment. Maybe one day.

[@HatsOffMedias]

I can only dream

[@pedrohenriquemoraessantos1164]

A last more adult Season tô close ALL the loose treads and later a kinda Canon game in case the final Episode suck Yeah lets do that

[@KyleRDent]

Coop was one of my weird crushes. I remember getting through some bad nights of insomnia watching this and Code Lyoko.

[@HatsOffMedias]

Good combo

[@DreadLockedCipher]

This show rekindled my admiration for giant robots, and it has remained one of my top CN favorites, right next to Samurai Jack. It deserved so much better. Excellent work giving this awesome show the love it deserves.

[@vonfaustien3957]

Funny enough the guy behind Samurai Jack did his own cartoon network show about giant robots... It was also screwed the network and killed with even less resolution than Megas XLR got.

[@SpiderandMosquito]

It's gotten to the point where basically every time something specifically cool gets on Cartoon Network, the network that for all intents and purposes has been creator driven to a fault, it will get canceled through sabotage for some reason or not... usually not. God this channel is a paradox!

[@nubreed13]

Yeah especially when adult swim just has piles of shows like this that last far longer than they have a reason to. I remember people from titmouse saying how they basically have full creative freedom at adult swim so long as the show can be broadcast.

[@RexZShadow]

@@nubreed13 Sadly Megas came out before adult swim or else it probably would had found a long time home there.

[@nubreed13]

@@RexZShadow yeah had the network not decided to kill it with extreme prejudice they could have aired the re-runs on adult swim and made their money back in dvd sales.

[@robertharris6092]

​@@RexZShadow asult seim cane out in 2001. megas XLR 2004.

[@azistis_5539]

In a way, Megas got revenge on Ben 10 and Teen Titans legacy was killed by reboots (and also bad continuations in the case of Ben 10). Megas ended on a high note.

[@nzuzovilakazi901]

The only bad 'continuation' I can think Ben 10 got was the reboot but even it got a bit better.

[@Maverick2736]

Now that you say that... it's actually good CN were stupid and sabotaged Megas out of their channel. I'd still go back to fondly watch Ben 10 every now and again if all the reboots and random radical tone and art style changes hadn't ruined that fondness. Megas never stayed long enough in CN's claws to leave that sour taste of executive meddling in anyone's mouths. We got enough Megas to form a cult following *_without_* having to watch it get ruined by sequelitis, leaving the fanbase eternally in love with it and primed to flock to its revival if one ever ends up happening in another platform.

[@kermitgotthesickkicks4265]

the only bad ben 10 continuation us the reboot nothing more nothing less

[@serPomiz]

the amount of quotes and desing references in this show is a pure love letter to the giant robot genre, more than other project which only point is being a reference show of all of the older CN shows, this one is one of the very, VERY few I hope for a revival

[@daniellel230]

"RADDEST failure" is so funny, like I read it in the 2000's announcer guy voice

[@HORRIOR1]

I wonder if the Regular Show got some of its inspirations from Megas XLR. Coop and Jamie seem very similar to Mordecai and Rigby in certain themes, and the shows follow the same kind of ever developing world of over the top chaos and destruction.

[@pedrogabrielduarte4544]

i think...i think...yeah!

[@sasamichan]

cartoon network never respected teen targeted shows. don't get how shows on the same network are "Competing" and why does tax loses mean shows can't come back? so many silly laws.

[@HatsOffMedias]

Very silly

[@conradmbugua9098]

It's because it's expensive (tax writeoffs) to buy back the rights of cartoons from the government or something, it's quite silly.

[@BugsyFoga]

Funny considering the guys behind this show would later go on to do Disney’s raddest failure, Motorcity.

[@HatsOffMedias]

I can't win

[@mrquake7789]

@@HatsOffMedias we all can't 🏆 ✌️ dude 😢 😞 😔 😪 💔 😕 😢

[@Launchpad05]

(CANCELED) Aw, Screw You, Mouse! (Don't worry. You'll get your show, Kitty Bobo.) #RebleTaxi

[@Launchpad05]

@@mrquake7789 Meanwhile, 'Teen Titans Go' is still on the air.

[@mrquake7789]

@@Launchpad05 Yep the CN SpongeBob

[@ML-cz8vm]

This show was my shit! I remember watching this with a slushie was the most hype thing as a kid.

[@HatsOffMedias]

That sounds like a vibe

[@NashTheBlade]

Cool idea for Coop to be the creator of the Glorft...But I also like to think that in that revelation, that Kiva would also come to discover that Coop is a direct ancestor of the man who invented Megas to begin with, which would explain how he was able to rebuild the robot to begin with

[@tVt2000]

I would have it be that coop restores it to the original design unintentionally.

[@lightning_bishop260]

This video is like a love letter to Megas XLR, and I’m here for it. Whoever decided to write this show off as a tax loss should be hanged from the neck until dead- or maybe subjected to a little backyard pro wrestling from some very ticked off fans!

[@johnmichaeldorienjohn467]

I love Megas!,I was an avid fan CN, in mid 90's to2000's Megas was my Jam! The animation, the Characters , the dialogue & music! It had it all! I would so love it to see it come back, or even buy the Dvd!, thanks for reminding if this classic!

[@DI-QueenmoEMino]

I remember this cartoon! I totally forgot what it was called because it's been so long but I recall seeing it when I was a kid. Honestly it was basically like a Western version of macha anime in a way, nice that you brought this back up from my childhood memories.

[@Colby2D]

I was just thinking of the intro “what’s a jalopy” clip today. It comes into my head if I ever see a sputtering van. Love the video

[@HatsOffMedias]

Thanks!

[@Launchpad05]

I LOVE 'Megas XLR'! If there was ever a show that needs to come back, this is it! (I doubt it ever will, but it still needs to come back.) This also needs a DVD/Blu Ray release since you can only buy this show digitally.

[@Acrillian]

If you have an email I can send you all the episodes my email is in my channels about info

[@drewbarton196]

Big Guy and Rusty: I'm the most American Mecha Anime there is. Megas XLR: Hold my mega-slush.

[@HatsOffMedias]

I need to take a look at Big Guy and Rusty

[@ndo6461]

I have a copy of Megas XLR on DVD from a cereal box.

[@TheRealKaiProton]

I missed this show first time around on UK CN, but I think the ads were showing it like a serious mecha show, so I was like, "another one like Big-O" and it was a friend who made me sit and watch it, and IVe loved it ever since,

[@HatsOffMedias]

To be fair, Big O also rules

[@NovastarDoughnut]

This show is great, i friggen love it. Such a good mix of connective vibes and tissue. Feels like a show specifically made for young boys. Combining cars, comics, action figures, tokusatsu, video games, Wrestling, mecha and kaiju. It was a synthesis, a concentration of everything that appeals to boys.

[@DM_GLAUCON]

Great video! I too dig giant robots... Didn't realize all the connections to MTV's Downtown. Actually just got into that one! It's the perfect show to watch after getting your first apartment in your early to mid 20s

[@murderman8578]

Fun fact Creator made an MTV show called Downtowners

[@saiyancartoonwarrior9922]

Nice to see Megas XLR get some much needed love.

[@namuzed]

11:45 I just realized the girl Jamie wanted to abduct in that scene was the hot goth chick from Downtown.

[@HatsOffMedias]

Yep! There were a bunch of Downtown cameos besides Goat

[@bcarden133]

The toys ALMOST went somewhere. I have a super rare prototype/internal promo Megas figure in my collection, and it's pretty sweet.

[@HatsOffMedias]

I'd love to have something like that one day

[@bcarden133]

@@HatsOffMedias I got mine by way of being fortunate enough to have family working at CN around that time, but they do very occasionally pop up on ebay!

[@CleverCover05]

This show might have had a better shot on a streaming service now. I wasn't into it as a child, but I could see more adults liking it now.

[@Acrillian]

I can send you all the episodes of you have an email

[@Kittenfox_55]

Tax write offs are a bitch, CN was infamous for that with Megas, sym-bionic titan & Beware the batman, but has Nickelodeon ever done it? I feel like Nick would totally do that.

[@HatsOffMedias]

I'm not aware of any, but now I'm curious

[@bamstarful]

A dead show lost to vacuum of entertainment but Excellent ending with Parallel Universe cliffhanger and the What If love interest with the side characters

[@Twisted_Logic]

Always happy to see some Megas love. Absolutely my favorite cartoon from my childhood

[@Acrillian]

I can email you all the episodes my email is in my channels about info

[@LowellLucasJr.]

YOU DIG GIANT ROBOTS! I DIG GIANT ROBOTS! WE DIG GIANT ROBOTS! CHICKS DIG GIANT ROBOTS! Nice! With an intro like that, its both an anthem and way of life! Absolutely miss this instant classic!

[@Acrillian]

If you have an email I can send you all the episodes my email is in my channels about info

[@TheDorkZombie]

Ayyyy thanks for the fanfilm mention at 32:40 ... God I love me some Megas.

[@Jvnet10]

You did an excellent Coop, sir!

[@fridaynightnicktoons6885]

Cartoon Network before the 2010’s was the best. Especially before 2005.

[@birdfish86]

Megas was my favorite growing up their is no show that encapsulates everything I love like Megas XLR. Thank you for this I teared up a little at the end this video was fantastic and I love this show.

[@Acrillian]

If you have an email I can send you all the episodes my email is in my channels about info

[@CookiePrince52]

Great video! Megas XLR was a great cartoon filled with many cool references. While I'm a big fan of the 2003 Teen Titans series, I'm sad that show, along with Ben 10, may have led to Megas XLR's downfall.

[@BlackWizardClub]

Yes! FINALLY! One of my favorite animation youtubers talking about one of my most unappreciated loves as a child! As an anime nerd of the early 00s who held up his first American Shonen Jump in triumph with only one other nerd, Megasxlr felt tailor made for me. Even though I didn't get every reference (I was a little kid so no conventions and mail in vhs for me) I knew this was a show for nerds by nerds. Not only that but one of my early indicators of queerness and transness as I had a crush on all three leads and was in love broness of it all. Megas gave me so much and I should've appreciated it more as a kid. If only I could go back in time and tell my younger self not to groan about reruns being boring because eventually even reruns stop. Idk if I'll live it as much as I did back then, but this video makes me want to rewatch it. Thanks for making this!

[@HatsOffMedias]

I'm glad the show helped ya!

[@fauxmintdissident]

I’m not mad, just disappointed. Disappointed that I ain’t find this channel before!! 🔥

[@HatsOffMedias]

Well you're here now! Stay awhile, we have jackets

[@EarthOneSpidey]

I need this video. RIP Megas. Your legacy lives on.

[@Acrillian]

If you have an email I can send you all the episodes my email is in my channels about info

[@ultima1033]

I...DIG...GIANT ROBOTS!!

[@thirdplanet4471]

Chicks dig giant robots

[@GeekToons]

Another beautiful video from the channel deangelo, megas as a series is one I have very close to my heart and this retrospective has done justice to it 10 fold

[@Murldon]

One of the greatest cartoons from my childhood! Would watch an Adult Swim Reboot in a heartbeat

[@Acrillian]

If you have an email I can send you all the episodes my email is in my channels about info

[@Acrillian]

I can send you the episodes if you have an email-my email is in my channels about info

[@jefferyquick3280]

Sabotaged, nothing! it was *ROBBED!*

[@TheRealBlackarrot]

Nice man, Didn't think anyone else remembered this show! Lucky for me I got a bootleg copy of the series

[@HatsOffMedias]

I'm still holding out on the miniscule chance of an official release

[@otaking3582]

While I don't doubt that this is the reason that CN killed the show (because CN is run by idiots), it still doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Shows on the same channel can't really "compete" with each other, since there's nothing to prevent someone from watching everything in the same genre (unlike shows on separate channels, since you'd need multiple televisions and a VCR to watch them all). If there were was merchandise involved, then yes, obviously kids can't buy everything at once, but since Megas XLR had none, that shouldn't have been an issue. Hopefully the creators can buy back the rights to the show like the creators of SWAT Kats did...

[@Greatscottwii2]

Should have went a bit deeper on that research, I mean as crazy as it is that Coop was the dad from Wizard of the Waverly Place, but he is also the son of Dom Deluise. The voice actor for Itchy Ichiford from All Dogs go to Heaven. ^-^

[@_Azurael_]

Remember loving this show. I would draw the robots of the series and play with them. Imagine if they had sold toys...

[@DeathsAvarice]

It's a shame because I absolutely loved this show haha. I wish it got more, and as a merch collector, I hate how hard it is/was to find things of this show. I'm glad the show managed to get some representation in fusionfall lol..

[@justinjacobs1501]

MechWarrior Online added a series of buttons in one of the Mechs cockpits labelled "Missiles, More Missiles, and Even More Missiles."

[@FriendlyNeighborhoodGeek99]

Great video!!! I never saw this show growing up for whatever reason now I know why😭

[@HatsOffMedias]

Such a shame, but thanks!

[@Demonking9900]

Duuuuuude you got a subscriber out of this review! This was my favorite cartoon ever and still is! Everything stated here, I whole heartedly agree with. And as a huge fan I would put money forward to see a reboot, game, anything new made form this ip! Cuz lets be honest.. everyone digs a wild card, and who doesn't love giant robots?

[@Acrillian]

If you have an email I can send you all the episodes my email is in my channels about info

[@Demonking9900]

@Lylaylion thats so sweet! But im good. I've got both seasons in HD digital already xD

[@ToonrificTariq]

8:17 Lol, this shit got me hot.

[@HatsOffMedias]

🐑🧶🍵

[@scottbruckner4653]

Jamie is the dude who rolls the blunt but never buys the paper nor the fucking weed. But the dude can roll THEE nastiest blunt in existant. Y'know.

[@HatsOffMedias]

Perfect way to describe him

[@scottbruckner4653]

@@HatsOffMedias I'm glad you think so.

[@theseedoflife5102]

You know,you brought up the point about the series being good for selling toys,and there's a simple solution to that if you still would enjoy having a figure of Megas,you could build him out of legos or actually just comission someone to 3d model the parts or find some free files for making one online,because honestly kid me always wanted to be able to hold Megas and even some of the other robots in my hand,the design were on the level of mid 2000's Transformers figures,so I doubt kids would not want to buy these.I also mentioned the concept of a lego Megas because I've seen people do a fairly show accurate build of Megas.

[@TheUnrealjester]

Maaaaaan I gotta rewatch this shit! Thanks for the remind, great video man!

[@wisconsinking323]

If you do a video Sym Bionic Titan you should look more into why it was cancelled because there's lots of supposed reasons why it got cancelled, according to Pan from KZbin channel RebelTaxi he claims it was behind the scenes drama, he said while season 1 was airing CN wanted season 2 to be the next Ben 10 (wanted it to be more kid friendly). You might need to ask him what his "source"is because while that sounds possible it could also be a bunch of BS.

[@gregorybatz7297]

I have the theme song on regular rotation in my music playlists. Loved the evil Coop episodes.

[@mathieuleader8601]

wow the phrase fortune favours the bold is really exemplified in the way Chris & George got the pilot Lowbrow up and running

[@OriginalBoondocksXVIII]

Just stumbled on your channel via the video you did on Dexter's Lab and I just had to pause at 0:59 to appreciate your writing voice (and to both laugh at and cosign that Niecy Nash shoutout.) I'm a fan now 🤝🏾

[@ashkirby8896]

So that’s the name of that show!🤔🧐😄 I remember seeing clips of this show in some YTP videos back when I was younger, but I never knew the show’s name!

[@peaceazulay9662]

One of the reddest coolest show CN had

[@ereherats]

Thanks for this!! Loved megas for forever and I love hearing all about it. Plus your presentation is really fantastic!!

[@Acrillian]

If you have an email I can send you all the episodes my email is in my channels about info

[@themangoman9315]

This is like everything a 10-year-old likes

[@HatsOffMedias]

So the perfect show

[@themangoman9315]

@@HatsOffMedias i know

[@bigmike8847]

9:38 Ok I am a huge car guy so let me geek out a little bit about this show. Make sure to pause at the time up top. Gasoline powered cars need to have their fuel ignited by a spark plug. Those spark plugs need to be powered by a wire coming off a distributor/ignition coil, so one wire goes to every cylinder. At some point in this series ( I don't remember what episode) Coop says "SO THAT'S WHY I PUT A 10 CYLINDER IN THIS GIRL" or something of the sort. Odds are he means he put a V 10 in his car. V motors are called that because they are physically shaped in a V, 5 cylinders per side. There are 5 orange spark plug wires coming off the side, meaning that he has a V10 in his car. SOMEHOW THEY MANGED TO APPEASE EVEN ME, THE MOST FINNIKEY OF CAR PEOPLE when it comes to media and pop culture This show is a treasure and I really need to rewatch it soon. I just googled it and its available on AppleTV

[@dannyk5551]

Megas was my childhood I stil watching it today tank u for this review love it when the show get some attention Nice🤟

[@FinnthehumanFazhog]

This video honestly deserves more views

[@abdelali9279]

Man I know there is an episode where they go to an E3 like show in the west coast and Goat tells Coop something like, "man, they're showing the new beach volleyball game, they say it has an improved 'physics engine' now" and I was like, omigosh are they referencing DOA Extreme Beach Volleyball?! Yeah being a kid exposed to that game fucks up with your mind. I love DOA2 and found DOAX in a thrift store back when that game was new and I bought it play it at a friends house, I think I knew what I was getting into but shit was more than my kiddy brain could've imagined. But this show and games like No More Heroes I think I have found realistic role models in my life for the first time while growing up and no wonder I have so much fondness for the 2000's, they were wild and unapologetic, basically more genuine. Also I still have my old mp4 rips of the latam spanish dub of the show, it looks good on an old iPod I recently found while thrifting, gotta watch it again.

[@lillordakira9752]

I never seen a episode of Downtown but I've watched all of the episodes of Mission Hill .

[@DIASTCartoons]

I watched this show sometimes and I was a pretty cool show when it was around.

[@anominon]

Dude you summed up everything I loved about this show. Also it made me want slushies and cheese steaks a lot, yeah.

[@lolcompany4u]

Mexico its actually in North America where you can still see the series on HBO

[@Powherkrangunch]

Wonderful video, dude! I was a Coop and Kiva fan. Maybe I'm alone on this hill, but if that's the case I'll live with it. Either way I always enjoyed the show and I definitely would've loved to have seen a third season. Also competition from Ben 10 and Teen Titans? Wow, shame! I mean I do love those shows but man sucks that Megas got the short end of the stick! Anyways great job keeping love for this series alive!

[@Rhomega]

This is my favorite show of all time. I've always loved giant robots, and this show has a great mix of action, humor, and geek stuff. I even bought the series on iTunes. Oh, and in regards to the stock music, I recognize it because one of the action songs was used for the Sports section of CNN Headline news like 20 years ago.

[@PerspectiveEnd]

Saying that someone went to work on War For Cybertron, is like saying they got promoted to the sewage plant.

[@pearlydewdropsfall]

Nice, Negative XP music

[@blakmajik1377]

I'm still pissed there are no DvDs of this show

[@Acrillian]

If you have an email I can send you all the episodes my email is in my channels about info

[@Acrillian]

If you have an email I can send you the episodes my email is in my channel's about info

[@abdelali9279]

27:35 wow that really flew over my head I don't even remember it

[@MegasLagann]

i live in the wrong fucking timeline

[@pedrohenriquemoraessantos1164]

We ALL do

[@s4proling]

This was great, excited to watch the rest of your reviews

[@TheOffenderBlog]

I loved this show. I am sad it is unlikely to ever receive a home release.

[@camk8856]

Oh god that ending scene I remember when rebel taxi put that in his video it was perfect then and is perfect now

[@Seth1915]

I love this show so much that one of my most prized possessions is a bootleg dvd of season 1 and 2 that i got at Indianapolis Comic Con last year. I consented to getting ripped off just so i could have physical proof that this show existed.

[@Siryeahman]

Boy, that tentacle joke is wild!

[@gavinelrod6307]

I hope sonic underground comes back one of these days?

[@marwaal-dousari72]

Hat’s off to “Disney XD Motorcity & MTV Down Town” please, please, please🤗🤗🤗

[@171QA]

I can now never unhear that the Wizard’s dad is Coop. XD

[@Max25670]

Next year is the 20th anniversary. May 1, 2024. Still hoping the series comes back. Plankton: "Don't let the flame die out!"

[@GabeNwagbalaPlus]

Sym-Bionic Titan got the same fate with Taxes (Cough Blame Yoshi & Bugs) P.s. will they appear in MultiVersus?

[@Kittenfox_55]

I remember the creators stating something about them buying the rights to Megas from CN back, but due to the tax write off, that made if harder than it would have been, on an upside though In Latin America Megas is Available on HBO Max

[@dtlegacy2495]

This show was awesome and still is in my opinion. I would like to have this show on DVD or Blu-ray. Long live Megas XLR.

[@Acrillian]

If you have an email I can send you all the episodes my email is in my channels about info

[@snbsixteen6stars201]

Wow these creators are balzy to Just crash the screening of buba hotab

[@Rekuzan]

Fun Fact, it stands for Mechanized Earth Guard Advance System.

[@troyboyd7984]

Before this has even started the commercial at the begging gave me a rush of nastalgia.

[@nicholasrodinos4701]

One thing I hate is when we have the serious character who's on a very important mission being told to calm down and relax and enjoy life, especially when it's somebody like Kiva whose future is being annihilated. The only time that situtation works for me is when said serious character is decimating their health or is being too impulsive/reckless for their own good.

[@KavinCatastrophe]

Made your 999 likes to 1000. It was an honor.