Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation: Z.E.R.O.

**Zero Explanation Reveals Origins**

***Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation Z.E.R.O.*** (also known as ***Operation Z.E.R.O.***) is a 2006 American made-for-TV science-fiction action-adventure comedy film directed by Tom Warburton. It is the first movie to be made for the animated television series Codename: Kids Next Door. It originally aired on Friday, August 11, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. and aired on Cartoon Network as a made-for-TV movie.

## Plot

*Operation Z.E.R.O.* takes place between the second and third episodes of Season 6. The KND ask for the help of their greatest-ever operative, Numbuh Zero, when Father threatens to turn every child and adult into tapioca-eating Senior Citi-zombies.

## Why Its Zero Explanation Reveals Origins

1. It has very nice looking animation that has aged extremely well, that holds up today even for 2000's standard, just like in the show.
2. The voice acting is still excellent that do not go to waste, such as Benjamin Diskin, Lauren Tom, Dee Bradley Baker and Cree Summer.
3. Amazing music.
	* The Opening Title, an intense remix of the series' opening theme that actually wouldn't feel out of place in a theatrical movie.
	* Grandfather's Theme really underscores the drastic situation the KND are placed in once he begins retaking over the world.
4. The plot is interesting and exciting where the KND must find a way to stop grandfather from ruling the world and turning everyone including adults into senior citizen zombies.
5. Grandfather is the greatest threat the Kids Next Door's entire organization has ever faced in history. An ancient evil who once reigned supreme over the world, Grandfather was supplanted only when one of his own sons betrayed him and stole his powers and memories. Planning to destroy the Book of KND so no hope can survive amidst children, Grandfather is so fierce that he terrifies his villainous son Father, defeats his other boy Monty in combat, and survives the KND space headquarters crashing into him, even facing defeat with just a snark to Monty that he's no longer in the will.
6. The surprising plot twist where the Delightful Children from Down the Lane are actually "delightfulized" Kids Next Door operatives, specifically Sector Z. Also heartbreaking is the news that their return to their true selves in only temporary, and even worse is their final words when they do inevitably revert to the Delightful Children. Numbuh One can do nothing but watch and let out a Big "NO!" as it happens before his very eyes.
7. Several sad scenes, like the rapid fall of the KND as Grandfather's Senior Citi-zombies spread throughout the world is truly the Darkest Hour for them.
	* Numbuh Zero purposefully broke the Recommissioning Module before being decommissioned so that he could finish the most important mission in his life: being a good father to his son, Numbuh One.
		+ On a similar note, there's a brief moment shortly before Numbuh One realizes who he really is and initially recommissions him where he's dejectedly looking down after Numbuh One tells him to shut up for being a distraction and a Bumbling Dad when the former is trying to save them. You can tell how heartbroken he is to hear his son get mad at him for trying to spend some quality time together.
	* Numbuh One having no choice but to fight his brainwashed teammates, and his ultimately failed attempts to reach out to the real them, until he uses Numbuh Two's upgraded Birthday Suits.
8. Plenty of hilarious moments, even the movie from Cartoon Network show, like after Sector V drops the Moonbase on Grandfather, we see that Father's mansion was destroyed in the explosion as well. Father has this to say about it.
	* There's also his "He's Back!" moment. After getting the short end of the stick from his father for nearly the whole movie, he finally loses his patience with everything. Only to resign himself to everything that's happened and walk off to eat some ice cream. And the extra sound effects when he quits happens to sound like he broke wind.
9. It sets up the sixth season of the show very well.
10. Well done and exciting action scenes as the ones from the TV show.
11. Sector V are still memorable main characters as ever, with Numbuh 1 giving his story arc.
12. In this movie, we explored a more of Father's story arc and he has the actual name Benedict when he was young in the flashback.
13. **The ending:** Numbuh 1, who now has possession of the Book of KND, writes his entry into the book. The entry consists of only five words: "We Are Kids Next Door." Numbuh 1 even revealing the entire (presumably) KND around him.
14. Excellent dialogue, especially like "**Tell... the Kids Next Door... we miss them! AHHH!!!**" and "**You... Big... JERK!!!**"

## Bad Qualities

1. Despite this, Nigel never directly interacts with his grandfather, Grandfather, and remains oblivious to their relation until he learns Father is his uncle, having been too distracted by the fact that his father was Numbuh Zero. We also have no indication that Grandfather is even aware he has a biological grandson and adoptive grandchildren. While this movie does explore the origins of the KND more in-depth, one can't help but feel that they could've done more with the Uno Family's history.
	* Though the scene was funny, many fans were disappointed that Father decided not to help Numbuh Zero fight Grandfather in the end. Not only would it have been an epic Enemy Mine situation, but it could've been a good way to remind us how dangerous Father was before his Villain Decay.
2. They have a few unlikable characters, such as Numbuh 363, who is a spoiled brat boy.

## Reception

Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation: Z.E.R.O. received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. It received a 7.4/10 on IMDb

## Trivia

* The end credits in the film shows the caricatures of the cast and crew of Operation: Z.E.R.O. in cartoon form in style of KND pictures.
* Despite not receiving the DVD, it was available on iTunes and Apple TV+.
* In the week prior to the premiere, Cartoon Network released a promotional game on their website in anticipation of the movie, Operation Z.E.R.O.: Outnumbuh'd!. Upon completing the game, the player would be shown a clip from the movie.
* This movie (alongside the series) was steaming on HBO Max.
* The Recommissioning Module was thought to be damaged beyond repair, however Numbuh 86 reveals that it is indeed fully operational ever since Numbuh 274/Chad "betrayed" the Kids Next Door. It was later destroyed, again beyond repair, at the end of this movie by Numbuh 0/Monty himself. However, according to Operation: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S., it was repaired once again so Father could find out Numbuh 1's whereabouts from his old teammates.