Ben 10 (2005 Original)

***Ben 10*** is a 2005 American animated sci-fi action-comedy series created by Man of Action (a group consisting of Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, and Steven T. Seagle), and produced by Cartoon Network Studios. The series is about a 10-year-old boy named Ben Tennyson who gets a watch-like alien device called the "Omnitrix" (the prefix *omni* means all). Attached to his wrist, this allows him to transform into various alien creatures. He then uses these powers to fight evil from Earth and space. The show premiered on December 27, 2005 and ended on April 15, 2008.

## Plot

Ben Tennyson, a ten-year-old boy, goes on a summer vacation with his cousin Gwen Tennyson and his grandfather Max Tennyson. During a stop at a campsite, a meteor crashes next to their vehicle, the "Rustbucket". Ben inspects the meteor and, while doing so, a high-tech advanced device attaches itself to his left arm. He quickly discovers that the alien device allows him to transform into ten distinct aliens. With this new device he calls the "Omnitrix", Ben battles villains from both Earth and outer space.

## Why It Rocks

1. Interesting premise.
2. The aliens that Ben can transform into are designed-well. Also, Ben gets more aliens as the series goes on so it doesn't get repetitive.
	* Similar to the anime transformations, the alien transformation sequences are very creative for Western animation.
3. Lots of good action and comedy.
4. Ben Tennyson is a very cute protagonist, as his happiness and cuteness are done-well.
5. Great story.
6. Despite its worst reboot, the 2016 reboot was funnier and more slapsticky than the original 2005 series.
7. The alien designs are very good. In the 2016 reboot, the modified alien designs are more decent.
8. Even though there have been a plethora of plot-driven cartoons in the 2010s since *Adventure Time*, this show, along with *Codename: Kids Next Door* and *Avatar: The Last Airbender*, could be considered the one that started the trend amongst mainstream cartoons.
9. It had many very funny moments. In fact, Ben Tennyson is a very funny character, doing the most comedy moments. However, in the 2016 reboot, Ben is giving more laughs than the original.
	* The humorous scene where Ghostfreak had his own reaction of Omnitrix having a timeout.
		+ "*NO!* I'M ***NOT*** GOING BACK!"
	* An example being some funny scenes where Ben transforms into fusions of two aliens, like Stink Arms, Diamond Matter, and Heat Jaws.
10. Interesting dynamic with Ben, Gwen and Grandpa Max.
11. Gwen gets magic powers in the middle of the series.
12. Vilgax is a great villain.
13. It had very funny alien-themed puns, thanks to Ben Tennyson.
14. You get to see Ben 10,000, the future version of Ben, who has unlocked 10,000 aliens and the "Master Control" for the Omnitrix (for obvious reasons, you won't see more than about 10-20 aliens).
15. When Ben unlocks the "Master Control", he gets to switch between all of his aliens at will at any time.
16. Very smooth animation, heavily influenced by the DC Comics animated shows of the 1990s and 2000s.
17. Hilarious theme song.
18. *Ben 10: Alien Force*, *Ben 10: Ultimate Alien* and *Ben 10: Omniverse* are good sequels to the original series.

## Bad Qualities

1. Gwen and Ben's bickering can get out of hand at times.
2. Too much gross-out humor, thanks to Stinkfly.
3. Despite this, the alien transformation sequences are turned Ben's cuteness into his ugliness.
4. Grandpa Max is very unlikeable, as he acts like an idiot, but luckily he redeemed himself in a 2016 reboot.
5. Some animation errors.
6. The 2016 reboot isn't as well-regarded as the original series, but turned out to be a very good reboot show by most of the Ben 10 fans.

## Trivia

* There's a piece of gum in the Omnitrix that makes it functional.