A.T.O.M.

A.T.O.M.
The "Alpha Teens on Machines" team shown from left to right: Shark, Hawk, Axel, King and Lioness
Also known as Alpha Teens on Machines
Action Man A.T.O.M.
Genre
Created by Ariane Desrieux
Paul-Patrick Duval
Directed by Olivier Jongerlynck
Voices of James Arnold Taylor
Alli Mauzey
Aldis Hodge
Charlie Schlatter
Brian Donovan
Clancy Brown
Tom Kenny
Composer(s)
Country of origin
  • France
  • United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 52 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Olivier Dumont
Michael Lekes
Jacqueline Tordjman
Producer(s) Bruno Bianchi
Greg Klein
Tom Pugsley
Running time 22 minutes
Production company(s) SIP Animation
Distributor Buena Vista International Television
Multicom Entertainment Group
Release
Original network Jetix
Original release August 27, 2005 – November 18, 2006

A.T.O.M. – Alpha Teens on Machines[1] (Action Man A.T.O.M. in some countries) is a French-American superhero animated television series produced by SIP Animation. The series focuses on the adventures of five teenagers in the fictional location Landmark City. The eponymous Alpha Teens, which consist of Axel Manning (the main character), Catalina Leone, Crey Kingston, Zack Hawkes, and Ollie Sharker, test prototype vehicles and weapons for Lee Industries, and use these prototypes to combat criminals, particularly the sadistic Alexander Paine.

The series debuted on August 27, 2005 on Jetix with its first season consisting of 26 episodes. It was renewed for a second season, also consisting of 26 episodes, which concluded on November 18, 2006.[2]

In countries like France, the United Kingdom (season 1 TV airings only), Germany, Australia, and Latin America, the series was called Action Man A.T.O.M. and had its own comic book from Panini Comics.

Synopsis

Set in the fictional town of Landmark City, Janus Lee who's the head of Lee Industries, holds a television contest as a front to recruit a group of talented teenagers. The winners of the contest, Axel, King, Lioness, Hawk and Shark are given prototype weapons, gadgets and vehicles and join forces to battle against the criminal mastermind, Alexander Paine who's also responsible for the death of Axel's father. In the end of the first season they manage to defeat him. However, after Paine's defeat, it is revealed that Lee's true purpose was to use the teens' DNA to create clones powered with animal genes. During the second season the Alpha Teens once again have to team up to stop Lee and his army of mutants.

Episodes

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 26 August 27, 2005 (2005-08-27) April 15, 2006 (2006-04-15)
2 26 September 2, 2006 (2006-09-02) November 18, 2006 (2006-11-18)

Characters and voice actors

Production

The series was first announced by Jetix on 6 September 2004 with the working title of The Insiders. It was specifically designed to appeal to young boys ages 6 to 9 with an Autumn 2005 release. Originally, while the series was going to feature a team of rebellious teenagers, it was only going to focus on the main character who "has the task of tracking down and catching 100 of the worst villains and the mastermind who set them free from prison, the notorious Mr. Pain."[3] Hasbro was announced as the master toy licensee for The Insiders later the same month.[4] Intermin CEO of Jetix Europe, Paul Taylor said that "The Insiders is a strong urban action-adventure series."[5]

On 15 November 2007, Jetix Europe announced their Year End results and stated in their report that they were not planning a third series of A.T.O.M., effectively cancelling the series.[6]

Release

Broadcast

In France, A.T.O.M. first aired on Jetix in 2005. In Italy, the show premiered on Jetix on October 1, 2005, and later aired on Rai 2 (during Random) from November 28 of the same year.[7]

Home media

In the United States, the DVDs are distributed through Liberation Entertainment. The first DVD of the series was released on August 28, 2007 titled "Vol. 1: Touch of Paine".[8] Following that, the second DVD titled "Vol 2.: Enter the Dragon" was released on August 28, 2007.[9]

The first season of the series was released on Amazon Prime in the United States in 2016, with distribution through Multicom Entertainment Group[10] (the show is however not listed within the company's catalogue[11]).

In the UK, Volume 1: Feel the Paine was released for DVD and UMD Video by Sanctuary Visual Entertainment on January 23, 2006. A second volume titled The Terror Continues was planned but was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Reception

The series has been referred to as a classic.[12] Common Sense Media, in their review of the show said: "The animation here — a blend of classic comic book and anime — is pretty good." and that "because of its relatively high level of cartoon violence [...] A.T.O.M. is best for older grade schoolers." and awarded the series 2 out of 5 stars.[13]

Other media

Toyline

The A.T.O.M. toy line is an action figure replacement line of the Action Man franchise owned by Hasbro. Distinctly different from other Action Man story line variations, A.T.O.M's selling point is that the figures are the standard size of normal action figures and not of a doll format. Much like Action Man however, these figures are sold individually, usually with figure accessories, from the vehicles distributed to accompany them.

The franchise has vastly similar concepts to the 1980s' M.A.S.K. story line from Kenner (which Hasbro bought in 1991), even down to the code name lettering, as each vehicle for the A.T.O.M members changes from one ordinary looking terrain vehicle to anything that ranges from a jet car with unfolding door wings, to a bike that soon propels its driver into the air as a helicopter.

In 2007, Hasbro released a 12-inch version of A.T.O.M action figures, similar as the original Action Man action figures. The toy series was composed mostly of several versions of Axel Manning, the main character, and Paine, Flesh and Tilian as the villains. A plane, a sport car and several minor vehicles were included on this edition of A.T.O.M. toys. After 2007, the A.T.O.M figures returned to their habitual size.

Video game

A video game based on the show was developed by Brain in a Jar and published by Mastertronic Group under their budget game label Blast! Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It is a racing and action game akin to the Driver series.

References

  1. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (2008). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed. North Carolina: Macfarland & Company Inc. Publishing. ISBN 9780786486410.
  2. ↑ "The Serpent's Tale". Flixanity. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Jetix Europe announces dynamic new action adventure co-production". Jetix Europe. Jetix. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Jetix Europe Secures Hasbro As Master Toy Licensee For Latest Action-adventure Property". Jetix Europe. Jetix. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Jetix Europe signs up Hasbro for The Insiders". The Retail Bulletin. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Jetix Europe N.V. announces results for the year ended September 30, 2007" (PDF). Jetix. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Antonio genna presenta ATOM". antoniogenna.net. Archived from the original on 10 February 2006. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "A.T.O.M. Alpha Teens On Machines Vol. 1 Touch of Paine". Amazon. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  9. ↑ "A.T.O.M. Alpha Teens on Machines Vol. 2 Enter the Dragon". Amazon. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  10. ↑ "Amazon.com: A.T.O.M. Alpha Teens On Machines". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Catalog". 20 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  12. ↑ Summers, Brett. "Cult Cartoon Essentials: A.T.O.M." Cult Faction. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  13. ↑ "A.T.O.M. TV Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
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