Invader Zim, branded as Invader ZIM, is an Emmy-winning American animated television series that was produced by and subsequently aired on Nickelodeon. The series is centered around an alien invader named Zim from the planet Irk who is attempting to conquer and/or destroy a dark and satirical version of the Earth. Zim's schemes are usually foiled by his small mistakes, his hyperactive robot GIR, or by his arch-nemesis Dib, a paranormal enthusiast who goes to school with Zim and seems to be obsessed with saving the Earth and the paranormal in general. He is one of the few characters who is aware of Zim's true identity, as the rest of humanity is either too unintelligent or apathetic to notice.

Nickelodeon had wanted to air a show for their "eleven to fifteen year-old" demographic when Invader Zim was first broadcast on March 30, 2001. Nickelodeon promoted Invader Zim for this purpose, and met critical acclaim, but did not provide a consistent time slot that the creators of the program thought was suitable for the intended demographic. Consequently, the show suffered in the ratings after an initially lukewarm viewership. When it was obvious that Nickelodeon would drop the show due to uninterest from executives and lower ratings, (and the notice of a bloody version of GIR) the crew requested that Invader Zim be moved to MTV as The Ren and Stimpy Show and Rocko's Modern Life had been, but this didn't work out even after the show entered syndication. Before the second season was completed, Nickelodeon canceled the series completely, leaving at least seven episodes and a planned television movie series finale unfinished.

Because of its continued fan base and above average DVD sales since cancellation, Invader Zim has been labeled a cult hit. The show completed its run in European and South American territories normally, and could previously be seen in syndication on Nicktoons Network, which started airing the completed season two episodes in Summer 2006. In Canada, YTV began airing the series on its Bionix programming block on September 8, 2006. The Invader Zim DVD collection has been released by Media Blasters in North America. The series has also been translated into several different languages for foreign broadcast after entering syndication.

Characters

main: List of Invader Zim characters Zim: a member of the Irken military who infuriated the Almighty Tallest by over-zealously destroying his own planet during Operation Impending Doom 1, Zim is despised by pretty much everyone on his home planet, which is why he is sent on a "secret mission" to Earth (in actuality, they sent him there to get rid of him for good, presumably to kill him, but a call by Zim to the Tallest half a year after he he sent there foils this scheme). Zim is often prone to passionate outbursts proclaiming his Irken superiority, and he is extremely determined to vanquish the earth and reclaim his honor (even though he does not seem to be aware that he ever lost it, having thought of his exile to the planet Foodcourtia as more of a mission than an exile).