Ben 10 is an American animated series created by the writer collective, Man of Action for Cartoon Network. The series follows ten-year-old Ben Tennyson, who discovers a watch-like alien device known as the Omnitrix. Attached to his wrist, it allows him to transform into various alien creatures, each with unique abilities, which he uses to combat threats on Earth and beyond alongside his cousin Gwen and their grandfather Max.

The series premiered on Cartoon Network as a sneak peek on December 27, 2005, as part of "Sneak Peek Week", alongside programs such as My Gym Partner's a Monkey, Robotboy, and Zixx. It officially debuted on January 13, 2006, and concluded on April 15, 2008.

Ben 10 received positive reception and was nominated for two Emmy Awards, winning one for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation. Its success led to the creation of a multimedia franchise, including sequel series such as Ben 10: Alien Force, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, and Ben 10: Omniverse, as well as a reboot in 2016.Confirmation of 5th Ben 10 Series by Official Twitter Page of CN PR

Premise The series centers on Ben Tennyson (Tara Strong), a ten-year-old boy traveling across the United States during his summer vacation with his cousin Gwen (Meagan Smith) and their grandfather Max (Paul Eiding). On their first night camping in Max's RV, the Rustbucket, Ben discovers an alien pod containing the Omnitrix, a mysterious prototype that attaches itself to his wrist and grants him the ability to transform into a variety of alien lifeforms, each possessing distinct powers and abilities.

As Ben adjusts to his newfound abilities, he learns the responsibilities that come with being a hero. The series primarily follows the trio's episodic adventures during their road trip, as they encounter a wide range of adversaries, including extraterrestrial villains and supernatural threats.

Characters

The Tennysons Benjamin "Ben" Kirby Tennyson (voiced by Tara Strong): Ben is a confident and occasionally immature boy who enjoys attention and often makes jokes, even in tense situations. Despite his impulsive behavior, he is good-hearted, loyal, and motivated by a genuine desire to help others. Ben discovers the alien-watchlike device called the "Omnitrix" which was launched to Earth on camp site where it attached on Ben's left wrist, allowing him to transform into 10 or more different aliens with superhuman powers and abilities, and later on, he used it to fight evil. He is highly protective of his family and is willing to risk his safety to defend anyone in danger. Though playful by nature, he demonstrates intelligence, adaptability, and an eidetic memory, often relying on his quick thinking to overcome challenges when his usual means fall short. Ben's catchphrases include "It's Hero Time!" and "Goin' Hero!".

Gwendolyn "Gwen" Tennyson (voiced by Meagan Smith): Gwen is Ben's cousin and is depicted as a kind and intelligent girl, very skilled with computers and possessing a level of martial arts skills. She is also very independent but is very organized, sometimes to the point of compulsive, but can be a light-hearted schemer and immature as Ben. Overall, her most notable skill is her innate, if latent, ability at magic, first shown in "Tough Luck" when she was able to use Hex's staff, which can only be used by a master magician, to defeat Charmcaster. She later obtains Charmcaster's spellbook in "Change of Face" and begins improving her magic.

Magister Maxwell "Max" Tennyson (voiced by Paul Eiding): Ben and Gwen's grandfather, who takes the two on a cross-country road trip for Summer vacation. In "Truth", Max reveals he was a part of an intergalactic secret agency known as "The Plumbers" and handled many extraterrestrial encounters in the past. His history as a Plumber has given him knowledge, training, and equipment for fighting aliens as well as an unconventional taste in food, much to the dismay of his grandchildren. In "The Visitor," an old alien acquaintance of Max's called Xylene reveals that Max was the intended recipient of the Prototype Omnitrix.

Antagonists Vilgax (voiced by Steve Blum) – A Chimera Sui Generis warlord regarded as one of the most feared aliens in the galaxy. His primary goal in the show is to obtain the Prototype Omnitrix, which he wishes to use in order to create an army of soldiers who can transform at his command. Vilgax is revealed to have crossed paths with Max, having faced Max before. For the majority of the first season, Vilgax was injured and remained in a regeneration chamber until the first season finale. Once healed, he was cybernetically enhanced, giving him colossal size, strength and durability that made him a match for every alien Ben could access at that time. Vilgax was the main antagonist of the first season and second season, a recurring antagonist in third season and the main antagonist in the final episode of the fourth season. Dr. Animo (voiced by Dwight Schultz) – A promising veterinary scientist whose career was cut short when he was discovered performing twisted genetic experiments on mutating animals. He had hoped that his research would win him the Verties Award. Because of the nature of his research, he lost the award to another doctor named Kelly. This drove him insane, and he dropped off the map for five years until he could perfect his research. After being defeated by Ben for the first time, Dr. Animo makes himself a personal nemesis to the boy, always hoping to defeat him and rule the world. His powers include controlling mutant animals, reviving them and creating them. He is Ben's tertiary archenemy. Kevin 11The character's last name would be revealed as "Levin" in Alien Force (voiced by Michael Reisz in Season 1; by Charlie Schlatter in Seasons 2–4) – An 11-year-old delinquent sociopath with powers that allow him to absorb energy. He uses the ability to commit crimes to benefit himself. He initially seeks to team up with Ben to become unstoppable, but after Ben refuses, he absorbs power from the Prototype Omnitrix instead. This transformation drives him to cause chaos and serve as a recurring adversary to Ben, earning him the nickname "Kevin 11". Later in the series, Kevin transforms into a hybrid form of all of Ben's aliens without the ability to revert to his human form. Zs'SkayrThe character was originally referred to as Ghostfreak, with his true name, Zs'Skayr, being revealed in the series' pop-up trivia. He is properly referred to as Zs'Skayr in Ben 10: Omniverse. (voiced by Steve Blum) – An Ectonurite high king whose rule over the Anur star system saw an opportunity to expand when he learned of the Omnitrix from one of Vilgax's crash-landed data probes. While searching for the Omnitrix, Zs'Skayr was inadvertently scanned into the device, resulting in his consciousness being trapped in it until he manages to escape in the episode "Ghostfreaked Out". Doctor Viktor (voiced by Michael Dorn) - An alien resembling Frankenstein's monster who is Zs'Skayr's second in command and oversees his master's plan during Season 3. While trying to stop Ben from interfering with their plan, Viktor accidentally opens a portal to the Null Void and is sucked in. The Werewolf - A werewolf-like alien who serves Zs'Skayr and gathers satellite equipment for his master's plan. When the Tennysons' interference causes the satellite equipment gather to explode, the Werewolf is caught in the blast. The Mummy - A mummy-like alien who serves Zs'Skayr, gathering a dangerous energy crystal with mutagenic properties called Corrodium. When Viktor opens a portal to the Null Void, the Mummy is sucked in along with him. The Forever Knights – A secret British paramilitary organization formed during the Middle Ages and evolved into an international syndicate that first came to the United States in the 1920s. Enoch (voiced by Richard Doyle) – One of the leaders of the Forever Knights, though he mostly works behind the scenes and rarely directly battles the Tennysons. At the end of "Perfect Day" he becomes trapped in his own dream machine and is replaced by the Forever King. Driscoll / Forever King (voiced by Richard Doyle) – A former Plumber disgraced after being caught stealing technologies from alien criminals for personal gain, who joined the Forever Knights and eventually became their leader with the goal of achieving world domination. After learning of the Plumbers' secret "sub-energy" weapon the Forever King assembles the Negative 10, a team of the Tennysons' human enemies, to steal it to achieve his goal. He was the main antagonist of the fourth season. Hex (voiced by Khary Payton; Kari Wahlgren as a child)– A self-proclaimed master magician and sorcerer from the inter-dimensional world of Ledgerdomain. Charmcaster (voiced by Kari Wahlgren)– Hex's gifted 15-year-old niece, who initially appears loyal to her uncle, Hex, but is later revealed to have been using him to pursue power for herself. In the episode "A Change of Face", Charmcaster attempts to swap bodies with Ben to gain possession of the Omnitrix, but accidentally swaps with Gwen instead. The plan ultimately fails, and Gwen steals her spellbook. Charmcaster later joins the Negative 10 to seek revenge on the Tennysons, though her primary grudge is against Gwen. Her abilities include mana manipulation and spellcasting. She primarily serves as Gwen's archenemy.

Voice cast Main Tara Strong Ben Tennyson, Upgrade, Benwolf,Renamed as Blitzwolfer in Ben 10: Omniverse. Buzzshock, Gwendolyn Tennyson (future), Mrs. Fang, Edith, Lucy Mann, Ken Tennyson, Sandra Tennyson Meagan Smith Gwen Tennyson Paul Eiding Max "Grandpa Max" Tennyson Steve Blum Vilgax, Heatblast, Ghostfreak, Four Arms (4-year-old), Heat Jaws,Hybrid form of Ripjaws and Heatblast Zs'Skayr, Mr. Mann, Roger, Edward White, Steve Cummings, Bob Dee Bradley Baker Wildmutt, Stinkfly, Eye Guy, Spitter, Stink Arms,Hybrid form of Four Arms and Stinkfly Carl Tennyson, Huge Limax, Mutant Frog, Mutant Cockatiel, Joe, Acid Breath, Stone Creatures, SixSix, Porcupine, Immovable Object, Mr. Zu, Interpreter Alien, Drones, Elsgood (Old), Joel Tennyson, Camille's Ex-Boyfriend, Scooter (in "A Change of Face"), Amazing Alan Jim Ward Diamondhead, XLR8, Wildvine, Diamond Matter,Hybrid form of Diamondhead and Grey Matter Gordon Tennyson, Captain Shaw, Jack, Hotel Guard, Mr. Beck, S.A.M. Richard Steven Horvitz Grey Matter, Sublimino, Billy, Arnold Richard McGonagle Four Arms, Dr. Kelly, Exo-Skull, President, Scooter (in "Hijacked") Fred Tatasciore Ripjaws, Cannonbolt, Way Big, Ben 10,000, Duane, Krakken, Mycelium, Bug-Lite, Coach Finn, Scooter (in "The Return"), Doomicus

Additional

Jack AngelTechnorg Clancy BrownKenko Bettina BushKai Green Cathy CavadiniCooper Larry CedarHowell Wainwright Rosalind ChaoCouncilwoman Liang John CyganAbel North, Kane North Grey DeLisleHeatblast (Gwen), Xylene, Camille Mann, Mrs. Mann John DiMaggioBaron Highway, Vulkanus Michael DornViktor, BenvicktorRenamed as Frankenstrike in Ben 10: Omniverse Jeff DoucetteThumbskull Robin Atkin DownesJonah Melville Richard DoyleEnoch, Mr. Jingles, Driscoll Walker EdmistonMarty Greg EllisSynaptak Dave FennoyTetrax Shard Miriam FlynnVera Tennyson, Old Woman Michael GoughLt. Steel Richard Green BenmummyRenamed as Snare-oh in Ben 10: Omniverse Kim Mai GuestPinky, Andy, Young Elsgood Nicholas GuestClancy Jennifer HaleRojo, Turbine, Jamie, Mandy, Ben's teacher Tom KaneUltimos, Donovan Grand Smith, Arctiguana John KassirZombozo Josh KeatonTim Dean, Hector Patricia LentzShelby, Mildred Jennifer MalenkeMissy Vanessa MarshallDiamondhead (Gwen), Four Arms (Gwen), Myaxx, Tini, Cannonbolt (Gwen) James C. Mathis IIIEnforcer Alien Miguel NajeraWes Green Nolan North Brad Robert PatrickPhil Rob PaulsenDitto Khary PaytonHex Rob PinkstonTodd Maplewood Robert PicardoLeader Alien Bill RatnerNarrator in "Gwen 10" and "Goodbye and Good Riddance" Michael ReiszKevin (Season 1)