History Franchise / Ben10

* ''Cartoon Network Action Packs'' (2006-2012): Strips collected as ''Ben 10 Classics''

[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/memory_of_the_10_by_clover_karin_dehqy1b.png]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:Going [[LetsGetDangerous Hero Time]] since 2005! (Artwork by [[https://www.deviantart.com/clover-karin/art/Memory-of-the-10-876337103 clover-karin]])[[note]]From left-right, top-bottom: [[ContinuityCavalcade Ben Tennyson (Omniverse)]], [[DarkerAndEdgier Ben Tennyson (Ultimate Alien)]], [[TheOriginalSeries Ben Tennyson (Classic)]] and [[DenserAndWackier Ben Tennyson (Reboot)]][[/note]]]]

''Ben 10'' is a series of cartoons made by a group called [[Creator/ManOfActionStudios Man of Action]] (Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, and Steven T. Seagle) that has aired on Creator/CartoonNetwork since 2005. It was the group's first collaboration.

The franchise follows Benjamin "Ben" Tennyson, a normal 10-year-old boy who, on the first night of a summer road-trip with his grandfather Max and his cousin Gwen, stumbles across a crash-landed alien pod containing [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum an alien device]] known as the Omnitrix which [[ClingyMacGuffin bonds itself]] [[SuperWristGadget to his wrist like a watch]]. Ben finds that the device has a vast library of alien DNA encoded in it which [[VoluntaryShapeshifting allows him to transform to a variety of alien species]], [[MultiformBalance with their own set of skills]] [[WeaksauceWeakness and appropriate weaknesses]]. From then on, [[HenshinHero Ben uses the device to take on any threats that come his way, from Earth and beyond]], while causing a few bouts of mischief in the process. As he grows as a hero, Ben learns that he didn't gain the Omnitrix by coincidence and [[SecretLegacy finds that his family has been involved with aliens long before he has]].

The franchise follows Ben Tennyson, a normal 10-year-old boy who, on the first night of a summer road-trip with his grandfather Max and his cousin Gwen, stumbles across [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum an alien device]] known as the Omnitrix which [[ClingyMacGuffin bonds itself]] [[SuperWristGadget to his wrist like a watch]]. Ben finds that the device has a vast library of alien DNA encoded in it which [[VoluntaryShapeshifting allows him to transform to a variety of alien species]], [[MultiformBalance with their own set of skills]] [[WeaksauceWeakness and appropriate weaknesses]]. From then on, [[HenshinHero Ben uses the device to take on any threats that come his way, from Earth and beyond]], while causing a few bouts of mischief in the process. As he grows as a hero, Ben learns that he didn't gain the Omnitrix by coincidence and [[SecretLegacy finds that his family has been involved with aliens long before he has]].

[[quoteright:245:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Final_Combination_7347.png]]
[[caption-width-right:245:[[ColonCancer Because calling it "Ben 50" would just be dumb!]]]]

The series follows a boy named Ben Tennyson who, on the first night of a summer road-trip with his grandfather Max and his cousin Gwen, stumbles across [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum an alien device]] known as the Omnitrix which [[ClingyMacGuffin bonds itself]] [[SuperWristGadget to his wrist like a watch]]. Ben finds that the device has alien DNA encoded in it which [[VoluntaryShapeshifting allows him to transform to a variety of alien species]], [[MultiformBalance with their own set of skills]]. From then on, [[HenshinHero Ben uses the device to take on any threats that come his way]], while causing a few bouts of mischief in the process. As he grows as a hero, Ben learns that he didn't gain the Omnitrix by coincidence and [[SecretLegacy finds that his family has been involved with aliens long before he has]].

* ''Film/Ben10AlienSwarm'' (2009): The second live-action adaptation, this time based on ''Alien Force''. Ben, Gwen and Kevin find themselves caught up in a conspiracy involving alien nanochips that hold a dark secret that could leave to a world takeover. Unlike the previous live-action film, this one is canon and is referenced directly during the events of ''Alien Force''.

* ''VideoGame/Ben10ProtectorOfEarth'': Ben, Gwen and Max deal with their usual rogues gallery while trying to reclaim the Omnitrix's aliens from a space mosquito. (Platforms: UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, UsefulNotes/NintendoDS and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}})

* ''VideoGame/Ben10AlienForceVilgaxAttacks'': [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Pretty much what is says on the tin.]] Ben and the group take on Vilgax once more. (Platforms: Nintendo DS, [=PlayStation 2=], PSP, Wii and UsefulNotes/XBox360)
* ''Ben 10 Alien Force: Rise of Hex'': Once again the title tells you everything you need to know. (Platforms: Wii via UsefulNotes/WiiWare and Xbox 360 via UsefulNotes/XboxLive).

* ''Ben 10: Galactic Racing'': A ''VideoGame/MarioKart''-style racer. (Platforms: [=PlayStation=] 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Wii, UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita)
* ''Ben 10: Omniverse'': Ben's Omnitrix goes haywire once more and warps Ben and Rook into the past where they meet the former's 11-year old self. When Malware gets his hands on Rook's weapon and creates an alternate future, the three set out to stop him and fix the damage. (Platforms: [=PlayStation=] 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and UsefulNotes/WiiU (one of its launch titles in fact).

!!!Original Continuity (Classic)

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' (2008-2010): The DarkerAndEdgier TimeSkip continuation of the series set mostly in Ben's hometown of Bellwood. Five years have passed since the original show and Ben is now a teenager living a normal life, but that all changes when a new alien threat is discovered. Ben must once again wear the Omnitrix to combat it, helped along by Gwen and [[HeelFaceTurn former villain]] Kevin. It lasted three seasons for a total of 46 episodes, [[ArtShiftedSequel underwent a complete art overhaul]], and had Creator/DwayneMcDuffie of the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' fame as the supervising producer.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'' (2012-2014): The DenserAndWackier fourth iteration of the series. [[TheUnmasquedWorld Aliens are now well-known to the Earth]] and Ben has now joined the Plumbers police force, working with a new partner named Rook. The series also [[WholeEpisodeFlashback dedicates some episodes]] [[{{Interquel}} to show events that happened during the weekend road trips that Ben had with Gwen and Max]] between the original series and ''Alien Force''. It lasted eight seasons for a total of 80 episodes, underwent another art overhaul to recapture the tone of the first show, and serves as the end to the original continuity. Matt Youngberg (''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'') served as supervising producer.

!!!New Continuity

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' (2005-2008): The original series, centering on the cross-country road trip mentioned above. Established all the major elements seen throughout the franchise, from [[CreatureHunterOrganization the Plumbers]] to the various alien races, and lasted four seasons for a total of 52 episodes, plus a TV movie. [[GodDoesNotOwnThisWorld The ONLY installment of this continuity that Man of Action had significant involvement with.]] Alex Soto (''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'') served as supervising producer.

** The [[TransformationTrinket Omnitrix]] was designed to allow it's wearer to transform into any of the aliens it possesses a DNA sample of. However, while it was intended for the user to have full control over which alien they become, various factors throughout the different series have resulted in the Omnitrix transforming its current user, Ben Tennyson, into an alien other than the one he selected, with no way of predicting which one he will actually turn into. At times, this has resulted in Ben not even bothering to pick a form and just activating the Omnitrix while hoping for the best.

Taken as a whole, the ''Ben 10'' franchise is Cartoon Network's [[LongRunners longest-running series]] with 408 episodes across 23 seasons[[note]]230 episodes and 18 seasons for the original (1–230), and 184 episodes and 5 seasons for the reboot continuity (231–414)[[/note]], five [[MadeForTVMovie made-for-TV movies]], 40 shorts, and 5 specials[[note]]although two of these were counted as episodes of ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' and ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'', respectively[[/note]]. It also has the highest number of episodes and seasons among all Cartoon Network original series.