History WesternAnimation / Redakai

* CashCowFranchise: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]] [[EnforcedTrope It was intended to be one]] if the huge amounts of promotions and merchandise are any indication. It was likely being groomed as the successor to {{Bakugan}}, but the lackluster TV show and high prices dashed it against the rocks.

* FlatCharacter: [[DesignatedHero Our heroes]]

* StrictlyFormula: Up until about when Ekayon first showed up two thirds into season 1, the episodes had a pretty standard formula: Master Boaddai would sense the location of a Kairu deposit and send Team Stax to collect it. They would arrive at the general location and try to pin-point the exact whereabouts with their X-Readers and Maya's ability to sense Kairu. Along the way, the [[VillainOfTheWeek E-Teens of the day]], who happened to be looking for the exact same Kairu deposit Team Stax were, would intercept them (or vise-versa). A Kairu challenge would happen (with powers and no monsters) and Team Stax would usually (but not always) drive them off temporarily. They'd continue searching for and eventually find the Kairu deposit, only to come by the same E-Teens again. ''Another'' Kairu challenge (with monsters this time), with Team Stax usually coming out on top. They collect the Kairu, get new X-Drives they may or may not use, and go home feeling better about themselves, with a possible scene of Lokar reprimanding the failed E-Teens (additional obstacles when looking for the Kairu are optional). Once Ekayon first appears and onward however, the formula gets shaken up bit by bit. Early season 2, for example, has Team Stax not win as many decisive victories, even losing the Kairu to the Hiverax and failing to beat Team Radicor the second time around.

* {{Jerkass}}: Team Stax. They scowl, use trash talk, and execute a lot of questionable behavior, such as openly and unsympathetically taunting Boomer for getting a pimple.
** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: In season 2, Ky is the only one who wanted to help Team Imperiaz rescue their parents from Zane, which contrasted Boomer and Maya, who didn't want anything to do with them due to past bitterness. The fact that Team Imperiaz ends up betraying them ''again'' later does lend weight toward Boomer and Maya's unease, but Ky wasn't really bothered by it and still felt sorry for them afterword.
** Ky's saved the E-Teens a few times which has led Zair to develop a crush on him.
** It's easy to argue for Boomer being the nicest of the trio. When Master Boaddai asks Team Stax to oversee Team Tiro's training for the day, it's telling that Boomer agrees to the task unhesitantly, whereas Ky openly (but mildly) protests, with Maya mostly agreeing with Ky, though she is polite enough not to voice her opinion. Both come around pretty quickly, but it is obvious who the kids favor from that point on (hint: it isn't Ky or Maya).

** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: In season 2, Ky is the only one to want to help Team Imperiaz rescue their parents from Zane, which contrasts Boomer and Maya, who don't want anything to do with them due to past bitterness. The fact that Team Imperiaz ends up betraying them ''again'' later does lend weight toward Boomer and Maya's unease, but Ky isn't really bothered by it and does feel sorry for them.

* LonersAreFreaks: Subverted with Ekayon. He is relatively sociable when around Team Stax and can, and does, work with them when necessary, but openly prefers to work alone even after meeting Team Stax and getting off well with them. He is shown to be pretty successful on his own, too.

* CaptainObviousAesop: The pilot had the aesop "Slavery is bad." Really, there weren't enough plot points or other threads for the moral to be anything else. The "[[DudeNotFunny Taunting someone for a skin-blemish]]" potential moral is never closed. Nope. Slavery is bad.

* StrictlyFormula: Up until about when Ekayon first showed up two thirds into season 1, the episodes had a pretty standard formula: Master Boaddai would sense the location of a Kairu deposit and send Team Stax to collect it. They would arrive at the general location and try to pin-point the exact whereabouts with their X-Readers and Maya's ability to sense Kairu. Along the way, the [[VillainOfTheWeek E-Teens of the day]] who happened to be looking for the exact same Kairu deposit Team Stax were would intercept them (or vise-versa). A Kairu challenge would happen (with powers and no monsters) and Team Stax would usually (but not always) drive them off temporarily. They'd continue searching for and eventually find the Kairu deposit only to come by the same E-Teens again. ''Another'' Kairu challenge (with monsters this time) with Team Stax usually coming out on top. They collect the Kairu, get new X-Drives they may or may not use, and go home feeling better about themselves, with a possible scene of Lokar reprimanding the failed E-Teens (additional obstacles when looking for the Kairu are optional). Once Ekayon first appears and onward however, the formula gets shaken up bit by bit. Early season 2, for example, has Team Stax not win as many decisive victories, even losing the Kairu to the Hiverax and failing to beat Team Radicor the second time around.

* YankTheDogsChain: Team Imperiaz in regards to rescuing their parents. All of season 1, Lokar was blackmailing them to find him Kairu with no inclination that he would ''ever'' free their parents. Then comes season 2 with Lokar seemingly out of the picture: they ''finally'' find their parents only to run afoul of Zane who takes up Lokar's blackmail to coerce services to himself. They then enlist Team Stax for help in taking down the Radicor, with some reluctance on Boomer and Maya's part, only to have that blow over forcing them to double cross Team Stax (for the second time in the series). Even when the two E-Teen groups drive off Team Stax, [[KickTheDog Zane reveals he has no intention of releasing Nan and Berkby]] ''[[KickTheDog ever]]'', and continues using them as leverage. It's unfortunate; if only the Imperiaz had the courage to stand up to Team Radicor's threats along side Team Stax...

* SceneryPorn: Yes indeed! This show's art in general is good, and often times the 'camera' pans out to show off the various beautiful landscapes and backdrops that Team Stax inevitably visit on their quest for Kairu. (Tellingly, they never visit populated cities, only small villages at most.) For some, the art is the primary reason for watching the show (if not the only reason).

* MinimalistCast: Although the cast isn't small per se, there is a noticeable 'limitation', if you will, of characters in this show, with Team Stax seemingly the only good guys collecting Kairu until Ekayon come along over halfway into the first season. Even then, he almost never shows up. There are more Redakai Masters other then Master Boaddai, so presumably there are more good guy teams out there, yet we never see them and Lokar's E-Teens always end up targeting Team Stax. Due to the Kairu deposits often being in the wilderness, we see few character of the days and even fewer recurring characters other than the E-Teens making the character pool seeming shallow compared to other shows of this type. Even season 2 doesn't do much to change it despite the new characters, Master Boaddai gaining new trainees and Team Hiverax replacing Team Badicor. In fact it makes things worse by recycling a good deal of season one's characters of the day. At least the whole "We might see them again." bit isn't a lie here.

** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: In season 2, Ky is the only one to want to help Team Imperiaz rescue their parents from Zane, which contrasts Boomer and Maya who don't want anything to do with them due to past bitterness. The fact that they end up betraying them ''again'' later does lend weight toward Boomer and Maya's unease, but Ky isn't really bothered by it and does feel sorry for them.

* LonersAreFreaks: Subverted with Ekayon. He is relatively sociable when around Team Stax and can, and does, work with them when necessary, but openly prefers to work alone even after meeting Team Stax and getting off well with them. He is shown pretty successful on his own, too.

* MeaningfulName: Some of the names. For example, Team Hiverax, as in HIVE-mind; the brothers are all on the same wavelenth, and Team Imperiaz, as in Imperial, that is they're royalty.

** It's easy to argue for Boomer being the nicest of the trio. When Master Boaddai asks Team Stax to oversee Team Tiro's training for the day, it's telling that Boomer agrees unhesitantly

* AllThereInTheManual: The show relies a ''lot'' on its supplementary materials to tell the story, such as the website and promotional videos carrying key plot points that aren't visited in the show itself.

** BigBadWannabe: Zane in season 2, though he does manage to corral Team Imperiaz to his side.

* TheBrute: Bash, and Techris though less dumb then Bash.

* TheHero: Ky, Conner
* TwoGirlsToATeam: Team Imperiaz

* EvaFins: Bruticon

* MinimalistCast: Although the cast isn't small per se, there is a noticeable 'limitation', if you will, of characters in this show, with Team Stax seemingly the only good guys collecting Kairu until Ekayon come along over halfway into the first season. Even then, he almost never shows up. There are more Redakai Masters other then Master Boaddai, so presumably there are more good guy teams out there, yet we never see them and Lokar's E-Teens always end up targeting Team Stax. Due to the Kairu deposits often being in the wilderness, we see few character of the days and even fewer recurring characters other than the E-Teens making the character pool seeming shallow compared to other shows of this type. Even season 2 doesn't do much to change it despite the new characters, Master Boaddai gaining new trainees and Team Hiverax replacing Team Badicor.

** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: In season 2, Ky is the only one to want to help Team Imperiaz rescue their parents from Zane, which contrasts Boomer and Maya who don't want anything to do with them due to past bitterness. The fact that they end up betraying them ''again'' later does lend weight toward Boomer and Maya's unease, but Ky isn't really bothered by it and does feel sorry for them.

* SceneryPorn: Yes indeed! This show's art in general is good, and often times the 'camera' pans out to show off the various beautiful landscapes and backdrops that Team Stax inevitably visit on their quest for Kairu. (Tellingly, they never visit populated cities, only small villages at most.) For some, the art is the primary reason for watching the show (if not the only reason).

* MinimalistCast: Although the cast isn't small per se, there is a noticeable 'limitation', if you will, of characters in this show, with Team Stax seemingly the only good guys collecting Kairu until Ekayon come along over halfway into the first season. Even then, he almost never shows up. There are more Redakai Masters other then Master Boaddai, so presumably there are more good guy teams out there, yet we never see them and Lokar's E-Teens always end up targeting Team Stax. Due to the Kairu deposits often being in the wilderness, we see few character of the days and even fewer re

* SceneryPorn: Yes indeed! This show's art in general is good, and often times the 'camera' pans out to show off the various beautiful landscapes and backdrops that Team Stax inevitably visit on their quest for Kairu. (Tellingly, they never visit populated cities, onlt small villages at most.) For some, the art is the primary reason for watching the show (if not the only reason).

* AntiHero: Team Stax

** FusionDance: The ability to fuse their monsters Wendrax, Fangrax, and Neutrax together into Hydrax.

* DaddysLittleGirl: Season 2 episode "The Escape of the Imperiaz" shows Diara is this to her father, King Berkby, with Diara herself admitting as such.

* TwoGuysAndAGirl: Team Stax and Team Radikor.

** EvilCostumeSwitch: Team Radicor in season 2, though they were always 'evil'. Not to much change: Zair gains a red jacket, Zane gains a new cloak from Lokar's tattered robe, with Techris being the most obvious in a new "jumpsuit" with a new haircut.

* MeaningfulNames: Some of the names. For example, Team Hiverax, as in HIVE-mind; the brothers are all on the same wavelenth, and Team Imperiaz, as in Imperial, that is they're royalty.

* ProductPromotionParade: Happens near the end of each episode. Getting the Kairu Energy "unlocks new X-Drives". It's like the characters just opened a booster pack as they list off what they all got.

* RouguesGallery: Lokar's E-Teen Teams would each take turns more-or-less with heckling Team Stax for the current Kairu deposit during an episode. The different Teams generally wouldn't interact with some exceptions, more so later on in Season 1 and onward.

* StormingTheCastle: Interestingly, this is done during the first episode of season 2 (rather than the end of season 1, due to the Kairu Tornament). Team Stax and Conner storm Lokar's Keep with the end result being an explosion that ruins the Keep and seemingly take out Lokar [[spoiler:keyword being 'seemingly']]. Said explosion was caused by a container filled with large quantities of Lokar's stored and corrupted Kairu that Ky accidentally fires at in a battle. This explosion scatters the Shadow Kairu energy across the globe, thus setting up the premise for the season: find and collect the dangerous Shadow Kairu.
* StrictlyFormula: Up until about when Ekayon first showed up two thirds into season 1, the episodes had a pretty standard formula: Master Boaddai would sense the location of a Kairu deposit and send Team Stax to collect it. They would arrive at the general location and try to pin-point the exact whereabouts with their X-Readers and Maya's ability to sense Kairu. Along the way the [[VillainOfTheWeek E-Teens of the day]] who happened to be looking for the exact same Kairu deposit Team Stax were would intercept them (or vise-versa). A Kairu challenge would happen (with powers and no monsters) and Team Stax would usually (but not always) drive them off temporarily. They'd continue searching for and eventually find the Kairu deposit only to come by the same E-Teens again. ''Another'' Kairu challenge (with monsters this time) with Team Stax usually coming out on top. They collect the Kairu, get new X-Drives they may or may not use, and go home feeling better about themselves, with a possible scene of Lokar reprimanding the failed E-Teens (additional obstacles when looking for the Kairu are optional). Once Ekayon first appears and onward however, the formula gets shaken up bit by bit. Early season 2, for example, has Team Stax not win as many decisive victories, even losing the Kairu to the Hiverax and failing to beat Team Radicor the second time around.
* TagalongKid: Mookee kinda filled this role early on, but it wasn't long before his appearances became more sporadic to the point were he stopped even being on the [[GlobalAirship X-Scaper]] and just stayed at the temple.

* StrictlyFormula: Up until about when Ekayon first showed up two thirds into season 1, the episodes had a pretty standard formula: Master Boaddai would sense the location of a Kairu deposit and send Team Stax to collect it. They would arrive at the general location and try to pin-point the exact whereabouts with their X-Readers and Maya's ability to sense Kairu. Along the way the [[VillainOfTheWeek E-Teens of the day]] who happened to be looking for the exact same Kairu deposit Team Stax were would intercept them
* TagalongKid: Mookee kinda filled this role early on, but it wasn't long before his appearances became more sporadic to the point were he stopped even being on the Air Carrier and just stayed at the temple.

''Redakai: Conquer The Kairu'' is a MerchandiseDriven cartoon series and card game developed by [=SpinMaster=]. The game centers around cards (Called "[[CallARabbitASmeerp X-drives]]") that are made of clear plastic and have several transparent portions. There are three types of cards: Characters, who you start with three of, Monsters, which change the defenses and abilities of characters, and attacks, which damage opponents. First player to knock out all three of their opponents wins.

* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Happens a lot with X-drive [[AssPull Ass Pulls]], but Ky's "Inner Kairu" is a particularly bad offender.

* ProductPromotionParade: Happens near the end of each episode. Getting the Kairu Energy "unlocks new X-drives". It's like the characters just opened a booster pack as they list off what they all got.

** RivalTurnedEvil: Though Zane was always evil, once Lokar's out of the picture [[spoiler:or so it seems...]] and he finds his X-Drive, he really loses it, declaring himself the one in charge over his own teammates and later even Team Imperiaz. He even dons Lokar's tattered robe as a cloak for emphasis.

* StrictlyFormula: Up until about when Ekayon first showed up two thirds into season 1, the episodes had a pretty standard formula: Master Boaddai would sense

* LastOfHisKind: Mookie comes from a world that was destroyed by Lokar and is, allegedly, the last of his kind.

* TagalongKid: Mookie kinda filled this role early on, but it wasn't long before his appearances became more sporadic to the point were he stopped even being on the Air Carrier and just stayed at the temple.

** FusionDance: The ability to fuse their monster Wendrax, Fangrax, and Neutrax together into Hydrax.
** ColorCodedForYourConvenience: They all sound alike, so the only way to know who's who is to memorize what name goes with what emblem and eye color.

* ItsAllMyFault[=/=]NiceJobBreakingItHero: Ky knows the spread of Dark Kairu was his fault and beats himself up over it.

* StormingTheCastle: Interestingly, this is done during the first episode of season 2 (rather than the end of season 1, due to the Kairu Tornament). Team Stax and Conner storm Lokar's Keep with the end result being an explosion that ruins the Keep and seemingly take out Lokar [[spoiler:keyword being 'seemingly']]. Said explosion was caused by a container filled with large quantities of Lokar's stored and corrupted Kairu that Ky accidentally fires at in a battle. This explosion scatters the Dark Kairu energy across the globe, thus setting up the premise for the season: find and collect the dangerous Dark Kairu.

** EvilCostumeSwitch: Team Radicor in season 2, though they were always 'evil'. Not to much change: Zair gains a red jacket, Zane gains a new cloak from Lokar's tattered robe, with Techris being the most obvious in a

* TheSixthRanger: Though not a permanent Ekayon