Power of the Omnitrix

Cartoon Network's world premiere
​live action Ben 10 spectacular.
  • Ben 10 Power of the Omnitrix was Cartoon Network’s first large-scale theatrical event for one of their most successful animated creations. It featured live actors, giant sized alien costumes, acrobats & stunt performers in a state-of-the-art multi-media stage production. The arena scale event toured internationally throughout South East Asia and the Middle East, and also did a multi-city Australian tour. John was the show creator & script writer, music & soundtrack producer and voice director. He also worked with Executive Producer & Director Kym Halpin on the multi-media show elements with artwork from the series and graphics created by the Cartoon Network studios.

  • After the success of CN Live’s first major touring show Cartoonival, Cartoon Network & Millennium Entertainment set John the challenge of creating a live version of Ben 10. Turning an animated show into a live action stage production is a challenge at the best of times, but Ben 10, with its sweeping story arcs, alien transformations, special effects and fight sequences was a real conundrum. Besides the physical requirements and logistics, there was also the need to represent not one but two incarnations of the Ben 10 franchise – the original series and Ben 10 Alien Force. The two series not only featured the main characters at different ages and with different alien enemies, but they each had a unique tone and artistic language to work in. Later in the tour, the ending was re-written to accommodate references to a third series “Ultimate Alien”.

  • “This was one of the most challenging story lines I’ve had to create, with two whole seasons of complex back stories to consider and represent, plus considerations of what could actually be achieved in a live environment in terms of the action”. John worked in close consultation with Cartoon Network to come up with storylines for each act, and also to incorporate multiple versions for the ending of the show so that CN could have viewers vote for and choose the ending in on air promotions for each city. Cartoon Network also created 2 new alien transformations especially for the live show, which were written into and featured in the storyline.

  • The result was a 2 act / 2 story play with dialogue and multiple scene changes, interspersed with high octane action/stunt sequences performed to a driving music soundtrack. Stunt sequences involved giant alien costumes (some on stilts), flying live actors and suited characters, choreographed fight sequences, BMX and skateboard sequences, moving set pieces and pyrotechnics. An industrial looking set design incorporated multiple video screens, as well as front and rear projected backdrops.

Media

Posters, and banners from the World Tour of Ben 10 Live Power of the Omnitrix.
Check out this interview for The Star newspaper in Malaysia about the creation of the show.
 LIFE MUSIC MEDIA
Read this article from lifemusicmedia.com about the Australian Arena Tour.

Credits
Show Creator / Writer - John Rowe
Show Direction - Kym Halpin
Voice Direction & Soundtrack Production - John Rowe
Stunt Direction - Damien Gallegos
Production Design - Tim Newman
Artwork - Cartoon Network Studios
Lighting Design - Trudy Dalgleish
In loving memory of Paul Holmes (our Grandpa Max) who sadly passed away in 2017.
"Animated stories are limitless in their size and imagination... bringing this to life in the real physical world is both a crazy challenge and crazy fun."
​John Rowe