When Ben 10: Alien Force premiered in 2008, it faced a daunting task: following up on one of the most successful animated shows of the decade. The original series was a colorful, kinetic adventure about a ten-year-old with a magical watch. However, Alien Force chose to do something rare in Western animation—it let its characters grow up.

evolved from a cocky kid into a leader burdened by the weight of the world.