Tron: Uprising
An animated series bridging the Tron film timeline.
Tron: Uprising is an animated science fiction series from Disney Television Animation. It takes place within the Tron universe, bridging the gap between the 1982 film *Tron* and its 2010 sequel, *Tron: Legacy*. The story follows Beck, a young program who gets pulled into a rebellion inside the computer world known as the Grid.
Nineteen episodes were produced, but only 18 were broadcast on Disney XD in the United States, running from May 18, 2012, to January 28, 2013. The 19th episode, 'The Renegade Part 2', was released online and on DVD but not aired on Disney XD. Charlie Bean served as the main director and executive producer, with Justin Springer, Edward Kitsis, and Adam Horowitz also acting as executive producers.
The plot centers on Beck, an anthropomorphic computer program who joins a revolution against the villainous Clu 2.0 and his forces. Adopting the identity of the legendary warrior Tron, Beck becomes a target of General Tesler. The real Tron, though injured and unable to protect the Grid himself, takes Beck on as a student, training him to become a brave and powerful leader.
The series blends 2D and CGI animation, a style inspired by *Star Wars: The Clone Wars*, *ThunderCats*, and *Aeon Flux*. Director Charlie Bean aimed to create a look distinct from other CG shows. He collaborated closely with art director Alberto Mielgo, character designer Robert Valley (known for Gorillaz music videos), and lead vehicle designer Daniel Simon, who previously designed vehicles for *Tron: Legacy*. Mielgo won a Primetime Emmy Award for his art direction in 2013.
Voice casting was announced in December 2010, with Elijah Wood as Beck, Bruce Boxleitner as Tron, Lance Henriksen as General Tesler, Emmanuelle Chriqui as Paige, Mandy Moore as Mara, Paul Reubens as Pavel, Nate Corddry as Zed, and Reginald VelJohnson as Able. The series was scored by Joseph Trapanese, who arranged Daft Punk’s score for *Tron: Legacy*. A soundtrack album was released digitally and on demand CD by Walt Disney Records on January 8, 2013. Trapanese later released two digital EPs with additional tracks: *Tron: Uprising - Hero EP* in 2015 and *Tron: Uprising - Occupied EP* in 2020.
The series premiere received mostly positive reviews. However, after being moved to a Monday 12:00 AM timeslot on Disney XD, the first season finished airing on January 28, 2013.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Action-adventure / Cyberpunk / Science fiction / Superhero
- Based On
- Tron · Steven Lisberger · Bonnie MacBird
- Developer
- Edward Kitsis / Adam Horowitz
- Director
- Charlie Bean / Robert Valley
- Voices
- Elijah Wood / Bruce Boxleitner / Mandy Moore / Nate Corddry / Lance Henriksen / Emmanuelle Chriqui / Reginald VelJohnson / Paul Reubens / Tricia Helfer
- Composer
- Joseph Trapanese
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 19
- Executive Producer
- Charlie Bean
- Editor
- Sean Coyle
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series was mainly directed by Charlie Bean, who also acted as executive producer, while Justin Springer, Edward Kitsis, and Adam Horowitz served as executive producers. A total of 19 episodes were produced, but only 18 were aired on Disney XD in the United States from May 18, 2012, to January 28, 2013. The 19th episode, 'The Renegade Part 2', was released online and on DVD but not broadcast on Disney XD. The series features an animation style that mixes 2D animation and CGI animation, inspired by Star Wars: The Clone Wars, ThunderCats, and Aeon Flux. Art director Alberto Mielgo won a Primetime Emmy Award for his art direction in 2013.
Beck is a young, anthropomorphized computer program who becomes involved in a revolution inside the computer world of the Grid against the villainous Clu 2.0 and his henchmen. Beck adopts the persona of legendary warrior Tron and becomes the enemy of General Tesler.
Reader's Guide
Tron: Uprising serves as a narrative bridge between the original 1982 film and its 2010 sequel, expanding the lore of the Grid. The series developed a cult following among fans of the Tron franchise, with many praising its animation style, darker tone, and world-building. The series premiere earned mostly positive reviews; IGN gave the episode 'Beck's Beginning' a ranking of 8 out of 10, and on Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 5 critics' reviews for the first season are positive. Despite critical acclaim, the series faced low viewership; producer Edward Kitsis stated in January 2013, 'I don't know what the future [of Tron: Uprising] is now. I know at the present, I can say we need more viewers.' Disney XD moved the program to Monday mornings at 12:00 AM Eastern until the first season episodes finished airing. The series later became available on Netflix and was added to Disney+ in November 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tron: Uprising?
Tron: Uprising is a 19-episode animated science-fiction series produced by Disney Television Animation that fills the narrative gap between the 1982 Tron film and its 2010 sequel, Tron: Legacy. It ran on Disney XD from May 2012 through January 2013.
Who is the protagonist of Tron: Uprising?
The series centers on Beck, a young program in the Grid who is swept into a resistance movement fighting the oppressive rule of the Master Control Program. He is voiced by Elijah Wood for the entire run.
How many episodes does Tron: Uprising have?
Nineteen episodes were produced in total, but only eighteen received a broadcast slot on Disney XD in the United States. The nineteenth, 'The Renegade Part 2,' was made available solely through online streaming and DVD release.
Who are the main voice actors in Tron: Uprising?
Elijah Wood leads the cast as Beck, joined by Bruce Boxleitner, Mandy Moore, and Lance Henriksen in prominent supporting roles. Charlie Bean served as the series' main director.
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