The ’90s Sci-Fi Cartoon That Died Because the Toys Didn’t Sell
Shadow Raiders — also known as War Planets — should have been nothing more than a cartoon designed to sell toys. Instead, Mainframe Entertainment turned it into a surprisingly dark, ambitious sci-fi epic filled with destroyed worlds, political betrayal, refugees, war, and an enemy that literally consumed entire planets.
And then, after just 26 episodes, it was over.
In this episode of Dial Up Days, we’re looking back at the strange and heartbreaking story of Shadow Raiders: how a line of plastic planet toys became one of Mainframe’s most ambitious shows, why the series became far more sophisticated than anyone expected, what really happened when the toys failed to sell, and how Mainframe actually tried to keep the series alive after production had ended.
We’ll also revisit that haunting final episode — an ending that wrapped up one story while making it painfully clear that Shadow Raiders still had much more left to tell.
If you remember Shadow Raiders, War Planets, ReBoot, Beast Wars, or the golden age of late-’90s CGI animation, this is one forgotten series worth revisiting.
Did you watch Shadow Raiders when it originally aired? And did you ever own any of the War Planets toys? Let me know in the comments.
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@martinhristov8250
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
Man, i tried so hard to remember what was the name of that animation, it was my favourite back than.
@Vladimir-147
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
Привет из России. В детстве с удовольствием смотрел этот сериал по ТВ. В нашем прокате он назывался "Планета монстров". У меня очень теплые воспоминания об этом сериале. Когда у меня появился интернет, я его даже пересматривал два раза. В общем, спасибо за наше счастливое детство)))
@PikabotNuva
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I had The beast, rock, ice planets and some moons before watching the series.
Probably didn't help the series and toy line had different names.
I'm pretty sure there supposed to be a third season.
@Dantriecus
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
Max steel should be next. Keep the mainframe mini-series running a little longer!
@Mo2_Evo
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
Wow. Never seen or heard of this cartoon. Would like to see a video on ZOIDS.
@shadowraider
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
it doesn't look like you've done a video on EXO squad. it was PHENOMENAL for a 90s children's show. the animation doesn't quite hold up but the storyline is one of the most complex and well made I've ever seen.
@christihigashi5078
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I FORGOT ABOUT THIS ONE!! I thought I dreamed it because it vanished. Thank you ❤
@ryansokolosky2680
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
War Planets rules. I have both entire toy lines and the series on dvd. It was a shame that we didn't get more.
@ThirstyTormund
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
what about gargoyles!?!
@oradrive745
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
For anyone who hasn't watched the show before its free on youtube
@ovenproofgaming8183
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I grew up in Toronto, Canada. Loved this show. I literally had no idea they had a toy line. I can't even recall seeing a commercial. So somone dropped the ball (pun intended)
@draken882000
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I've seen a few episodes of the show and even saw the ads for the toys. Don't think I got them for Christmas that year, but it is what it is. My biggest question as an adult is, don't the toys feel like a Warhammer style game? Like, did Trendmasters just miss the plot, got scared out of it by Games Workshop, never thought of it? I wonder.
@daviddavidson1492
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
"most sad show"
C'mon, man! There is no way you wrote and recorded that and said, "Yep, that's not tortured language in the least."
Or maybe you said, "Most good writing."
@sonicguyver7445
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I caught the first episode on a random Sunday while everyone was still in bed. It was a bit too mature and grand for me. I always thought "Shadow Raiders" was a subtitle added to the second season.
@jhansen406
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I had the toys but didn’t know about the show. My Beast Planets claw did survive but it did get harder to retract over time.
@Gorette66
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
Never heard of Shadow Raiders.🤔 Which is weird, considering that I grew up watching Beast Wars and Reboot, though.
@JeremyDA88
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I swear, back in the 90s, Mainframe could do no wrong. Their shows were gold after gold. But, while I was ultimately satisfied with how this show ended, it would have been nice to have more of it 🙂
@greysky1252
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
6:09 wait, Phil Mitchell was a Crip?!
@VesuvioVistani
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I bought the toys, but they really weren't representative of the show, and while the planets were cool, the actual little people weren't good. It felt like they were from two different things.
@wyvernsbreath
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
This concept is so familiar, I remember wanting the planet eater, OH MY GOD I CAN FEEL THE GREEN ONE'S TEXTURE!!!
@KuraiSeraphim
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I guess you're on track for doing MTV Spider-man and joining the legion of people still rightfully upset about Reboot the Guardian Code now.
@elionswhitestripes
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I would love to see you tackle the show "The Tribe". That show was like Lord of the Flies meets Mad Max all stuffed into Degrassi
@LinkageAX
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I remember having one of these planets, and so did my siblings, we did our part
@mrjohnrabe
August 24, 2026 at 6:41 pm
Transformers toys is so rubbish!