Xiaolin Showdown Season 2 (1st half), 2004-2005
ALERT: a bunch of episodes are about to start auto-playing all at once. I recommend SOUND OFF until you can pause them. Sorry about that.
At the start of 2004, I was a busy boy. From January through March I directed and boarded a Korean CG fantasy movie called Twin Princes (which remains unproduced to this day), I got married (for the second time) on April 4, and then went right into storyboarding Stuart Little 3 as soon as I got back from my honeymoon. For about three months, it crossed over with a project that would go for the rest of the year, and which I liked a lot more: season 2 of Xiaolin Showdown!
After season 1 wrapped in the fall of 2003, I already knew I wasn’t coming back as a director (which I explained here), but they were happy to have me back as a storyboard artist working for other directors. I wouldn’t be in a position to guide individual episodes, but I would get to contribute to more of them and actually leave a bigger mark on the series.
The episode count doubled for season 2, expanding from 13 to 26, and three new directors were brought on board. One of them cycled out at the halfway point to spearhead another project, and was replaced by a fourth. Over the course of the show, I storyboarded acts for 17 of the 26 episodes. If you were to add them all up, they accounted for 22% of the entire season.
Since we were still drawing on paper then, it generated far too much material for me to store in my archives, so instead of posting thousands of storyboard pages here, I’ll provide the episodes themselves with time codes for my portions.
But before we begin, I asked my most excellent pal Jeff Allen if he wanted to add a word or two about this show that changed our lives. Because he has the best words.
I first met Tim on a little show called Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot! (A.K.A. Dragon Tales) which aired on PBS Kids back in the late 90s. He was the supervising director and I was a storyboard revisionist. It was strange adapting a box office bomb like that for children ages 2 and up. But, when PBS wants explicit sex and violence, in my experience, you give it to ’em.
Tim hated every minute of it. I remember one day when he just exploded at a production assistant, screaming, “There’s no way a child will believe this horse shit!” He was referring to a scene where Estelle Getty’s Mom character was carrying her son (voiced by Sylvester Stallone’s brother Frank) across multiple rooftops in New Jersey. “There’s no way she’d be able to say any of this ‘witty’ banter while carrying a full grown man on her shoulders!”
He was fired immediately and on his way out he said to me “Hey you! Lanky Longhair!” I pointed to myself and said “Who, me?” to which Tim replied, “Yeah you, ya freak! You’re comin’ with me over to Warner Bros! Lesgo!” I shrugged, looked at my friend Mike Borkowski and said “Move back to New York.” Then I threw myself over Tim’s shoulders and off we went. When we got there, he put me down on the floor and told me, “Sleep now.”
I did.
I woke up several weeks later already hard at work on Xiaolin Showdown, making storyboards out of Tim’s awesome thumbnails. As drew them, I’d find that my friend and mentor Mr. Eldred missed some key “moments.” “Moments” are what I (and I alone) call places in the show where I feel the audience needs the opportunity to laugh, guffaw or exclaim “WOW!” while laughing. Now, before you say, “What a self-important asshole!” This isn’t a complaint or a put-down. Tim thumbnailed each entire episode, which is a feat unheard of before or since! The guy’s a machine!
But when you paint with such a big brush, you need to someone else to come in there with a crayon and add some details! So he was bound to miss little moments. But I’m all about them L.M.’s, so, with my frientor’s blessing and encouragement, I added as many as I could. Moments like Omi’s head turning into a giant eyeball when he realizes Master Fung is standing over him, as he laughs hysterically during a lesson. Or when Tubbimura lands on Raimundo and his fleshy girthness expands outward in slow motion, revealing his average body type beneath. Tim championed my work to the supervising producer of the show (Eric Radomski) who liked what he saw.
A little about me back then in that first season: I was 6’4″ (I’m now 8’11”) with long hair (bald now) and going thru my Ally Sheedy from The Breakfast Club phase (now in the tail end of my Koba from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes phase). I didn’t interact with anyone but my director, and would lock myself in my cubicle wearing my headphones listening to Rob Zombie at high volume.
When I heard that one of the three directors (Steve Lyons) got a new job and wasn’t coming back for the second season, I mustered up all my nerve and went into Eric’s giant office and threw my hat in the ring for that position. He was surprised and said he didn’t know that I had that ambition, but loved everything I added to Tim’s episodes, so he’d consider me. I walked out of there feeling pretty darn good. I took the leap and it actually paid off for me. I got the job! Tim and I were gonna be directing on Xiaolin Showdown season 2!
Imagine my shock when I found out Steve wasn’t the only director not returning.
I don’t know the whole story, but legend has it Tim said something in front of a WB “Suit” during an animatic review which rubbed said Suit the wrong way. Tim was “demoted” to freelance storyboard artist. It was just like Freaky Friday: I was now his director and he my board artist. I was living in his house and body while he lay dormant in the Phantom Zone, working on ways to escape.
Tim being Tim, he didn’t mind the new position. Or if he did, he didn’t show it. That guy is a professional thru and through! He does the work and does it great. The joke ended up being on that Suit, because Tim raked in more money as a freelance storyboard artist than he would’ve as a director, because he storyboarded one full act each for 17 episodes! How did he manage to do this impossible feat? Because he is, as I’ve previously stated, a MACHINE.
Piece,
Jeff Allen
October 10th, 2023
Read Jeff’s MATURE AUDIENCE ONLY webcomics here
Season 1 conclusion
When I finished directing Episode 11, there was still some time in my schedule before production wrapped up. I offered my services to one of the other directors, Steve Lyons, and he was happy to have my help. That’s how I ended up storyboarding a large part of the last episode.
Pro tip: since these episodes are hosted on another website, there will be ads. Also, you may occasionally hear an extra audio feed. If so, refresh this page to get rid of it.
Episode 13: In the Flesh
Director: Steve Lyons
Airdate: May 15, 2004
Raimundo doesn’t get promoted to Xiaolin Apprentice level after disobeying Master Fung’s orders, so Wuya persuades him over to the Heylin side. When Raimundo steals the Serpent’s Tail from the Xiaolin Temple, Omi, Kimiko and Clay realize that he has betrayed them. They must stop Wuya and Raimundo before Wuya can be returned to her physical body.
My portion (acts 1 & 2) runs from 7:55 to 16:00
Season 2 Episodes
1. Days Past
Director: Matt Danner
Airdate: September 11, 2004
When Wuya returns to her flesh and blood form, the remaining Xiaolin Apprentices must find a way to defeat her. The only way they know how is to trap her within a puzzle box. The only way to get one is for Omi to travel to the past and obtain it from the greatest Xiaolin Dragon ever, Grand Master Dashi, except he does not know how to return.
I didn’t work on this one
2. Citadel of Doom
Director: Jeff Allen
Airdate: September 18, 2004
With Omi stuck in the past, the remaining Xiaolin Apprentices and Jack must find a way to defeat Wuya, until they are captured by her magic warriors. When Omi does arrive, after having frozen himself with the Orb of Tornami, the puzzle box will not open for Jack Spicer or any of the heroes. Now Raimundo must decide where his loyalties lie.
My portion (Act 3) runs from 13:50 to the end
3. The Shard of Lightning
Director: Mike Milo
Airdate: September 25, 2004
With Wuya trapped in the puzzle box again, the Xiaolin Apprentices feel safe from the threat of evil. When the Shard of Lightning reveals itself, they find Wuya freed and working with Katnappé. Before they can retrieve the Shen Gong Wu, Jack Spicer uses it to steal the heroes’ Shen Gong Wu with his new robot double. When a new Shen Gong Wu reveals itself, the Xiaolin must fight Katnappé, Wuya, and two Jack Spicers.
I didn’t work on this one
4. The Crystal Glasses
Director: Matt Danner
Airdate: October 2, 2004
When the Crystal Glasses reveal themselves in Russia, the Xiaolin Apprentices are assisted by a street vendor named Vlad. They bring Vlad back to the Xiaolin Temple to train with them, but when Omi uses the Crystal Glasses to see his future, he is tricked into believing Vlad will become the new evil. When an entire cave of Shen Gong Wu reveal themselves at once, the Xiaolin find Vlad on the side of the Heylin, and Omi must challenge him to a Xiaolin Showdown.
I didn’t work on this one
5. Pandatown
Director: Jeff Allen
Airdate: October 9, 2004
A rash of crimes has occured using Shen Gong Wu. The Xiaolin Apprentices think Jack is the culprit, which leads them to Hong Kong. There they face PandaBubba, who Jack got a loan from using the Shen Gong Wu as collateral. They must challenge PandaBubba to a Xiaolin Showdown to get all the stolen Shen Gong Wu back.
I didn’t work on this one
6. Sizing Up Omi
Director: Mike Milo
Airdate: October 30, 2004
When Wuya starts using a giant Cyclops as her new henchman, the Xiaolin Apprentices are extremely overpowered. Omi does his best to try to get stronger, eventually resorting to using the Changing Chopsticks and the Reversing Mirror to make himself giant, then a fight results in him shrinking to the size of an ant. If the heroes do not get the Reversing Mirror back in time, Omi will be stuck in his shrunken state forever.
I didn’t work on this one
7. Enter the Dragon
Director: Matt Danner
Airdate: November 6, 2004
Every 1500 years, Dojo is taken over by an extreme urge to collect Shen Gong Wu, and he will destroy anything in his path in his quest to do so. When Omi is left alone to guard Dojo, he is tricked into freeing him and Dojo escapes to wreak havoc on anyone in his way. He eats both the heroes and the Heylin, and they must work together to escape from the evil two-headed Dojo.
My portion (act 2) runs from 7:50 to 13:20
8. The Sands of Time
Director: Jeff Allen
Airdate: November 13, 2004
The Xiaolin warriors get a warning from Omi’s future self to get the Sands of Time, but when Jack Spicer nabs it first, he collects all the most evil people from the past and himself from the future. He uses his future self’s knowledge to beat the Xiaolin to the Shen Gong Wu. When the Ruby of Ramses reveals itself, the Xiaolin must defeat Jack Spicer and his future self.
My portion (act 1) runs from 1:05 to 8:50
9. Hear Some Evil, See Some Evil
Director: Mike Milo
Airdate: November 20, 2004
When the Mind Reader Conch reveals itself, the heroes discover what they each think of each other, causing unrest among them. When Jack Spicer raids the Shen Gong Wu vault, the heroes must learn to trust each other again, and defeat Jack in a Xiaolin Showdown over the stolen Shen Gong Wu.
I didn’t work on this one
10. Dreamscape
Director: Matt Danner
Airdate: November 27, 2004
The Shadow of Fear reveals itself, and Jack Spicer manages to get it first. He dives into the minds of the Xiaolin when they sleep, and finds out their worst nightmares. The Xiaolin try to retrieve stolen Shen Gong Wu from Jack Spicer, only to come face-to-face with their darkest fears. They must overcome this when a new Shen Gong Wu reveals itself and they are forced to engage in a sumo battle.
My portion (act 3) runs from 14:00 to the end
11. Master Monk Guan
Director: Jeff Allen
Airdate: December 11, 2004
The heroes meet the tai chi master Master Monk Guan when a new Shen Gong Wu reveals itself. He then brings a downtrodden Dojo to Chase Young, the evil master, in exchange for his fabled Spear of Guan. The Xiaolin Monks head to Chase’s lair to save Dojo, only to be defeated by Chase Young’s creature form: a reptilian creature possessing incredible strength and power. Master Monk Guan intervenes at the last minute and challenges Young to a battle with the monks and Dojo’s freedom at stake.
My portion (act 3) runs from 14:10 to the end
12. The Evil Within
Director: Mike Milo
Airdate: February 5, 2005
When Kimiko obtains the Mosaic Scale, she tries to store it in the vault, only to have it fall and break. She tries to hide it in Clay’s belongings. The evil spirit of mischief Sibini is freed from the Scale, taking control of Clay’s body and causing various acts of mischief. The heroes must now stop Sibini from getting the Monarch Wings, which would give him ultimate power, and may also destroy the world.
My portion (act 3) runs from 15:30 to the end
13. The Deep Freeze
Director: Matt Danner
Airdate: February 12, 2005
When the Lunar Locket reveals itself, Jack Spicer uses his Dude-Bot, empowered with the Heart of Jong to retrieve it. When Dude-Bot malfunctions in a fight with the heroes, he throws the Heart of Jong into a crevasse, and uses the snow around it to become Raksha. Wuya uses Raksha to rule the world, which Raksha turns into a frozen wonderland for himself. The Xiaolin must find a way to defeat Raksha and unfreeze the Earth in the only way they know how: a Xiaolin Showdown.
My portion (act 2) runs from 7:55 to 13:30