History WesternAnimation / AeonFlux

** Clavius's lines in the first episode of season 3 were re-dubbed by a completely new voice actor for no explicable reason.

* CloningBlues: Averted by the clone of [[spoiler: [=Æ=]on made by Trevor. Aware of being a clone, she is perfectly OK with her existence and her role in the original [=Æ=]on's BatmanGambit]].

''[=Æ=]on Flux'' is foremost a visual experience. The art style is a scribbly blend of [[GermanExpressionism Expressionism]], CyberPunk, and UsefulNotes/{{Gnosticism}} reminiscent of European comic books. For instance, one of the series's iconic images depicts a human eye staring at a fly that is trapped in eyelashes long enough to remind one of the mouth of a Venus flytrap. The episodes strive to use the art style to further the viewer's interest as opposed to wordiness. The early shorts forwent spoken words and the later episodes used them frugally.

Throughout the [[UsefulNotes/TheNineties 1990s]], Creator/{{MTV}} regularly [[NetworkDecay produced animated programming]] and fronted some experimental animation. ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' (1991-1995) is probably the fourth-best known example of this type of series (after ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'').

Possibly the best way to describe ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' is that if you had ever seen it before, you would be able to recognize it immediately. The art style is a strange combination of [[GermanExpressionism Expressionism]], CyberPunk, and UsefulNotes/{{Gnosticism}}. One of the most enduring images of the series is that of a human eye staring at a fly that is trapped in its eyelashes. The episodes would attempt to use the art style to further the viewer's interest as opposed to wordiness. The early shorts had no spoken words to speak of, unless you count a single "plop." As a whole, the show was a thorough {{deconstruction}} of action hero tropes and cliches.

The actual content proves even stranger than the art -- our lead character is a highly self-motivated secret agent doing spywork (or possibly just sabotage in the name of anarchy), and is {{Stripperific}} to pretty much the greatest conceivable extent. Her arch-nemesis and lover, Trevor Goodchild, is also a main character; a morally-ambiguous totalitarian ruler attempting to be a benevolent dictator.

The original series is often erroneously categorized as anime. Although creator Creator/PeterChung is South Korean, the series is considered more in the spirit of Euro animation.

The show was made into a [[Film/AeonFlux live-action movie]] in late 2005 starring Creator/CharlizeTheron, in which [[InNameOnly the plot, characters, themes and artistic style were unrelated enough to the original series]] to cause the original creator to [[DisownedAdaptation feel humiliated when he saw it]]. A licensed tie-in game was made to try and link the two, [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames but that didn't end well;]] a movie tie-in comic by Creator/DarkHorseComics was a little more successful at capturing the feel of the original show, however. A live-action reboot series has been announced for Creator/ParamountPlus.

%%* BoobsOfSteel

** The plot of "End Sinister" is one big shout out to a weird ass French sci-fi animated film called ''Animation/{{Gandahar}}''.

* AnythingThatMoves:
** Trevor comes across as this with just about anything that gets his attention. To give a list: [=Æ=]on, the reporters who interview him, one of his patients, bird creatures, the Demiurge, and in the last episode, an alien [[spoiler: who is actually an evolved human, according to him.]]
** Of course, [=Æ=]on is little better. She wears a chastity belt, but at the end of the first episode it is revealed that everyone (literally) in the country of Bregna has a key to it. She also attempted to get with the same alien that Trevor had, but changes her mind.

The show was made into a [[Film/AeonFlux live-action movie]] in late 2005 starring Creator/CharlizeTheron, in which [[InNameOnly the plot, characters, themes and artistic style were unrelated enough to the original series]] to cause the original creator to feel humiliated when he saw it. A licensed tie-in game was made to try and link the two, [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames but that didn't end well;]] a movie tie-in comic by Creator/DarkHorseComics was a little more successful at capturing the feel of the original show, however. A live-action reboot series has been announced for Creator/ParamountPlus.

Throughout the 1990s, Creator/{{MTV}} regularly [[NetworkDecay produced animated programming]] and fronted some experimental animation. ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' (1991-1995) is probably the fourth-best known example of this type of series (after ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'').

Throughout the 1990s, when Creator/{{MTV}} regularly [[NetworkDecay produced animated programming]], the network fronted some experimental animation. ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' (1991-1995) is probably the fourth-best known example of this type of series (after ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'').

->''The original impetus behind the [=Æ=]on Flux pilot was a critique of the manipulation of sympathy in Hollywood movies.''

* {{Gainaxing}}: [=Æ=]on's breasts seem to be very carefully animated in some scenes.

Throughout the 1990s, when Creator/{{MTV}} regularly [[NetworkDecay produced animated programming]], the network fronted some experimental animation. ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' (1991-1995) is probably the fourth-best known example of these series (after ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'').

Throughout the 1990s, when Creator/{{MTV}} regularly [[NetworkDecay produced animated programming]], they fronted some experimental animation. ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' (1991-1995) is probably the fourth-best known example of these series (after ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'').

Back when Creator/{{MTV}} regularly [[NetworkDecay produced animated programming]], they fronted some experimental animation. ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' (1991-1995) is probably the fourth-best known example of these series (after ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'').

Possibly the best way to describe ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' is that if you had ever seen it before, you would be able to recognize it immediately. The art style is a strange combination of [[GermanExpressionism Expressionism]], CyberPunk, and UsefulNotes/{{Gnosticism}}. One of the most enduring images of the series is that of a human eye staring at a fly that is trapped in its eyelashes. The episodes would attempt to use the art style to further the viewer's interest as opposed to wordiness. The early shorts had no spoken words to speak of, unless you count a single "plop". As a whole, the show was a thorough {{deconstruction}} of action hero tropes and cliches.

* AndIMustScream: In "Ether Drift Theory", an ocean of paralytic fluid immobilizes anybody who falls in it but leaves them aware. [[spoiler: This happens to [=Æ=]on at the end of the episode.]]

* BrokenPedestal: Gildemere spends most of "Utopia or Deuteronopia" trying to rescue Bregna's elected leader, Clavius and spends hours pouring over the documents he left behind, believing their incomprehensible gibberish to be a brilliant cipher. He's none too pleased when Clavius comes back and immediately orders the gangsters he'd been colluding with released from prison and reveals that [[ConspiracyTheorist the flying saucer men are not, in fact, a codename for the ministry of justice]].

* DisasterDominoes: Several of [=Æ=]on's missions fail because of an escalating series of accidents, but none more so than in "Ether Drift Theory".

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Rorty in "Reraizure".
* LastOfTheirKind: [[spoiler: [=Æ=]on and Trevor are the last normal-looking humans (the last humans in general) at the end of "End Sinister". They plan to repopulate the planet in a few thousand years.]]

* MeaningfulName: Some of the characters' names are somewhere between this and PunnyName. [=Æ=]on Flux's name implies upheaval and change and literally means "Eternal Change". Trevor Goodchild's name implies obedience, although Peter Chung has denied any symbolic intent and claims he randomly took the name from a school classmate. Donna Matrix sounds like "dominatrix." A semi-religious Monican is named Zennith Nader, and a self-obsessed Breen is named Onan.

* ParryingBullets: The sword-wielding Monican soldier in "War" is capable of doing this multiple times [[spoiler:until he doesn't, and is shot to death by the final "protagonist"]].

** The plot of "End Sinister" is one big shout out to a weirdass French sci-fi animated film called ''Animation/{{Gandahar}}''.

* {{Underboobs}}: One of [=Æ=]on's costumes.
* WallsOfTyranny: The wall between Bregna and Monica, which is most heavily featured in the episode "Thanatophobia".

On a final note, ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' is historically significant for being the first adult animated drama ever produced in the United States. As of 2022, it remains [[WesternAnimation/InvasionAmerica one]] [[WesternAnimation/ToddMcFarlanesSpawn of]] [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheNewAnimatedSeries only]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}} seven]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Primal}} such]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Invincible}} shows]] to have ever aired.

The original series is often erroneously categorized as anime. Although creator Peter Chung is South Korean, the series is considered more in the spirit of Euro animation.

On a final note, ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' is historically significant for being the first adult animated drama ever produced in the United States. As of 2022, it remains [[WesternAnimation/InvasionAmerica one]] [[WesternAnimation/ToddMcFarlanesSpawn of]] [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheNewAnimatedSeries only]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Primal}} seven]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}} such]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Invincible}} shows]] to have ever aired.

On a final note, ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' is historically significant for being the first adult animated drama ever produced in the United States. As of 2022, it remains [[WesternAnimation/InvasionAmerica one]] [[WesternAnimation/ToddMcFarlanesSpawn of]] [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheNewAnimatedSeries only]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Primal}} five]] such shows to have ever aired.

On a final note, ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' is historically significant for being the first primetime animated drama ever produced in the United States. As of 2022, it remains [[WesternAnimation/InvasionAmerica one]] [[WesternAnimation/ToddMcFarlanesSpawn of]] [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheNewAnimatedSeries only]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Primal}} five]] such shows to have ever aired.

-->-- '''Peter Chung'''

* OrderVersusChaos: [=Æ=]on's not actually "good" and Trevor's not really a cut-and-dried bad guy; they're just [[YouRebelScum The Rebel]] and [[TheMan The Establishment]], respectively.

* AllThereInTheManual: There was a companion book published during the airing of the third season, ''The Herodotus File'', which saw a brief return to print as a tie-in with the movie. It was a set of {{Fictional Document}}s telling the story of how [=Æ=]on and Trevor first met and other info about their world. This being [=Æ=]on Flux, it doesn't really have much effect on the {{canon}}, such as it is.

* NegativeContinuity: Most obviously in the silent episodes, and to a lesser extent in the talkie ones.

On a final note, ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' is historically significant for being the first primetime animated drama ever produced in the United States. As of 2020, it remains [[WesternAnimation/InvasionAmerica one]] [[WesternAnimation/ToddMcFarlanesSpawn of]] [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheNewAnimatedSeries only]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Primal}} five]] such shows to have ever aired.

On a final note, ''[=Æ=]on Flux'' is historically significant for being the first primetime animated drama ever produced in the United States. As of 2020, it remains [[WesternAnimation/InvasionAmerica one]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Spawn}} of]] [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheNewAnimatedSeries only]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Primal}} five]] such shows to have ever aired.