Æon Flux (/ˌiːɒn ˈflʌks/), an American avant-garde science-fiction adventure animated television series, aired on MTV from November 30, 1991 until October 10, 1995, with a later film, comic-book and video-game adaptations.
[2] It premiered on MTV's Liquid Television experimental animation show as a six-part serial, followed in 1992 by five individual short episodes.
Bregna is shown as a totalitarian regime and an Orwellian police state with an oppressed society under constant surveillance, rules and regulations.
The music was later released on CD by Klasky Csupo's record label, Tone Casualties, titled Eye Spy – Ears Only: Confidential.
The initials "AF" were used on song titles and in the credits to replace the words "Æon Flux" due to the lack of licensing permissions from MTV.
[9] An abbreviated edition of the album's first disc, titled Æon Flux: Music from the Animated Series, was included as a bonus with the 2005 DVD set at Best Buy.
This edition included 11 pieces of score, with dialogue snippets featuring Æon and Trevor interspersed as standalone tracks.
[10] Neumann self-released an expanded, remastered version of the album, retitled Eye Spy: Declassified, Freedom of Information Act, as a digital download in 2010, with new artwork by Peter Chung and a previously unreleased third volume of music.
[11] This edition was reissued by Waxwork Records on vinyl, digital download, and streaming on February 17, 2023, and on CD the following April, as Æon Flux: Original Soundtrack.
The short sees Æon (with Theron's likeness) on a mission, killing many Breen soldiers while pursuing some small, insect-like robots.
Reviewing the 2005 DVD release, IGN gave the series 9 out of 10, while giving the whole package (shorts, extras and general condition included) a 7 out of 10.
This show validates the purpose of cable TV—we get to see talented folks like Peter Chung let loose their creative energies to produce something truly unique.
She summed up by saying, "While the film's moralistic tale resonated and lingered like a muse's long forgotten poem, the subversive kick of the comic [sic] series (which I thankfully saw later) struck deep chords and left me breathless with questions.
"[7] An Æon Flux Hollywood adaptation, which was released in the United States on December 2, 2005, starring Charlize Theron, provoked controversy among Æon Flux fans over initial reports that the film adaptation seemed to bear little resemblance to the original full-length animated series or the Liquid Television shorts, as no one involved with the original television series had a role in the making of the film.
Chung called the movie "a travesty", relating that its public screening made him feel "helpless, humiliated, and sad".
[20] In it, authors Mark Mars and Eric Singer provided vague explanations of some of the show's setting and backstory, including how Trevor and Æon met.
The graphic novel fell out of print in the years that followed the show's conclusion, but it was temporarily re-issued in 2005, with new cover art, to tie in with the movie.
Although the characters and situations were based on the newer movie versions, the penciling technique deliberately emulated Peter Chung's unique style from the TV series.
The game first made an appearance at E3 that same year, with Æon Flux creator Peter Chung on hand to promote it,[24] and commercial advertising was even included in the 1996 VHS release of the animated series.
The merger ultimately led to the cancellation of Viacom's in-development games, leaving Cryo without the rights to use the Æon Flux property.
[27][28] In June 2018, it was reported that a live-action television reboot is in works at MTV with Jeff Davis and Gale Anne Hurd as executive producers.
[29] In September 2021, it was reported that a live-action television reboot is in works at Paramount+, under a new overall deal that Davis has signed with MTV Entertainment Studios.