Watch Top Of The Line
Premise
This unfinished episode is about Zim and Gir participating in the Robot Olympics with the other 29 Invaders and their Sir Units. But don’t be fooled, a mysterious Invader Tenn seem to be out of place within Zim’s mind while talking to the Tallest; with their goals in mind, the true competition lies on Top of the Line.
Context
Top of the Line is an unfinished episode that contains mysteries even when it was found by the fandom in the early 2010s after the premise was leaked. All that folks knew was that Zim is in a competition for all the robots to compete with other Invaders and that Tak (a fan favorite one-off character) would return in this episode.
On February 7, 2026, Operation Head Pigeons (Invader Zim merchants) alerted the IZL&F discord and everyone perceived to lose their motor functions. It was perfectly place on a Saturday where we do our weekly meetings, therefore we had to discuss the leak: turns out, it marks when we begin production on Top of the Line. From script reading to senting out Invader Zim – Top of the Line (concept art version 2026) two weeks later on YouTube, it was a wild ride of our lives!… AND WE’RE STILL ON IT!
The Cattening
Art by Kaya’s
Top of the Line begins with a frustrated Zim pulling an impossible number of kittens out of Gir’s being. He’s on a mission to get Gir ready with upgrades for the “Big Day”
Kaya: The script leak was really exciting, because we were all given a week to be the first to release “Top Of The Line” online. I had a vision of what I wanted for the episode’s opening the moment we read the script.
Part 1
Irken Commercial
Art by Kaya’s
After watching the robot Olympic ad the computer showed, Zim monologue to his adopted son about how important it is for them to win this event.
Kaya: I sketched this scene while drawing the kittens from the opening sequence—I just couldn’t get enough of them. A lot of what makes this scene work comes down to the lighting and the “Multiply” blending mode. My favorite part was drawing the screen showing the Irken commercial.
Part 2
The Tallest receive ZIM's call
Art by Jack
On planet Conventia, the Almighty Tallest were happily watching construction when a call pop up: it’s ZIM with his son GIR. Their day is ruined.
IZ L&F Member: The reason two pieces of concept art were used for the YouTube episode is that the first one—featuring a big smile and wide-open eyes—was very appealing, but Jack was asked to create a second image with a subtle smile and closed eyes, which ended up being used as well. There’s also been a misunderstanding that it actually takes place at the Robot Olympics on Planet Conventia; the Tallest Pad Arena Deck just so happens to look like the deck on the Massive.
Part 3
ZIM Arrives to Conventia
Art by Jack
After the call, Zim talk to Gir all cherry before gigantic orbital cannons try to end them; the event is just getting started down on Conventia.
IZ L&F Member: This is one of the most complicated and crucial scenes in the concept art, since—unlike any other Zim episode—this one is set on the Convention Planet, Conventia. The scene in question had to perfectly capture this setting, which is being seen for the first time in a full episode (not counting its appearance in Episode 1: The Nightmare Begins). Jack was then asked to add lasers as specified in the script, and that’s exactly what they did.
Part 4
Opening Ceremony
Art by Rulla
As Red and Purple recover from failed attempted murder on Zim, the necklaces and Tenn were put on focus. He vowed to the Tallest before leaving.
IZ L&F Member: From the start, they’ve creating different versions of this scene, ask for many feedbacks before getting to the concept art piece we knew today. The process to final product lasted a week to get it done.
Part 5
Flight Test
Art by Flamgo’s Crashpad
When the Sir Units’s introductions are done, their first sport involved their flight capacity. It ended with a destroyed platform, and tension within its debris.
Flamgo: Invader ZIM has definitely encouraged me to play with angles and perspective in my art. I figured a low angle would go well with this scene so we get a good view of the levitation engine sparking, the smoke coming from GIR, and the clouds, since the explicit mention of there being clouds in the script stuck out to me.
Part 8
Invaders' shipyard
Art by HEC-Z
In the Invader Shipyard, Zim complain about the other invaders and his observations on Tenn. After a small investigation within her ship, a noise sparks curiosity.
HEC-Z: To me, this is a good reminder to always do a bit of research before using references cause I was not aware that Zim’s the only one with the voot cruiser as others got the latest model of space-ship advancements.
Part 7
ZIM Finds the Actual TENN
Art by Hibiscus
Within the Shoogorgh’s on Wheels concession truck, Zim and Gir found Tenn and Max inside! Their chat ended when Zim finally saw the symbol on everything.
IZ L&F Member: Hibiscus is one of the top artists who was part of Lost And Found; she is currently working on independent projects. She had the vision to create an entirely new scene placed is the Shoogorgh’s on Wheels concession truck, and handle both of the actual Invader Tenn’s appearances. The first concept art shows Tenn with the bandage removed from her mouth in the big reveal that she has been replaced by an impostor Tenn, and for Tenn’s second appearance, Hibiscus collaborated with HEC-Z to handle the clean-up, coloring, and final touches on the scene.
Part 8
TAK Monologue
Art by LadyXeno
High on an Irken skyscraper, TAK monologue to MiMi about her place in the world before both head back to the arena for round 2.
LadyXeno: Tak standing atop the gargoyles reminded us all of similar art from Batman, so that’s where my inspiration started. The gargoyles themselves are Irken xenomorphs as a tribute to Jhonen Vasquez’s love for the Alien films. Their posing and the lighting from below Tak and MiMi complete the grand, dramatic mood that this scene called for.
Part 9
Queen MAX
Line Art by VIW, Colored by LadyXeno
Once everyone got back, the Obedience Test begun with Zim and Gir; they fail. When it’s Tenn and Max’s turn, they score 100 points with praise.
IZ L&F Member: This is one of the most iconic scenes between Tenn and Max. To begin the concept art for “Top Of The Line,” the entire team gathered references of S.I.R. units from every possible official source. Viw used these references, as well as the crown, to depict Tenn’s command to “Be a Crowned Queen.” Viw created the line art, and collaborated with LadyXeno to color it.
Part 10
TAK Confrontation
Art by Flamgo’s Crashpad
Flamgo: The idea of ZIM and TAK circling each other reminded me of beefing cats, so I gave them a feral bug look for this case. I got lucky and had a good reference for this scene, and that was the Top of the Line SoapyWaffles sneak peek from years ago that happened to be a very good guess!
Part 8
Weapons Mimic Test
Art by GRIMM
Within the Weapon Mimic Test, the Sir Units were doing great til Gir take the lead; bodies have hit the floor, bringing Gir at tenth place.
IZ L&F Member: This is one of the funniest scenes featuring Zim and Gir. It’s a comedic sketch that highlights just how incredibly terrible Gir is compared to the other S.I.R. units. Originally, this concept art by GRIMM was supposed to include a giant rock on which Gir had drawn a smiley face, but it didn’t make it into the final artwork.
Part 12
ZIM at the Showdon Montage
Art by Shay
Throughout the montage here, Gir disappointed Zim one test after another til Zim practically knocked himself out at the end of it.
Shay (Tallest Beezle): I started with the foreground before drawing Zim and the background characters on separate layers, once I got all them sketched and lined, I refined the line work, I needed multiple references but I did the background last! Overall it was a pretty fun process! Once I colored I had to tweak the saturation multiple times for accuracy but I think it turned out great!
Part 13
The Melee Round
Art by Kaiden
When 27 Sir Units came back and Gir’s defenseless, Zim ran a quick errand as Gir “plays tag”; he got an upgrade that lasted him minutes.
Kaiden: Drawing this took a long time and it was the first fully finished drawing I’ve done of Invader Zim. I started by referencing the SIR units from different episodes and blocking out the positioning. I ended up having to do a refined sketch to stay in style and did line-art and colouring one at a time for each SIR. Flamgo drew the background as I ran out of time.
Part 14
Release the cats
Art by HEC-Z
Gir burned the upgrade out, but was able to defeat “Max” without realizing it: KITTENS. Zim is so proud of his son.
HEC-Z: It’s cute visually, but… You know what no, I’m a keep the negativity to myself.
It went through the most changes, and it took a bit longer to figure it out. Plus I was focusing on other projects (Squishy, Hugger of Worlds and Roboparents Gone Wild) at the time. I went with Gir holding Mimi’s face because I thought it be better visuals to do than reveal an explosion of kittens when it hasn’t happen yet.
Part 15
TAK ATTEMPTED MURDER
Art by Waterlilli
Tak’s plan was foiled, thus went ahead to assassinate the Tallest (failed thanks to Zim and the kittens). Tak cursed everyone before making her grand escape.
Waterlilli: I was really excited for this piece as I hadn’t drawn Tak or the Tallest much before, so having this opportunity to learn more about irken anatomy and alternate designs was great! The image relies on depth with the spatial layers, which are emphasised by the characters, their outline thickness variation, as well as the drifting smoke.
Part 16
ZIM'S VICTORY SPEECH
Art by MzVermin
The Tallest acknowledged Zim saving them despite Gir scored nothing, Red give him a rock. Zim made a grand speech; as crowds cheer, the Skoodge-slander continues.
MzVermin: For my personal style of illustration and concept art, I strive to express the character(s) I’m drawing as authentically as themselves or a scene at its most pivotal moment. Illustrating the most grandiose moment while also being open to the transitional moment next in the script. I detail the main characters in full whilst using a loose, digital painting-like style to create a quick concept for the background, inspired by the style of my favorite artist, SpectroliteAAA.
Part 17
TENN Tied Up Even More
Art by HEC-Z and Hibixsus
Tenn being wrapped up even more in the Shoogorgh’s on Wheels concession truck, struggling before cursing Zim’s name as the episode ends and goes to the credits.
HEC-Z: I’m so glad that it came out the way it does, and I just now realize how much trust we have in each other. For context I been with IZL&F for 5 weeks (and just in time for making concept art for TotL), and Bailey is very good at their work; I’m suprise no one else took the task to finish it.
Part 18
