The animated series, produced by Columbia TriStar Television and Dark Horse Entertainment, aired from 1999 to 2001. The plot and setting of the series is different from the comic book as the whole story is based around New Tronic City, a fictional North American city. The series focuses on Rusty, the most advanced robot ever built, with a human emotional grid and "nucleoprotonic" powers. Rusty idolizes the Big Guy, regarding him as the best robot ever.