‘X-Men: The Animated Series’ Changed Superhero Cartoons Forever (And No One Noticed)
Superhero cartoons are some of the most prominent forms of media in the modern day, with shows like X-Men ‘97 (2024) being a fantastic example. But there was a time when this medium didn’t always offer a proper balance of action and genuine substance until X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997).
What was simply a chance to bring iconic Marvel Comics characters to life for a new generation quickly changed the medium in profound ways. The wildest part about it, however, is that no one has noticed, even years later, how the series changed superhero cartoons massively in the first place.
Before ‘X-Men: The Animated Series’, Superhero Cartoons Were Simpler
It’s hard to think of superhero cartoons before the ‘90s since there were so many amazing hits from that era that are still beloved today. But that doesn't mean that what came before wasn’t good. In fact, there were some huge hits such as Spider-Man (1967-1970) and Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981-1983).
While these shows adapted their comic stories or opened the door for unforgettable team-ups, they were always designed to entertain on a base level. Then, of course, there were shows like The Transformers (1984-1987) where the sole purpose was to sell toys. With that in mind, there wasn’t much room for emotional resonance.
What came from this were very basic cartoons that created fond memories for those who had the chance to watch them, but never tried to reach beyond the target demographic. It was safe media in the sense that it didn’t take a single risk with its narratives or stakes. Then, X-Men: The Animated Series came along and changed everything.
‘X-Men: The Animated Series’ Showed Audiences What Drama In Animation Looked Like
X-Men: The Animated Series was born from a pilot of another X-Men series titled “Pryde of the X-Men.” While that series didn’t take off, the one that followed quickly rewrote the rules on how cartoons geared towards children should be explored. In its first few episodes, X-Men: The Animated Series gave us an epic theme song, our favorite characters brought to life with amazing action, and a death that stuck for most of the series.
Right away, we saw the potential of X-Men: The Animated Series and what it could do if its creators were given the freedom to deliver something worthwhile to the audience. Not only did the show now appear to children and adults, but it also adapted some great storylines from the comics, whether it be Apocalypse or Wolverine’s time in Japan.
X-Men: The Animated Series was just the start, as The Incredible Hulk (1996) and Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994-1998) joined the X-Men and others for a cohesive animated universe. It was unprecedented and couldn’t have been done without the X-Men. But the decades that followed truly showed the impression X-Men: The Animated Series left on audiences, with even better shows coming out.
Since ‘X-Men: The Animated Series’, Superhero Cartoons Have Learned a Lot
X-Men: Evolution (2000-2003) was the first X-Men show to come out after the ‘90s series, and it was just as successful and fun. But it was the first of many other Marvel shows that would stick with audiences and leave a lasting impression.
The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-2009) and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (2010-2012) still represent the best of what Marvel Animation could do in a modern sense, and while both were canceled, they are still looked back on fondly. But more than that, they represented how superhero cartoons could still be for kids, adapt the source material well, and give viewers a dramatic story.
Years later, X-Men ‘97 (2024) feels like a full-circle moment, as it represents a show giving back to the one that made it all possible. X-Men: The Animated Series walked so X-Men ‘97 could run in every way. It was a story that held true to the beats of the original, leaned more heavily on the comic lore, and was far more mature than anything that came before. It’s something that, before X-Men: The Animated Series, would’ve never been possible, and yet superhero television evolved greatly and did so with viewers barely even noticing.
