Marvel's animated shows should have learned something from X-Men '97

There's a lot to love X-Men '97. Reboots are pretty common these days, but more often than not they don't stick the landing. X-Men '97however it does. The show expands on the original X-Men: The Animated Seriesshowing the wider universe and delving into the complex relationship between Magneto and Professor X with great dramatic moments. Now that the television landscape has changed, the show is not limited to a purely episodic nature. Relationships can develop and the narrative can hint at things to come.

However, what has excited fans the most is the great animation of the show. X-Men '97 it uses a style that is heavily inspired by the original series, making it feel like a throwback. This means that since the technology has improved since the 1990s, the new show uses both 2D methods and 3D techniques to give the show a much more polished look.

In contrast, other animated Marvel shows have a more uniform look. Coming The eyes of Wakanda and What if… both have a very similar style. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man it's a little more unique with its flat style and comic-inspired images. However, no one was as excited about the appearance of these shows as he was X-Men '97. While it could be argued that nostalgia is a major factor, this show is still visually unique compared to Marvel's current animated lineup. Considering how many great looking animated shows there are, Marvel should take a cue X-Men '97 and change things up in style.

X-Men '97 features old-school character designs

Animation, like any other medium, has its trends and styles over the decades. The 1970s saw traditional cel animation mixed with the beginnings of realistically proportioned human figures. These cartoons had reduced budgets and limited animation. Such as Hanna-Barbera's scooby doo where are you and Jabberjaw are classic examples of this style.

In the 1980s, there was another push into action hero dimensions with the intention of selling toys, thanks to He-Man & Masters of the Universe and GI Joe. Later in the 1990s, there was the rise of creator-driven cartoons. Created as a reaction to the limited animation that preceded them, these cartoons were more exaggerated and fluid. Rugrats and The Simpsons are typical programs from this period.

Released in 1992, original X-Men: The Animated Series was a little before this shift. The show had a limited budget and largely stuck to the style of its 1980s predecessors. An artistic choice that mimics the style of the original series X-Men '97 is not only to appeal to nostalgia, but also to embrace a style of animation that has not been widely seen for decades. In addition to taking inspiration from the original show, the creative team also took a few cues from classic anime from the 80s and 90s, such as Ninja scroll. As a result, viewers found it refreshing in the modern landscape of animated television.

X-Men '97 embraces new techniques

This means that the techniques involved in this style of visual animation have been updated. Instead of traditional cel animation with a limited budget X-Men '97 it uses more advanced 2D animation and makes full use of its Disney-level budget. Instead of mimicking the limited animation style of the original, the creative team decided to further evoke the 90s feel with a VHS-inspired effect. (It's also a rare case where the VHS-inspired elements aren't meant to be scary in a horror context.) This helps reinforce the illusion that this is a show from the 90s, rather than something that came out in 2024. 3D elements were also added for layouts and more complex vehicles.

Producer and lead director Jake Castorena said the creative team was very careful in how they wanted to strike a balance of evoking the old style while keeping it fresh for a modern audience. Judging by the response from fans, it looks like they've succeeded. The show appeals to the nostalgia of longtime fans, but doesn't feel like a tired rehash.

Just like WandaVision The animation teams at Marvel have experimented with using different visual styles of sitcoms from different decades and should aspire to create truly unique visuals for their shows. X-Men '97with its retro-inspired look, it proved that viewers have an appetite for animated shows that break the norm. Other inventive shows like The moon girl and the evil dinosauralso show that it is not limited to X-Men '97; it's just good animation design. Marvel has a cavalcade of classic characters, many of which have been adapted many times. Why not take a bold risk and mix things up with something else? A breath of fresh air could renew the interest of longtime fans and even attract new ones.