Disney production an X-quisite revival of beloved series
It’s no exaggeration to say there would be no Marvel Cinematic Universe without the 1992 “X-men” animated series.
Over its five-season, 76episode run on Fox, the show served as proof of concept — both with the “X-men” film franchise and the MCU— for how the expansive comic book mythologies could be adapted to the screen. From James Mangold’s somber, meditative “Logan” (2017) to the Infinity Saga, none of it would have happened if the animated “X-men” hadn’t paved the way.
Now more than three decades later, “X-men ’97” picks up where the original show left off, delivering a nostalgic treat for longtime X-enthusiasts that will also likely hook a whole new generation of fandom.
With “X-men ’97,” Disney’s first-ever X-men production, story editors Eric and Julia Lewald and producer Larry Houston return as consultants, along with many of the core voice cast reprising their roles, including Cal Dodd as Wolverine, Alison Sealysmith as Storm, Lenore Zann as Rogue and George Buza as Beast.
But while there’s definitely the comfort of the familiar, the new animated series created by Beau Demayo benefits from a robust Disney budget that’s evident in its crisp animation style. The show even gets a remixed version of the original’s iconic opening theme music.
More importantly, without the restrictions of network television, “X-men ’97” has the freedom to push boundaries when it comes to language and content. Rated TV-PG, it won’t have any intense brutality or profanity, but don’t be shocked if you see splattered blood or hear someone say they’re “pissed off.”
It’s difficult to sum up what a paradigm shift “Xmen” represented upon its debut in fall 1992 as part of the now-defunct Fox Kids weekend block. Arriving amid a Saturday morning landscape littered with silly animals and teenybopper sitcoms, “X-men” was the rare attempt by American animators to tell serialized stories with at least a veneer of sophistication.
Sure, it was a brightly colored cartoon about spandex-clad superheroes, but “X-men” didn’t talk down to its audience while tackling themes of prejudice, oppression and loss. Alongside “Batman: The Animated Series,” which premiered during the same time on Fox, “X-men” won over the fans who’d made the comics a bestseller for more than a decade and set a benchmark for what could be achieved in kidvid.
Like its predecessor, “Xmen ’97” doesn’t shy away from mature subject matter, leaning even deeper into mutants being subject to prejudice and hate while remaining deeply rooted in the 1980s and ’90s comics by writer Chris Claremont. This is reflected not only in the character models, inspired by fan-favorite artist Jim Lee’s redesigns from the early ’90s but also in how the show is taking the opportunity to cover the comic storylines the series didn’t get around to previously.
For example, one of the central arcs revolves around the X-men’s primary antagonist, Magneto (voiced by Matthew Waterson), taking over team leadership at the request of their absent founder, Charles Xavier. A truncated adaptation of Claremont’s 1985 “The Uncanny X-men” No. 200, the second episode has Magneto on trial before the United Nations, with subsequent installments revolving around storylines from the same period. As someone who grew up firmly ensconced in this era of Xmen, I’m entirely onboard with this approach.
While “X-men ’97” is very much a sequel, the general mythology of the characters and their world is familiar enough after 24 years and 13 films to allow those who didn’t watch the ’92 cartoon to dive right in.
As Marvel’s first X-men offering since reclaiming the rights to the property five years ago, this show is a welcome indicator of the franchise’s future. It’s not just good, it’s X-quisite.