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

There's a lot to love X-Men '97. These days, reboots are pretty common, but more often than not, they don't stick the landing. X-Men '97do it though. The show expands on the original X-Men: The Animated Seriesshows a wider universe and delves into the complex relationship between Magneto and Professor X with big dramatic moments. Now that the television landscape has changed, the show is not limited to being purely episodic. Relationships can develop, and the story can hint at things to come.

But what has excited fans the most is the show's amazing animation. X-Men '97 uses a style that takes heavy inspiration from the original series, making it look like a throwback. That said, as technology has improved since the 90s, the new show uses both 2D methods and 3D techniques, giving the show a much more polished look.

In contrast, other animated Marvel shows have a more uniform look. The coming one The eyes of Wakanda and What if… both have a very similar style. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is a little more unique, with its flat style and comic-inspired imagery. But no one has been excited about the appearance of these shows that they have been excited about X-Men '97. While it could be argued that nostalgia is a factor, that show is still visually unique compared to Marvel's current animated lineup. Considering how many great animated shows there are out there, Marvel should take a cue from X-Men '97 and change things stylistically.

X-Men '97 embraces old-school character designs

Animation, like any other medium, has its trends and styles throughout the decades. The 70s saw traditional cel animation mixed with the beginnings of realistic, human characters. 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.

The 80s saw a further push to action hero proportions with the intention of selling toys, thanks to the likes of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and GI Joe. Later, the 90s saw the rise of creator-driven cartoons. These cartoons were made in reaction to the limited animated ones that came before them, and were more exaggerated and fluid. Rugrats and The Simpsons are typical shows from this period.

After coming out in 1992, the 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 80s predecessors. The artistic choice to emulate the style of the original series i X-Men '97 is not only appealing to nostalgia, but also embracing an animation style that hasn't been widely seen in decades. Along with taking inspiration from the original show, the creative team also took some cues from classic 80s and 90s anime, such as Ninja Scroll. As a result, audiences have found it refreshing in the modern landscape of animated television.

X-Men '97 embraces new technologies

That said, the techniques involved in this style of visual animation have been updated with the times. Instead of traditional cel animation on a tight budget, X-Men '97 uses more advanced 2D animation and takes full advantage of its Disney-level budget. Instead of choosing to emulate the limited animation style of the original, the creative team opted to further evoke the '90s feel by using a VHS-inspired effect. (It's also a rare case where the VHS-inspired elements aren't intended to evoke fear in a horror context.) This helps reinforce the illusion that it's a '90s show, rather than something that came out in 2024. 3D elements added also for layouts and more complex vehicles.

Producer and executive director Jake Castorena has said that the creative team was very careful about how they wanted to find the balance between evoking the old style while keeping it fresh for modern audiences. Judging by the fan response, it seems they succeeded in spades. The show appeals to the nostalgia of longtime fans, but it doesn't feel like a tired repeat.

Just like WandaVision experimented with using the visual styles of different sitcoms from different decades, the animation teams at Marvel should strive to create completely unique visuals for their shows as well. X-Men '97with its retro-inspired look, has proven that audiences have an appetite for animated shows that break the norm. Other inventive shows, like Moon Girl and Devil Dinosauralso shows that this 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 over. Why not take a bold risk and mix things up with something else? A breath of fresh air can renew the interest of longtime fans and even draw new ones into the fold.