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

There's a lot to love about it X-Men '97. Nowadays, reboots are pretty common, 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 a larger 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 being purely episodic. Relationships can develop and storytelling can hint at things to come.

However, what excited fans the most was the show's superb animation. X-Men '97 uses a style that draws strong inspiration from the original series, making it seem like a throwback. That said, as technology has improved since the 1990s, the new show uses both 2D methods and 3D techniques, which give the show a much more refined look.

In contrast, other animated Marvel shows have a more uniform look. The imminent 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 book-inspired imagery. However, no one was as excited about the look of these shows as they were X-Men '97. While one could argue that nostalgia is a major 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 X-Men '97 and change things stylistically.

X-Men '97 embraces old-school character designs

Animation, like any other medium, has its own trends and styles over the decades. The 1970s saw traditional cel animation mixed with the beginnings of realistically proportioned human characters. These cartoons had small budgets and limited animation. The ones like the ones from Hanna-Barbera Scooby-Doo, where are you? AND Jabberjaw they are classic examples of this style.

The 1980s saw a further push towards action hero proportions with the intent of selling toys, thanks to the likes of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe AND GI Joe. Subsequently, the 1990s saw the rise of creator-driven cartoons. These cartoons were made in reaction to the limited animation ones that preceded them and were more exaggerated and fluid. Rugrats AND The Simpsons they are shows par excellence of this period.

Released in 1992, the original X-Men: The Animated Series it was a little before this change. The show had a limited budget and remained largely faithful to the style of its 1980s predecessors. The artistic choice to imitate the style of the original series X-Men '97 it's not just appealing to nostalgia, but also embracing a style of animation that hasn't been seen in decades. In addition to taking inspiration from the original show, the creative team also took cues from classic '80s and '90s anime, such as Ninja scroll. As a result, audiences found it refreshing in the modern landscape of animated TV.

X-Men '97 embraces new techniques

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

Producer and chief director Jake Castorena said the creative team was very careful in finding the balance between evoking the old style while at the same time keeping it fresh for modern audiences. Considering the fan response, it seems like they succeeded in a big way. The show appeals to the nostalgia of longtime fans, but it doesn't feel like a tired rehash.

Just like WandaVision experimented with using different visual styles from sitcoms from different decades, Marvel's animation teams should aspire to create truly unique visuals for their shows as well. X-Men '97with its retro-inspired look, it proved that audiences have an appetite for animated shows that break the norm. Other creative shows, such as Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaurthey also show 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 multiple times. Why not take a bold risk and mix things up with something different? A breath of fresh air could renew the interest of longtime fans and even attract new ones.