10 Eye-Opening Truths About Revisiting X-Men: The Animated Series Over Two Decades Later

X-Men '97 is set to bring back the vibe of X-Men: The Animated Series, a classic cartoon that had its own flaws that need fixing. The return of this beloved franchise has Marvel fans reminiscing about the 90s animated series, which is still considered one of the best X-Men cartoons ever created. With its unforgettable rock theme song and captivating characters, X-Men: The Animated Series helped make Marvel's mutants popular long before the movies did.

While X-Men: The Animated Series still holds up well, it's important not to let nostalgia cloud our judgment of the show, as there are noticeable flaws upon rewatching it today. The original series is a product of its time in the 90s, carrying some baggage that is hard to ignore now. Hopefully, X-Men '97 can capture the essence of what made X-Men: The Animated Series great while avoiding the missteps that are more apparent when viewed in modern times.

The Accents Were A Bit Over The Top

Rogue and Gambit's dialogue can be hard to get through

Rogue and Gambit standing next to each other in X-Men The Animated Series - Rogue and Gambit's dialogue can be hard to get through - The Accents Were A Bit Over The Top

The X-Men's unique and diverse group of mutants was a major attraction for fans right from the start. X-Men: The Animated Series played a key role in introducing these characters to a whole new audience. However, some of the voice acting choices for certain characters can be a bit bothersome when listened to repeatedly. For instance, Gambit's sporadic Cajun accent and Rogue's exaggerated southern drawl can start to sound like cliched caricatures after a while.

Some Episodes Were Definitely Duds

They can't all be zingers, but the X-Men series had some terrible entries

Mr. Sinister appears in X-Men: The Animated Series. - They can't all be zingers, but the X-Men series had some terrible entries - Some Episodes Were Definitely Duds

Nostalgic fans will always cherish the good episodes of X-Men: The Animated Series, but it's worth mentioning that there were some episodes that didn't quite hit the mark. The show delved into more obscure villains and storylines from the comics, leading to episodes like Savage Land, Strange Heart, Jubilee's Fairytale Theater, and Love in Vain which took the series in odd and unnecessary directions. From giant space aliens to a strange focus on Marvel's Savage Land, these episodes often felt like they didn't quite capture the essence of what makes the X-Men special.

The Series Was Hampered By Being Kid-Friendly

The mature themes of the X-Men didn't always translate into a cartoon

X-Men: The Animated Series still - The mature themes of the X-Men didn't always translate into a cartoon - The Series Was Hampered By Being Kid-Friendly

Despite being groundbreaking and true to the comics, X-Men: The Animated Series was ultimately held back by its nature as a Saturday morning cartoon geared towards kids. The X-Men story is deeply political, dealing with themes of discrimination and featuring dark characters. However, the show was limited in its portrayal, with Wolverine unable to use his claws on anything but robots and his healing factor not fully explored. These restrictions prevented the series from fully capturing the essence of the X-Men comics.

Iceman Is Turned Into A Villain

The lovable cyrokinetic X-Man spent most of his time on the wrong side

Iceman, Cyclops, and Professor X in X-Men_ The Animated Series - The lovable cyrokinetic X-Man spent most of his time on the wrong side - Iceman Is Turned Into A Villain

Iceman, a well-known member of the X-Men, made his first appearance in the 90s animated series during the third season's 16th episode called Cold Comfort. Surprisingly, it was revealed that Iceman had already left the team and had turned into a radicalized mutant, engaging in violent acts against the government. Unfortunately, Bobby Drake did not have the chance to work with the good guys for long as he declined Professor X's offer to re-join the team.

The Scott-Jean-Logan Love Triangle Gets Tiresome

"Will-they-won't-they" eventually became "please, don't"

X-Men the animted series, wolverine talking to jean grey - "Will-they-won't-they" eventually became "please, don't" - The Scott-Jean-Logan Love Triangle Gets Tiresome

The love triangle involving Wolverine, Jean Grey, and Cyclops was a major focus in X-Men: The Animated Series. Unfortunately, it became quite tiresome as the show progressed. The way the concept was portrayed didn't differ much from the live-action movies, with Cyclops and Wolverine even arguing over who should sacrifice themselves for Jean's sake. It's doubtful that younger viewers found this romantic drama appealing when the show first aired.

The Series Teased The New Mutants Without Delivering

Of the famous secondary mutant team, only Cannonball got an appearance

Ending of 2020's The New Mutants - Of the famous secondary mutant team, only Cannonball got an appearance - The Series Teased The New Mutants Without Delivering

As X-Men: The Animated Series was wrapping up, they hinted at the New Mutants making an appearance in the future. Unfortunately, only Cannonball showed up in the second-to-last episode, leaving out other popular members like Magma and Boom-Boom. It's disappointing that the show didn't fully explore the potential of these new mutant heroes.

The Animation Isn't Amazing By Today's Standards

The 90s were a long time ago, and it shows

Charles Xavier holding his cerebro in X-Men The Animated Series - The 90s were a long time ago, and it shows - The Animation Isn't Amazing By Today's Standards

Back in the day, X-Men: The Animated Series was a visual treat for kids just starting to explore the X-Men universe from their own homes. The character designs and vibrant colors were truly unique and captivating. However, looking back with a modern perspective, it's hard to ignore the flaws in the art style of X-Men: The Animated Series. The animation at times appeared choppy and even appeared to be of low quality. Despite being marketed as the ultimate X-Men animated series, there was definitely room for improvement in the animation quality.

The Show Is In Desperate Need Of A Remaster

It's painfully obvious the animated series wasn't made for modern TVs

Wolverine Fights The Silver Samurai In X-Men The Animated Series - It's painfully obvious the animated series wasn't made for modern TVs - The Show Is In Desperate Need Of A Remaster

The advancement of technology has made it clear that X-Men: The Animated Series was originally made for the standard definition CRT TVs of the 90s. However, when watching it again, it's hard not to notice the blurry visuals and bleeding colors that are more prominent when displayed on a modern TV. Unfortunately, Disney+'s stream of the series doesn't do it any favors in this aspect, making it difficult to fully enjoy the show due to its technical limitations.

The Series Picked The Worst Love Interest For Storm To Explore

The animated series did Ororo's characterization dirty

Storm and Arkon kissing in X-Men_ The Animated Series - The animated series did Ororo's characterization dirty - The Series Picked The Worst Love Interest For Storm To Explore

Storm, a powerful X-Men member once revered as a goddess, has had a series of significant romantic partners in the comics. In X-Men: The Animated Series, however, her character was portrayed differently. Instead of being paired with well-known characters like Thor or Black Panther, Storm was romantically involved with Arkon, a cruel dictator who aimed to conquer planets. This storyline somewhat weakened Storm's strong personality, although her fierce actions against Arkon's planet did show glimpses of her true strength.

X-Men: The Animated Series Was Rife With Continuity Errors

It can be hard to get into the series, which played fast and loose with continuity

A close-up of Professor X from X-Men The Animated Series - It can be hard to get into the series, which played fast and loose with continuity - X-Men: The Animated Series Was Rife With Continuity Errors

The X-Men comics have a complex continuity that can be tricky to adapt. The Animated Series sometimes struggled with this, especially when it came to the timeline of certain characters and events. For example, Angel is shown as a new member in one episode, but flashbacks later on suggest he has been with the team since the beginning. It will be exciting to see how X-Men '97 addresses these continuity issues from the original series.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the flaws in "X-Men: The Animated Series," highlighting aspects that have not aged well. It acknowledges the show's cultural significance and nostalgic appeal while also critiquing its over-the-top character accents, inconsistent episode quality, and limitations imposed by its kid-friendly nature. The article effectively balances appreciation for the show's strengths with a realistic assessment of its shortcomings.

Overall, the article serves as a valuable reminder that even beloved classics can have flaws that become more apparent over time. It suggests that while "X-Men '97" should embrace the essence of the original series, it would benefit from addressing these issues to create a more polished and contemporary animated experience. The article's insights provide a thoughtful perspective on how to approach the revival of a beloved franchise while acknowledging the need for modernization and improvement.