X-Men '97: The Animated Series

[Triniking1234]

I get the nostalgic appeal of/for the retro 90's X-Men that really only caters to a particular subset of X-fans. But...What stopped them from adapting the stories for a more modern/current iteration of these characters? What about the rest of us who are not living in/for the past? I do not see any 13 year old in 2024 looking at that series and going "OMG! Best. Animation. Series. EVER!!! IWANTMOOOORRRREEEEEE!"

Even if they are catering to a much younger demographic with the possibility of that demographic becoming new X-Men fans...those characters on the screen look nothing like who they've developed into in 2024. Yes, they're the same characters but fundamentally they're not the same characters.

And if you don't grab and hold the attention of the younger ones (exactly as they did with us in the 90's) then you're really not ensuring the longevity of your product and characters.

If the goal wasn't nostalgia baiting, they would've attempted another modern project like with Wolverine and the X-Men and the anime.

[Devaishwarya]

If the goal wasn't nostalgia baiting, they would've attempted another modern project like with Wolverine and the X-Men and the anime.

And it's very perplexing that that's the goal. Where is the longevity interest for the IPs in 2024 and beyond, in that? I get the "cool factor" for the retro stuff but no 13 year old in 2024 is pining for the good old days of 90's.

[Dipter]

And it's very perplexing that that's the goal. Where is the longevity interest for the IPs in 2024 and beyond, in that? I get the "cool factor" for the retro stuff but no 13 year old in 2024 is pining for the good old days of 90's.

How many 13 year olds nowadays are pining for x-men in general? Of any era? These characters have been largely absent from cartoons and games in the last decade, so kids aren’t familiar with them anymore. It’s mostly people in their 20s and up.

TAS represents the x-men at the peak of their global popularity and are still the most universally recognized versions of the characters.

[anyajenkins]

I don’t know the inside and outs of how Disney/marvel makes these decisions, obviously. All we ‘know’ is that TAS was the most commercially successful of the X-men cartoons and when Disney put all the X-men content on d+, it was also the most streamed showed. Not just the most streamed show of the X-men or marvel shows, but one of the most streamed shows on the whole platform.

Just ‘nostalgia’ wouldn’t have gotten it that high, because although there were tons of kids who watched it, vast majority of them were not going to sit and binge rewatch it as adults. Heck, I’m a die hard nerd on a comic message board, and I haven’t even bothered to rewatch it, lol. A lot of people probably saw it and showed an episode to their kids, because they thought the kids might like it. And honestly, to get good streaming numbers, the kids must have liked it to keep watching (and rewatching, because kids can definitely rewatch something they like. )

So Disney probably does think they are getting a chunk of kids audience, to increase their longevity. And any ‘new’ version they put out, they would probably want to align somewhat with the movie, but they’re dragging their feet on the movie, so building off of TAS popularity instead. Will it work, who knows (I kinda think they’ve waited too long, but that’s just me, lol )

[jubilees_bf]

How many 13 year olds nowadays are pining for x-men in general? Of any era? These characters have been largely absent from cartoons and games in the last decade, so kids aren’t familiar with them anymore. It’s mostly people in their 20s and up.

TAS represents the x-men at the peak of their global popularity and are still the most universally recognized versions of the characters.

I adopted both of my sons about three years ago- they are 12 and 14. While I showed them the first few episodes of the Animated series, they literally binged every other episode on their own. They both are looking forward to watching ‘97 with me.

While my household might not be the typical picture of the others that have Disney+, I’m sure there are those with kids/teens that learned about the cartoon from Disney. I’m also guessing that Disney is hoping on capturing even a hint of the popularity that the X-Men had in the 90s. They are heading to the MCU in a big way… and have slowly been appearing in cameos in the Marvel films. What better way to get fans new and old interested in the mutant heroes than with a continuation of their most successful adaptation?

[JThree]

Guys, since we know X Men 97 is doing the Madelyne Pryor storyline (from the toys and such), just how do you think the rather complex plot will be simplified from the original. Will it be the subplot in all ten episodes? or will it be contained in just one episode? Will Scott marry Maddie thinking she's Jean? Or will Jean be "dead" when Scott marries Maddie? Do think Maddie will give birth to Nathan then go evil, and Jean will come into the picture. Opinions?

--jthree

[NicoPony]

I’m with Anya and Jubes. Any story well-told appeals to kids, their tastes are a lot more sophisticated than mine were at that age, but then we had little choice on Saturday morning or after school. Kids can be more discerning now. Were GenY and GenAlpha clamoring for SheRa or My Little Pony? No, but both She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and My Little Pony Friendship is Magic are excellent and binge-able series. While my 9 yr old did not care for XTAS (‘cringe’ was her verdict), she powered through XMen Evolution which became a gateway drug to watching the entire Avenger MCU movie catalog plus several Disney+ series over winter break with me. (Verdict: Wanda was done dirty.) So anecdotally, I’d say that was a success.

[Exodus]

Guys, since we know X Men 97 is doing the Madelyne Pryor storyline (from the toys and such), just how do you think the rather complex plot will be simplified from the original. Will it be the subplot in all ten episodes? or will it be contained in just one episode? Will Scott marry Maddie thinking she's Jean? Or will Jean be "dead" when Scott marries Maddie? Do think Maddie will give birth to Nathan then go evil, and Jean will come into the picture. Opinions?

--jthree

I'm more interested to see if they will already adapt "INFERNO" in this season or wait for the next one.

I could imagine that the Jean we will meet during the first episodes is already Madelyne in disguise and throughout the season they will find Jean's body in stasis. What has happened to Jean will then be a flashback revealing how Sinister orchestrated replacing both women/kidnapping Jean

[marhawkman]

I’m with Anya and Jubes. Any story well-told appeals to kids, their tastes are a lot more sophisticated than mine were at that age, but then we had little choice on Saturday morning or after school. Kids can be more discerning now. Were GenY and GenAlpha clamoring for SheRa or My Little Pony? No, but both She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and My Little Pony Friendship is Magic are excellent and binge-able series. While my 9 yr old did not care for XTAS (‘cringe’ was her verdict), she powered through XMen Evolution which became a gateway drug to watching the entire Avenger MCU movie catalog plus several Disney+ series over winter break with me. (Verdict: Wanda was done dirty.) So anecdotally, I’d say that was a success.

Yeah, anything PG works for most kids. The key is to have parents discuss the moral perspectives with the kids, not just let them run off on their own.

[Grunty]

I’m with Anya and Jubes. Any story well-told appeals to kids, their tastes are a lot more sophisticated than mine were at that age, but then we had little choice on Saturday morning or after school. Kids can be more discerning now. Were GenY and GenAlpha clamoring for SheRa or My Little Pony? No, but both She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and My Little Pony Friendship is Magic are excellent and binge-able series. While my 9 yr old did not care for XTAS (‘cringe’ was her verdict), she powered through XMen Evolution which became a gateway drug to watching the entire Avenger MCU movie catalog plus several Disney+ series over winter break with me. (Verdict: Wanda was done dirty.) So anecdotally, I’d say that was a success.

As much as Evolution seems to have been existing in the shadow of TAS and sometimes even getting derided for their "X-men in High School" concept (even though it fits into the original 05 dynamic the comics begann as), it's still notable that it too has it's own appeal and some younger viewers might prefer it over the much more revered but potential more rough and dated feeling TAS.

Which makes it all the more unfortunate how long the X-men had not gotten a new different cartoon incarnation, which could have added to the different approaches the characters and their stories could be told.

Especially when most of the movie output has been rather luckluster and went increasingly more confusing as the "reboot, but actual prequel, but still reboot" went nowhere.

[PhoenixStudies]

I loved X-Men TAS and X-Men Evolution.

I still love watching episodes from these shows. TAS was on when I first started reading the X-Men so it will always have a special place in my heart.

As a Jean fan, Jean's personality and powers were captured better in Evolution than TAS. Although the Phoenix Sagas were great in TAS.

As a Storm fan, TAS' version hasn't been beat.

Wolverine and the X-Men was ok but my least favorite thus far. Wish it had gotten a second season tho.

I'm excited for X-Men 97. I think it has a lot of potential and I expect to enjoy it. Fans should support it if they want to see more X-Men media projects in the future.

[NewMutant]

Russell Dauterman just posted a BOMB XMen97 art piece on IG!

[JB]

Russell Dauterman:

"X-MEN ’97 #1 variant cover! Drawn/colored by me"

[FlawedCoil82]

I get the nostalgic appeal of/for the retro 90's X-Men that really only caters to a particular subset of X-fans. But...What stopped them from adapting the stories for a more modern/current iteration of these characters? What about the rest of us who are not living in/for the past? I do not see any 13 year old in 2024 looking at that series and going "OMG! Best. Animation. Series. EVER!!! IWANTMOOOORRRREEEEEE!"

Even if they are catering to a much younger demographic with the possibility of that demographic becoming new X-Men fans...those characters on the screen look nothing like who they've developed into in 2024. Yes, they're the same characters but fundamentally they're not the same characters.

And if you don't grab and hold the attention of the younger ones (exactly as they did with us in the 90's) then you're really not ensuring the longevity of your product and characters.

It is no secret that I am a major 90s X-Men fanboy and always will be. For me, the characters were perfect then, both in characterization and appearance. When Marvel foolishly starts changing them, then I immediately lose interest. I feel like Marvel has backed themselves into such a dark, hopeless corner now that the modern day versions of the team are virtually unrecognizable from who they once were and have, essentially, ruined them. I mean I can not imagine if I was a huge Beast fan, how I would feel seeing what Marvel has done to him. They took one of the most gentle, loveable and intelligent characters and disgraced him to where he can now almost be considered a villain. They have taken Xavier and made him out to be a morally compromised character. These are very depressing developments that I NEVER would have desired to see happen to the flawless, amazing characters I loved in the 90s. The modern characters/teams are no longer appealing to me. I hate how they look. I don’t like how they act. I don’t like the characters I love most being divided up amongst 10 different teams. I do not like them being “plant clones”. It’s just not what I want.

I want the X-Men to be competent, highly trained, awesome looking superheroes in eye-catching uniforms being pitted against equally awesome looking supervillains. That is the magic formula that I can never get tired of. They worked so well in the 90s because they were doing things totally right, versus now where the same characters do not generate anywhere near the level of excitement in me that they used to. Now, they are a highly flawed, morally compromised and virtually defeated team of fallen, very boring-looking superheroes. They are no longer fun. They are no longer exciting. They are just broken shells that the evil force of time has beaten down. Yes, I know how depressing, how hopeless and how unfair real life is. I clearly see how real people get beat down by sickness, by stress, by bad decisions and by, literally, time itself. And I hate it all! Those are all things I do NOT want to see happening to these fantasy characters. I want to see them be mostly protected from the highly unfortunate changes and circumstances of real life that mercilessly destroy so many in our own reality. It seems like “good” rarely wins over “evil” anymore in the real world. So I want to be able to escape to a world where “good” can still look like it has a fighting chance of defeating “evil” and have all the characters looking like (and being) total bad@$$es while doing it!

[FlawedCoil82]

Russell Dauterman:

"X-MEN ’97 #1 variant cover! Drawn/colored by me"

That is beautiful! Man, I wish Marvel would publish a book with his artwork…particularly including all of the images that show all the different uniforms that the X-Men have had all in the same pose. Like, this is the Rogue one. But I would want ALL the X-Men included (I don’t believe he has done Beast, Cyclops, Colossus, etc. yet).