10 Times X-Men: The Animated Series Was The Best Adaptation
Few animated superhero series have influenced the direction of comic book pop culture like X-Men: The Animated Series. Compete Batman: The Animated Series, the X-Men series was hugely popular and considered one of the best-animated shows of the 90s. The show also influenced many storylines for the live-action movies that came out a decade later.
While X-Men: The Animated Series was a children’s cartoon, the show resonated with fans of all ages because of its serialized format and because it touched on more mature topics such as bigotry. This is one of the many reasons the series had such a lasting impact on comic book fans who came of age in the ’90s.
ten The show had a Colossus and Juggernaut premiere in the same episode
The premiere of Juggernaut and Colossus in the same episode was amazing. In the episode “The Unstoppable Juggernaut”, the X-Men returned home to find Professor Xavier’s school destroyed. The group originally believed that Colossus was the perpetrator of the attack due to the type of damage suffered.
However, they later realized that it was Juggernaut – an unstoppable mutant and a half-brother of Charles Xavier. It was remarkable because it introduced two unique characters who have appeared throughout the series. For example, Colossus appears again in the episode “Red Dawn” where he fights the ultimate living weapon, Omega Red. Having two giants from the X-Men universe appearing in the same episode proves why the series was so special.
9 The animated series brought depth to Wolverine and Jean Gray’s love triangle
One aspect of the X-Men lore that is still ripe for drama is the love triangle between Wolverine, Jean Gray, and Cyclops. While live-action movies briefly touched on it, the animated series brought a whole new level of emotional intensity to the story. Wolverine is passionately in love with Jean and is openly hostile to Cyclops.
In the two-part episode, “Till Death Do Us Part,” Cyclops and John get married, leaving Wolverine to release his grief into the danger room. Ultimately, Jean loves Scott Summers despite having a soft spot for Logan. And although Wolverine has other flames, like Yuriko who appears later in the series, he still holds a candle for Jean.
8 The fights with the sentries were fantastic
The Sentinels made their mark in the pilot episode “The Night of the Sentinels”. The robots – designed by the US Mutant Control Agency to hunt mutants – were formidable adversaries for Xavier’s gifted students. Their first conflict saw Beast’s arrest and Morph’s abandonment.
The destructive robots were also a force to be reckoned with during the other seasons. Purple and red armor became an iconic look for ’90s kids obsessed with cartoon and arcade games. Therefore, the appearance of the Sentinels in the animated series was arguably their most memorable.
seven Beast’s tragic oppression stories were done really well
Dr Henry McCoy represented the best historical figures of any resistance movement. During the first season, Beast became a political prisoner after being captured by the Sentinels, where he was persecuted only for being a mutant. At his trial, he used his testimony to quote Shakespeare: “If you bite us, don’t we bleed?” and advocated for equality and non-violence.
Although he was eventually released, Beast’s biggest dilemma was falling for a blind woman, whose father allegedly wouldn’t allow the relationship due to his prejudices against mutants. The show explained how, despite this hatred, Beast has remained smart, kind, and a steadfast freedom fighter. The animated series did justice to Beast’s story and his character.
6 The show had the best representation of Gambit
It’s hard to stand out with the colorful cast of characters in Xavier’s gifted group. Wolverine was the toughest, Cyclops was the greatest leader, and Jean was the most powerful. However, Gambit is the most charming. The Cajun mutant who manipulates pure kinetic energy through playing cards is an accomplished ladies’ man. He also has a crush on his fellow mutant, Snape.
Like other aspects of the series, the animated series portrays Gambit in the best way (aside from the comics). A unique aspect of Gambit’s characterization in the animated series is the development of its backstory, which coincided with the debut of a Gambit / Ghost Rider comic book miniseries. X-Men Origins: Wolverine attempted to portray the Cajun outlaw, but fans prefer the 90s cartoon Gambit much more.
5 Bishop’s time travel arcs were phenomenal
Time-traveling story arcs introduced Bishop to a whole new generation of fans. Bishop’s time travel missions provided several compelling storylines, such as “Days Of Future Past” where Bishop was sent to stop a mutant assassination of Senator Kelly.
Other episodes such as “Time Fugitives” deal with Apocalypse Spreading a Plague, which examines the cost of time warping. Watching “Time Fugitives” deal with issues like viruses and political assassinations that lead to a dystopian future is strange, but intriguing, to watch.
4 Mister Sinister’s origin story was incredibly smart
Mister Sinister is perhaps the coolest villain of all ’90s TV shows, and his backstory includes historical fiction in a truly clever way. The episode “Descent” took place at the end of the 19th century where Mister Sinister – previously Nathaniel Essex – and scientist James Xavier – Charles’ ancestor – met evolutionary pioneer Charles Darwin as he unveiled The origin of species.
Similar to Batman villain Mr. Freeze, Nathaniel took Darwin’s claim to heart and experimented on mutants he had captured to save his dying wife. Ultimately, he used his experiences on himself and became the Eternal Villain. The use of science and history in the backstory of Mister Sinister was executed well and made for a compelling episode.
3 The animated series took on bigotry in a mature way for a children’s show
X-Men fans know that a major theme underlying the mutant’s story is how they deal with issues like prejudice and bigotry. Stan Lee once said in an interview that the early days of the X-Men were a good metaphor for the civil rights movement. But what’s impressive is how the animated series, which is primarily aimed at children, tackled a mature topic. On the show, the mutants face prejudices from government officials and hate groups such as Friends of Humanity.
As previously mentioned, “Time Fugitives” was a storyline that dealt with a scourge that sparked anti-mutant sentiment, which still seems infamously relevant. Addressing these themes proves how timeless the series is and why it is considered one of the best-animated shows.
2 The theme song of the animated series is iconic
No one can forget the awesome theme song of X-Men: The Animated Series. It was composed by Ron Wasserman, who is popular for other themes like the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The song and the introduction to X-Men: The Animated Series – when Magneto and Professor Xavier’s mutants clash – is simply legendary.
There are countless guitar covers on the internet, some of which Wasserman himself endorsed. It’s a theme song that fans will know well if they remember listening to it while getting ready for school in the morning.
1 The Phoenix saga was nothing short of epic
Arguably the most memorable story arc in the animated series, the show devoted most of the third season to the cosmic force of Phoenix that possessed Jean Gray. What started as a space adventure has evolved into a decisive showdown with space pirates and an evil alien emperor determined to destroy a universe with a mighty crystal. Jean sacrificed herself at the end of the five-part “Phoenix Saga”, using all of her life force to prevent M’Kraan’s crystal black hole from engulfing all of existence.
Although viewers thought she was gone, Jean returned and later became the Black Phoenix. The Phoenix is the most complex plot of the whole series which develops several episodes. Perhaps this is why the series’ retelling of the history of Phoenix is highly regarded over attempts at live-action movies, such as X-Men: The Final Showdown and X-Men: Black Phoenix. It’s just that good.
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