X-Men: The Animated Series Explained

Genre:	Superhero
Theme Music Composer:	Ron Wasserman^[1]
Language:	English
Num Seasons:	5
Num Episodes:	76
List Episodes:	List of X-Men: The Animated Series episodes
Runtime:	22 minutes
Network:	Fox Kids Network

X-Men, also known as X-Men: The Animated Series, is an animated superhero television series aired in the United States for five seasons from October 31, 1992, to September 20, 1997, on Fox's Fox Kids programming block.^[2] It was Marvel Comics' second attempt at an animated X-Men television series after the pilot was not picked up.^[3] Set in the same fictional universe as Spider-Man, Earth-92131,^{[4] [5]} it was followed by a revival, X-Men '97, which began airing on March 20, 2024, on Disney+ to critical acclaim.

Production

In March 1990, Margaret Loesch, who had previously worked as president and chief executive officer at Marvel Productions, became head of Fox Children's Network.^[6] Having championed the Pryde of the X-Men pilot in 1989, she ordered 13 episodes of X-Men.^[7] Saban Entertainment was contracted to produce the show and hired a small studio, Graz Entertainment, to produce episodes because, at the time, they lacked sufficient staff to handle in-house production. Mark Edward Edens and Eric Lewald were to write the show, with the two dividing the job between Edens as head writer and Lewald as story editor.^[8] The voice work was done through Canadian studios, and South Korean studio AKOM was hired to animate episodes. X-Men was initially set to premiere over Labor Day weekend in September; however, due to production delays, it was delayed to the end of October. When AKOM turned in the first episode, it contained several animation errors, which they refused to fix. Because of time constraints, the episode was aired unfinished; when Fox re-aired the pilot in early 1993, the errors were corrected.^[9] The second episode was submitted just before the deadline, with 50 scenes missing and a single day reserved for editing. The two-part episode "Night of the Sentinels" originally aired as a "sneak preview" on October 31.^[10]

Because of the production delays and animation errors, Fox threatened to sever AKOM's contracts. The series earned top ratings throughout its first season, and was renewed for a second season of 13 episodes. Throughout its run, producers had to deal with quality control issues, including attempts to cut costs and requests to change the tone of the series to more child-friendly and integrated toys.^[11]

The show was originally planned to run for 65 episodes, but as a result of its success, Saban funded eleven more episodes, albeit with a reduced budget due to Marvel's bankruptcy.^[12]

The series is currently owned and distributed by The Walt Disney Company (Marvel's parent company), which acquired all Fox Kids-related properties from News Corporation and Saban International in 2001.^[13]

The series was added to streaming service Disney+ following its launch on November 12, 2019, with a revival, X-Men '97, subsequently announced to be in development.^{[14] [15]} The series premiered on March 20, 2024.

Episodes

See main article: List of X-Men: The Animated Series episodes.

Synopsis

The show features a team similar to that of the early 1990s X-Men comics by Jim Lee, specifically the Blue Team established early on in X-Men (vol. 2). It consists of Cyclops, Wolverine, Rogue, Storm, Beast, Gambit, Jubilee, Jean Grey, and Professor X, as well as original character Morph, who is based on Changeling. All 76 episodes were directed by Larry Houston.

The series deals with social issues, including divorce ("Proteus"), religion ("Nightcrawler" and "Bloodlines"), the Holocaust ("Enter Magneto", "Deadly Reunions", "Days of Future Past" and "The Phalanx Covenant"), AIDS hysteria ("Time Fugitives"), and loneliness ("No Mutant Is an Island"). It satirizes television in the episodes "Mojovision" and "Longshot".

It crossed over with Spider-Man when Spider-Man seeks the X-Men's help to stop his progressing mutation. In the abbreviated form of the Secret Wars storyline, the Beyonder and Madame Web select Spider-Man to lead a team of heroes against a group of villains. An earlier draft of "Secret Wars" involved all the X-Men, but transporting the voice cast from Canada to Los Angeles, where production for the Spider-Man animated series was based, had been too costly in previous crossovers, so the episode was rewritten to feature only Storm, whose actress, Iona Morris, lived in Los Angeles.^[16]

In the first season, the X-Men come into conflict with human conspirators building Sentinel robots to kill mutants, Magneto's plan to instigate a human-mutant war, and the powerful mutant Apocalypse's plan to eradicate the weak. Other storylines include X-Men member Morph's death at the hands of the Sentinels, Beast's incarceration, and Apocalypse's minions attempting to assassinate U.S. Senator Kelly to turn humans against mutants.

In the second season, Cyclops and Jean are married and targeted by Mister Sinister, who seeks to use the genetically perfect combination of their DNA to create an army of obedient mutants. Morph returns, having been rescued by Sinister and brainwashed into forcing the X-Men apart. Over time, a rift grows between humans and mutants, with the Friends of Humanity, an anti-mutant group, leading their persecution. Apocalypse returns, developing a deadly plague that he plans to blame on mutants to fuel hatred against them. It features a parallel narrative of Professor X and Magneto being lost in the Savage Land.

The third season involves the Phoenix, a cosmic force that merges with Jean Grey and turns her into the Dark Phoenix. It introduces the Shi'ar Empire, which includes Lilandra and Gladiator, and seeks to stop the Dark Phoenix. Other storylines include the introduction of Wolverine's former lover turned mercenary, Lady Deathstrike, former X-Men member Iceman, and the villainous Shadow King.

Volume 5 of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Hardcovers lists the cartoon as part of the Marvel multiverse, inhabiting Earth-92131. As well, the plague-infested future that Bishop tries to prevent in Season 2 is listed as Earth-13393, while Cable's release of the cure is listed as Earth-121893.

Adaptations

Although most of the series' stories are original, several storylines and events from the comics are loosely adapted, including:

Season 1

• The two-part Pilot episode "Night of the Sentinels" features "The Mutant Registration Act" which was first used in "Days of Future Past" from Uncanny X-Men #141 (January 1981) by writer Chris Claremont and writer/artist John Byrne. The battle at the shopping mall is adapted from Jubilee's first appearance in the story "Ladies' Night" from Uncanny X-Men #244 (May 1989) by writer Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri. In that story, Jubilee is attacked by the M-Squad and is rescued by female X-Men, and the final sequence wherein Jubilee arrives at the X-Mansion is based on a similar sequence when Kitty Pryde first arrived at the X-Mansion following the funeral for Phoenix in "Elegy" from X-Men #138 (October 1980) by writer Claremont and writer/artist Byrne. Elements from Claremont's New Mutants #2 "Sentinels" where the students are attacked by Sentinels at the mall are also used.
• The episode, "Enter Magneto", features a confrontation at a missile base: this is largely based on the X-Men's first battle with Magneto, as told in their debut story "X-Men" from X-Men #1 (September 1963) by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.
• "Captive Hearts" is loosely based on events depicted in "Catacombs" and "Dancin' in the Dark" from Uncanny X-Men #169-170 (May–June 1983) by writer Claremont and artist Paul Smith, except that the X-Man kidnapped by The Morlocks in those stories was Angel, rather than Cyclops.
• In the episode "Slave Island", Genosha's treatment of mutants as slave labor is adapted from "Welcome to Genosha"/"Busting Loose"/"Who's Human?"/"Gonna be a Revolution" from Uncanny X-Men #235-#238 (October–November 1988) by writer Claremont and artists Rick Leonardi and Silvestri. However, the premise of how Genoshan's enslaved mutants are greatly retooled is likely to be more appropriate for children's television.
• In the episode "The Unstoppable Juggernaut", The Juggernaut's origins are adapted from the story "The Origin of Professor X!" from X-Men #12 (July 1965) by writer Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby and Alex Toth. Also, the X-Men clashing with Juggernaut at the bank is adapted loosely from the story "Juggernaut's Back in Town" from Uncanny X-Men #194 by writer Claremont and artist John Romita Jr., particularly the portions where the X-Men are staking out the bank before the Juggernaut attacks and the origin of Colossus is adapted from Deadly Genesis! in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May, 1975) by Writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum.
• "The Cure" features a flashback to Rogue's origins detailing her kiss with Cody Robbins, which is adapted from "Public Enemy" from Uncanny X-Men #185 (September 1984) by writer Claremont and artist Romita Jr.
• Apocalypse's creation of his Four Horsemen in "Come the Apocalypse" is very loosely adapted from Issues #10 "Falling Angel!", #12 "Boom Boom Boom!", #15 "Whose Death is it, Anyway?", #19 "All Together Now!" and #24 "Masks" from X-Factor by writer Louise Simonson artists Walter Simonson and Marc Silvestri.
• The first part of the 2-part episode story "Days of Future Past" is loosely based on X-Men #141 (January 1981) by writer Claremont and writer/artist Byrne, the first part of the "Days of Future Past" story arc. The entire story was retooled to fit the continuity established in the animated series; however, some original elements remained such as Wolverine leading a resistance against the Sentinels. However, Bishop's role as a tracker of Mutant rebels is reminiscent of Rachel Summer's role as a Hound, likely adapted from Uncanny X-Men #189 (January 1985). Similarly, Bishop's betrayal of the Sentinels and travel back in time is adapted from Kate Pryde's similar stunt in X-Men #141 (January 1981) by Claremont and writer/artist Byrne. Nimrod's appearance and battle with the X-Men are likely adapted from "Raiders of the Lost Temple!" in Uncanny X-Men #191 (March 1985) and 194 (June 1985) by writer Claremont and artist Romita Jr. Also, Bishops' assertion that Gambit betrayed the X-Men is adapted from "Bishop to King's Five!" from Uncanny X-Men #287 (April 1992) by writers Lee, Scott Lobdell and artist Romita Jr., wherein Bishop's future the X-Men were killed by one of their own, and as Gambit was the only survivor Bishop long suspected him of betraying the X-Men.
• The second part of "Days of Future Past" is adapted from "Mind Out of Time" from Uncanny X-Men #142 (February 1981) by Claremont and writer/artist Byrne, wherein the X-Men prevent the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants from assassinating Senator Robert Edward Kelly. The story was altered to fit the continuity of the animated series, wherein Bishop takes the place of Kate Pryde, however, it deviates from the original story when Magneto abducts Kelly.
• The entire Sentinel plot from the episode "The Final Decision", including Master Mold forcing Trask to do his bidding is adapted from "Among Us Stalk... the Sentinels"/"Prisoners of the Mysterious Master Mold!"/"The Supreme Sacrifice!" from X-Men #14–16 (November 1965 – January 1966) by writer Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby and Jay Gavin. Meanwhile, Scott's marriage proposal to Jean and Mister Sinister's interest, which is explored fully in Season 2, is very loosely adapted in "Inferno, Part the Fourth: Ashes!" from Uncanny X-Men #243 (April 1989) by writer Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri, among other issues where Sinister manipulates Scott's marriage to Madelyne Pryor for his twisted ends.

Season 2

• The episode "Whatever It Takes" features a flashback depicting Mjnari's birth is based on the story "Life-Death II: From the Heart of Darkness" from Uncanny X-Men #198 (October 1985) by writer Claremont and artist Barry Windsor-Smith. In that story, Storm discovered Shani's tribe after losing her mutant powers and resuscitated Shani's (unnamed) son as in this episode. The story also featured a tribal elder named MjNari, who chose to die when Shani's son was born, so that the tribe would not become too numerous for its resources.
• The episode "Repo Man" is based on "Shoot-Out at the Stampede!" from Uncanny X-Men #121 (May 1979) by writer Claremont, writer/artist Byrne and artist Terry Austin. The episode is also based on the "Weapon X" story from Marvel Comics Presents #72-84 (March–September 1991) by writer/artist Barry Windsor-Smith.
• The episode "X-Ternally Yours" is based upon the "Gambit" 4 issue mini-series featuring "Tithing"/"Honor Amongst Thieves"/"The Benefactress"/"Thief of Time" (which was published literally around the same time that episode first aired) (December 1993–March 1994) by Writer Howard Mackie, artists Lee Weeks and Klaus Janson. Though in the comics Gambit's brother is named Henri instead of Bobby.
• "Time Fugitives (parts 1 & 2)" features a variation of the "Legacy Virus" storyline where it was the creation of Apocalypse, who had created the virus with the aid of Graydon Creed and the Friends of Humanity, infecting innocent people and claiming that mutants were the ones who had caused the plague. In an attempt to stop the plague, Bishop came back from the future to destroy Apocalypse's work before the virus could move on to mutants, but as a result, vital antibodies that would allow the mutant race to survive future plagues were never created. Traveling back from even further in the future, Cable was able to come up with a compromise that allowed both Bishop's and his missions to succeed; although the plague never made the jump to mutants on a large-scale basis, Cable nevertheless ensured that Wolverine would be infected, thus creating the necessary antibodies while not killing any mutants thanks to Wolverine's healing factor.
• Parts of the episode "A Rogue's Tale" are based on "Rogue Redux" in Uncanny X-Men #269 (October 1990) by writer Claremont and artists Jim Lee and Art Thibert. Whilst other parts of the episode are based on "By Friends – Betrayed!" in Avengers Annual #10 (August 1981) by writer Claremont and artists Michael Golden and Armando Gil.

Season 3

• "The Phoenix Saga (Part 1): Sacrifice" is loosely based on "My Brother, My Enemy!" from Uncanny X-Men #97 (February 1976) by writer Claremont and artists Cockrum and Sam Grainger. The story is also based on "Deathstar, Rising!"/"Greater Love Hath No X-Man..." from Uncanny X-Men #99-100 (June/August 1976) and "Phoenix Unleashed!" from Uncanny X-Men #105 (June 1977) all by writer Claremont and artist Cockrum.
• "The Phoenix Saga (Part 2): The Dark Shroud" is loosely based on "Like a Phoenix, from the Ashes" from Uncanny X-Men #101 (October 1976) by writer Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum. As well as "Dark Shroud of the Past!" from Uncanny X-Men #106 (August 1977) by writers Claremont and Bill Mantlo and artist Dave Cockrum and William Robert Brown.
• "The Phoenix Saga (Part 3): The Cry of the Banshee" is loosely based on "Who Will Stop the Juggernaut?"/"The Fall of the Tower"/"The Gentleman's Name is Magneto" from Uncanny X-Men #102-104 (December, 1976-April, 1977) by writer Claremont and artists Cockrum and Sam Grainger.
• "The Phoenix Saga (Part 4): The Starjammers" is loosely based on "Where No X-Man Has Gone Before!" from Uncanny X-Men #107 (October 1977) by writer Claremont and artists Cockrum and Dan Green.
• "The Phoenix Saga (Part 5): Child of Light" is loosely based on "Armageddon Now" from Uncanny X-Men #108 (December 1977) by writer Claremont and artists Byrne and Terry Austin.
• "The Dark Phoenix Saga (Part 1): Dazzled" is both based heavily and loosely on different areas, of the storylines "Dazzler"/"Run for Your Life!"/ "And Hellfire is Their Name!" from Uncanny X-Men #130-132 (February–April 1980) written by Claremont and Byrne, with art by Byrne and Terry Austin.
• "The Dark Phoenix Saga (Part 2): The Inner Circle" is based on "Wolverine: Alone!" in Uncanny X-Men #133 (May 1980) and "Too Late, the Heroes!" in #134 Uncanny X-Men (June 1980). The battle with the Inner Circle follows the original comics very closely, with Beast taking the role of Nightcrawler (when juggling Shaw), and Rogue taking the role of Colossus (tearing the arm off Pierce). The comic was created by writers Claremont and Byrne, with art by Byrne and Terry Austin.
• "The Dark Phoenix Saga (Part 3): The Dark Phoenix" is based on "Dark Phoenix" from Uncanny X-Men #135 (July 1980) and "Child of Light and Darkness!" in Uncanny X-Men #136 (August 1980) by writers Claremont and Byrne, with art by Byrne and Terry Austin.
• "The Dark Phoenix Saga (Part 4): The Fate of the Phoenix" is based on the comic of the same name ("The Fate of the Phoenix!") from Uncanny X-Men #137 (September 1980) by writers Claremont and Byrne, with art by Byrne and Terry Austin.
• The episode "Orphan's End" is based on "Reunion" in Uncanny X-Men #154 and "First Blood" in Uncanny X-Men #155 by writer Claremont and artist Cockrum.

Season 4

• The "One Man's Worth" two-parter is an original story, greenlit, and designed for the TV series in January 1994. In a reversal of the usual book-to-TV origin, this story became the basis and inspiration for the crossover series of books Age of Apocalypse, which was published in 1995–96. Many character designs in the Age of Apocalypse, most prominently that of the alternate Forge, were first created for the TV series. Because of the length of time it takes to animate an ambitious episode (sometimes a full year), these two creations are often placed in the wrong order. Bob Harras, supervisor of the X-books in the mid-90s and advisor to the TV series, had access to the full "One Man's Worth" story and designs by early May 1994. The Age of Apocalypse books followed eight months later.
• "Sanctuary (Part 1)" is loosely based on "Rubicon" from X-Men (Vol 2) #1 (October 1991) and "Firestorm" from X-Men (Vol 2) #2 (November 1991) from the series and the "Fatal Attractions" crossover storyline. The comic book story was written by writer Claremont and writer/artist Jim Lee with artist Scott Williams.
• "Sanctuary (Part 2)" is loosely based on "Fallout!" from X-Men (Vol 2) #3 (December 1991) from the series and the "Fatal Attractions" crossover storyline. The comic book story was written by Claremont and writer/artist Jim Lee with art by Scott Williams.
• The episode "Weapon X, Lies, & Videotape" is loosely based on the storylines "The Shiva Scenario Part 1: Dreams of Gore, Phase 1"/"Shiva Scenario Part 2: Dreams of Gore: Phase Two"/"The Shiva Scenario Part 3: Dreams of Gore: Phase 3" from Wolverine #48–50 (November, 1992-January 1993), which were all written by Larry Hama with art by Marc Silvestri. There was also a bit of the story-lines "Nightmare Quest!"/"Reunion!"/"Bastions of Glory!"/"What Goes Around..." from issues #61-64 (September–December 1992) thrown in (though the robot Talos is called "Shiva" there, and the Weapon X project has more members). These issues were written by Larry Hama with art by Mark Texeira.

Season 5

• The two-part final season opener "Phalanx Covenant" was adapted from the comic of the same name (September–October 1994) with Beast as the central character. The Phalanx were conceived to be fully alien and not mutant-hating humans who were infected with the technology, becoming more like the Technarchy, with Cameron Hodge working along with them serving much the same role as in the comics. During the two-parter, Beast teams up with Warlock, Forge (part of X-Factor), Mr Sinister, Amelia Voght (who was working on Muir Island at the time), and Magneto.
• The episode "Jubilee's Fairytale Theater" is based on "Kitty's Fairy Tale" from Uncanny X-Men #153 (January 1982) by writer Claremont and artist Cockrum. The comic featured Kitty Pryde telling a fairytale to Illyana Rasputina, whilst the series replaced Kitty Pryde with Jubilee and Illyana Rasputina with random school children.
• The episode "Old Soldiers" (written by Len Wein) is loosely based on the plot of "Madripoor Knights" from Uncanny X-Men #268 (September 1990) by writer Claremont and artists Jim Lee and Scott Williams. It tells the tale of Logan, while acting as a special operative for Canada, teaming up with Captain America and the Howling Commandos during World War II to rescue someone who had been captured by Red Skull. Logan would use detachable metal claws to scale the side of a mountain and then comment on how he liked them.

Voice cast

See also: List of X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97 characters. The series' voice acting was recorded in Toronto studios, with Dan Hennessey serving as voice director. Toronto voice actors had also been used in the 1960s Marvel Comics cartoons. Catherine Disher had originally auditioned for the part of Storm before she was cast as Jean Grey. Chris Potter was cast in the role of Gambit during filming for (1993-1997) which was helpful since his co-star David Carradine, a big fan of the comics, helped as he was unfamiliar. Alyson Court and Cal Dodd were neighbors when Court was a child and Dodd was a well-known actor in Canada long before voicing both Jubilee and Wolverine respectively, attributing their characters' chemistry to being previously acquainted with one another. Another voice actor originally had been cast as Jubilee, but Court was cast when the original voice was deemed too sweet and innocent for the role.

Principal cast

• George Buza: Dr. Hank McCoy / Beast, Jack the Ripper
• Alyson Court: Jubilation Lee / Jubilee
• Tony Daniels: Remy LeBeau / Gambit (1997), Bobby LeBeau, Toad, Watchdog
• Catherine Disher: Jean Grey / Marvel Girl, Rebecca Grey
• Cathal J. Dodd: Logan / Wolverine
• Iona Morris: Ororo Munroe / Storm (1992–1993)
• Chris Potter: Remy LeBeau / Gambit (1992–1996)
• Cedric Smith: Professor Charles Xavier / Professor X, Cerebro, Red Skull, Dr. James Xavier
• Alison Sealy-Smith: Ororo Munroe / Storm (1993–1997)
• Norm Spencer: Scott Summers / Cyclops, Caliban
• Lenore Zann: Rogue

Additional cast

• Philip Akin: Lucas Bishop
• Denis Akiyama: Juber, Silver Samurai, Dr. Darrell Tanaka, Sunfire (Graduation Day)
• Lawrence Bayne: Cable, Erik the Red, Captain America
• Cynthia Belliveau: Spiral
• Rick Bennett: Juggernaut
• Nigel Bennett: Mastermind, Master Mold (Courage, One Man's Worth)
• John Blackwood: Hairbag
• James Blendick: Apocalypse (1994-1997)
• Robert Bockstael: Sauron, Ka-Zar, High Evolutionary, Brainchild
• Walker Boone: Donald Pierce
• Lisa Boynton: Jandra
• Christopher Britton: Mister Sinister
• David Bryant: Sebastian Shaw
• Jason Burke: Mjnari
• Lally Cadeau: Dr. Moira MacTaggert (The Cure, Proteus)
• Sally Cahill: Lifemate, Amelia Voght (Phalanx Covenant)
• Robert Cait: Colossus
• David Calderisi: Professor Thornton, Garokk
• Len Carlson: Robert Kelly, Mr. Dobson, Supreme Intelligence, Marco Delgado
• Randall Carpenter: Mystique (Seasons 1-2)
• Ho Chow: Takaki
• Eugene Clark: Senator Goode
• Bill Colgate: Harry Leland
• John Colicos: Apocalypse (1993)
• Jesse Collins: Iceman
• Rod Coneybeare: Avalanche
• David Corban: Warlock
• Eve Crawford: Dr. Moira McTaggart (The Dark Phoenix Saga, Courage), Carmella Unuscione
• Amos Crawley: Rusty Collins
• Lisa Dalbello:
• Cynthia Dale: Emma Frost
• Jennifer Dale: Callisto, Aurora, Phoenix, Dazzler, Mystique (Beyond Good and Evil)
• Diane D'Aquila: Phalanx
• Len Doncheff: Omega Red
• Shirley Douglas: External, Bova
• Richard Eden: Gladiator (Original broadcast voice)
  • Adrian Egan: Chet Lambert, Cannonball Richard Epcar: Gladiator (The Phoenix Saga)
  • Barry Flatman: Henry Peter Gyrich, Vindicator Jan Filips: Dr. Alec Bohlson
• Colin Fox: Zebediah Killgrave
• David Fox: Sentinels, Master Mold (Slave Island, The Final Decision)
• Don Francks: Sabretooth, Puck, Shaman
• Catherine Gallant: Famine
• Paul Haddad: Quicksilver, Arkon, Kiyoek
• Rex Hagon: Eluke
• Graham Haley: Pyro
• Brett Halsey: Cameron Hodge (Enter Magento, Slave Island)
• Roscoe Handford: Ms. Marvel
• Tom Harvey: Multiple Man
• Dan Hennessey: Bolivar Trask, Sunder, Ruckus, Abraham Cornelius, Chrome
• Ellen-Ray Hennessy: Zaladane
• David Hemblen: Magneto

• Adrian Hough: Nightcrawler
• Rebecca Jenkins: Heather Hudson
• Howard Jerome: Tusk, Gog
• Elaine Justein: Helen
• Lorne Kennedy: Solarr, Happy Sam Sawyer
• Grace Kosaka: Kisara
• Gary Krawford: Cameron Hodge (Phalanx Covenant)
• Caroly Larson: Carly Crocker
• Shannon Lawson: Silver Fox
• Mary Long: Polaris
• Jane Luk: Lady Deathstrike
• Maria del Mar: Future Computer
• Judy Marshak: Plague / Pestilence
• Sheila McCarthy: Amelia Voght (Sanctuary)
• Rob McCowatt: Amphibius
• Dean McDermott: Proteus
• George Merner: Blob, Dr. Gottfried Adler
• Jim Millington: War, Kurt Marko
• Marsha Moreau: Sally Blevins
• Marc Muirhead: Cody Robbins
• Sibongile Nene: Shani
• John Neville: Majordomo
• Kristina Nicoll: Lilandra Neramani
• Jeffrey Max Nicholls: Fabian Cortez
• Raymond O'Neill: Gladiator (The Dark Phoenix Saga, Beyond Good and Evil)
• Stephen Ouimette: Angel / Archangel, Immortus
• Frank Perry: Araki, Django Maximoff
• Ross Petty: Ape
• Leon Powenall: Commander Raknar
• Ariel Pulver: Marianna
• Jeremy Ratchford: Sunfire (Slave Island)
• Fiona Reid: Dr. Moira McTaggart (The Phoenix Saga, Phalanx Covenant)
• George R. Robertson: Dr. Taylor Prescott
• Susan Roman: Bella Donna
• Sandi Ross: Shard Bishop
• Rob Rubin: Morph, Leech, Raza, Ch'od
• Barbara Rudd: Hope
• Elizabeth Rukavina: Darkstar
• Stephen Russell: Trevor Fitzroy
• Camilla Scott: Deathbird
• Tasha Simms: Psylocke
• John Stocker: Graydon Creed
• Stuart Stone: Tyler Dayspring, Young Charles Xavier
• Marc Strange: Forge
• Tara Strong: Illyana Rasputin
• Brian Taylor: Corsair
• Kay Tremblay: Annalee
• Maurice Dean Wint: Shadow King, D'Ken Neramani
• Peter Wildman: Mojo
• Phillip Williams: Banshee, Black Tom Cassidy
• Rod Wilson: Longshot, Gorgeous George
• Victor A. Young: Magneto (Family Ties, Beyond Good and Evil)
• Bob Zidel: Barbarus

Other versions

The original opening sequence, used throughout the first four seasons, features the X-Men demonstrating their mutant abilities to an instrumental theme written by Ron Wasserman and composed by Haim Saban and Shuki Levy. A modified version is introduced in season five, episode one ("Phalanx Covenant, Part One"), which slightly changes the beginning of the theme. When UPN began airing reruns on Sunday mornings, an alternate credits sequence was used: a high-quality Japanese-animated version of the original opening. This modified version occasionally appears in the digital streaming release of the show, which was used for re-runs on Toon Disney.

In Italy, where the series began airing in 1994 on Canale 5, the intro and outro sequences were replaced by a new sequence and theme song: "Italian: Insuperabili X-Men", sung by Marco Destro and Pietro Ubaldi.^[17]

X-Men originally aired on TV Tokyo from 1994 to 1995. For the TV Tokyo dub of the series, the intro was replaced with a new, Japanese-animated sequence and a new theme: "Rising" by Ambience. Starting with episode 42, a second intro was used, featuring the song . The end credits sequence was also changed: it featured shots of American X-Men comic books set to the song "Back to You", also by Ambience.

The TV Tokyo dub was directed by Yoshikazu Iwanami and featured scripts rewritten to include a more humorous, self-satirical tone with an emphasis on comical adlibbing, a hallmark of his dubbing style. Episodes were edited for time so that new segments could be added to the end to promote X-Men: Children of the Atom, which featured the dub actors pretending to play the game as their characters. A second dub was made in the early 2000s for broadcast on Toon Disney (Japan) that is more faithful to the original English scripts and does not cut episodes for time. This version used the original American intro and end credits rather than the unique ones created for the TV Tokyo version.

Two versions of the episode "No Mutant is an Island" exist, each with a different animation. The first version was aired for Toon Disney reruns, can be seen on digital streaming services such as Amazon Video, aired on Fox Kids in the United States, and uses the remixed intro theme from Season 5. The second version is available on Region 1 DVD, aired on Fox Kids overseas, and uses the default intro theme from Seasons 1–4.^[18]

Viewership

In its prime, X-Men garnered very high ratings for a Saturday morning cartoon and received praise for adapting many different storylines from the comics. Haim Saban credits the success of the series in assisting him to sell his next project to Fox: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

X-Men reached a viewership of over households.^[19]

Legacy

X-Men '97

See main article: X-Men '97. By 2019, there were ongoing talks with Disney+ to revive the series.^[20] In November 2021, it was revealed that a revival titled X-Men '97 was in development which will continue the plot of the series.^[21] X-Men '97 eventually premiered on March 20, 2024. Beau DeMayo served as head writer for the first two seasons, with most of the surviving cast members of the original series reprising their roles, including Dodd, Zann, Buza, Disher, Potter, Sealy-Smith, Hough, and Britton. They were joined by Jennifer Hale, Anniwaa Buachie, Ray Chase, Matthew Waterson, JP Karliak, Holly Chou, Jeff Bennett, and A.J. LoCascio. Alyson Court did not reprise her role as Jubilee, requesting that Jubilee be voiced by an Asian actress. She instead returned to voice an alternate version of the character.^[22] The series is produced by Marvel Studios Animation, but does not take place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.^{[23] [24]}

Comics

X-Men Adventures

Publisher:	Marvel Comics
X-Men Adventures
Schedule:	Monthly
Format:	Ongoing
Date:	November 1992 – March 1997
Issues:	53
Main Char Team:	X-Men

X-Men Adventures was a comic book spin-off of the animated series. Beginning in November 1992, it adapted the first three seasons of the show; in April 1996, it became Adventures of the X-Men, which contained original stories set within the same continuity.^[25] The comic book lasted until March 1997, shortly after the show's cancellation by the Fox Network.

Bibliography

• X-Men Adventures vol. 1 (1992–94) (15 issues)^[26]
• X-Men Adventures vol. 2 (1994–95) (13 issues)^[27]
• X-Men Adventures vol. 3 (1995–96) (13 issues)^[28]
• Adventures of the X-Men (1996–97) (12 issues)^[29]

Additionally, stories featuring the same characters were printed through the 19 issues of Spider-Man Magazine, published between March 1994 and March 1997, alongside stories inspired by the animated series Spider-Man.

X-Men '92

The comic book series X-Men '92 was first released as one of the many tie-in titles for Marvel's 2015 Secret Wars event, and continued in its second volume as a regular series in early 2016, starring characters of the TV show's reality.^[30]

In January 2022 Marvel announced a new series inspired by the cartoon, X-Men '92: House of XCII. Scheduled for publication in April of that same year, the series will explore an alternate universe where the events of Jonathan Hickman's House of X and Powers of X happened decades earlier, in the '90s of the original show.^[31]

Manga

See main article: X-Men: The Manga.

Books

Previously on X-Men

In 2017, series developer and showrunner Eric Lewald released the book Previously on X-Men: The Making of an Animated Series, which features his interviews with 36 of the staff and voice cast behind the TV series, as well as Lewald's personal experiences on the series' development and production.^[32]

X-Men: The Art and Making of The Animated Series

In 2020, Eric Lewald and Julia Lewald released the book X-Men: The Art and Making of The Animated Series, which features previously unseen concept art, storyboards, character models, background layouts, animation cels, and other production/promotional materials, along with new interviews with the series principal artists and production staff.

Video games

See also: Marvel vs. Capcom.

• X-Men Cartoon Maker: a recreational software package that allows the user to create limited animations from a library of backdrops, animations, and sound effects from the show. Wolverine and Storm appear as tutors.
• Capcom's VS. Series: the characters in the series were licensed by Capcom and were the inspiration for the video game X-Men: Children of the Atom, which in turn would be the basis for the Marvel vs. Capcom sub-series of video games. Most of the voice actors who did the voices in the series reprised their roles for the video game.^[33] Capcom would continue to use these characters long after the show was canceled, before eventually losing the rights to create Marvel-based games to Electronic Arts in 2001. Capcom, however, would reacquire the rights in 2008 and released / Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 in 2011.

In film

The series was credited for being responsible for the beginning development of the 2000 X-Men film. Fox Kids owner 20th Century Fox was impressed by the success of the TV show, and producer Lauren Shuler Donner purchased the film rights for them in 1994.^{[34] [35]} The film's success led to a film franchise, which includes a series of sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, for two decades up to 2020, when the series came to an end due to Disney's acquisition of Fox, with the character rights reverting to Marvel Studios. Potter revealed that he once auditioned for the role of Cyclops in the 2000 film before losing it to James Marsden, while Buza would appear in the film proper as a truck driver.

In the 2022 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, produced by Marvel Studios, the theme song from the TV series (orchestrated by Danny Elfman and credited as X-Men '97 Theme) is played when Charles Xavier (portrayed by Patrick Stewart) first appears; in the film, unlike his previous performances as the character in Fox's X-Men franchise, Stewart's Xavier is visually redesigned to match his animated counterpart, complete with his iconic green suit, blue and black tie, and yellow hoverchair.^[36]

In television

In the Ms. Marvel episode "No Normal", set in the MCU, the theme song from the X-Men animated series is played when Kamala Khan discovers that she is a "mutant".^[37]

Lawsuit

On October 9, 2019, Hungarian immigrant Zoltán Krisko, manager of the estate of, filed a lawsuit against Marvel Entertainment Group, Warner Chappell Music, Haim Saban, Shuki Levy, Ron Wasserman, UMG Recordings, the current distributor of Disney Music Group, and Fox Corporation. He claims the theme music was plagiarized from the theme song to the 1984–1991 Hungarian action-adventure television series Linda, which was composed by Vukán.^[38]

Sources

• Book: Lewald. Eric & Julia. X-Men: The Art and Making of The Animated Series. 2020. Abrams Books. 978-1419744686. en.

External links

• • • DRG4's X-Men the Animated Series Page
• Marvel Animation Page Presents: X-Men
• X-Men TV series cast
• Web site: Marvel Teases X-Men '92's Return. Comic Book. 2013-11-03.

Notes and References

1. Web site: 'X-Men '97’s' Composers Had To Recreate The Classic Theme Song From Scratch. April 9, 2024. Inverse.
2. News: Top 10 Comic to TV Adaptations. IGN. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308154713/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/06/22/top-10-comic-to-tv-adaptations?page=3. June 21, 2007. March 8, 2021. 2010-08-15.
3. Book: Erickson . Hal . Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 . 2005 . 2nd . McFarland & Co . 978-1476665993 . 923–926.
4. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #5
5. Web site: 'X-Men '97' Doesn’t Need to Be Connected to the MCU. Collier. Jennings. February 29, 2024. Collider.
6. News: Kids vet Margaret Loesch to run Hasbro-Discovery cable network. 11 May 2011. Los Angeles Times. July 16, 2009.
7. News: Mangels . Andy . August 1993 . Scorching the Screen . Wizard

   X-Men Turn Thirty

   . 70–73.
8. Web site: 30 years ago, 'X-Men: The Animated Series' changed Marvel forever [Oral History]]. February 20, 2024. Inverse.
9. Web site: DRG4's Exclusive X-Men Cartoon Pilot Differences . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080119113809/http://drg4.wariocompany.com/xpilot.html . 2008-01-19 . 2008-01-17 . drp4.wariocompany.com.
10. Mangels . Andy . January 1993 . Hollywood Heroes . . 17 . 32 . Wizard Entertainment.
11. Web site: 'X-Men' at 25: The Unlikely Story of the Animated Hit No Network Wanted. Hollywood Reporter. October 30, 2017. March 29, 2022. Couch . Aaron . Burton . Byron.
12. News: Moore . Rose . 10 Things You Didn't Know About X-Men The Animated Series . September 3, 2018 . Screen Rant . March 23, 2016.
13. Web site: Marvel Sues Disney . 2024-05-29 . Animation World Network . en.
14. Web site: White . Brett . Every Single X-Men Animated Appearance on Disney+, in Order . Decider . 29 November 2019 . 27 November 2019.
15. Web site: X-Men, Spider-Man & More Animated Series Confirmed for Disney+ Launch Day . . 29 November 2019 . 14 October 2019.
16. News: Goldman. Michael. Stan Lee: Comic Guru. Animation World Magazine. Animation World Network. March 29, 2022.
17. Web site: AntonioGenna.net presenta: IL MONDO DEI DOPPIATORI - ZONA ANIMAZIONE: "X-Men" . 2022-08-19 . Il Mondo dei doppiatori . Genna . Antonio . it.
18. Web site: Animation Changes in No Mutant Is An Island . DRG4's Marvel Cartoon Pages . October 13, 2020.
19. X-Men: Children of the Atom . RePlay . December 1994 . 20 . 3 . 8 .
20. Web site: Marshall . Andrew . June 10, 2019 . X-Men: The Animated Series Creators Want to Revive Show With Disney . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190611130310/https://screenrant.com/xmen-animated-series-disney-revival-show/ . June 11, 2019 . November 14, 2021 . Screen Rant.
21. Web site: Couch . Aaron . November 12, 2021 . Disney+ Orders '90s 'X-Men' Revival, 'Marvel Zombies' and 'Spider-Man: Freshman Year' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211112170819/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/disney-orders-90s-x-men-revival-marvel-zombies-and-spider-man-freshman-year-1235046741/ . November 12, 2021 . November 12, 2021 . The Hollywood Reporter.
22. Web site: Patches . Matt . November 12, 2021 . New X-Men cartoon set in the '90s Animated Series continuity coming to Disney Plus . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211112170146/https://www.polygon.com/22778151/x-men-97-cartoon-disney-plus-90s-animated-series-sequel . November 12, 2021 . November 13, 2021 . Polygon.
23. Web site: Gartenberg . Chaim . November 12, 2021 . Marvel embraces the Sad Wolverine meme to announce X-Men '97, a new animated Disney Plus show . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211112173822/https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/12/22778385/marvel-disney-plus-x-men-animated-series-97-sad-wolverine-meme-2023 . November 12, 2021 . November 13, 2021 . The Verge.
24. Web site: Bacon . Thomas . March 5, 2022 . Is X-Men 97 In The MCU? Disney+ Mutant Debut Explained . May 2, 2022 . Screen Rant.
25. Web site: The 1990s: Claremont's exit, mega-crossovers. 2007-01-26. 2007-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20071008182641/https://comics-db.com/Marvel_Comics/X/X-Men/X-Men_Adventures/Volume_1/index.html. dead.
26. Web site: X-Men Adventures Comics checklist Volume 1. https://archive.today/20130119144432/http://www.comics-db.com/Marvel_Comics/X/X-Men/X-Men_Adventures/Volume_1/index.html. dead. 2013-01-19. comics-db.com. 2007-02-13.
27. Web site: X-Men Adventures Comics checklist Volume 2. https://archive.today/20130119163910/http://www.comics-db.com/Marvel_Comics/X/X-Men/X-Men_Adventures/Volume_2/index.html. dead. 2013-01-19. comics-db.com. 2007-02-13.
28. Web site: X-Men Adventures Comics checklist Volume 3. https://archive.today/20130119162501/http://www.comics-db.com/Marvel_Comics/X/X-Men/X-Men_Adventures/Volume_3/index.html. dead. 2013-01-19. comics-db.com. 2007-02-13.
29. Web site: Adventures of the X-Men Comics checklist. https://archive.today/20130120020841/http://www.comics-db.com/Marvel_Comics/A/The_Adventures_of_The_X-Men/index.html. dead. 2013-01-20. comics-db.com. 2007-02-13.
30. Web site: X-Men: The Animated Series Lives On in X-Men '92. Jesse. Schedeen. 13 March 2015. IGN.
31. Web site: X-Men: The Animated Series Meets House of X in New Marvel Series. Jeremy. Blum. 14 January 2022. 21 January 2022.
32. Web site: Previously on X-Men: The Making of an Animated Series . Jacobs Brown Media Group . December 14, 2019.
33. Hot at the Arcades. GamePro. 67. IDG. February 1995. 20.
34. Lee, Stan. The Secret Origin of The X-Men . DVD . 2000 . 20th Century Fox.
35. Jeff . Jensen . Generating X . . July 21, 2000 . May 9, 2022.
36. Web site: May 5, 2022 . The Marvel Movie Music Secretly Hidden In Doctor Strange 2 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220507141029/https://screenrant.com/doctor-strange-2-soundtrack-marvel-movie-music-scores/ . May 7, 2022 . May 7, 2022 . Screen Rant.
37. Web site: July 13, 2022 . Ms. Marvel Finale MCU Easter Eggs & References. July 13, 2022 . Screen Rant.
38. Web site: Erik . Pedersen . 'X-Men' Cartoon Theme Song Sparks Lawsuit Against Marvel, Disney, Amazon, Apple . Deadline Hollywood. 2019-10-09 . 2019-10-18.