“Other studios take notes. This is how it’s done”: X-Men ’97 May Have Saved Marvel Animation With 1 Brilliant Move
It’s been a long time since Superhero enthusiasts have seen a fresh and engaging animated series that provides an incredible experience to both, longtime fans and new audiences.
The first episode of X-Men ’97 hit Disney+, and even before its release, fans knew this show would play a crucial role in saving Marvel Animation. In an interview, the supervising producer and head director Jake Castorena of X-Men ’97Â revealed that his show still relies on hand-drawn animation.
Fans Praise X-Men ’97Â For Reviving Marvel Animation Through Hand-Drawn Animation
Despite being an award-winning studio, Marvel Animation is significantly failing to create enough buzz among fans. However, this challenge seems to be gradually diminishing with the creation of X-Men ’97, the only revival of the original X-Men: The Animated Series. Who knew that this newly released animated show would literally be the game changer for Marvel Animation?
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Before the release of X-Men ’97Â on Disney+, the supervising producer and head director Jake Castorena sat with Inverse to shed light on the creation of his show. While the head director was talking about how they aim to engage hardcore X-Men fans and new audiences, the interviewer asked him about hand-drawn animation in X-Men ’97. Castorena replied “Yes! First and foremost, this is still a 2D hand-drawn show.” This has fans showering compliments on the makers and even urging other shows to take note of X-Men ’97.
Straight out of the 90’s, other studios take notes. This is how it’s done pic.twitter.com/mLeitEhP2J
— Nathan 🦚 (@Nathancookz) March 19, 2024
That’s what I was wondering. Hand drawn makes it more personal 🫶
— Crypto Elfie (@CryptoElfie) March 19, 2024
hand-drawn animation sounds amazing,like the old days 🔥
— Miami Nation (@MiamiNationPFL) March 19, 2024
Such a W. No wonder it looks so phenomenal.
— Ciaran Wessel (@WesselCiaran) March 19, 2024
That’s make it closer to the hearts
— Amna usman (@amna_usman) March 19, 2024
The head director also explained that in a world where most animated shows and even live actions utilize CGI, the makers of X-Men ’97 chose hand-drawn animation “because if you don’t, it doesn’t feel like it looks the way it should”. The significant importance given to the authenticity, and fans’ commendation, proves that X-Men ’97 is the show that will ultimately protect Marvel Animation.
X-Men ’97 Majorly Aims at Captuirng The Nostalgic Feel of X-Men: The Animated SeriesÂ
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There’s no doubt the X-Men ’97 is unique in its way, as the show becomes the only continuation of its predecessor X-Men: The Animated Series. However, the major aim of the makers behind creating this new series was to capture the nostalgic feel, while also serving as a “fresh but familiar” narrative for the new audience.
As expected, X-Men ’97 has indeed emerged as a nostalgic trip to the late 1990s cartoon era, as fans took no time to share their honest reviews which will make you want to see the first and second episodes on Disney+.
X-Men ‘97 is a nostalgic thrill-ride that is absolutely worth the wait. Having just watched the original series, I was hoping it would live up to expectations, but it EXCEEDS them.
The characters are even more compelling and the action is fantastic.
AH-MAY-ZING. 🤌 #XMen97 pic.twitter.com/oX22Gumvkr
— Michael Patterson (@michaelp93) March 20, 2024
When the title sequence for X-Men 97 starts playing pic.twitter.com/BkGkgyFEGj
— T.C 🔥 (@TeeCeeComics) March 20, 2024
It's HERE!!!! I have so much I want to say about X-Men 97 but I'll let you experience it yourself first!
Just know….Cyclops is AMAZING! pic.twitter.com/jTpFCSFToB
— MissDeusNerdsOut (@msdeusnerdsout) March 20, 2024
X-MEN 97’ IS SO FREAKING GREAT! I’m LOVING it so far!
pic.twitter.com/krcYkhsHr7— aesthetic.ramen (@aestheticramen_) March 20, 2024
Season one will have a total of 10 episodes with the first two being released, and the others will hit the streamer every Wednesday. Just before the March 13 Hollywood premiere of X-Men ’97, the showrunner and executive producer Beau DeMayo was fired and has worked on season 2 as well.
However, there has been no official release date for X-Men ’97 season 2, but it was confirmed that the series will have multiple seasons. Till then fans should enjoy the newly released season, which also brings back most of the original cast members.
Watch the first two episodes of X-Men ’97 on Disney+