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X-Men (TV series)

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X-Men
File:X-men-animated-series-intro.jpg
Genre Superhero
Science fiction
Action/Adventure
Format Animated series
Created by Stan Lee
Jack Kirby
Developed by Saban Entertainment
Voices of Cedric Smith
Cathal J. Dodd
Norm Spencer
Iona Morris
Country of origin United States
Canada
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 76 (List of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) Avi Arad
Running time 22 minutes
Production company(s) Marvel Entertainment Group
Saban Entertainment, Inc.
Marvel Studios (1997)
Distributor Saban Entertainment
Genesis Entertainment
Broadcast
Original channel Fox (Fox Kids)[1]
Original run October 31, 1992 – September 20, 1997
Chronology
Preceded by X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men
Followed by X-Men: Evolution

X-Men, also known as X-Men: The Animated Series, is an American-Canadian animated television series which debuted on October 31, 1992, in the United States on the Fox Network as part of its Fox Kids Saturday morning lineup.[2] X-Men was Marvel Comics' second attempt at an animated X-Men TV series after the pilot X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men was not picked up.

Background[]

In 1991, Margaret Loesch became head of Fox Children's Network.[3] Having championed the Pryde of the X-Men pilot in 1989, she was quick to set up an order for 13 episodes of X-Men.[4] X-Men was originally to premiere over the Labor Day weekend in September; however, due to production delays, it was pushed to the end of October. Moreover, when the animation team AKOM turned in the first episode, it contained hundreds of animation errors, which AKOM refused to fix. Because of time constraints, the episode was aired as is.[4] The second episode was turned in just before deadline, with 50 scenes missing and only a single day reserved for editing.[4] The "Night of the Sentinels" two-part episode originally aired as a "sneak preview".

Because of the production delays and animation errors in these two episodes, Fox threatened to sever AKOM's contracts.[4] When Fox re-aired the pilot in early 1993, the errors were all corrected.[5] The series earned top ratings throughout its first season,[4] and was renewed for a second season of 13 episodes. X-Men stands as the longest-running Marvel Comics-based show, lasting 76 episodes. The second longest, the 1990s Spider-Man animated series, lasted 65 episodes.

After the box office success of the live-action X-Men film in the summer of 2000, Fox began airing reruns of the cartoon on weekday afternoons. At first, only episodes that primarily featured content in the movie were broadcast. Later, the series was aired in proper order, but the series was pulled from the air in early 2001. Soon after, ABC Family and Toon Disney began airing reruns, due to Disney's buyout of all Saban Entertainment programs. Then later X-Men was taken off the air again after when Toon Disney was discontinued and Disney XD took over its place

Synopsis[]

Main article: List of X-Men (TV series) episodes

The show features X-Men similar in look and line-up to the early 1990s X-Men drawn by Jim Lee (more specifically, Cyclops' Blue Team, established in the early issues of the second X-Men comic series), composed of Cyclops, Wolverine, Rogue, Storm, Beast, Gambit, Jubilee, Jean Grey, Professor X, as well as an original character, Morph (an adaptation of previous X-Men member Kevin Sydney).[6]

A number of famous storylines and events from the comics are loosely adapted in the series, such as "The Dark Phoenix Saga", "Days of Future Past", the "Phalanx Covenant", and the "Legacy Virus". The third 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 1963 debut The X-Men #1. The season four episodes "Sanctuary, Parts I & II", which involve Magneto creating an orbiting haven for mutants, were influenced by several storylines from the comics, chiefly the first three issues of X-Men (Volume 2) and the "Fatal Attractions" crossover. An Age of Apocalypse-like time-line is shown in the episode "One Man's Worth". The entire saga of the Phoenix is retold and adapted in the third season, subdivided into the five-part "Phoenix Saga", in which Jean acquires the power of the Phoenix and the battle for the M'Kraan Crystal occurs, and the "Dark Phoenix Saga", showcasing the battle with the Hellfire Club, the Phoenix Force's transformation into Dark Phoenix, and the battle to decide her fate. These particular episodes were so closely adapted from their comic counterpart that the episodes have the additional credit, "Based on stories by Chris Claremont".

Prejudice, intolerance, isolation, and Racism were all frequent themes in the animated series, as they were in the comics. Anti-mutant prejudice and discrimination was depicted through minor characters as well as more prominent ones, including Senator Robert Kelly, the Friends of Humanity (whose activities and masks in later episodes echoed white supremacy groups such as the Ku Klux Klan) and robotic Sentinels. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Professor Xavier and Magneto, much like their comic-book counterparts, bear similarities to civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, respectively.[7] While Xavier advocates non-violence in the struggle for equality, Magneto takes on a more aggressive 'by any means necessary' stance; the duo's differing views are the source of much discussion throughout the series.

The series also deals with other social issues, including Divorce ("Proteus"), Christianity ("Nightcrawler" & "Bloodlines"), the Holocaust ("Enter Magneto," "Deadly Reunions", "Days of Future Past", and "The Phalanx Covenant"), AIDS hysteria ("Time Fugitives"), and even satires of television itself ("Mojovision" and "Longshot").

X-Men also crossed over with fellow animated series Spider-Man, when Spider-Man seeks out the X-Men's help to stave off his progressing mutation. In the abbreviated form of the Secret Wars storyline, the Beyonder and Madame Web selected Spider-Man to lead a team of heroes including Storm) against a group of villains. One completely written chapter of "Secret Wars" involved the X-Men, but transporting the X-Men cast to L.A. (where production for the Spider-Man animated series was based) from Canada (where the X-Men animated series was based) was too costly in the previous episodes the X-Men appeared in, so the episode was dropped and only Storm was used as Iona Morris lived in L.A.[8][9] Hulk and She-Hulk weren't used in these episodes because the Hulk show was on UPN.[8][9]

The first season of the show brought the X-Men into conflict with human conspirators building mutant-exterminating Sentinel robots, Magneto and his attempts to instigate a human-mutant war, and the powerful mutant Apocalypse's plans to eradicate the weak, both human and mutant alike. Other storylines including X-Men member Morph's death at the hands of Sentinels, Beast's incarceration, and an assassination attempt on US senator Kelly by Apocalypse's minions to turn human sentiment against the mutants. The second season sees Cyclops and Jean get married and become the targets of Mister Sinister, who hopes 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. The season also features the growing rift between humans and mutants, spearheaded by the Friends of Humanity, an anti-mutant group who lead the persecution of all mutants. Apocalypse also returns, developing a deadly plague to be blamed on mutants, fueling mutant hatred.

The third season focuses on the cosmic force, the Phoenix, which merges with Jean Grey and eventually turns her into the malevolent and powerful Dark Phoenix. The season also introduced the Shi'ar Empire who want to stop the Dark Phoenix, including Lilandra and Gladiator. Other storylines include the introduction of Wolverine's former lover turned mercenary, Lady Deathstrike, former X-Men member Iceman, and the villainous Shadow King.

Cast[]

See also: List of X-Men: The Animated Series characters

Principal cast[]

Additional voices[]

Minor characters

Other versions[]

Main article: X-Men: The Animated Series episode releases

The original opening sequence featured the X-Men demonstrating their mutant abilities to a now very distinctive instrumental theme (written by Ron Wasserman). This intro is used throughout the first four seasons. A modified version is eventually introduced in season five, episode one ("Phalanx Covenant, Part One"). In this new intro, the beginning of the theme is slightly changed. When UPN began airing repeats on Sunday mornings an alternate credits sequence was used: a high-quality Japanese-animated version of the original opening.

X-Men originally aired on TV Tokyo from 1994 through 1995. For the TV Tokyo dub of the series, the intro was replaced with a new, Japanese-animated sequence as well as a new theme called "Rising" (ライジング), by the band Ambience (アンビエンス). Starting with episode 42, a second new intro was used, featuring the song "Dakishimetai Dare Yori Mo" (抱きしめたい誰よりも…). The end credits sequence was also changed: it featured shots of American X-Men comic books set to the song "Back to You" (バック･トウ･ユー), also by Ambience.

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

Reception and Accolades[]

The show was both acclaimed and commercially successful. Along with Batman: The Animated Series, the series success helped launch numerous comic book shows in the 1990s.

In its prime, X-Men garnered very high ratings for a Saturday morning cartoon, and like Batman: The Animated Series, it received wide critical praise for its portrayal of many different storylines from the comics.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

In 2009, IGN ranked X-Men as the 13th greatest animated show of all time in their Top 100 list, the third-highest standing for a comic book-adapted show on the list.[23] The show also ranks in at 106 on IMDB's Highest Rated TV Shows with At Least 5,000 Votes [24]

Spin-offs[]

X-Men Adventures[]

X-Men Adventures

X-Men Adventures vol. 1 #1 (Nov 1992).
Art by Steve Lightle.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
Schedule Monthly
Format Ongoing
Publication date November 1992–March 1997
Number of issues 53
Main character(s) 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.

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

Bibliography[]

  • X-Men Adventures vol. 1 (1992–1994) (15 issues)[26]
  • X-Men Adventures vol. 2 (1994–1995) (13 issues)[27]
  • X-Men Adventures vol. 3 (1995–1996) (13 issues)[28]
  • Adventures of the X-Men (1996–1997) (12 issues)[29]

Video games[]

  • X-Men Cartoon Maker: The X-Men Cartoon Maker was a recreational software package that allowed the user to create animations with a minimal level of sophistication by utilizing a library of backdrops, animations and sound effects from the show. Wolverine and Storm (voice-only) help you out.
  • X-Men: Released by Western Technologies INC in June 1993 for Mega Drive. (This game was later followed by X-Men 2: Clone Wars in May 1995. Sega also released several X-Men game titles for its GameGear hand held system.
  • X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse: Released by Capcom in November 1994 for Super Nintendo.
  • 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.[30] Most of the voice actors who did the voices in the series reprised their roles for the video game. Capcom would continue to use these characters long after the show was cancelled 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 Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds on February 15, 2011. Some games in this series are:

References[]

  1. ↑ Cerone, Daniel (1993-02-20). "X-Men vs. the Gang of Three". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1993-02-20/entertainment/ca-117_1_fox-affiliate. Retrieved 2010-10-15. 
  2. ↑ "Top 10 Comic to TV Adaptations". IGN. http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/798/798709p3.html. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  3. ↑ "Kids vet Margaret Loesch to run Hasbro-Discovery cable network". Los Angeles Times. July 16, 2009. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/07/kids-vet-margaret-loesch-to-run-hasbrodiscovery-cable-network.html. Retrieved 11 May 2011. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Mangels, Andy (August 1993). "Scorching the Screen". Wizard: X-Men Turn Thirty: pp. 70–73. 
  5. ↑ DRG4's Exclusive X-Men Cartoon Pilot Differences. drp4.wariocompany.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-17.
  6. ↑ Mangels, Andy. FOX Snares X-Men. drg4.wariocompany.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-17.
  7. ↑ Goldstein, Hilary (4 May 2006). "Xavier vs. Magneto: A Philosophical Debate". IGN (IGN). http://uk.ign.com/articles/2006/05/05/xavier-vs-magneto-a-philosophical-debate. Retrieved 2013-07-06. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Interview with John Semper. wariocompany. Retrieved on 2009-12-13.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Secret Wars, Part 1: Arrival. wariocompany. Retrieved on 2009-12-13.
  10. ↑ Marvel Animation Age. Marvel.toonzone.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.
  11. ↑ "X-Men - Volume 1 DVD Review". IGN. http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/975/975959p1.html. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  12. ↑ "X-Men - Volume 2 DVD Review". IGN. http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/975/975974p1.html. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  13. ↑ "X-Men Volume Four DVD Review". IGN. http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/102/1026367p1.html. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  14. ↑ "X-Men - Volume 5 DVD Review". IGN. http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/108/1087564p1.html. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  15. ↑ "X-Men, Volume 1". DVD Talk. http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/37099/x-men-volume-1/. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  16. ↑ "X-Men, Volume 2". DVD Talk. http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/37196/marvel-x-men-volume-2/. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
  17. ↑ "X-Men, Volume 3". DVD Talk. http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/38480/x-men-the-animated-series-volume-3/. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
  18. ↑ "X-Men, Volume 4". DVD Talk. http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/38481/x-men-the-animated-series-volume-4/. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
  19. ↑ "X-Men - Marvel Comic Book Collection Volume 1 Review". TVShowsOnDVD.com. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/reviews/X-Men-Marvel-Comic-Book-Collection-Volume-1/8520. Retrieved 2010-10-16. 
  20. ↑ "X-Men - Marvel Comic Book Collection Volume 3 Review". TVShowsOnDVD.com. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/He-Man-Masters-Universe-Box-Art/12161. Retrieved 2010-10-16. 
  21. ↑ "X-Men - Marvel Comic Book Collection Volume 4 Review". TVShowsOnDVD.com. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/reviews/X-Men-Marvel-Comic-Book-Collection-Volume-4/9086. Retrieved 2010-10-15. 
  22. ↑ "X-Men - Marvel Comic Book Collection Volume 5 Review". TVShowsOnDVD.com. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/reviews/X-Men-Marvel-Comic-Book-Collection-Volume-5/9704. Retrieved 2009-10-15. 
  23. ↑ IGN - 13. X-Men. Retrieved on July 24, 2009.
  24. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/search/title?at=0&num_votes=5000,&sort=user_rating,desc&start=101&title_type=tv_series
  25. ↑ The 1990s: Claremont's exit, mega-crossovers. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
  26. ↑ X-Men Adventures Comics checklist Volume 1. comics-db.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  27. ↑ X-Men Adventures Comics checklist Volume 2. comics-db.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  28. ↑ X-Men Adventures Comics checklist Volume 3. comics-db.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  29. ↑ Adventures of the X-Men Comics checklist. comics-db.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  30. ↑ X-Men: Children of the Atom. member.cox.net. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.

External links[]

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