The new X-Men series has finally premiered on Disney+, and MeinMMO author Nikolas Hernes is thrilled, as the series reminds him of his childhood and of things he misses from the MCU.
What is X-Men ’97?
- X-Men ’97 is the new animated series on Disney+ and tells the story of the well-known mutants.
- The series is a continuation of the animated series that aired in the 90s.
- You don’t necessarily have to have watched the predecessor series, but a basic knowledge of the X-Men and mutants is recommended.
- So far, 2 episodes have been released, with the next one coming every Wednesday.
I was really looking forward to this series. On one hand, there’s finally new content about the X-Men, and on the other hand, I’m a big fan of such cartoons, as they remind me of my childhood. You can find a trailer for the series here:
The intro immediately takes me back to my childhood
When I started the series and the familiar intro played, I was instantly transported back to my old childhood room. The intro is just like before, only presented in a more modern way. The look of the characters is also inspired by the old designs.
Seeing the old characters like Cyclops, Gambit, or Wolverine is already a lot of fun. X-Men ’97 manages to activate my nostalgia because while watching, I feel like a child again, sitting on a Saturday watching cartoons on cable with cereal.
The look and the limited animation emphasize this feeling. The series aims to look like a living comic, and through many slow images, it creates panels just like in a comic book.
I was surprised at how the series manages to balance serious themes with silly situations. When Gambit or Beast tell bad jokes, I’m amused, while I’m also captivated when Magneto gives a speech about acceptance in the second episode.
The series is not too silly, but also not overly serious. Topics are presented appropriately to the context and not dragged out too long. This allows viewers to think for themselves. The themes of racism and acceptance are also not treated too blatantly with the mutants.
X-Men ’97 shows me what I miss about the MCU
The last point is also an aspect I miss in the current MCU. Superheroes are not just costumed people with abilities; they also represent societal aspects. Spider-Man, for example, despite his abilities, has problems with money and love. And the X-Men have always dealt with difficult topics like racism.
The MCU fails to convey such themes amidst all the effects and the always wanting-to-be-funny dialogues. You don’t always need a historical, serious examination of such topics. For teenagers, it can also be an animated series.
And X-Men ’97 does this really well. Again, I have to praise the second episode and Magneto’s speech, where he justifies his actions with many human deeds. Mutants who fear that their child may become a mutant encourage me to think.
Apart from such themes, I really like the team dynamics. While there are many heroes due to the numerous cameos in MCU films, I have missed a truly charming team dynamic since the first Avengers film.
With the X-Men, we see the group in everyday situations. We see the team having breakfast or playing basketball. This helps me get to know the personalities of the members without it being actively told to me. The dialogues are well written and also very well voiced in German.
I am personally very excited about the upcoming episodes and can only recommend everyone to check it out. The initial reception of the series at least speaks for a critical and fan success, and I hope that Disney will take some cues from X-Men ’97 for the MCU. The next big mutant film is already expected this year: The director of Deadpool 3 explains why he needed an “army of the nerdiest nerds” for Wolverine
