The X-Men ’97 trailer has made its debut, and for those who haven’t seen the original series, it was just another exciting trailer in the sea of MCU’s promotional content. However, if you grew up during the ’90s, the recently released trailer was a glorious sight to behold.
It had everything that made the ’90s show great: good animation, all the legendary X-Men, and probably the best theme song ever recorded. But the key thing about X-Men ’97 is that the upcoming release isn’t a remaster of the original show — it’s a continuation series.
From what we were able to discern from the trailer — and plenty is still left to the imagination — the narrative picks right up where the original animated series ended in 1997. Charles Xavier is dying after being mortally wounded, Magneto is apparently taking over the Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, the Sentinels are (presumably) back, and the world is aghast, terrified, and in dismay at the thought of mutants running rampant. Yet, despite all the novelties, the trailer for X-Men ’97 manages to inspire a feeling of familiarity and nostalgia in those who grew somewhere between the height of the Rubik’s Cube and beepers.
Thankfully, not everything is new in this upcoming series, and this highly-anticipated series actually draws plenty from the original. Here are six brilliant things X-Men ’97 is carrying over from the ’90s series:
The Opening Theme Song
We had to open with this one (no pun intended); the X-Men: The Animated Series theme song is widely regarded as iconic and memorable. Its tune really captured the essence of the show, making it one, if not the most, recognizable opening in any cartoon series (no offense Pokémon). It made us, the youthful fans, so energized on Saturday morning we didn’t need a sugary cereal breakfast to fuel our restlessness.
Composed by Ron Wasserman, who is also credited with the iconic Mighty Morphin Power Rangers theme song — which partially earned him the nickname “The Mighty RAW” — the X-Men: TAS theme’s popularity extended beyond the show’s original run, evoking nostalgia and excitement in fans for the next 30 years. We’re so happy that the showrunners decided to keep it.
The Animation Style
Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, and many who grew up in the ’90s feel that the original 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aesthetic is far better than the updated animation of the 2012 series — which, objectively speaking, is more advanced. The new trailer for X-Men ’97 reveals that the upcoming show will retain the distinctive aesthetic style of the ’90s original series with some updates.
Of course, the animation itself will be backed up by modern animation techniques that will provide clearer lines, more vibrant colors, and smoother and more dynamic action sequences, but the core art aesthetics will remain the same. This also applies to the character designs, thus preserving the continuity between the original series and X-Men ’97.
The Original Voice Cast
Much to the glee and delight of many fans, the upcoming series will bring back many members of the original voice cast. Cal Dodd (Wolverine), Lenore Zann (Rogue), George Buza (Beast), Alison Sealy-Smith (Storm), Adrian Hough (Nightcrawler), and Christopher Britton (Sinister) are all set to reprise their original roles.
Other members of the original cast, like Catherine Disher (Jean Grey), Chris Potter (Gambit), Alyson Court (Jubilee), Lawrence Bayne (Cable), and Ron Rubin (Morph), are also returning to the series, but they’re assigned new voice roles. Still, hearing some of the same voices behind beloved characters also contributes to the sense of continuity and serves as a respectful nod to the original series. Oh, and Lucas Bishop is maybe making more than just one appearance in the series.
The Classic Team Dynamics
The team dynamics were central to X-Men: TAS, and it would seem that they remain intact in the upcoming series. The trailer masterfully opens up with Professor X saying, “My X-Men,” and closes with the iconic “To me, my X-Men,” that was often used in various X-Men media. However, in the new series, the iconic catchphrase was used by Cyclops, given the absence of Charles Xavier.
This one line encompasses all the camaraderie, conflicts, and cooperation among the X-Men, pushing the team dynamics into the forefront of the story, which is most likely to continue the complex character interactions and development started by the original series — like the Jean Grey-Logan-Scott love triangle.
Social and Political Themes
One of the most compelling aspects of the original show was its willingness to tackle social and political issues through the lens of mutant-human relations. Considering the mayhem, fear, and paranoia we’ve glimpsed from the trailer, X-Men ’97 most likely continues the tradition of exploring themes like prejudice, acceptance, and equality.
And it managed to do so even before its release date. Right now, certain vocal groups are complaining that Marvel made the X-Men more “woke” by making Morph (who is still alive, by the way) identify as non-binary. However, telling stories about minority identities and other social and political themes always sat at the heart of X-Men, so we can comfortably say that those vocal criticisms about Morph’s identity have missed the point the series has been trying to make for the past 30-something years.
Iconic Villains
While we’re yet to discover which of the storylines from the comics are to make their way into the upcoming series, the trailer already revealed the appearance of Magneto and the Sentinels. Considering that voice actor Christopher Britton is reprising his role, it’s safe to assume that Mister Sinister is making an appearance as well, perhaps as the first season’s Big Bad.
Final Thoughts
The nostalgia is strong with this one, and by remaining faithful to some of the best things that made the original series a classic Saturday morning must-see, X-Men ’97 brilliantly connects the past and the present. X-Men ’97 is poised to offer a nostalgic yet fresh experience that is most likely to appeal to the older fans, while extending the hand of inclusion to those who haven’t seen the original series. Â
X-Men ’97 is scheduled to release on March 20, 2024, on Disney+.