It's finally here. X-Men 97, the highly anticipated continuation of the iconic 90s animated series, does not disappoint. From the classic animation to the music, incredible voice performances, and just the overall feel, it’s like being transported right back to Saturday mornings as a kid.
X-Men 97 Review
27 years after X-Men: The Animated Series ended, X-Men 97 picks up right where it left off. Picking up some months after Professor X’s death, Cyclops (Ray Chase) has become the default leader in Charles' absence. But the world still doesn't trust the mutants, so the team must face organizations bent on destroying them as well as dealing with the unexpected return of Magneto (Matthew Waterson).
This was the show that I eagerly sat down to watch every Saturday morning with my bowl of cereal. It's also the one that sparked my love for Marvel and it has never felt so good to hear a theme song and watch an opening title sequence, revamped but somehow still exactly as I remember them to be. It expertly handles the memories and fondness we all have of the original by expanding upon it without ruining what made it special. It maintains the rich storylines that saw the mutants dealing with interpersonal drama along with world-altering events, as well as the charm of the animation. It's fresh, vivid, and just as fun as ever.
Before I go any further with this review, written from the viewpoint of a big fan of the original, I'll get this part out of the way– no you do not need to have an encyclopedia worth of knowledge about the 90s show in order to dive into this one. Within the first episode, the major plot points are explained. Charles Xavier has died, he was the mentor and leader of the mutants and now they face life without him. Magneto has long been their enemy but fate and Charles' sense of humor has brought him into their lives. The only knowledge required is to pay attention to this show and to know mutants= humans with special abilities. For longtime fans like myself, there are loads of easter eggs and cameos to look out for throughout the episodes.
Right out of the gate it's easy to see how the formula of X-Men: The Animated Series defined Marvel's approach to this show. The overarching fight for survival in a world that fears them is there but the interpersonal dramas remain. They might all fly off to fight Sentinels together but when they get home, Cyclops and Wolverine (Cal Dodd) are still frenemies with Jean Grey (Jennifer Hale) stuck in the middle. Beast (George Buza) is still a nerd and suga, Rogue (Lenore Zahn) and Gambit (AJ LoCascio) still flirt with one another. This marriage of low key and high stakes has always kept us coming back for more and it's safe to say it will be the same with this new series.
As soon as the music started and the classic opening sequence showing off each mutant began I was instantly transported back to my childhood. The true test though would be once the show actually got rolling. How would the cast sound? What would the animation look like? Would it still feel familiar and hit all the right beats? The answers are perfect, amazing, and yes!
The original voice cast, those still with us (rest in peace to those who have passed on) fall back into their roles with ease. Dodd is the gruff prick we know Wolverine to be, Alison Sealy-Smith is just as powerful and regal as ever as Storm, who is sporting a fresh Mohawk. Zahn is playful and beguiling while Buza still flexes his brain over his brawn. It has been 27 years, so some of the voices have aged (similar to Johnny Yong Bosch's voice as Ichigo in Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War) but they are still our beloved mutants. The new cast were chosen well, with Chase using his natural knack for voicing leaders to step effortlessly into Cyclops' visor. JP Karliak is a welcome addition, because thanks to him Morph's voice no longer sounds like nails on a chalkboard. Waterson’s baritone works well for Magneto, a complicated character who has always walked the line of villain and anti-hero. He knows the right moments to inject his lines with a gravitas befitting someone who is constantly thinking ahead. Waterson also excels at lacing Magneto's words with threats and the feeling that things could go very poorly for his opponent if he so chooses.
As far as the animation is concerned, the aesthetic of the original is lovingly maintained and plussed only in ways that add to the experience. That's to say it mostly looks the same but with better visuals. Essentially, by combining 3D and 2D effects and tweaking the frame rates, the show comes across as pristine as our rose colored glasses of childhood saw it all along. The environments are more immersive and the action is kicked-up several notches thanks to the fluidity of the animation. From Gambit charging up Wolverine's claws to Morph transforming into several other recognizable mutants mid-battle, it all just flows so cleanly and smoothly, feeding into the thrills of every moment packed into the 30 minute episodes.
X-Men 97 delivers in every sense of the word. As a fan of X-Men: The Animated Series, it was everything I could have hoped for. From the animation style and music, to the storylines, voice performances, and excitement, this is nostalgia done right. Following the format of the original, each episode is self-contained yet also a cliffhanger for the story at large. By staying true to those methods, it captures that feeling that made us tune in every Saturday morning, action figures in hand, anxious to know what happens next. My only complaint is that they are releasing these at 3am ET time instead of on Saturday morning. To me, my X-Men, this is the story we have been waiting on for 27 years.
X-Men 97 episodes 1-2 are now streaming on Disney+. Subsequent episodes will release every Wednesday until all 10 are available to stream.
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