The Marvel Cinematic Universe has largely been a live-action affair, be it in theatres or with streaming. So far, only one entry into the franchise proper has been animated, that being What If…? X-Men ’97 has been the latest animated series that the studio has put out and could be on its way to becoming an MCU installment too if rumors are to be believed.
It seems like the superhero genre has entered a golden age of animation, with shows like X-Men ’97 and Invincible, and films like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The genre is receiving the kind of boost it needs, with all the talks of superhero fatigue quickly fizzling out in the wake of these acclaimed shows and films. In light of its recent success, the directors of X-Men ’97 have a similar idea for the X-Men IP, one that Kevin Feige can’t possibly overlook if he wishes to navigate the MCU through these tough times.
X-Men ’97 directors want to make an animated film influenced by 90s and 80s science fiction anime
When asked about the possibility of an animated film in an interview with Inverse, the directors of the show, Chase Conley, Emi Yonemura, and Jake Castorena, who had previously talked about their eagerness for a live-action adaptation, were happy to reveal some ideas that they had for a film like this. Conley noted:
“First off, it would be a slam dunk. I think that would absolutely be something the audience would want to see, and we would want to be a part of.”
There seems to be a lot of potent excitement around the idea, and given how well-animated superhero properties are doing, Marvel could benefit from investing more in quality animation, especially the kind that draws in the Invincible and Spider-Verse audience. Yonemura opened up about the influences on the show, and how the team would like to do the same for a film. She said:
“One of our influences was ‘80s and ‘90s Japanese animation. Akira. Ghost in the Shell. Those levels. It’s like: Hey, you want to give us the money and budget to do that for you? But for X-Men ‘97? Gladly.”
A film that draws on such science fiction classics could actually work in Marvel’s favor. While the company is already entrenched in animation with Sony’s Spider-Verse, it would be in Marvel Studios’ best interests to take its animated projects just as seriously as its live-action offerings.
An animated X-Men film could look at the stories that the show has to trim to fit its runtime
Few criticisms about X-Men ’97 have been actually bothering audiences at large. The show has been burning through some of the most iconic storylines that have graced the pages of X-Men comics, condensing cascading narratives with intricate plot points into 30-minute offerings.
The IP could benefit from having a larger run time, something closer to feature length, which would allow X-Men stories to be handled with more care and given adequate time to breathe. Marvel Studios could generate a parallel IP to the MCU, given how many X-Men stories deal with time travel and alternate dimensions. The X-Men, in films that emulate the Spider-Verse style, would actually be something fans want to see and would flock to theatres for.
X-Men ’97 is available to stream on Disney+
