X-Men (1992–1997)

A team of mutant superheroes fight for justice and human acceptance in the Marvel Comics universe.

Creator:

Stan Lee

Stars:

Cathal J. Dodd, Alyson Court, Cedric Smith

Cast

Series cast summary:
Cathal J. Dodd	...	Logan (73 episodes, 1992-1997)
Alyson Court	...	Jubilee (72 episodes, 1992-1997)
George Buza	...	Beast (71 episodes, 1992-1997)
Norm Spencer	...	Cyclops (68 episodes, 1992-1997)
Cedric Smith	...	Professor Charles Xavier (68 episodes, 1992-1997)
Lenore Zann	...	Rogue (68 episodes, 1992-1997)
Catherine Disher	...	Jean Grey (65 episodes, 1992-1997)
Chris Potter	...	Gambit (62 episodes, 1992-1996)
Alison Sealy-Smith	...	Storm (47 episodes, 1992-1997)

Storyline

In the Marvel Comics universe, mutants, people with genetically endowed superpowers, are a persecuted by a hateful and fearful populous. One shelter from this is Professor Xavier's Academy for Gifted Children. But the school has a secret function as a training centre for mutants to control their abilities so they can function in regular society. It also serves as a secret headquarters of a superhero team, called the X-Men formed both to be a positive example of mutants and as an opposing force against those mutants who seek to force the world to kneel to their perceived superiority. This series recounts their adventures as they struggle to make the world accept them, while battling villains like Magneto, Apocalypse and the genocidal robots known as the Sentinels.

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Plot Keywords:

mutant | x men | marvel comics | laser beam | superhero team | 

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-Y7

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Iks-ljudi

Company Credits

Production Co:

Genesis Entertainment, Graz Entertainment, Marvel Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min 22 min (76 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Fox initially had a lot of resistance to the cartoon series before it became a success. They felt that the target audiences, kids under 10, wouldn't be interested in a romantic love triangle between Cyclops, Jean, and Wolverine. They also thought kids wouldn't keep up with a show that was serialized.

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Goofs

In "X-Ternally Yours" Bobby and Belle place their tithe boxes before the X-Ternal, but the boxes disappear in a wide shot.

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Quotes

Rogue: Our job is to find Lilandra and get out fast.
Jubilee: Anybody know what she looks like?
Wolverine: She's from another galaxy. You see a woman you don't know, rescue her.

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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits, a roll call of the X-Men occurs, with each member showing off their particular ability.

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Connections

Referenced in Species (1995)

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Soundtracks

"X-Men Main Theme"
(theme song)
Composed by Ron Wasserman

User Reviews

Faithful To The Original Comic Book Series, Though Superior To The Films Themselves

In my very own opinion, the X-Men cartoon series was arguably the closest remake of the X-men that fans could get and much more faithful to the comic books themselves than what the live action movies will ever be. The costumes were identical as the comics, the superheroes were as realistic as they were and the story lines were much more varied, exciting and believable. Wolverine, Storm, Gambit, Rogue, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Professor Xavier and Jubilee were as they were. The artwork was also excellent, but just what you'd expected from Marvel.

Whilst the films were in all a shambles in terms of the design and look of the characters, the cartoon series and Marvel have thankfully retained the originality, appeal and quality of the comics, and the appearances of which made the X-men one of the most successful comic book hero franchises in history. Another difference between the cartoon series and the films was the fact the creators of the show put a lot of emphasis on character development and the emotional plight of the mutants's own expectations of wanting to belong to the world and to feel accepted, which this has been addressed much better in the series than the film trilogy ever did. Therefore, the human interest aspect- no make that mutant interest aspect and the triumph over adversity tales of each and everyone of the X-Men members had more of a feel and resonance to it, of which we could empathise the characters with, and of which the films themselves fail to do because it just didn't translate well on the big screen.

Unlike the movies, the animated show had a raw ness and bite to each and every one of those characters that was totally devoid in the live action versions and it never managed to pussyfoot around the issues, as well as the story lines, of which again were far more realistic and believable.

This is what the movies themselves ought to have been like, but rather than leave things as they were, the directors Brett Ratner and Brian Singer decided to change a couple things round, without realising how much this would put die-hard and ardent X-men fans off. Why tamper with a classic formula? Besides, the film's disappointment shouldn't take away from the fact that the cartoon series is the best on- screen version of the X-Men.

Forget the films, either stick with the comics or go for this, the animated version instead.