Annlyel James 
Annlyel explores the animation renaissance since the debuts of What If…?, the Spider-Verse, Invincible, and X-Men ’97
Since 1989’s Batman, starring Michael Keaton as the suave billionaire orphan/caped crusader, dozens of superhero films (and shows) have entertained the masses. As superheroes have dominated the big screen for the past decade, there has been a recent wave of fatigue…at least with superhero stories that aren’t that interesting. However, there has been a surge of excitement for comic book films and shows in another medium: animation.
MARVEL ANIMATION
Marvel Studios began with What If…?, a fun series that captivated audiences with its first season in 2021 and debuted its second season last Christmas. Due to the intriguing new storylines, people liked the second season more than the first. In recent years, three of the most popular animated superhero series have been Invincible, My Adventures with Superman, and Harley Quinn.
Last year, the most profitable superhero film was Across the Spider-Verse, an animated movie that pushed the boundaries of animation and reminded audiences how incredible superhero movies can be. And now, X-Men ’97 is the talk of the town every week. The animated series is not only one of the best things Marvel Studios has ever produced, but with 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 9/10 on IMDb, it’s also one of the most acclaimed television series ever.
AN ANIMATION RENAISSANCE
Animation has revitalized Marvel and the superhero genre, reminding us why we love these stories and characters. And honestly, it’s no surprise that these animated stories are being received so well. Superhero stories began in comic books, grasping audiences with epic covers, beautiful art on full display, and powerful storytelling. Animation fits this genre well because it allows these stories to be brought to life in ways that the live-action medium will never fully capture. Think about the Spider-Verse films. As good as the live-action Spider-Man movies can be, none can match the sheer spectacular nature of the Spider-Verse, which feels like comic book films come to life. And it looks like Marvel Studios understands this.
There’s a third season of What If…? coming soon. Marvel Zombies will probably make its debut sometime next year. Spider-Man: Freshman Year is in development and looks like another potentially fascinating animated entry. Furthermore, in the new DCU, James Gunn has a seven-episode animated series, Creature Commandos, as one of the first installments of the rebooted franchise.
While it’s fun to watch these superhero stories in live-action, animation is one of the most excellent mediums in entertainment. I hope we continue to get more fantastic, animated superhero stories in the future.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
