X-Men: The Animated Series
Series, 1992, Animated, Set in 1990s
X-Men: The Animated Series is #1 of 18 in release order and #17 of 18 in chronological order in the X-Men.
The story
The X-Men are an elite team of mutants, genetically gifted human beings with superpowers, sworn to fight for mutant rights against hostile Government agencies, whilst at the same time protecting mankind from mutant supremacist Magneto who seeks to destroy the human race in return for the atrocities committed against mutant kind.
X-Men: The Animated Series recap
The X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier and including Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Beast and Jubilee, defend a world that hates mutants. In season 1, they fight the Sentinels, giant robots built to hunt mutants; Morph dies, Beast is jailed, and Apocalypse plots to turn humans against mutants by staging an attack on Senator Kelly. In season 2, Cyclops and Jean marry and are targeted by Mister Sinister, who sends a brainwashed Morph against them, the Friends of Humanity stir up hatred, and Xavier and Magneto are stranded together in the Savage Land. Season 3 tells the Phoenix and Dark Phoenix sagas, as a cosmic force takes over Jean and the alien Shi'ar Empire, ruled by Lilandra, tries to destroy her; Lady Deathstrike and the Shadow King also appear. Seasons 4 and 5 bring Apocalypse's war across time, the alien Phalanx and stories focused on single characters, before the show builds to a peace conference between humans and mutants.
X-Men: The Animated Series ending explained
In the final episode, Graduation Day, Xavier is shot by an anti-mutant extremist at the peace conference. The wound is fatal on Earth, so Lilandra takes him into space to be healed by the Shi'ar, and he says goodbye to his X-Men. The team is left without its founder for the first time. The series ended there in 1997, and X-Men '97 picks up the story a year later.
Where to watch X-Men: The Animated Series
X-Men: The Animated Series is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 83%
Where it fits
- Release order: first, before X-Men.
- Chronological order: after The Gifted, before X-Men '97.
What to watch before X-Men: The Animated Series
Nothing. X-Men: The Animated Series (1992) doesn't continue an earlier version, so it stands on its own.
Cast
- Cedric Smith as Professor X (voice)
- Norm Spencer as Cyclops (voice)
- Catherine Disher as Jean Grey (voice)
- Lenore Zann as Rogue (voice)
- Cal Dodd as Wolverine (voice)
- Alyson Court as Jubilee (voice)
- George Buza as Beast (voice)
- Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm (voice)
- Chris Potter as Gambit (voice)
- Tony Daniels as Gambit (voice)
- Iona Morris as Storm (voice)
- Lawrence Bayne as Fabian Cortez (voice)
Created by Eric Lewald.