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Forget live action, the future of the superhero genre belongs to animation

Forget live action, the future of the superhero genre belongs to animation

Summary

  • Animation is an important medium for superhero storytelling, with strong interpretations in shows like
    Batman: The Animated Series
    And

    X-Men

    .
  • Current animated superhero projects such as
    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
    And
    Invincible
    have set new standards for the genre and received Oscars and critical acclaim.
  • With many exciting animation projects in development, such as
    Batman: The Masked Crusader
    and Marvel Studios’
    Eyes of Wakanda
    the future of superhero storytelling in animated films looks bright.



In an era before live-action superheroes flourished, they featured prominently on early television. Before visual effects could show the characters’ abilities in all their glory, animation allowed for more accurate depiction than in the comics. Shows like the 1940s Superman film series, Batman: The Animated Series, X-Men, Justice League, Spider-Man and so many others have delivered some of the strongest interpretations of the characters on screen and were at the forefront before the wave of live-action film success followed.

Despite the great success of superheroes in live action, animation is still heavily influenced by Wonder, Direct current, Sony, And Amazon still committed to telling stories in the medium. Like live-action films, animated films have evolved and become more unique than ever. Superhero fatigue has been a big issue, as the box office results of live-action films from Marvel and DC have not matched the guaranteed success they once had. Right now, there is a compelling argument that animated films featuring superheroes have been more successful than current live-action films and could lead the genre into its next phase of development.



Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Deserves an Oscar

Miles Morales in his mixed civilian and superhero costume from Spider-Man – Into the Spider-Verse

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Top-rated superhero movies on Rotten Tomatoes

#5: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – 95%

#4: Spider-Man: Through the Spider-Verse – 95%

#3: Black Panther – 96%

#2: The Incredibles – 97%

#1: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – 97%


Superhero movies have struggled for years to gain the Academy’s respect. Some have a hard time classifying them as art, but perceptions have finally changed. The Dark KnightThe groundbreaking success of initially opened the eyes of critics, and films like Black Panther And joker was nominated for best film. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was ultimately the first superhero film to feature a Oscar for the best animated film 2018.

The Oscar win was a monumental achievement for the superhero genre, and that achievement went to an animated film. Spider-Man: Through the Spider-Verse pursued Into the Spider-VerseSuccess with another Oscar nomination in the animation category. With major Oscar wins in its luggage, the Spider-Vers Movies have now set the bar for what superhero films can achieve during awards season.


X-Men ’97 could have saved the MCU

Cyclops, Storm and Rogue from X-Men '97 with Colossus and Cable in the background

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How Marvel’s X-Men ’97 reignites an old DC rivalry

“X-Men 97” immediately became a fan favorite, but its success could reignite the classic DC-Marvel rivalry from the 1990s.

  • X-Men ’97 was Marvel Studios’ first real X-Men project and successfully revived the 90s animated series.
  • Two more seasons of X-Men ’97 are already in the works at Marvel Studios.
  • Some say X-Men ’97 the best mutant-based project ever made due to its comic book accuracy and rich lore from the comics.


The Marvel film universe has stumbled in recent years, with projects such as The wonders And Secret Invasion critically and financially. This year, Marvel Studios has not had as much output as it did in the Disney+ era, with X-Men ’97 The opening was a revival of the popular cartoon series from the 90s. Because X-Men ’97There is now hope that the MCU can get the franchise back on track. X-Men ’97 Although it does not appear in the MCU, it was a production of Marvel Studios and is currently their highest-rated project on Rotten Tomatoes.

The animated series reached an important milestone by adapting the 90s cartoon series to the present day with its sleek style and captivating storyline. Marvel Studios needed a project to re-engage fans. Instead of a live-action film, it was an animated X-Men series that gave the MCU the momentum it needed to regain relevance. Part of this could easily be attributed to the fact that fans of animation now want more and more. When the MCU makes its big comeback, it will be important to look back at X-Men ’97 as a true turning point for the franchise, and it could lead to Marvel Studios placing a greater focus on animation in the future.


Invincible shook the superhero genre with its brutality

Invincible Season 2 – Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun)

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  • Image Comics published Invincible from 2003 to 2018 with 144 issues.
  • The animated series features an all-star voice cast including Steven Yeun, JK Simmons, Sandra Oh, Zazie Beetz, Walton Goggins, Mark Hamill, Clancy Brown, Seth Rogen and countless others.


Invincible was a superhero series that surprised many when it debuted on Amazon Prime Video years ago. For those who aren’t familiar with the comic series from The Walking Dead Creator Robert Kirkman’s animated series has become one of the most successful ongoing superhero series, and audiences are eagerly awaiting more after the long wait for the second season.

InvincibleThe dark story, the gripping action and the top-class voice actors gave the audience a superhero project like never before. As the Spider-Vers Movies, Invincible is another prime example of a superhero story that can only be told in animation with a level of violence that would never be possible in live-action films. There are many more stories, Invincible As another project that set standards for the translation of comic book panels to the screen, it will continue to play an important role in the superhero genre for years to come.

More exciting animation projects are in preparation


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“My Adventures with Superman” announces a war with a legendary DCU planet

In season 2 of My Adventures with Superman, it is hinted that an iconic alien duo from the DCU will seek vengeance on the Kryptonians who destroyed their world.

  • The entire season of Batman: The Masked Crusader will be released on August 1st on Amazon Prime Video.
  • In addition to Eyes of Wakanda, Spider-Man: Freshmen, and further seasons of X-Men ’97Marvel Studios also has Marvel Zombies another season of What if…? in the pipeline.
  • DC Studios is developing a Blue Beetle Animated series that brings back the cast of the 2023 film.

There are also no signs that superhero animation will slow down any time soon, which is another reason why this medium could be the future of the superhero genre. My adventures with Superman offers a fresh and modern take on the Man of Steel with twists on the mythology in each episode. Batman: The Masked Crusader takes the character back to his noir roots and places the story in the 1940s with Bruce Timm, Matt Reeves, And J.J. Abrams‘ Participation.


Creature Commands will also make animated superhero stories more important than ever, with important connections to the upcoming DCU and an all-star cast in the style of Invincible. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Franchise is a comic book franchise that has recently been flourishing in the animation sector. Mutant Mayhem deserves the best reviews for any film in the franchise, with a spin-off series and a sequel in the pipeline. Marvel Studios also has a promising animated series with Eyes of Wakanda expands the world of Black Panther And Spider-Man: Freshmen, attempts to live up to the legacy of Spider-Man’s rich history in the medium. The future of superhero projects in animation is bright, with the major studios working on numerous projects.


These superhero projects achieve visual effects that live-action films cannot, and are therefore even more authentic than comics. Animation has no limitations, allowing creators to experiment with iconic characters like Batman or Spider-Man, breathing new life into them with stylistic possibilities not available to live-action films. This results in projects of higher quality than live-action films of late.

Out of Spider-Man for the HulkVisual effects drove live-action superhero projects in the early 2000s because audiences could finally see their favorite heroes come to life. With so much superhero production in live-action, these experiences can no longer blow audiences away like they once did. On the other hand, animated superhero shows and movies have reached a new level that makes the superhero genre refreshing again with its bold visuals and serious stories. Superhero fatigue may be a reality in live-action, but on the animation side, projects have never been better and this could be the future of it.