X-Men: The Animated Series: Difference between revisions

1990s animated series based on the popular ''[[X-Men (Comic Book)|X-Men]]'' comics.

 

 

* Jubilation Lee/Jubilee, the teenage [[Naive Newcomer]] who, at the beginning of the series, has just discovered she's a pyrotechnic-throwing mutant.

* Ororo Munroe/[[Storm]], [[Elemental Powers|weather-controlling]] African native.

Together, they fought evil mutants, [[Humongous Mecha|giant robots]], [[Government Conspiracy|government conspiracies]], cosmic forces, and occasionally each other, while protecting those who hated and feared them.

 

* [[Aborted Arc]]: In "Beyond Good and Evil, Part 2," it is clearly stated that {{spoiler|Magneto is only aiding Apocalypse to have his "beloved wife" resurrected}}. This was not referred to again and a far different motivation was stated in Part 4.

* [[Above Good and Evil]]: Apocalypse delivers this line in the beginning of the four-parter "Beyond Good and Evil":

* [[Adaptational Attractiveness]]: The Shadow King's human body. In comics he's fat and bald. In the series he's a handsome Egyptian with a [[Badass Beard]].

** The animators based his character design on a later [[Body Surf|host body]] of the Shadow King entity, Jacob Reisz, rather than [[Fat Bastard|Amahl Farouk]], the body he was in when he was introduced in the comics (though [[Shrug of God|perhaps not his original form]]).

* [[Adaptation-Induced Plothole]] / [[Series Continuity Error]]:

** When Warren Worthington (Archangel) is introduced, he has no connection to Xavier or the X-Men. In "Cold Comfort", a flashback reveals the first 5 X-Men and one of them has big angelic wings on his shoulders.

* [[Alternate Timeline]]: Almost anything involving Bishop or Cable.

* [[Alternative Foreign Theme Song]]: The Japanese dub of ''X-Men'' not only has a different theme song, it completely reanimates [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWTad94mre8&feature=related the] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8HkDMht3d4&feature=related opening!] It also uses a new [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9ZIleCnye8&feature=related ending].

* [[And I Must Scream]]: The episodes "The Phalanx Covenant" and "Love In Vain" are good examples.

* [[Animation Bump]]: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfjAbXrvkFw The] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAkL2-vh2Sk openings] by [[OLM Incorporated]] and [[AKOM]] are better looking than the rest of the show, which was done largely by the latter studio.

* [[Ax Crazy]]: Wolverine, to the point of being a [[Heroic Sociopath]] at times.

** This is played straight with Sabretooth.

* [[Badass Boast]]: Every sentence Apocalypse ''utters'' is this. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYt78FWfa5M Here].

* [[Badass Bookworm]]: Beast.

* [[Battle in the Center of the Mind]]: A rather common plot device, the most notable being Professor Xavier battling the Shadow King and Rogue dealing with the transplanted personality of Miss Marvel.

* [[Be Careful What You Wish For]]: After dispatching the entire team with ease, Dark Phoenix focuses on Xavier and purposefully invokes this.

* [[Beast Man]]:

** Beast subverts this in as much as his beastly aspects are purely physical.

* [[Bouquet Toss]]: When Scott and Jean get married, {{spoiler|''Beast''}} catches it.

* [[Bowdlerization]]: To avoid mentioning the Holocaust in a kids' show, Magneto's backstory is changed slightly. In this version, he's a refugee from a war in some [[Ruritania|generic unnamed Eastern European country]].

** Especially when the previously emotionless cosmic being becomes addicted to human emotions.

* [[Break the Haughty]]: Wolverine, during the "Proteus" arc.

* [[Breather Episode]]: "Mojovision," which comes in after the emotionally heavy "Beauty & the Beast" and right before the "Reunion" two-part season finale.

** The Scottish accents were painfully bad (including Moira [[Mac Taggert]]'s), which is particularly unfortunate since several episodes purport to take place in Scotland.

** Pyro speaks with a sterotypical (and poor) Cockney accent, slang and all. All the weirder, since the Pyro is canonically Australian.

* [[Cassandra Truth]]: When Professor X, having previously expressed concerns about his sanity, tries to tell the X-Men that an alien woman popped out of nowhere in front of him and was immediately abducted, the response is not what he'd hoped...

* [[Catch Phrase]]: Beast overdoes his "Fascinating" and "Oh dear". Also:

"I am Storm, Mistress of the Elements!" }}

* [[Catgirl]]: Cyclops' father Corsair is currently involved romantically with one.

* [[The Chessmaster]]: Mr. Sinister; Apocalypse.

* [[Chivalrous Pervert]]: Gambit.

* [[Claustrophobia]]: Storm

* [[Coming of Age Story]]: Technically this applies to everyone, but Jubilee especially.

* [[Cool Big Sis|Cool Little Sis]]: Shard to Bishop.

* [[Cool Old Guy]]: Professor X.

* [[Composite Character]]: Professor Oyama is an amalgamation of the Professor of Weapon X and Lord Dark Wind, the father of Lady Deathstrike.

* [[Crossover]]: With ''[[Spider-Man: The Animated Series]]'', which ran alongside ''X-Men''. It was pretty much inevitable. In fact before his series was developed a cameo of Spider-Man can be seen in one episode saving some civilians of New York from a tidal wave (he wasn't fully shown save for an arm but it was still pretty clear who he was).

** The series' voice cast were flown to LA from Canada to record their lines for the crossover.

* [[Dark-Skinned Blond]]: Shard.

* [[Dark-Skinned Redhead]]: Wolfsbane.

* [[Deconstructed Trope]]: In the episode where the Juggernaut's powers are transferred to someone else, said someone else gets Juggy's [[Super Strength]]. Which [[Be Careful What You Wish For|promptly ruins his life by turning him into an unintentionally-destructive human demolition crew]].

* [[Deus Exit Machina]]:

** This happens to Professor X in season 2, as the X-Men had to deal with challenges that were originally resolved by him. A good thing that Jean's a telepath herself (if not as skilled).

* [[Enemy Mine]]:

** Nearly every appearance of Magneto, but notably the entirety of season 2, in which he is stranded in the Savage Land with Professor X.

** ''Beyond Good And Evil'' sees {{spoiler|Magneto and Mystique}} team up with the X-Men to stop Apocalypse's plot.

* [[Everyone Loves Blondes]]: Spiral for Longshot.

** Dark Phoenix

* [[Evil Redhead]]: Mystique.

* [[Evilutionary Biologist]]: Mr. Sinister. It was hinted that Magneto was once this as well.

* [[Expy]]: In terms of his powers and appearance, Morph seems to be based on the obscure 1970s [[Heel Face Turn|villain turned X-Man]] Changeling.

** In the last season, Jubilee's design looks just like [[Captain Planet|Gi from Captain Planet.]]

* [[Fate Worse Than Death]]: In "Beyond Good and Evil, Part 4," Apocalypse is seemingly destroyed, but in actuality, his essence is trapped within a void. {{spoiler|A celestial alignment and a sacrifice is required for him to be fully revived. In the end, Cortez becomes the sacrifice and his essence is shown being sent into the same void as Apocalypse is revived}}.

* [[Feeling Oppressed by Their Existence]]: This is more or less the opinion and motivation of Graydon Creed. Keeping in mind he says the following as if it were fact;

'''Creed''': You were born! }}

* [[Fiery Redhead]]: Jean Grey, which is especially appropriate considering that she is the Phoenix.

** [[The Chick]]: Jean and Jubilee

** [[The Sixth Ranger]]: Any one else with them during their missions.

* [[Friendly Enemy]]: Professor X and Magneto view each other as worthy rivals on an ideological level, having even been good friends pre-schism

* [[Foregone Conclusion]]: Most of the adapted storylines, though there are exceptions, such as the Dark Phoenix Saga.

* [[Gag Dub]]: None based on this series are as widely known as the "Juggernaut, Bitch!" dubs from [[My Way Entertainment]], which redub episodes featuring the Juggernaut in the most [[Refuge in Vulgarity|vulgar]] way possible.

* [[Genius Bruiser]]: Beast

* [[Gentle Giant]]: Beast, Colossus, and Tusk come to mind...

*** {{spoiler|[[Unexplained Recovery|She survived.]] And was last seeing walking away in tears.}}

** There was also {{spoiler|Alternate timeline Wolverine and Storm}} who helped fix the timeline in "One Man's Worth", {{spoiler|but erased themselves from history in the process.}}

* [[High Collar of Doom]]: Magus in the [[Fairy Tale]] episode.

* [[Hot-Blooded]]: Wolverine, Bishop, Cable, Sabretooth and Rogue.

* [[Hypnotize the Princess]]: Jean, by one of the Morlocks, but it didn't work so well.

* [[I Owe You My Life]]: "Repo Man" plays it straight in the flashbacks, as Wolverine expresses genuine gratitude towards Heather and James/Vindicator - agreeing to work for their department out of appreciation. However, things obviously didn't work and Wolverine no longer feels this way.

'''Wolverine:''' [[What the Hell, Hero?|So I could be your weapon?]] [[Sarcasm Mode|Sorry, James.]] }}

* [[If You Ever Do Anything to Hurt Her...]]: Wolverine tells Cyclops in the wedding reception: "If she's [Jean's] unhappy, don't let me find out." before opening his claws to cut a slice of the wedding cake.

** Professor X and Lilandra

* [[Ironic Echo]]:

'''Rogue:''' <to Mystique> I ain't you daughter! Not anymore! }}

* [[I Want My Beloved to Be Happy]]: Wolverine for Jean when she marries Cyclops.

* [[Kneel Before Zod]]: Vertigo, twice, when using her powers on Wolverine in the two parter, Reunion:

'''Wolverine''': "Never!" }}

** And:

* [[Laser-Guided Karma]]: Graydon Creed, the leader of the anti-mutant "Friends of Humanity" organization, after failing to eliminate his mutant family, was abducted and flown by his own group to the home of Sabretooth, his father.

* [[Last-Name Basis]]: Bishop, who's first name is {{spoiler|Lucas.}}

** Also with {{spoiler|Mystique when she takes a laser shot to save her son Nightcrawler's life.}}

* [[Martial Pacifist]]: Beast ([[Beware the Nice Ones|unless]] [[Too Dumb to Live|you]] [[Berserk Button|kidnap his girlfriend]]) and Nightcrawler.

* [[Mighty Glacier]]: Colossus and the Sentinels.

* [[Mind Rape]]:

** In the two-parter involving Proteus, he rapes both mental and physically the hell out of Wolverine. Afterward, even Wolverine, the archetype of the [[Nineties Anti-Hero]], was horrified by the psychic attack.

** In "A Rogue's Tale", Rogue's mind is invaded by Miss Marvel and she is tormented by it.

* [[Mirrored Confrontation Shot]]: The opening credits

* [[Missing Mom]]: Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch's deceased mother.

* [[More Than Mind Control]] Sinister (and to a lesser extent Morph) both imply that Morph was genuinely angry with the X-Men for leaving him behind, and wanted revenge on his own, though his own mind rejected this to the point that he developed a [[Split Personality]]. At first, Sinister did little more than draft the Evil Morph to help him out (albeit with a [[Mind Control Device|mechanical backup]]). Of note, is the scene where he specifically targets Jubilee (whose death would not help Sinister out in the slightest). She joined the team immediately after his death and became super close with his former BFF Wolverine, and he practically snarls after her "That's for thinking you could take my place". Later in the season, after Sinister's recaptured him, he's been more properly [[Brainwashed]] into being his slave, though he manages to break free several times and his [[Intrinsic Vow|loyalty to his friends]] eventually wins out completely.

** Also of note, in the second episode he casually suggests that humans evolving into mutants is "progress", which is quite in line with Sinister's views, even if he would never voluntarily support his methods.

* [[Muggle Power]]: The Brotherhood and various other Anti and Pro Mutant factions' reason for fighting.

* [[Mundane Utility]]: Wolverine has used his claws to slice up various meat products, spawning the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bGHfhEIrkY BLASTED SALAMI] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PwMbNCHgk0 turkey] meme.

* [[My God, What Have I Done?]]: Archangel (as the Horseman of Death) after Rogue absorbed some of his powers/memories, or as Rogue called it, "the evil within". Also, Jean Grey after reasserting control from the Phoenix entity, who nearly killed Wolverine and almost allowed Cyclops to be killed by Mastermind in mental battle in the Hellfire Club.

** Brother Reinhart in "Nightcrawler" who leads a mob to kill Nightcrawler and his brothers, whom he believed have been corrupted by the "demon". But after Nightcrawler shows him mercy after saving him from a fall and showed him what his actions have caused (burning the monestary), he falls on his knees and cries that he has "sinned". He later repents.

* [[Necessary Fail]]: During one of the time travel arcs.

** More often played straight, however; the opening storyline manages to ''kill off an X-Man'' without ever saying the words.

** They did semi-regularly use the words "die" and "kill" however, it seemed they were allowed use them, but only sparingly.

* [[Newspaper Dating]]: Bishop does this when he time-travels

* [[Nietzsche Wannabe]]: Apocalypse

** It wasn't stated. It was declared at least five times to make the point abundantly clear.

* [[No Indoor Voice]]: Apocalypse and Fabian Cortez.

** A few examples from various characters.

''"I AM AS FAR BEYOND MUTANTS AS THEY ARE BEYOND YOU!"'' }}

* [[No Name Given]]: Rogue, since it hadn't yet been revealed in the comics. Also, Storm, who was only referred to as "Ororo" ''twice'' during the show's run.

** Morph's voice actor does fine in the first few eps, and his season 2 return, but starts slipping badly when the character is brought back for a cameo in season 3.

* [[Parental Abandonment]]: Unfortunately there are plenty of choices.

** Gambit.

** Wolverine, who has [[Hair Reboot|regrowing his facial hair]] as a mutant power, and it's ''[[Canon]]''.

* [[Sadistic Choice]]: "Graduation Day" provides a villain variant, as Magneto must either choose between {{spoiler|leading his new mutant army to achieve his own dream or calling it off in order to save Xavier's life}}.

* [[Save the Villain]]: In one episode, Juggernaut starts an all-out attack on Xavier's mansion, but is stopped when somebody else steals his powers. Cain Marko then starts to die, requiring the X-Men to find the Ruby of Cyttorak to restore his power and save his life. They do, and Juggernaut repays them by stopping the attack and leaving.

'''Wolverine''': I don't like it. }}

** After first becoming trapped in the Savage Land, Xavier saves Magneto's life - much to the villain's astonishment.

'''Xavier:''' I do not yearn for an easy life, Magneto - only a just one. I would take little satisfaction in your death. }}

* [[Say My Name]]: "JEAN!" was the most frequent one.

** [[Fantastic Four|"It's adamantium-tasting time, boys!"]]

** There's also this set of lines between Sabretooth and Wolverine in "Beyond Good And Evil".

** In the Dark Phoenix Saga, Wolverine scaring the hell out of a guard is straight from the comic, but the animated dialogue adds this:

** When the X-Men hijack the shuttle to get to Eagle One, pay attention to the [[Star Trek|symbol]] on the astronauts' uniforms and space suits.

* [[Shut UP, Hannibal]]: This seems to be Mister Sinister's other Achilles' Heel, particularly with Cyclops.

'''Cyclops:''' [[Sarcasm Mode|What was that? I don't think I heard you right.]] }}

* [[Sibling Yin-Yang]]: Professor X and Juggernaut.

* [[Storybook Episode]]: "Jubilee's Fairytale Theater"

* [[Superhero]]

* [[Super Senses]]

* [[Super-Powered Evil Side]]: Jean Grey becoming the Dark Phoenix.

* [[Super Registration Act]]: Plot of the first season.

* [[Supreme Chef]]: Jean.

* [[Team Mom]]: Jean Grey. A case could be said for Storm as well.

* [[Techno Wizard]]: Beast, Forge

* [[Tentacle Rope]]: Magneto's former savage land base that Mr. Sinister later takes over (it's unknown who added the tentacles, though it was probably Sinister).

* [[Terminator Twosome]]: A two-episode arc involved Bishop traveling from the [[Bad Future]] to the present day, attempting to prevent the outbreak of a mutant plague. His actions backfire, however, and result in the deaths of the X-Men and the complete extinction (rather than just decimation) of mutants— so Cable comes from an even further future to stop Bishop.

* [[That Man Is Dead]]: The Dark Phoenix gives this:

'''Lady Deathstrike''': Yuriko no longer exist. I am Lady Deathstrike! }}

** "Essex is no more. From this day forth you will address me as Mister Sinister!"

** Is that a Cajun thing? Or is it just his massive ego?

* [[Time Travel]]

* [[Too Powerful to Live]]: Apocalypse. To the point he actually believes he's "...as far beyond mutants as they are beyond you [humans]!"

* [[Trapped in TV Land]]: Happens in 'Mojovision' episode.

* [[Unwilling Suspension]]: A few times, like when Jean was first captured by the Morlocks. Jean was able to free herself very quickly, though.

* [[Villainous Breakdown]]: Graydon:

* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: Arguably Wolverine and Gambit.

** Arguably Wolverine and ''any'' male teammate.

* [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]]: Magneto

* [[What Measure Is a Mook?]]: Discussed in "Beyond Good and Evil, Part 2," after Sabretooth (who was the villains' [[The Brute|brute]]) is left behind to be captured by the X-Men:

'''Magneto:''' Sabretooth is an unthinking, unfeeling animal. Such refuse is easily expendable. }}

* [[White-Haired Pretty Girl]]: Storm all the way.

** And Vertigo.

** Don't forget about Spiral.

** "Descent." The episode is mainly set in Victorian England and deals with the origin of Mister Sinister. Said origin is seen via flashbacks, as an aged ancestor of Professor Xavier's explains to law enforcement the threat posed by Sinister and what he himself witnessed. Notably, at the very end, the episode jumps to the present-day and Xavier is seemingly reflecting on events viewers had just seen.

* [[Wicked Cultured]]: Magneto

* [[You Are What You Hate]]: Graydon Creed founded the anti-mutant Friends of Humanity, but is the son of two mutants. He had already known for some time that Sabretooth, which was why he founded the group in the first place. (He has a [[Villainous Breakdown]], however, when his supporters find out.) He later learns that Mystique is his mother - making Nightcrawler his half-brother and Rogue his adopted sister.

** Discussed in "The Final Decision" between Trask and his rebelling creation.

'''Master Mold:''' That is not logical. Mutants ''are'' human. Therefore, humans must be protected from themselves. }}

* [[You Can't Fight Fate]]:

** Additionally so for Cable, who attempted to destroy Apocalypse by destroying his Lazarus Chamber in the past. This seems to work and Cable's future is supposedly changed, but a later episode shows Apocalypse being reborn.

* [[You Gotta Have Blue Hair]]: Beast's blue-black hair, to go with the rest of his fur. In the episodes where they guest-star, Nightcrawler, Psylocke, and Polaris, respectively, have dark blue, purple, and green hair.

* [[You Wouldn't Hit a Guy with Glasses]]: Some toughs in a bar are getting belligerent with Cyclops. He tries to play it cool and says the line, but one of them says "So ''take 'em off''!", grabs Cyke's shades, and things start to go downhill from there.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:The Nineties]]

[[Category:Ron Rubin]]

[[Category:Western Animation]]

[[Category:X-Men]]