‘Marvel Animation Still Faces Visual Criticism: Reflections from 2025 on Viewer Rejection’

Much like the popular game Candy Crush’s appeal to women over 65, “rage bait” has recently infiltrated the Marvel community, manifesting primarily through social media posts designed to provoke outrage for engagement. While I typically overlook such content, the harsh criticism directed at X-Men ’97 calls for a more thoughtful dialogue.

Marvel is no stranger to animated programming; however, its foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) via animated series is relatively new. To date, they have launched three original series on Disney+, including Marvel’s What If…?, X-Men ’97, and I Am Groot. Excitingly, the upcoming series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is slated to debut on January 29, with additional projects like Eyes of Wakanda and Marvel Zombies also in the pipeline.

Marvel’s animated projects have generally garnered praise, except for the contentious third season of What If…?. Notably, X-Men ’97—a spiritual successor to Fox’s iconic series—has been a tremendous success for Marvel Studios. It resonates with long-time fans while serving as a seamless entry point for the X-Men within the MCU.

Are Fans Critiquing the Quality of Marvel Animation?

X-Men ’97 quickly became Marvel’s most critically acclaimed series of 2024. Yet, it is concerning that Marvel Animation continues to attract significantly fewer viewers compared to its live-action counterparts. This leads to a perplexing question: what deters audiences from embracing Marvel Animation? Some users on X (formerly Twitter) suggest that the visual aesthetics of these shows leave much to be desired.

A recent thread on X drew my attention, initiated by user @Mutant_Menace, who critiqued the visual appeal of Marvel’s animated offerings, specifically in response to the trailer for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. “What is up with Marvel’s animated shows? They all look so visually unappealing,” remarked the user, echoing a sentiment that seems to resonate with many fans.

What is up with Marvel’s animated show? They all look so visually unappealing. What if, X-Men 97, and now this…… https://t.co/YNi72ZmiMd

—? (@Mutant_Menace) December 29, 2024

Defenders of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man quickly took to the comments, with one user playfully suggesting, “Just say you hate everything Marvel lol.” However, these criticisms are not new. Even I found the animation style of What If…? challenging to adjust to initially, with the 3D character designs diverging from the traditional 2D animation many of us grew up with. This innovation might not please every viewer.

It’s also important to recognize that Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man aims for a hyper-stylized animation reminiscent of comic books, a choice that might not appeal to all audiences. That said, it’s vital to give the show a chance beyond its artistic style, particularly since many live-action Marvel series receive approval even when they fall short of excellence. Why shouldn’t animated series be afforded the same opportunity?

High Expectations for Modern Animation: Are They Fair?

As technology evolves, so too do expectations around animation quality. The groundbreaking Spider-Verse films have effectively raised the bar, though this has come at the cost of poor working conditions for many artists and crew members. The production of Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, for instance, faced intense scrutiny due to the demanding timelines and labor conditions endured by over 100 artists who left due to exhaustion and inadequate compensation.

While it’s reasonable to expect high-quality output from prestigious brands like Disney and Marvel, it is crucial to consider the vast amount of creative work that goes into projects like What If…?. The animation industry has faced upheaval in recent years, particularly during the Hollywood strikes. Therefore, judging Marvel Animation solely on visual appeal fails to capture the dedication and talent of the teams involved. Good animation enhances storytelling, but it should not be the sole criterion for evaluating a series’ quality. By narrowing your focus to aesthetics alone, there is a risk of overlooking some genuinely great content.

It’s worth stating that this critique is not intended to belittle anyone’s opinions. If some viewers perceive Marvel’s animated projects as looking like amateur school projects instead of high-caliber productions, that perspective is valid. However, asserting that all animated Marvel offerings come off poorly is not only an oversimplification but also a dismissal of the quality storytelling that defines these series. A tendency to criticize everything associated with Phase 4 has become repetitive, and audiences often seem impossible to please.

Ultimately, Marvel’s animated offerings hold significant potential for greatness. Given that the animation division is just starting to find its footing, it seems premature to make sweeping judgments. I encourage everyone to explore and enjoy X-Men ’97 if they haven’t already.

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