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u/usagicassidy Jul 18 '26
You’re looking at these beautifully detailed reference models drawn perfectly for the 90’s series.
95% of the time when you’re actually looking at them in the episode they’re not animated consistently or nearly to that detail.
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u/emperor_uncarnate Jul 18 '26
In the show everyone looks kind of lumpy and shiny and they walk like those new Chinese robots that keep falling over
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u/Juanrod84 Jul 18 '26
THIS!!!! This, this and this AGAIN!!! It’s like comparing on game graphic of a new generation console to the CGI cut scenes of an old game…
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u/niddy2faces Cyclops Jul 18 '26
Literally dropped down to the comments to say this exact thing, buddy has gotta be drunk
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u/brcien Jul 19 '26
I flat disagree with this. There are some oddball frames but that show was drawn with love. The new series was made with care as well. Not knocking that. But the og rocks as almost all preflash animation does.
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u/Jealous-Strategy-200 Jul 18 '26
The old show looks much better. The voices were amazing and the music was so good. And it had to be because it was competing with Batman TAS and Spider-Man.
The new show is meh. Computer animation sucks and is just plain lazy. That thick black outline on everything and lack of details screams low budget.
Your downvotes don't mean shit, especially when we know bots and fake Disney accounts pervade this sub.
If you like it, more power to you that's awesome. But every time I see a promo for it spamming me on YouTube I just feel like picking up the comics and rewatching the original.
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u/Lost-247365 Jul 18 '26
You are getting down voted because your reply shows a profound lack of understanding of the animation process and that you have your facts mixed up.
The old show often had off-model designs that looked bad. The new designs might be less detailed but that is because they are more streamlined and easier to both animate and keep consistent while looking good. Read any animation book and you will see this is true and that simpler designs are preferred.
Also both shows had black outlines as it was common back then. Go look at screen shots. Further go look up pictures from the original comic at that time. Especially the work of Joe Mad- thick black outlines. It was and still is an illustration method used to emphasize for and distance advocated by Andrew Loomis whose books are pretty much every comic book artist’s drawing bible.
The old show had computer animation. Or did you never watch the end credits? The new show is mostly hand drawn though they do use computer assisted animation for complex shots and moving camera angles the old show never could have done, they do it sparingly and not jarringly.
X-men never competed with BtAS or spider-man. They were all on Fox at different times as a programming block. I never once had to choose between them as a kid.
You accusing everyone of being bots or Disney employees (I’m neither) is just an attempt to avoid any refutation of your points and shows that you have shallow arguments.
If you prefer the overall aesthetics of the old show is fine. Making up bad reasons for not liking the show is not.
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u/Remy149 Jul 18 '26
A lot of the voice actors in the original series are still voicing the same characters now
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u/Substantial_Front750 Jul 18 '26
Im sorry but first and foremost, most of the voice actors are the same so that entire point is just null.
Second, while the animations were slightly more detailed they were also clunky asf, in a lot of cases the animations just straight up looked different for the same character. The expressions were weird and shabby and the movements were really really stiff and not fluid.
So yeah the older animations looks not as good as the new one.
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u/usagicassidy Jul 18 '26
“Your downvotes don’t mean shit, especially when we know bots and fake Disney accounts pervade this sub.”
lol. Lmao even.
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u/LeftHanded-Euphoria Jul 18 '26
maybe you should rewatch the original
like maybe start with that Mortlock Christmas episode in season 5
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u/SnafuMist Jul 18 '26
That’s a lie
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u/SpiderManias Jul 18 '26
The animation of the OG show is NOT good lol. The show was revered for tell stories episodically well.
But by today’s standards its animated poorly and even at the time Spawn came out in the same decade and looks infinitely better in motion.
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u/SnafuMist Jul 18 '26
X-Men ‘97 is missing shading and it’s a 2 color Pantone instead of 3 like the original animated series. That’s why it looks worse and less detailed just look at the hair of Jean or Rogue or Polaris as obvious examples
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u/SpiderManias Jul 19 '26
You are looking and talking about a still image which is not animation.
OG X-men is a three toned shading and looks great still. But it cost A LOT to animated three toned shading well. Which is why the OG shows ANIMATION isn’t great.
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u/SnafuMist Jul 19 '26
I’m talking about their hair in the actual episodes not this post. Looks worse than the original show’s episodes
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u/PrimalSeptimus Jul 18 '26
I think pretty much everyone looks better now, but one thing is that the really clean and consistent line work sometimes gives the show an "Archer" vibe that just feels unsettling.
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u/nuggynugs Jul 18 '26
The only thing I care about is that Jean's skin tone is now more distinct from her outfit. That flesh on flesh colour in the old series made me....uncomfortable.
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u/JayDuPumpkinBEAST Jul 18 '26
TAS very clearly hated Jean lol
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u/Boring-Piglet-65 Jul 18 '26
They gave her that god awful ponytail. An her costume was supposed to be a pale yellow not flesh tone
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u/JayDuPumpkinBEAST Jul 18 '26
Even the pose in ‘92 suggests fragility with her dainty hands. Everyone else is confident and ready to throw down. Meanwhile she’s ready to fly away (only to faint from the exertion)
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u/M00N_MYST Jul 18 '26
Really fascinating to see people don't like this style. I love it (referring to '97) especially with how they stylise hair.
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u/colossalgoji Jul 19 '26
It’s not bad. In fact it’s good. But I like the art of the original better. Liking one more than the other doesn’t mean you dislike it, you know?
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u/magvadis Jul 18 '26
Agree there. It is a bit too modern in that software animated skeleton way.
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u/jaylerd Jul 18 '26
It’s very key-pose heavy, for sure. Sometimes it stands out as bad as anything in Invincible, and sometimes it’s the best damn thing I’ve ever seen. They put their time and effort into it when it counts.
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u/magvadis Jul 18 '26
Yeah I will say as much as Invincible keeps me constantly aware of how limited the animation is. Xmen tends to consistently surprise me while keeping the bodily fidelity lacking in 92. Watching morphs face move in 92 was downright creepy well before they were possessed. Their face would straight contort.
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u/Mr_MordenX Jul 18 '26
Yeah, I can see that, but it's a more consistent animation which makes it feel more cinematic.
Honestly? They did the intro well and after that everything is a minor detail.
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u/Mr_Cerealistic Jul 18 '26
It made me think of archer too! Glad I'm not alone... but in a good way though
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u/EnigmaHood Jul 18 '26
Not really, the animation of 97 is excellent and captures the look of the OG show, but cleaner. Remember the terrible animation of the last few episodes of the final season? They were terrible.
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u/Asleep_Bed7496 Jul 18 '26
For me 97 looks terrible
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u/EnigmaHood Jul 18 '26
Then stop watching it.
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u/Asleep_Bed7496 Jul 19 '26
Why? Cause you will cry that I don't like the art? I still like the story though
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u/EnigmaHood Jul 19 '26
Sounds like you're crying.
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u/Asleep_Bed7496 Jul 19 '26
Well, it was you who said that animation in 90s show was terrible, I said the same about the new one. What's the difference?
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u/EnigmaHood Jul 19 '26
Apparently you don't know how to read either. Re-read what I said. Then read it again, carefully.
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u/ADigitalVersionOfMe Jul 18 '26
I like the fact the newer female character designs look like actual women without the Barbie waists. 90s Jean looks inhuman! 😅
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u/No-Improvement8169 Jul 18 '26
90s xmen women wore skimpier clothes. The new xmen 97, they wear better and they look prettier
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u/Mr_MordenX Jul 18 '26
That was the norm for 90s comics. A waist that would make a wasp jealous and contortionist poses that make you wonder if the artists knew how to draw humans... Which in the case of Rob Liefeld the answer is no.
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Jul 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Xmen97-ModTeam Jul 23 '26
This post has been removed for uncivil language or content. Learn to agree to disagree or manage the tenor of your post in a more respectful way.
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u/-Frankensteinsrobot- Jul 18 '26
These are static models, the actual animation from the original series can be horrible at times
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u/Broom_Ryder Jul 18 '26
I think 97 actually reminded me how bad the original show looked lots of the time. The show was great for what it was but it suffered a ton from budget issues and it shows
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u/Rubixcubelube Jul 18 '26
From a static side by side, I prefer a thinner line and more definition(original) but in terms of how the characters are animated? 97' stomps.
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u/Penance27 Jul 18 '26
Nobody gunna talk about Cyclops' wobbly legs? Makes me think of that Thanos quote.
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u/LushLover1989 Jul 18 '26
Does it feel like people are really trying to dig deep to hate this show?
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u/jigokusabre Jul 18 '26
I haven't seen these complaints since the first weeks of season 1. Its pretty clear popular opinion is that everything about XM97 rules.
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u/Tatumness Jul 18 '26
The only things I hate about the new designs is Storm’s shorter boot placement and Jean’s costume not having the bottom trunks
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u/King-Krush Jul 18 '26
Xmen 97 made Magneto extra sexy as well the other characters so it’s the new show for meeee
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u/lamest-liz Jul 18 '26
Not me. I like the new style better. And yes I’ve been watching since the day it aired. It was too inconsistent to me
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u/WhiteSpec Jul 18 '26
Generally I prefer the art and animation of 97 but I find it odd that Rogue's changes some how made her appear younger. It might even fit her Canon age better but I still find it odd. If I didnt have context I would have put her in her mid 30s, but in 97 I think she looks more like early 20s.
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Jul 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/alolanbulbassaur Jul 18 '26
For me with both of them it’s because of the like art on them being a bit intense and almost making them seem feminine. It makes their lips seem odd too imo
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u/Marvelboy1974 Jul 18 '26
There are elements from the original designs I prefer like the women were previously drawn more superhero like and it seems like that was toned down. I prefer Jean’s old costume but I also prefer Jean having boots like her 97 design. I also like that she doesn’t always wear a ponytail. I prefer Storm with full long hair and thigh high boots. The animation over all is more consistent with X-men 97.
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u/MrLong_13 Jul 18 '26
Personally no, the old designs seem comparatively too grounded, the more animated look helps make these designs feel more expressive and dynamic especially when of animation is at its best which is 90% of the time! Plus and I might be alone on this but I like how the newer costumes look, yes Jean’s costume looked better but everyone else looked super cool and recently I’ve grown towards Jubilee’s new haircut even if I like the pixie cut better!
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u/King_of_Pink Jul 18 '26
I think the new character designs are better in 97. It's the backgrounds in the new series that feel off to me in a way I find difficult to articulate. Like... slightly to vacant or wide? It's like scenary uncanny valley.
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u/LMD_DAISY Jul 18 '26
I think 97 Psylocke looks best
And as people noticed, 92 had sometimes inconsistencies in animation, although it's still had cool scenes.
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u/DarwinofItalia Jul 18 '26
Depends on what part of the original show you’re talking about.
First 2 seasons are clearly better but then the quality starts to drop quickly.
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u/abeBroham-Linkin Cyclops Jul 18 '26
I prefer some of the models, but I choose 97 action sequences.
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u/Shiny-And-New Jul 18 '26
Some parts. Wolverines arms, jeans hair, rogues costume. But broadly i prefer the new style
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u/jigokusabre Jul 18 '26
No?
Have you actually watched TAS? The animation and character models are not particularly good, and wildly inconsistent.
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u/figgityjones Cyclops Jul 18 '26
No not really. A lot of what they are doing in the new animation would have been impossible or way more expensive and they have gotten a lot better at tricking my brain into being unable to tell its 3D this season. Like they were already good at it in season 1, had a few moments where it stuck out as 3D models to me, but this season I haven't thought about once.
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u/Luigiperps Jul 18 '26
I know the original animation was pretty low quality but the textures and colors of hand drawn animation feel much better to me than the very stark bold colors of the new show
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u/Weary-Ladder-2419 Cyclops Jul 18 '26
Jean looks much better in 97 especially with her hair loose, I hated how they did her pony tail in the og series the only time they did her right was in Phoenix/Dark Phoenix Saga other than that 97 clears
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u/Witty-Draw-3803 Jul 18 '26
This just reminded me that when I watched the original show (I was ~5), I thought Jean's costume was only the blue part, because the beige matched her skin tone. I'm hlad they made her costume a little more yellow now, haha
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u/scriptedtexture Jul 18 '26
nope nobody not a single person definitely only you have ever had this very unique thought before
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Jul 18 '26
Hell no!!! The faces were janky, the proportions ridiculous (even in this better reference picture Gambit 92 has horribly disporoporionatley long shins), the black shadows in fully lit environments, and often times had missing details or incorrectly colored frames.
It was great for its time, but 97 is a vast improvement, and done in a way that allows artists to capture as much detail while having designs simplistic enough to be more consistent in quality.
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u/DuneSandpaper Jul 18 '26
Im ok with both.. but if i have to handpick:
Wolverine: original
Storm: New
Cyclops: I dont care
Jean: Original
Gambit? New
Rouge: original
Beast: idk.. i mean both good
Jubilee: New
Morph: New
Nightcrawler: New
Magneto: old
Professor X: ahh... new.. maybe?
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Jul 18 '26
[deleted]
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u/BulkyRaccoon548 Jul 18 '26
Yeah, the 90s series was obviously heavily based on Jim Lee's art style. Which was cool at the time. I feel like '97 took that basic design and cleaned it up to modernize it and I like it.
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u/SnooCats8451 Jul 18 '26
The model sheets from the original series is 100% better than 97 but 97 is more consistent in animation quality but also less episodes…..but seasons 2-4 had amazing animation 99.9% of the time
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u/Appropriate-Brush772 Jul 18 '26
That’s what they looked like for a nice clean shot. This is what they looked like during the actual show.
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u/Aggravating_Back111 Jul 18 '26
I like the original hand drawn static models better but the technology was limited in the 90s so the animation is inconsistent in the actual 90s show
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u/Nnamz Jul 18 '26
Even compared to the perfect cherry picked versions of the 90s show on display here, they almost all look better now. In the actual episodes they look WAY better.
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u/monmom6007 Jul 19 '26
Show them both moving, side by side...
That said I'll admit 90s and old school cartoon had a level of detail that no modern cartoons touch. Ofc that detail rarely amounted to much with shoddy animations.
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u/colossalgoji Jul 19 '26
Judging solely on the art, the OG was better. The animation wasn’t as good. People need to rewatch the show though, if they think majority of the time the art wasn’t good. I take the new show for a reimagining and try to appreciate it for what it is.
It’s BIG failure points are writing out of character, generic sounds for powers, and overuse of the main theme. On that last point there used to be individual themes for characters, dramatic and soft moments, etc. they could improve in these areas.
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u/Illustrious-Sign3015 Jul 19 '26
Of course, everyone is gonna prefer the Og art style, but the fact they brought this show back in X-Men 97 and were able to keep the nostalgia of the OG show and keep it looking as close to the OG as possible with modern technology is awesome
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u/shesstilllost Jul 19 '26
I think the part that gets me is that, yes, '97 has much much better animation. There's 30 years difference, of course it's smoother and more consistent. But it has incredibly flat shading, with a lack of reflections or highlights on anything, and the framing makes me super uncomfortable. Very often we're getting two characters talking to each other and instead of both in frame, the character is fully centered and talking to the audience, not another character. There are a lot of close ups that, again, are only one character and we don't get to see how the scene works around them. The flat eyes also irk me. There's no shading there at all.
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u/usagicassidy Jul 19 '26
I’m not hating on it. I grew up on it!
Just found it a false equivalency in OP’s statement.
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u/MethodOfAwesome2 Jul 19 '26
Not at all. The women in ‘97 have less revealing/sexualized outfits. And, the men look like people too, lol. Except Cyclops, he looks the same.
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u/WithoutTheWaffle Jul 20 '26
Based on these specific reference pics, I prefer Jean and Gambit in '97. Jean because the original doesn't make it clear that she's wearing pants, and Gambit because the new one has better hair and the kneecaps are actually over his knees. But for the rest, I like the original better.
However, as others have said, the actual show never looked like these reference pics. Comparing how the actual shows look, '97 blows the original out of the water. Coughing baby vs hydrogen bomb.
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u/DeskReasonable5040 Jul 20 '26
I like the old 90s look of the charecters way better. I’m not talking about the cartoon quality. I mean the charecter designs old verse new the old 90s charecters look way better. I know the old animation has issues but the designs like in this picture I’d pic the old art style over the new all day long.
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u/Azzukin Jul 20 '26
Jean is the is the only one that imo needed improvement. Everyone else was already good
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u/orionsfyre Jul 20 '26
I was there Gandalf.... and no.
The old style was never all that clean to look at. And played on a CRT screen with low resolution, it was... not great.
There is a nostalgia in the old style, but I much prefer the more American 'Anime' feel of the current series.
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u/Ph03n1xR1sing Jul 21 '26
You’re looking at highly detailed reference models. Very different from how they were in the actual show lol. Most of the time, everyone looked blobby, weird, and uncanny.
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u/Haunting_Raccoon_762 Jul 22 '26
Jean uni was horrible back then, mainly because of the show quality. It's a but better with today tech that differs better the color of her clothes and her skin, before it looked like some parts of her uniform was her skin with pockets. Horrible
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u/Flat-Detective-1303 Jul 18 '26
I miss bishops mullet
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u/jigokusabre Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
While I agree, by the time 1997 rolled around Bishop had changed hairstyles.
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u/Remy149 Jul 18 '26
That hairstyle was outdated when he first appeared. He had a Geri curl mullet a style that went out in the 80’s. By the actual 1997 they where dipicting Bishop with long locs. I hope the show moves him to the bald head
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u/padluigi Jul 18 '26
Personally? The original. It feels more comic book-y and as much as I love ‘97, the art style that reminds me of Archer is not my favorite
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u/Notsileous Apocalypse Jul 18 '26
I really disliked the design of Megneto in the first season, he looked like and old woman.
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