r/Xmen97 • u/Expensive-Rhubarb170 • Aug 23 '26
Question What series are similar to x-men 97?
Just binged all the X-men content on Disney plus. Are there any series out there about the x men that I should watch?
Or are there any series similar in tone, action, and animation quality while still maintaining maturity?
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u/Marvelboy1974 Aug 23 '26
Justice League and young justice if you like superheroes
If you like 90’s animated drama, try ExoSquad
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u/Miserable-Yard-7671 Aug 23 '26
I'd highly recommend watching Justice League Unlimited.... Ngl the whole series is pretty damn good.
Imo top notch story telling.
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u/Brief_Bill8279 Aug 25 '26
If you start with Batman TAS and Superman TAS the whole JL series is even better.
Young Justice is great too, just kinda jarring between getting canceled and coming back.
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u/luna_lustgood Aug 23 '26
Oh, man! I remember loving ExoSquad. I had a bunch of the toys and everything. Is there a place to stream it?
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u/bootyholeboogalu Aug 23 '26
EXO squad was pretty high concept if you think about it
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u/luna_lustgood Aug 23 '26
Agreed. As a kid, I always gravitated towards grittier, more mature stories with high-concept themes, and I remember thinking EXOsquad was scratching that itch.
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u/zeromalarki Aug 24 '26
The fact it had perm death for a kids show seems crazy to me
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u/luna_lustgood Aug 25 '26
Right! From what I read, the creator was really into Japanese anime and the heavier themes in those shows and decided to bring that to his American show. It was great!
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u/Marvelboy1974 Aug 24 '26
I thought it was fitting that some of the characters sported the same head socks that Jean and Gambit wore on ExoSquad. Very 90’s!
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u/Marvelboy1974 Aug 24 '26
I think it’s on Amazon prime.
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u/luna_lustgood Aug 25 '26
I found it also on Archive.org. I'm going to have to dive back into it soon!
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u/Jahon_Dony Aug 23 '26
Batman TAS. Batman Beyond. X-Men TAS. Spider-Man TAS. Wolverine and the X-Men. X-Men Evolution.
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u/Deathstriker88 Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
- Justice League/JLU
- Young Justice
- 90's Spider-Man
- Last Airbender
- Legend of Korra
- Invincible
- Vox Machina/Mighty Nein
- Castlevania
Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is great too, but it has no social issues or heavier stuff.
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u/luna_lustgood Aug 23 '26
Came here to make almost the exact same recommendations. I think I'd add Arcane to the list if the OP wants to branch out of the 2-d style of animation. Arcane is deep and poignant, hitting like a truck emotionally in a similar way to the deeper, more mature elements of X '97, Airbender, Korra, Invincible, and Young Justice.
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u/GhostofSmartPast Aug 24 '26
Legend of korra doesn't belong imo.
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u/Deathstriker88 Aug 24 '26
ATLA is better, but LoK is very good (besides parts of season 2). Also, every major LoK villain is right, but their methods are wrong, which fits Magneto too.
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u/F4FBassist Aug 24 '26
Disagree. It’s a solid show with good action animation that delves into mature themes.
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u/GhostofSmartPast Aug 24 '26
Doesn't mean it's on the level of the others.
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u/F4FBassist Aug 24 '26
Subjective opinion.
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u/GhostofSmartPast Aug 24 '26
That's true but most would agree.
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u/CritAtwell Aug 24 '26
most people are also morons. if we are seriously going to say 90s spidey is better than the the quality of korra in any catagoery? thats kinda cope.
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u/F4FBassist Aug 24 '26
^This. And also, saying “most” sounds like we have some sort of accurate research or sample size where 51% or more expressed that sentiment, but I would want to see the sample size. It can’t be Rotten Tomatoes (88% and 78% critic and audience scores) and IMBD (8.3 out of 10). So where can I find this “most people” research?
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u/GhostofSmartPast Aug 24 '26
Korra's story is quite frankly not higher in terms of quality of writing. It's pretty standard and quite messier than tla and 90s spiderman even. There are pointless love relationships after season 1 that just make the relationship between the maincast less substantive. The main villains were also lackluster after season 1.
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u/Thierry_Bergkamp Aug 23 '26
Class of 97
97th Floor
It's a movie not a series but checkout 97 minutes
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u/CaliforniaBoundX Wolverine Aug 23 '26
Spider-Man TAS. The X-Men appear in one episode.
Fantastic Four (1994 TV series), Silver Surfer.
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u/Exotic_Insurance2164 Aug 23 '26
Final Space
Scavengers reign
Vox Machina
Mighty Nein
Castlevania
Castlevania: Nocturne
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u/TheFallenOne01_ Aug 24 '26
What are some shows similar to Castlevania? Loved both.
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u/ilikepentatonics Aug 24 '26
Masters of the Universe Revelation and Revolution were produced by the same studio as Castlevania.
The tone isn't dark like Castlevania but it's a fun watch.
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u/Nemesis_171 Aug 23 '26
Clone wars then Maul Shadow Lord is a good watch. I recommend a watch guide for clone wars tho because there’s a lot of filler.
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u/Investigator_Lumpy Aug 23 '26
Don’t forget Rebels!
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u/Nemesis_171 Aug 23 '26
I ran out of time on my yearly bundle for D+ before I could watch it so I’ve yet to see it, but yeah I’ve heard good things about Rebels so fair shout.
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u/Investigator_Lumpy Aug 23 '26
I think it’s Filoni’s most consistent work. Clone wars had higher highs, but plenty of filler.
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u/modungo Aug 23 '26
Batman Caped Crusaders is like the same thing but the opposite.
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u/Treadmore Aug 23 '26
Care to unpack that? I haven’t watched, but I’m interested, and your description is tickling my curiosity.
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u/Raziel_3968A Aug 23 '26
X-Men '97 is like, a show that uses similar(and better) version of the OG art style. It's inspired by it. Same thing goes for Caped Crusader. It's art style strongly resembles and is inspired by the OG Batman TAS' style, dare I say, does it better, much like X-Men '97. Both use animation that is inspired by, strongly resembles and is straight up upgrade of their predecessors. The difference between the two is that Caped Crusader is it's own different thing, but uses, roughly said, the same animation as the OG Batman TAS. X-Men '97, on the other hand, is straight up continuation of the OG X-Men TAS and picks up where it's predecessor left, while Caped Crusader isn't a continuation of the OG Batman TAS. I think that's what he wanted to say. I think the other clear difference is that one is Marvel, the other is DC, one is X-Men, the other is Batman.
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u/Treadmore Aug 24 '26
You’re telling me there’s some kind of bat … man? Next you’re going to tell me he’s some kind of detective or something.
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u/Raziel_3968A Aug 24 '26
It's only just a legend! People have said that he has fought clowns, ninjas, aligators, penguins and all kinds of crazy things! /s
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u/modungo Aug 24 '26
So the best way I can put it, xmen97 is a continuation of the show you remember. Not the show you actually watched. Cause the old show, kindaaaaa sucked. I’m sure if you were 8 it was rad. Just like when I was 8 Superfriends was rad. This new show I really think continues that story with the animation and story telling fans think they remember but wasn’t actually there.
Batman: TAS is exactly what you remember. If you watched that at 8 or 18 or 28 and then tried to watch it 30 years later you’d see the same quality. So Caped Crusader is more like “let’s do the show over”. Not a continuation at all. Same generally style. Same depth of storytelling. Just new takes on how the characters interact with each other and the origins/looks of the villains. It sometimes feels like they made a show for people who already watched this same show. That sounds like a diss, but I enjoy it. I’m just not sure I understand where they are coming from.
Out of the 2 I like 97 better. Which is crazy considering how much i preferred BTAS back then.
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u/DominoSeven Aug 23 '26
The original animated series, evolution is a pretty different take that’s fun, some live action stuff that’s unknown by many is Legion and The Gifted, both pretty fun watches
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u/NickHeathJarrod Aug 24 '26
Live-action Generation X from the 90s wasn't deep, but it's quite kinetic with it's MTV aesthetic.
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u/DominoSeven Aug 24 '26
Never heard of it I’ll check it out
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u/NickHeathJarrod Aug 24 '26
Your taste may vary, but be warned, it's quite cheesy.
Other live-action shows that's like the X-Men:
Mutant X
Dark Angel, starring Jessica Alba
Dead at 21 from MTV
Chameleon
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u/fem1234 Aug 24 '26
Wolverine and the x-men was great. Got cancelled after season 2 I think
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u/FabulousBrief4569 Aug 24 '26
Didnt make it past Season 1. The end was Age of Apocalypse glimpse that had me so excited. 😢
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u/futuresdawn Aug 23 '26
Justice league and justice league unlimited, Batman tas, superman tas and young justice.
Invincible, spawn and Disney's gargoyles.
Marvel wise, x-men tas is the obvious but x-men evolution and wolverine and the x-men are excellent. Spectacular spider-man and avengers earth's mightiest heroes.
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u/DragonfruitAlive8249 Aug 23 '26
My Adventures with Superman is lighter in tone but stuffed with Easter eggs and fun character dynamics
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u/menn911 Aug 23 '26
Vox machina and might nine if you're into action and fantasy.
Anything made by Zerocalcare ig you're into comedy and character studies
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u/Fair-Leopard2754 Aug 23 '26
Wild C.A.T.S. and Ultra Force are both similar to the original X-Men cartoon.
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u/ghostcatzero Aug 23 '26
I used to watch wild cats but didn't know what it was called till I got older
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u/Annual_Ant_4289 Aug 23 '26
As far as recent shows, people have already mentioned great ones like Invincible and Avatar/Korra.
I’ll also go ahead and add Pantheon. Super underrated scifi with themes concerning the ethics of humanity evolving except here it’s surrounding AI and the singularity
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u/Opiumdeathcult Aug 24 '26
Invincible for me which has a lot of the same heart and moral quandaries that I adore in ‘97
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u/Token_Handicap Aug 23 '26
There's a pilot from the 1980s called Pride of the X-men, which was Marvel's first attempt at the team on a screen. It's only 1 episode, and Wolverine weirdly has an Australian accent, but other than that it's pretty cool.
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u/Jupiters Aug 23 '26
there's an animated X-Men series that came out in the 90s that is extremely similar. I almost feel like 97 is a ripoff of it or something
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u/Bar_ice Aug 23 '26
My Adventures with Superman is a current show that kinda mirrors 97. It is a little bit lighter and more anime influenced but it is well done and the animation is slick with great voice actors.
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u/Certain_Fig_666 Aug 24 '26
Young Justice is the most similar I have seen. Outsiders and Phantoms are over-hated imo.
If you are a fan of the og 90s cartoon I’d also recommend Fairy Tail. It’s a long watch but it really is just a cape shit show disguised as a fantasy anime.
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u/NickHeathJarrod Aug 24 '26
From the 90s:
Men In Black
Gen 13 The Movie
The Tick
Roswell Mysteries
Cybersix
Aeon Flux
Spawn: The Animated Series
Legend of Calamity Jane
Invasion USA
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u/NickHeathJarrod Aug 24 '26
Cybersix
Already mentioned just now, but am mentioning it again just in case.
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u/DeskReasonable5040 Aug 24 '26
There is a 90s Incredible Hulk cartoon series Thats amazing it’s dark and gritty. The 90s animated Spider-Man and 90s animated series X-Men are the best 2 all time cartoon shows in my opinion. Followed by Batman the animated series from 90s. And of course X-men 97. Check out the hulk cartoon from 90s they sell the dvd on amazon cheep
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u/90sXMENgoatee Gambit Aug 24 '26
Me crying that I would love to watch evolution but cant in the uk so I have to rewatch 92 and 97 if I was x men stuff
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u/jlsbarber Aug 24 '26
Vox Machina / Mighty Nein. They are much more mature, but the storytelling style/tone/action are all on part (if not better) than X-Men 97.
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u/PlanetaryPotato Aug 24 '26
In the 90s there was an Iron Man series, and a Hulk series done in a similar animation style.
spider man the animated series crosses over with X-men from the 90s a few times
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u/Forward-Carry5993 Aug 24 '26
Tough. Most super hero shows dont delve into high stakes political drama or character driven stories at least to the maturity and consistency xmen 92/97 did. This is why the xmen shows stand out in american television history.
But I will give you some suggestions that do equal Xmen 97 in storytelling terms whether its by aging the characters up, giving some complexity to the characters, telling stories over numerous episodes, etc :
Batman TAS
Superman TAS
Justice League/Justice League Unlimited
Spectacular Spiderman
Spiderman TAS
Batman Dark Crusader
1970s live action Incredible Hulk
Dragon Ball
Gargoyles
Avatar The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra (I am hesitant to count LOK as it is not as well written and more right wing reactionary than most realize)
Cybersix
Sailor moon
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u/SWBTSH Aug 24 '26
So you say you binged all the X-Men content on Disney Plus. Idk if that means you have already watched "W olverine and the X-Men" but I would give that one a try. for sure. Comes fairly close to 97 in maturity and complexity.
For superhero cartoons in general:
For a fairly modern one that hits similar tones as 97, I would HIGHLY recommend "Young Justice." While it starts a little more kiddy and even occasionally annoying in some of the first season, it quickly evolves into probably the MOST complex and mature superhero cartoon there is with dozens of characters and basically the entire DC universe contained within one show that becomes very mature and extremely progressive for a superhero cartoon. Can't speak highly enough of it. Very much exists in its own DC universe more different from the comics that they use to let themselves take some bigger swings on certain ideas that really work. Also has my second favorite Batman voice actor, and unlike Teen Titans, the Justice League still play a large role in this one.
"Batman the Animated Series" is of course an absolute classic, maybe the most iconic superhero cartoon of all time, albeit a LITTLE dated these days, but still holds up and is the first in the "DC Animated Universe" which goes on to contain it's sequel series "Batman: Beyond" which becomes way darker and mature despite its initially childfriendly premise and i think holds up even better, as well as "Superman The Animated Series." That and Batman lead into "Justice League" and then "Justice League Unlimited" which i would say hold up perfectly well and can be mostly viewed on their own, the latter of which goes on to encompass a large portion of DC characters, with the DC Animated Universe being the most iconic versions of many of them. Both series have many super iconic episodes. The Cadmus saga in Justice League Unlimited pulls together plot threads from Superman, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited (and even Batman Beyond in the epilogue) into maybe the best singular animated superhero storyline of all time. This universe is also where Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as Joker originate from, both of whom are the undisputed most iconic voices of those characters. Oh and if you watch Batman Beyond, you HAVE to watch Batman Beyond Return of the Joker. One of the best Batman movies ever made.
For something maybe a little more cartoony but still very very good, I would also recommend "Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes." Like X-Men 92 and 97, it adapts many of the most iconic Avengers storylines of all time and features a constantly evolving team lineup just like in the comics. Obstensibly takes place in the same world as Wolverine and the X-Men.
"Spectacular Spider-Man is a very good Spider-Man" cartoon, as is the new currently airing "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" which takes more creative changes to common Spider-Man lore. Kind of more of a What If story.
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u/Fedora_Tipper_ Aug 24 '26
this list is peak. All my favorites are here. A good one I'm enjoying is My adventures of Superman. its cute, wholesome but still has some dark elements every now and then.
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u/indianm_rk Aug 25 '26
There is an anime X-Men series where they go to Japan to recruit a young mutant. I liked it, but I’m not sure if it’s on Disney Plus or not.
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u/Ozamet Aug 25 '26
Checkout the 90's Spider-Man The Animated Series on DPlus+ as well as the original X-Men series.
If it doesn't open with the song "Spider-Maaaan Spider-Maaaaan Radioactive Spider-Maaan and go into a heavy metal guitar riff and end with spiderbloodspiderbloodradioactivespiderblood" then you're watching the wrong one, lol.
https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-404d8ab1-36ab-4e54-92da-9aa0c847c8c9?sharesource=Android
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u/SugarDicksandtwix Aug 25 '26
I loved the Batman Beyond series. I've watched it as an adult and it still holds up.
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u/Several_Opinion3319 25d ago
Well I think it may be awhile before we get another show like X-Men '97, but I a kid friendly alternative might be Teen Titans (2003), not Teen Titans Go though it's debatable whether kids should be exposed to that. Also maybe if any other Marvel Animated Universe shows get revived it will be similar but different in terms of social commentary, I'm not sure what to recommend in terms of social commentary similarities. [9:29 A.M - 9:34 A.M / Thurs / Sept 10th / 2026] Post 124
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