On this day September 16 1989, the animated pilot X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men aired. The special introduced Marvel’s mutant superheroes in animated form, centering on Kitty Pryde as she joined the team of X-Men under Professor Xavier.
The pilot featured iconic characters such as Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Dazzler, who faced off against Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Although it didn’t lead to an immediate full series, the pilot gained a cult following and is remembered as a stepping stone toward the hugely successful 1990s X-Men animated series.
80s insight: The X-Men pilot reflected the late 80s experimentation with superhero cartoons, testing the waters for characters who would soon dominate pop culture. It showed how Marvel properties were on the verge of breaking big in television.
The pilot featured iconic characters such as Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Dazzler, who faced off against Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Although it didn’t lead to an immediate full series, the pilot gained a cult following and is remembered as a stepping stone toward the hugely successful 1990s X-Men animated series.
80s insight: The X-Men pilot reflected the late 80s experimentation with superhero cartoons, testing the waters for characters who would soon dominate pop culture. It showed how Marvel properties were on the verge of breaking big in television.
