The opening credits sequence for X-Men ’97 is incredibly faithful to the one for the ’90s X-Men: The Animated Series. At first glance, you might think it’s exactly the same as it was before. But there are subtle changes to the opening sequence with each episode. These changes include many Easter eggs referring to the original animated show, as well as the classic Marvel comics. Let’s break them down, episode by episode.
X-Men ’97 Episode 1,”To Me, My X-Men”
The first episode of X-Men ’97 rather faithfully recreated the original X-Men: The Animated Series opening credits. But from the get-go, there were some changes. The entire team is inside the Blackbird cockpit now, including Jubilee. Jean Grey no longer wears her ponytail, and Storm is sporting her new mohawk. Both Morph and Bishop are added to the “roll call” in the credits. Morph also has a moment where he’s tormented by Mister Sinister. In the final showdown, where the X-Men and their enemies are running towards each other, Lady Deathstrike and the White Queen replace Thunderbird and Gargoyle.
X-Men ’97 Episode 2 “Mutant Liberation Now”
The second episode sees Magneto in his new costume as the first X-Man we see in the credits, effectively replacing Professor X. Although we still see Charles in the credits, right before the title card comes up. Other additions include Storm fighting and beating Callisto in the Morlock tunnels, from the original series episode “Captive Hearts.” We see a brief moment of Jean Grey in full Dark Phoenix mode from the original series’ adaptation of “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” We catch a glimpse of Bishop tumbling through time from the original show’s “Days of Future Past” adaptation. Finally, we see Magneto’s orbiting base Asteroid M, from the X-Men: The Animated Series fourth season episode “Sanctuary.”
X-Men ’97 Episode 3 “Fire Made Flesh”
For the third X-Men ’97 episode’s credits, new additions include a brief shot of the X-Men fighting Magneto. This is from the second episode of the classic series, “Enter: Magneto.” We see mutant Roberto da Costa, chased by the angry mob running toward a chain link fence, just as Jubilee did. Next we see Empress Lilandra of the Shi’ar with Charles Xavier, in a moment from “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” We also witness Jean Grey’s sacrifice in that same episode, in front of a very distraught Cyclops. Finally, there’s a shot of Rogue and Gambit on the basketball court. This scene is a recreation of Jim Lee’s art from 1992’s X-Men #4.
X-Men ’97 Episode 4 “Motendo/Lifedeath Pt. 1”
For the episode four credits, Jean Grey is back in her original X-Men: The Animated Series ponytail, letting us know this is the real Jean, and not the clone Madelyne Pryor. We also catch a glimpse of Jubilee saving the other-dimensional warrior Longshot from Mojo is from the X-Men: The Animated Series episode “Longshot” from season three. Next is a moment is from the classic episode “Cold Comfort,” which introduced Iceman to X-Men: The Animated Series continuity. We see Forge with the government-sponsored team X-Factor, including Lorna Dane/Polaris. Finally, we see Emma Frost, the White Queen of the Hellfire Club, making telepathic contact with Charles Xavier. This is also from “The Dark Phoenix Saga” episodes of the classic show.
X-Men ’97 Episode 5, “Remember It”
This episode, despite its game-changing events, only had two new scenes in the credits. The first shows the cyborg mutant mercenary Cable, fighting a giant size version of the ancient mutant Apocalypse. This is from the original X-Men: The Animated Series episode “Time Fugitives.” Next, we see Gambit and Nightcrawler fighting side by side, presumably from the classic episode “Bloodlines.” Since Cable made his X-Men ’97 debut in this episode, and we got a visit from Nightcrawler, the inclusion of these two scenes makes sense.
X-Men ’97 Episode 6, “Lifedeath Pt. II”
The opening credits for episode 6, “Lifedeath Pt. II,” make another change to the team roster. We now have Nightcrawler, who jumps on his own logo, which was first designed for his 1985 miniseries. We also get a quick flash of the X-Men fighting Nimrod, the future Sentinel. Speaking of Sentinels, we also see a Master Mold produce many of its Sentinel offspring, probably from the original X-Men season one finale. The X-Men fighting the Shi’ar Imperial Guard is from the end of “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” and Lilandra meeting Xavier for the first time is from the opening episodes of “The Phoenix Saga.”
We expect many more new scenes and Easter eggs added to the opening credits as each new episode of X-Men ’97 drops on Disney+.
Originally published on April 3, 2024.