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Marvel Studios Animation
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Marvel Studios Animation (also known as Marvel Animation) is a division of American production company Marvel Studios centered on development of its animated projects based on Marvel Comics. The division was created by Marvel Studios as a "mini studio" and mainly produces projects set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and also oversees the development of non-MCU animated projects.
Key Information
Since 2021, Marvel Studios Animation has released the series What If...?, X-Men '97, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel Zombies and the shorts I Am Groot. Additionally, they took over production of the Disney Jr. series Spidey and His Amazing Friends starting with its second season, and have continued to oversee its related series, such as Iron Man and His Awesome Friends and the upcoming Avengers: Mightiest Friends, along with two upcoming specials. The division outsources animation to other studios for each project.
History
[edit]
In March 2019, it was revealed that Marvel Studios was developing an animated anthology series based on the What If comic book concept to explore how the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) would be altered if certain events had occurred differently.[1] Disney and Marvel officially announced What If...? the following month.[2] The series of animated short films I Am Groot was announced in December 2020.[3][4]
In June 2021, Marvel Studios executive vice president of film production Victoria Alonso said the studio's expansion to animation with the series What If...? was an opportunity to make the MCU more diverse.[5] At that time, Marvel Studios was creating an "animation branch and mini studio",[6][7] to focus on more animated content beyond What If...?, building infrastructure to handle multiple animated series at once and looking to hire around 300 new staff for production roles on a slate of Disney+ animated series.[6][8][9] Marvel Studios' Brad Winderbaum, the executive who was in charge of What If...?, was promoted to head of streaming, television, and animation at Marvel Studios,[10] and in September, Alonso was promoted to president of physical and post-production, VFX and animation.[11] Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt also serves as the vice president of animation.[12] During the Disney+ Day event in November 2021, Marvel Studios officially announced an animated Spider-Man prequel series titled Spider-Man: Freshman Year, the What If...?-related Marvel Zombies,[13] and X-Men '97, a revival and continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series.[14] What If...? director Bryan Andrews said each additional animated series would exist "on its own term[s] and hopefully explore unexpected facets of the MCU",[15] with Winderbaum saying the studio would only tell stories that they felt needed to be told in animated form.[8]
By April 2022, the division was announced to be taking over production for the Disney Jr. preschool series Spidey and His Amazing Friends starting with its second season;[16] the series' first season was released under Marvel Entertainment.[17] During Marvel Studios' animation panel at the July 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, the projects discussed were introduced as being part of the "Marvel Animated Multiverse".[18][19] Shortly after, Winderbaum said the Multiverse Saga of the MCU and its exploration of the multiverse allowed the studio to "look at alternate paths and other takes on the characters... see[ing] them expanding and growing in unforeseen, unexpected ways", which he stated was the "guiding light" for the animated projects.[20] By September, Brian Kesinger was attached to direct an animated series for Marvel Studios,[21] though it was canceled shortly after.[22]
By January 2023, the division was being referred to as "Marvel Studios Animation".[7] In March 2023, Alonso was fired from her role at Marvel Studios by a group including Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman and Disney's human resources and legal departments for serving as a producer on the Amazon Studios film Argentina, 1985 (2022); this was a breach of a 2018 agreement between Alonso and Disney which stated employees would not work for a competing studio.[23][24] Alonso reportedly did not seek permission to work on the film, and was asked by Disney to stop working on the film, as well as not to promote or publicize it, with the situation "deemed serious enough" that Disney requested a new agreement be signed. Despite this, Alonso continued to promote the film following its September 2022 premiere, and was consistently reminded of her agreement and breach of contract, ultimately leading to her firing.[23] Alonso's lawyers refuted this claim, stating Disney was aware of, and agreed to, Alonso's work on Argentina, 1985, and that she was instead "silenced[... and] was terminated when she refused to do something she believed was reprehensible";[25] this incident was reported to be a disagreement with a Disney executive over the censoring of gay pride elements in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) to release the film in Kuwait and comply with its restrictive anti-LGBTQ laws.[26][27] A Disney spokesperson reiterated the notion that she was fired due to "an indisputable breach of contract and a direct violation of company policy" among other "key factors".[25]
In December 2023, Marvel Animation announced Eyes of Wakanda, with Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) director Ryan Coogler involved through his production company Proximity Media.[28][29] Freshman Year was also retitled Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.[28] The division's formal name of Marvel Animation was further confirmed in February 2024 with the release of the first trailer for X-Men '97.[30][31][32][33] A logo for the division was also revealed.[33] The "Marvel Animation" name and banner was used for the division's projects moving forward, existing alongside Marvel Studios' "Marvel Television" banner for its live-action Disney+ series. This was done to help indicate to audiences that they did not have to watch all of the studio's projects to understand the overall story and could choose which storylines and characters under these banners to follow.[34] The Marvel Animation and Television banners still exist under Marvel Studios, which Feige noted was not the case with the previous incarnations of each.[35] In July 2024, it was reported that the studio had spent nearly $20 million on an upcoming project between June 2022 and June 2023, which was believed to be Eyes of Wakanda.[36]
Process
[edit]Similar to other animation studios, Marvel Studios Animation outsources its animation to other studios;[37] Alonso said the medium of animation allowed Marvel Studios to work with new companies around the world.[5] Winderbaum stated that Marvel Studios was open to working with corporate siblings Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios on animated MCU content "under the right circumstances".[37] The preschool projects are co-produced with Disney Jr. in association with animation studio Atomic Cartoons,[38][39][40] and Eyes of Wakanda is produced with Proximity Media.[29]
According to Marvel Studios' head of visual development Ryan Meinerding, Marvel Studios Animation uses techniques similar to those used in comics, which allows the studio to adapt Marvel comics "in a way that's maybe more powerful than the films".[19] Winderbaum noted Marvel Studios had to alter its production process for its animated projects, noting "it requires so much more forethought" than live-action production, where Marvel Studios usually makes most changes to its projects during post-production.[10] He also said that the type of animation used in a series would depend on what the producers felt fit for each series.[41] Unlike VFX artists for the live-action productions, artists at the animation studio are hired directly by Marvel and work in-house at Marvel Studios Animation. The studio works under a strict deadline structure, which was criticized by a senior animator as the studio "asking for things that can't be done".[7]
Production library
[edit]Television series
[edit]Released
[edit]| Title | Released | No of seasons |
Production partner |
Animation services | Original network |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What If...? | 2021–2024 | 3 | — |
|
Disney+ | Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe[2][a] |
| Spidey and His Amazing Friends | 2022–present | 4 | Atomic Cartoons[38] | Disney Jr. | Season 2 onward[16] Renewed for seasons 5 and 6[44][45] | |
| I Am Groot | 2022–2023 | 2 | — | Disney+ | Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe | |
| X-Men '97 | 2024–present | 1 | — |
|
Revival of X-Men: The Animated Series[14] Renewed for seasons 2 and 3[48] | |
| Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man | 2025–present | 1 | — | Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe[a] Renewed for seasons 2 and 3[18][50] | ||
| Eyes of Wakanda | 2025 | 1 | Proximity Media[29] |
|
Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe | |
| Iron Man and His Awesome Friends | 2025–present | 1 | Atomic Cartoons[39] | Disney Jr. | ||
| Marvel Zombies | 2025 | 1 | — | Stellar Creative Lab[52] | Disney+ | Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe[a] Spin-off from What If...?[13] |
Upcoming
[edit]| Title | Released | No of seasons | Production partner | Animation services | Original network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avengers: Mightiest Friends[40] | 2027 | — | Atomic Cartoons[53] | Disney Jr. | ||
Television specials
[edit]Released
[edit]| Title | Released | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Production partner | Animation services | Original network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spidey and Iron Man: Avengers Team-Up! | October 16, 2025 |
|
Bart Jennett | Atomic Cartoons[53] | Disney Jr. | Crossover special between Spidey and His Amazing Friends and Iron Man and His Awesome Friends | |
Upcoming
[edit]| Title | Released | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Production partner | Animation services | Original network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Untitled Spidey and Iron Man: Avengers Team-Up! Halloween special[40] | 2026 | TBA | TBA | Atomic Cartoons[53] | Disney Jr. | Crossover special between Spidey and His Amazing Friends and Iron Man and His Awesome Friends | |
See also
[edit]- Marvel Animation, a separate animation studio that centers on Marvel properties
- Marvel Productions, a defunct animation studio that also centered on Marvel properties
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c This series takes place in an alternate timeline outside of the MCU's "Sacred Timeline".
References
[edit]- ^ Sciretta, Peter (March 12, 2019). "Exclusive: Marvel Studios Producing 'What If' TV Series For Disney+". /Film. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
- ^ a b Dinh, Christine (April 12, 2019). "Marvel Studios Brings First Animated Series 'Marvel's What If...?' to Disney+". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- ^ Peters, Jay; Gartenberg, Chaim; Alexander, Julia (December 10, 2020). "Here are all the new Marvel, Star Wars, and other projects Disney announced at its investor day". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Anderton, Ethan (December 10, 2020). "'Guardians of the Galaxy' is Getting a Live-Action Holiday Special in 2022 Before Vol. 3 Arrives in 2023". /Film. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Corvin, Ann-Marie (June 14, 2021). "Marvel's Victoria Alonso on Exploring Diversity and Inclusion through 'What If' and the Hunt for Global Animation Partnerships". Variety. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ a b Shanfeld, Ethan (July 20, 2021). "Marvel's Victoria Alonso Teases 'Mini Studio' for Animation and Discusses Representation in Superhero Stories at NALIP Summit". Variety. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c Lee, Chris (January 13, 2023). "Inside the VFX Union Brewing in Hollywood". Vulture. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
Alonso heads up Marvel's dedicated "mini-studio," Marvel Studios Animation, which is behind such shows as What If ...? [...] and the summer 2022 series of Vin Diesel–voiced original shorts, I Am Groot.
- ^ a b Anderton, Ethan (August 11, 2021). "Marvel's 'What If...?' Executive Producer Talks the Multiverse and a New Assembly of Avengers [Interview]". /Film. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 4, 2021). "Walt Disney Animation Amps Up Production With New Vancouver Studio; First Project Is 'Moana' Musical Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
- ^ a b Couch, Aaron (August 11, 2021). "Marvel Revs Up New Chapter in Animation With 'What If...?'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (September 20, 2021). "Marvel Studios Promotes Victoria Alonso To President Of Physical, Post Production, VFX And Animation". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ Belt, Robyn (November 12, 2021). "Exclusive: Cast Announcement for 'X-Men '97' Coming to Disney+". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Hipes, Patrick (November 12, 2021). "Disney+ Day: All The Streamer's Film & TV News From Premiere Dates To Series Orders". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ a b Couch, Aaron (November 12, 2021). "Disney+ Orders '90s 'X-Men' Revival, 'Marvel Zombies' and 'Spider-Man: Freshman Year'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ Ashaari, Alleef (August 2, 2021). "Marvel's What If...? Crew Explains Why They Went 3D Over 2D & A Scrapped Episode That Was Too Close To GOTG 3". Kakuchopurei. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "Alice! Mickey! Pooh! Spidey! Disney Junior Announces Slate of New Original Series and Shorts, Along With Returning Franchises, Debuting Across Disney+ and Disney Junior Platforms Through 2024 at First-Ever Disney Junior Fun Fest" (Press release). Disney Branded Television. April 29, 2022. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (August 18, 2021). "'Marvel's Spidey And His Amazing Friends' Renewed For Season 2 By Disney Junior". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Moreau, Jordan (July 22, 2022). "'Marvel Zombies,' 'Spider-Man: Freshman Year,' 'What If?' Season 2 Get First Looks". Variety. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Nolan, Liam (July 22, 2022). "SDCC: Marvel Studios Animation Panel Reveals Future of X-Men '97, What If and Marvel Zombies". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Chapman, Wilson (August 10, 2022). "'I Am Groot' Creators on the Short Series' Connection to the MCU and Baby Groot vs. Baby Yoda Debate". Variety. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ^ Nolan, Liam (September 15, 2022). "Disney Artist Teases Unannounced Animated MCU Series". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ Kesinger, Brian (October 2022). "Hi everyone – The show I was supposed to direct on at marvel just got canceled so I'm available for work again...". Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 – via LinkedIn.
- ^ a b Kit, Borys (March 24, 2023). "Inside the Firing of Victoria Alonso: Her Oscar-Nominated Movie 'Argentina, 1985' at Center of Exit (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Donnelly, Matt; Vary, Adam B. (March 22, 2023). "Inside Victoria Alonso's Shocking Exit From Marvel Studios". Variety. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Vary, Adam B.; Donnelly, Matt (March 24, 2023). "Victoria Alonso Attorney Blasts 'Ridiculous' Claim She Was Fired Over 'Argentina, 1985,' Says Executive Was 'Silenced' by Disney (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ Patten, Dominic; D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 24, 2023). "Victoria Alonso Weighing Legal Action Against Disney, Marvel Over Sudden Firing; "Serious Consequences" Promises Lawyer Patty Glaser As Mouse House Points At "Indisputable Breach of Contract"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ McClintock, Pamela; Couch, Aaron (March 28, 2023). "Victoria Alonso Clashed With Marvel Over Blurring Gay Pride References in 'Ant-Man 3' for Kuwait (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ^ a b "Marvel Studios Celebrates New Season of 'What If...?'". Marvel.com. December 12, 2023. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c Bell, BreAnna (December 12, 2023). "'Eyes of Wakanda' Animated Series Announced at Marvel Studios". Variety. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ "Marvel Animation's "X-Men '97" to Stream on Disney+ Beginning March 20" (PDF). Walt Disney Studios. February 15, 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
About Marvel Animation: Marvel Animation is an award-winning studio dedicated to creating original animated series inspired by over 85 years of Marvel storytelling. Shows include "What If...?," "I Am Groot" and the upcoming "X-Men '97," among others. Marvel Animation is part of Marvel Studios.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 15, 2024). "'X-Men '97' Animated Series Gets Disney+ Premiere Date, Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ "Marvel Animation's 'X-Men '97' to Stream on Disney+ Beginning March 20". The Walt Disney Company. February 15, 2024. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Burlingame, Russ (February 15, 2024). "Marvel Studios Reveals Marvel Animation Logo in X-Men '97 Trailer". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ Vary, Adam B. (May 21, 2024). "Why Marvel Is Rebranding Its Television Shows to Eliminate the 'Pressure' to 'Watch Absolutely Everything'". Variety. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- ^ Barnhardt, Adam (July 21, 2024). "Kevin Feige Explains How Marvel Studios, Television, and Animation Make MCU More Accessible". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Reid, Caroline (July 1, 2024). "Marvel Spends $20 Million On Mystery Animated Project". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Vary, Adam B. (August 11, 2021). "Marvel Studios Planning 'Multiple' New Animated Series Following Debut of 'What If...?'". Variety. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Pedersen, Lise (June 15, 2022). "Disney Reveals Animated Series Slate at Annecy Festival (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (October 15, 2024). "Marvel's Iron Man And His Awesome Friends Preschool Series Gets Disney Jr. Greenlight". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Disney Jr. is expanding its preschool universe with 'Marvel's Avengers: Mightiest Friends'". Los Angeles Times. August 7, 2025. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
- ^ Davis, Brandon (July 28, 2022). Spider-Man Freshman Year Bombshell + I Am Groot Timeline! – Kirsten Lepore and Brad Winderbaum. Phase Zero. Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ "What If..? Production Brief" (PDF). Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. July 30, 2021. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ Chauncey, Matthew (September 29, 2021). "What If... Ultron Won?". What If...?. Season 1. Episode 8. Event occurs at 27:49. Disney+.
- ^ Hailu, Selome (February 27, 2025). "Marvel's Spidey and His Amazing Friends Renewed for Season 5 at Disney Jr. After Big Ratings Win (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ^ Lang, Jamie (June 7, 2025). "Spidey and his Amazing Friends, Dragon Striker and Sam Witch Headline Disney Branded TV's Annecy Slate (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ Frei, Vincent (August 8, 2023). "I Am Groot – Season 2". Art of VFX. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ Valentine, Evan (February 15, 2024). "X-Men '97 Is Tapping One of Anime's Top Studios". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ Romano, Nick (March 15, 2024). "Marvel head addresses X-Men '97 showrunner exit". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ Gaur, Ryan (January 3, 2025). "'Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man' Showrunner Jeff Trammel Gives Us the Scoop on the New Disney+ Show". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on January 5, 2025. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
- ^ Garbutt, Emily (January 27, 2025). "Marvel's new Spider-Man show has already been renewed for season 3, even though season 1 hasn't even started yet". Total Film. GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on January 27, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ Campbell, Kambole (June 9, 2025). "Marvel Animation Premieres First Episode of 'Eyes of Wakanda' at France's Annecy Animation Festival". Variety. Archived from the original on June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ^ "Stellar Work". Stellar Creative Lab. Archived from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c Petski, Denise (August 8, 2025). "New 'Cars' & 'Marvel's Avengers' Series Ordered by Disney Jr.; 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+' Renewed For 2 More Seasons; Castings & Premiere Dates". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
Marvel Studios Animation
View on GrokipediaFormation and History
Inception and Early Development (Pre-2021)
The early conceptualization of Marvel Studios' animated output originated within the broader expansion of Marvel Studios into Disney+ content following the platform's announcement in 2017 and launch on November 12, 2019. As live-action MCU productions dominated the studio's pipeline, internal discussions focused on animation as a medium for multiverse explorations and high-concept stories impractical for practical effects budgets or actor schedules. This approach allowed for cost-effective storytelling while maintaining narrative ties to the MCU, with initial pitches emphasizing anthology formats drawn from Marvel Comics precedents.[5] A pivotal development occurred when Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios' head of streaming, television, and animation, proposed adapting the What If...? comic series—an imprint exploring alternate realities since 1977—into an MCU-connected animated anthology. This idea, not originating from president Kevin Feige, gained approval and marked the studio's first committed foray into original animation production. Development formally began by late 2018, with A.C. Bradley recruited as head writer to script episodes featuring reimagined MCU events, such as Peggy Carter as Captain America, and Bryan Andrews appointed supervising director to oversee visual style blending 2D and 3D techniques.[6] Production on What If...? progressed through 2019 and 2020, involving voice recordings from MCU actors like Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher narrator, under Marvel Studios' direct supervision rather than traditional Marvel Television or external animation houses. The series was publicly revealed at San Diego Comic-Con on July 20, 2019, positioning it as Disney+'s inaugural Marvel animated offering and signaling intent to integrate animation into the MCU's Phase 4. This pre-2021 phase relied on outsourced animation workflows, primarily with Flying Bark Productions in Australia, highlighting the nascent stage before dedicated in-house infrastructure. No other Marvel Studios-led animated projects advanced beyond ideation prior to 2021, underscoring What If...? as the foundational effort.[7]Expansion Under Disney Integration (2021 Onward)
In 2021, following the premiere of the anthology series What If...? on August 11, Marvel Studios formalized its in-house animation division, Marvel Studios Animation, to expand production of animated content integrated with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for Disney+. This move built on the division's initial work with What If...?, which explored multiverse scenarios using a mix of 2D and 3D animation styles, and marked a shift toward greater internal control over animation pipelines previously outsourced to external partners. The establishment aligned with Disney's broader streaming strategy, leveraging Marvel's acquisition by The Walt Disney Company in 2009 to prioritize Disney+ originals that bridged live-action and animated storytelling.[8] By August 2021, Marvel Studios announced plans to hire approximately 300 California-based artists across production roles, including animators, modelers, and riggers, to develop a dedicated slate of animated series. This infrastructure buildup enabled in-house oversight of creative and technical processes, reducing reliance on third-party studios and facilitating tighter synchronization with MCU live-action elements, such as shared voice talent and narrative crossovers.[8][9] The expansion coincided with Disney+ Day announcements on November 12, 2021, which revealed upcoming projects like the zombie apocalypse series Marvel Zombies, emphasizing mature themes and horror elements drawn from What If...? episode 5.[10] Subsequent years saw accelerated output, with What If...? Season 2 releasing on December 22, 2023, featuring nine episodes and introducing new animators from studios like Flying Bark Productions under Marvel's supervision. In 2024, X-Men '97 debuted on March 20 as a direct continuation of the 1990s X-Men: The Animated Series, produced with Beau DeMayo as showrunner and utilizing cel-shaded 2D animation to evoke nostalgia while tying into MCU mutant lore. This period also included development of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, focusing on a young Peter Parker with non-MCU continuity, and Eyes of Wakanda, an anthology exploring Wakandan history, both slated for Disney+ release. By 2025, Marvel Zombies was confirmed for a Halloween premiere, signaling ongoing commitment to diverse formats amid Disney's content volume increase of over 300% in Marvel releases from 2021 to 2024 compared to prior eras.[11][5] The division's growth under Disney integration emphasized scalable production for streaming, with in-house teams handling pre-production and key animation while collaborating externally for rendering capacity, resulting in projects that expanded MCU lore without direct timeline dependencies. This approach contrasted with pre-2021 Marvel animation efforts, which were more fragmented across Marvel Television and external vendors, and positioned Marvel Studios Animation to target varied audiences through primetime series and specials.[8]Key Milestones and Strategic Shifts
Marvel Studios Animation began operations in 2021, coinciding with the promotion of Brad Winderbaum to Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation on August 11, 2021, enabling in-house development of MCU-integrated animated content.[12] The division's inaugural project, the anthology series What If...?, debuted on Disney+ the same day, marking Marvel's first fully animated MCU entry with episodes exploring alternate realities featuring live-action actors' voice performances.[13] A pivotal expansion occurred at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, where the studio unveiled multiple projects including the revival X-Men '97, a direct continuation of the 1990s Fox series; Spider-Man: Freshman Year, focusing on Peter Parker's early high school years; and Marvel Zombies, a horror-tinged adaptation of the comic storyline.[14] These announcements signaled a commitment to diverse animation styles, from 1990s-inspired cel-shading in X-Men '97 to stylized variants in others, while integrating with broader MCU narratives. Subsequent milestones included the premiere of X-Men '97 on March 20, 2024, which garnered critical acclaim for recapturing the original's essence and earned Emmy nominations, affirming the viability of legacy revivals. In December 2023, Ryan Coogler collaborated on Eyes of Wakanda, expanding Wakanda-focused storytelling into animation. However, production challenges emerged, such as delays tied to external studio issues affecting Eyes of Wakanda.[15] Strategically, Marvel shifted from rapid expansion to prioritizing quality over quantity starting in 2023, influenced by executive directives to reduce overall output amid audience fatigue and financial pressures. Disney CEO Bob Iger emphasized this in May 2024, stating the focus on fewer, higher-quality Marvel projects, particularly in television and animation. By 2025, the strategy formalized to approximately two animated series annually, alongside multi-season commitments for select titles like What If...? (concluding with Season 3 in December 2024) and X-Men '97, aiming to sustain long-term viewer engagement over volume. Brad Winderbaum reiterated this approach in October 2025, blending Marvel's cinematic ethos with serialized television to avoid dilution of narrative impact.[16][17][18]Organizational Structure and Production Process
Leadership and Key Personnel
Brad Winderbaum has served as Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation at Marvel Studios since August 2021, overseeing the division's expansion into original animated series for Disney+.[19] In this role, he executive produces projects such as What If...? and guides strategic decisions for primetime animation, including release schedules and potential theatrical features, as discussed in panels through 2025.[20] Prior to his promotion, Winderbaum worked as a vice president of production and development, contributing to early Marvel Cinematic Universe films like Iron Man.[21] Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt joined Marvel Studios as Vice President of Animation in November 2021, managing production for series including X-Men '97, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and seasons of What If...?.[22] She serves as executive producer on multiple titles, focusing on operational aspects of the animation pipeline amid the studio's shift toward in-house adult-oriented content.[23] Her tenure has coincided with reported creative tensions during X-Men '97 Season 2 development, though specifics remain unverified beyond creator statements.[24] Kevin Feige, as President of Marvel Studios, provides ultimate creative oversight for the animation division, integrating it with the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe narrative strategy.[25] Previously, Victoria Alonso held responsibility for animation production as part of her role until her departure in March 2023 following internal disputes.[26]Animation Pipeline and Technical Approach
Marvel Studios Animation adopts a flexible, project-tailored pipeline that emphasizes creative oversight from its in-house team while outsourcing core animation labor to specialized vendors, ensuring stylistic consistency with broader Marvel aesthetics. The process begins in pre-production with script development, storyboarding, and visual design, often led by key figures like Head of Visual Development Ryan Meinerding, followed by asset creation, animation, visual effects integration, and final compositing. This approach allows adaptation to diverse formats, from 3D CGI to traditional 2D, prioritizing narrative-driven visuals over rigid standardization.[27][28] For 3D-animated series such as What If...?, the technical approach centers on toon-shaded CGI to replicate a hand-drawn comic-book appearance while aligning character designs and environments with the Marvel Cinematic Universe's live-action continuity. Production involves hybrid workflows combining 3D modeling, rigging, and animation with 2D elements like matte paintings; software such as Nuke handles compositing and 2.5D effects by mapping 2D images onto 3D geometry, while Katana manages sequence-based lighting for stylized characters. Vendors like Flying Bark Productions contribute to episode-specific assets, treating each installment as a "mini-movie" with bespoke environments and effects, enabling multiverse variations such as infinite 3D realms or genre-shifting aesthetics in later seasons. This method evolved from intensive research and development in Season 1 to streamlined pipelines by Season 3, incorporating painterly influences from artists like J.C. Leyendecker for dynamic, MCU-faithful motion.[27][28] In contrast, 2D projects like X-Men '97 employ a hand-animated workflow using Toon Boom Harmony for character design, keyframe animation, and initial compositing, augmented by Photoshop for asset refinement. The pipeline integrates visual effects across nearly every shot—approximately 350–450 per episode—for superpower depictions, with VFX supervisor Chris Graf overseeing hand-crafted elements that mimic 1990s cel animation techniques, such as frame-by-frame drawing over digital emitters to evoke retro aesthetics without modern over-reliance on procedural tools. Vendors including Studio Mir handle primary animation, while in-house teams refine for nostalgic fidelity, balancing original X-Men: The Animated Series style with subtle updates like enhanced lighting and glows in compositing. Season 1 encompassed about 4,500 shots across 10 episodes, demonstrating a deliberate fusion of traditional methods and targeted VFX to maintain visual continuity.[29][30] Across projects, Marvel Studios Animation's oversight ensures vendor deliverables adhere to Marvel's quality benchmarks, with remote collaboration protocols supporting secure, iterative reviews amid global production demands. This vendor-centric model, supplemented by a small in-house "mini" studio, facilitates scalability for anthology formats and upcoming series, though it relies on rigorous pre-visualization to mitigate challenges like tight deadlines and stylistic experimentation.[27][29]Collaboration with External Studios
Marvel Studios Animation oversees creative development, storyboarding, and final oversight for its projects but routinely partners with specialized external animation studios for core production tasks, including modeling, rigging, and rendering, to harness international expertise in diverse techniques such as 2D, CGI, and hybrid styles. This approach facilitates scalability amid high-volume output demands within the Marvel Cinematic Universe's animated slate, though it introduces dependencies on external timelines and financial stability. Early initiatives, announced in 2021, aimed to build an in-house "mini studio" for greater control, yet outsourcing persists for efficiency.[31] The flagship series What If...? (2021–present) exemplifies multi-studio collaboration, with Québec-based Squeeze Studio handling full CG production for five episodes of season 1, emphasizing procedural animation tools for multiverse variants. Australian studio Flying Bark Productions contributed hybrid 2D/CGI sequences using software like Nuke and Katana, while French outfit Blue Spirit managed additional episodes, enabling stylistic experimentation across the anthology format. Season 2 expanded these partnerships, incorporating further outsourced workflows for efficiency in delivering nine episodes annually.[32][27][33] Subsequent projects continued this model. X-Men '97 (2024–present), a revival under Marvel Animation's banner but aligned with Studios' oversight, relied primarily on South Korean studio Mir for 2D animation, augmented by Tiger Animation and Red Dog Culture House for supplementary assets and VFX integration, achieving a retro aesthetic with modern fluidity. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025–present) outsourced animation to Japan's Polygon Pictures, prioritizing comic-inspired 3D rendering to depict Peter Parker's origin distinct from prior adaptations.[34][29] For Eyes of Wakanda (2025), Scottish studio Axis Studios executed the animation pipeline for its four-episode arc, focusing on Wakandan lore expansion, but entered administration in July 2024 amid cashflow strains from industry strikes, inflation, and reduced gaming commissions—despite completing deliverables without delaying the August 2025 Disney+ release. Marvel Zombies (2025), a TV-MA miniseries, leaned more toward internal Marvel Animation production, though specifics on external contributions remain undisclosed, reflecting a hybrid evolution in workflows. These partnerships underscore reliance on global vendors, with occasional vulnerabilities like Axis's collapse highlighting post-pandemic sector pressures, yet ensuring project continuity through diversified contracts.[35][36]Productions
Primetime Animated Series
What If...? is the inaugural primetime animated series produced by Marvel Studios Animation, debuting as an anthology exploring hypothetical alternate timelines diverging from established Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) events. Created by A.C. Bradley and executive produced by Brad Winderbaum under Marvel Studios, the series reimagines key MCU narratives with voice performances reprised by original live-action actors, including Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Chadwick Boseman in his final Marvel role as T'Challa. Season 1, comprising nine episodes, premiered on Disney+ on August 11, 2021, and concluded on October 6, 2021, with weekly releases that averaged 7.2 million global views in its first five days.[37][38] The series employs a 2D animation style blended with CGI elements to emulate cinematic visuals, supervised by animators at Flying Bark Productions in collaboration with Marvel Studios' in-house team. Narrated by Jeffrey Wright as the cosmic observer Uatu the Watcher, episodes tackle scenarios such as "What If... Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?" and "What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?," integrating multiverse concepts later central to MCU Phase 4 and 5 films like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Season 2, released December 22, 2023, to January 10, 2024, expanded to darker themes including zombie apocalypses and 1602-era adventures, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Animated Program.[37] Season 3, premiering December 22, 2024, concluded the series with nine episodes focusing on multiversal threats and character arcs like Captain Carter's leadership, achieving peak viewership metrics comparable to prior seasons amid Disney+'s bundled streaming data. While praised for innovative storytelling and fidelity to MCU lore, the series faced critique for pacing inconsistencies in shorter episodes and variable animation quality across episodes, as noted in production analyses.[39][40] Subsequent primetime efforts include Marvel Zombies, an upcoming horror-infused limited series adapting the undead alternate universe from What If...? Season 1, Episode 5, slated for release in 2026 with voice talent including Ving Rhames as Red Guardian. This project emphasizes gore and survival horror elements tailored for mature audiences, produced via Marvel Studios Animation's pipeline to expand MCU-adjacent animated content. Eyes of Wakanda, a four-episode anthology miniseries released August 1, 2025, chronicles historical Wakandan warriors retrieving vibranium artifacts, voiced by Anika Noni Rose and voiced by others, blending action with cultural mythology in a primetime format. These series underscore Marvel Studios Animation's shift toward serialized, event-driven narratives distinct from family-oriented programming.[41][42][43]Children's and Family-Oriented Series
Marvel Studios Animation has produced a limited number of series targeted at preschool and young family audiences, emphasizing teamwork, basic problem-solving, and simplified superhero adventures derived from Marvel Comics characters. These productions, often in collaboration with external studios like Atomic Cartoons, air primarily on Disney Jr. and stream on Disney+, differing from the division's primetime MCU-focused offerings by prioritizing age-appropriate content with shorter episodes and educational elements.[44] Spidey and His Amazing Friends, launched on August 6, 2021, features young versions of Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider, and Spin as they team up against villains in everyday settings. From its second season onward, production shifted to include Marvel Studios Animation alongside Atomic Cartoons, with 78 episodes across four seasons as of October 2025. The series incorporates interactive elements like web-slinging and gadget use to teach cooperation and bravery to children aged 2-7.[45] Marvel's Iron Man and His Awesome Friends debuted on August 11, 2025, marking the first preschool series centered on Iron Man, alongside Hulk and Spider-Man. Produced by Marvel Studios Animation and Atomic Cartoons, it consists of 11-minute episodes focusing on inventive problem-solving and friendship, with voice acting by Mason Blomberg as Iron Man. Aimed at ages 2-5, the show premiered to positive early reception for its accessible STEM-inspired narratives.[44][46] Upcoming is Marvel's Avengers: Mightiest Friends, slated for 2027 on Disney Jr., which expands the preschool lineup by featuring kid versions of Avengers heroes including Captain America, Black Panther, Thor, and Ms. Marvel alongside core team members. This crossover series, greenlit in August 2025 and produced with Atomic Cartoons, builds on prior specials to emphasize ensemble heroism for young viewers.[47][46]Specials, Shorts, and Other Formats
Marvel Studios Animation produced I Am Groot, a collection of short animated films centered on the character Groot from the Guardians of the Galaxy feature films, set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first season, consisting of five episodes each approximately three to five minutes in length, premiered on Disney+ on August 10, 2022. Directed by Kirsten Lepore, the shorts depict Baby Groot's mischievous adventures aboard the Ravagers' ship Eclector, employing a mix of practical effects, stop-motion, and CGI animation for visual storytelling without dialogue beyond Groot's repeated phrase. The second season of I Am Groot, also comprising five shorts, was released on Disney+ on September 6, 2023, continuing the non-verbal narrative format and featuring voice work by Vin Diesel as Groot, with cameo appearances by characters like Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper). These installments explore Groot's interactions with the Ravagers, including Misfit characters, emphasizing physical comedy and character-driven humor over plot complexity. As of October 2025, no additional seasons or standalone animated specials have been released by the division in this format, though the shorts represent an experimental approach to concise, character-focused storytelling distinct from longer-form series.Upcoming Projects
Marvel Studios Animation has several continuations of its established series slated for release in 2026. X-Men '97 Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in summer 2026, picking up from the Season 1 cliffhanger involving the team's confrontation with advanced threats, and featuring appearances from major villains such as Apocalypse.[48] The series has been renewed for a third season, indicating ongoing commitment to the retro-styled narrative that explores mutant-human tensions and X-Men lore.[48] Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 is set for a fall 2026 debut on Disney+, building on the origin story of Peter Parker with new characters including Venom and Gwen Stacy, while emphasizing high school dynamics and superhero challenges.[49] This season aims to deepen the grounded, character-driven animation style distinct from other Spider-Man adaptations.[49] No new original animated series from Marvel Studios Animation have been announced for release after October 2025 as of the latest updates from New York Comic Con 2025 panels, though production on additional projects continues under the division's expanded pipeline.[50]Reception and Commercial Performance
Critical and Audience Reception
Marvel Studios Animation's flagship series What If...? earned an 85% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes across its seasons, with Season 1 specifically scoring 89% based on 123 reviews, praised for its innovative multiverse storytelling but critiqued for inconsistent episode quality.[51][52] X-Men '97, a revival of the 1990s animated series, received widespread critical acclaim, achieving a 98-99% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, lauded for its faithful continuation of character arcs, high-stakes action, and emotional depth.[53][54] In contrast, more recent projects showed greater divergence between critics and audiences. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man secured a 97% critics rating for its fresh take on the character but only 62% from audiences, reflecting mixed responses to its stylistic choices.[54] Eyes of Wakanda obtained 92% from critics yet a notably lower 52% audience score, with some viewers citing narrative pacing issues despite praise for cultural representation.[55] Marvel Zombies debuted with varying early scores, including 65-83% from critics and around 90% from audiences in initial tallies, though its horror elements drew polarized feedback on tonal shifts from traditional Marvel fare.[56][57] Audience metrics on platforms like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes audience scores generally aligned with critics for high-profile successes like X-Men '97 (91-94% audience approval), but lower figures for others suggested sensitivities to deviations from established formulas, such as experimental animation or thematic focuses.[54][58] Overall, the division's output has been credited with revitalizing Marvel's animated prestige, particularly through X-Men '97's strong dual reception, though audience enthusiasm has varied based on adherence to source material expectations.[59]Viewership Metrics and Streaming Data
X-Men '97 achieved the highest premiere viewership for an original Marvel animated series on Disney+, garnering 4 million global views within its first five days of release on March 20, 2024.[60] The series finale on May 15, 2024, drew 3.5 million views, reflecting sustained audience engagement through the season.[61] According to Luminate streaming data, X-Men '97 accounted for 6.8% of Disney+'s total U.S. viewership in 2024, ranking as the platform's third-most-watched series overall and the top Marvel Animation title for the year.[62] What If...? Season 1 registered 225 million viewing minutes in the U.S. during the week of September 6-12, 2021, per Nielsen measurements, despite only the first two episodes being available at that time.[63] This performance positioned it among Marvel Animation's strongest early performers, though comprehensive season-long streaming data remains limited due to Disney's selective disclosure practices.[64] Marvel Zombies, released on September 24, 2025, topped Disney+'s U.S. daily Top 10 list for its first three days and exceeded Marvel Studios' internal five-day viewership projections, prompting early discussions for additional Zombie-themed content.[64] Eyes of Wakanda, which dropped all four episodes on August 1, 2025, ascended to the No. 1 spot on Disney+'s global streaming charts by August 5, 2025, buoyed by positive word-of-mouth despite an initial modest rollout.[65] In contrast, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, premiering January 29, 2025, failed to register in Nielsen's U.S. Top 10 streaming rankings across its episodes, indicating underwhelming audience turnout relative to promotional expectations.[66]| Series | Key Metric | Source Period | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-Men '97 (Season 1) | 4M views (first 5 days) | March 20-25, 2024 | Variety [60] |
| X-Men '97 (Finale) | 3.5M views | May 15, 2024 | Deadline [61] |
| What If...? (S1 early) | 225M minutes | Sep 6-12, 2021 | IndieWire/Nielsen [63] |
| Marvel Zombies | #1 U.S. Top 10 (Days 1-3); exceeded expectations | Sep 24-29, 2025 | The Direct [64] |
| Eyes of Wakanda (S1) | #1 global charts | Aug 5, 2025 | CBR [65] |
| Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (S1) | Absent from Nielsen Top 10 | Jan-Mar 2025 | Cosmic Book News [66] |
Awards and Industry Recognition
What If...? garnered significant recognition, including a win for Best Animated Series at the Critics' Choice Super Awards in 2022 for its first season.[67] The series also received an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production in 2022.[67] Additionally, it earned multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, such as for Outstanding Sound Editing for an Animated Program in 2025 and earlier categories like Outstanding Animated Program and Character Voice-Over Performance.[68] Chadwick Boseman received a posthumous Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance in 2022 for his role as T'Challa/Star-Lord in the episode "What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?" from the first season.[69] X-Men '97 achieved a nomination for Outstanding Animated Program at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2024, highlighting its production quality under Marvel Studios Animation, though it did not win, with the award going to Blue Eye Samurai.[70] The series has not secured major wins as of October 2025, reflecting competitive fields in animation awards where Marvel projects often receive nods for technical and voice work but face stiff competition from non-franchise originals.[71]| Project | Award | Category | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What If...? (Season 1) | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Animated Series | 2022 | Won[67] |
| What If...? (Season 1) | Annie Awards | Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in Animated TV/Broadcast | 2022 | Won[67] |
| What If...? | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Chadwick Boseman) | 2022 | Won[69] |
| X-Men '97 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Animated Program | 2024 | Nominated[70] |
