Today is my birthday, so today's TV shows are based on one of my other loves, Marvel comics. First up to the plate is the 1989 pilot for the X-Men series that never made it past this one episode. Entitled Pryde of the X-Men, it features a very different line-up to the later 90's series. (to be posted in the future)
Funding for this pilot actually came from the budget for RoboCop - The Animated Series. Instead of making a 13th episode of RoboCop, Marvel Productions decided to use their funding to have Toei Animation produce the animation for this pilot. The pilot itself is most specifically influenced by issues #129-139 of Uncanny X-Men.
Narrated by X-Men co-creator Stan Lee, Pryde of the X-Men stars Professor Xand the X-Men (Cyclops, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Wolverine, (who speaks with an Australian accent despite being Canadian in the comics) Kitty Pryde, and Dazzler) saving the world from Magneto and his "Brotherhood of Mutant Terrorists" (Toad, the Blob, Pyro, Juggernaut, and the White Queen).
Fun Fact - The reason why Wolverine has an Australian accent in this version was to capitalize on the Aussie craze of the 80's (Crocodile Dundee, Mad Max, etc). Supposedly, the comics were meant to reveal that Wolverine was an expatriated Australian, but it never got past the planning stages, so he was left as a Canadian.
Pyro switches between an English and Australian accent too :) Still, the animation surpasses the 90's series!
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