Marvel Studios Animation(also known asMarvel Animation) is a division of American production companyMarvel Studioscentered on development of its animated projects based onMarvel Comics.The division was created by Marvel Studios as a "mini studio" and mainly produces projects set within theMarvel Cinematic Universe(MCU), and also oversees the development of non-MCU animated projects.
 Logo used since 2024 | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry |
|
| Genre | Superhero fiction |
| Founded | July 21, 2021 |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people |
|
| Products | Animation |
| Services |
|
| Parent | Marvel Studios |
Since 2021, Marvel Studios Animation has released three projects – the seriesWhat If...?andX-Men '97,and the shortsI Am Groot– with four more in development. Additionally, they took over production of theDisney Jr.seriesSpidey and His Amazing Friendsstarting with its second season. The division outsources animation to other studios for each project.
History
edit
In March 2019, it was revealed thatMarvel Studioswas developing an animated anthology series based on theWhat Ifcomic book concept to explore how theMarvel Cinematic Universe(MCU) would be altered if certain events had occurred differently.[1]Disneyand Marvel officially announcedWhat If...?the following month.[2]The series of animated short filmsI Am Grootwas announced in December 2020.[3][4]
In June 2021, Marvel Studios executive vice president of film productionVictoria Alonsosaid the studio's expansion to animation with the seriesWhat 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 beyondWhat If...?,building infrastructure to handle multiple animated series at once and looking to hire around 300 new staff for production roles on a slate ofDisney+animated series.[6][8][9]Marvel Studios'Brad Winderbaum,the executive who was in charge ofWhat 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-Eberhardtalso serves as the vice president of animation.[12]During theDisney+ Dayevent in November 2021, Marvel Studios officially announced an animatedSpider-Manprequel series titledSpider-Man: Freshman Year,theWhat If...?-relatedMarvel Zombies,[13]andX-Men '97,a revival and continuation ofX-Men: The Animated Series.[14]What If...?directorBryan Andrewssaid 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 theDisney Jr.preschool seriesSpidey and His Amazing Friendsstarting with its second season;[16]the series' first season was released underMarvel Entertainment.[17]During Marvel Studios' animation panel at the July 2022San Diego Comic-Con,the projects discussed were introduced as being part of the "Marvel Animated Multiverse".[18][19]Shortly after, Winderbaum saidthe Multiverse Sagaof the MCU and its exploration of themultiverseallowed 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 Kesingerwas 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 includingDisney Entertainmentco-chairman Alan Bergman and Disney's human resources and legal departments for serving as a producer on theAmazon StudiosfilmArgentina, 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 onArgentina, 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 ofgay pride elementsinAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania(2023) to release the film in Kuwait and comply withits 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 announcedEyes of Wakanda,withBlack Panther(2018) andBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever(2022) directorRyan Cooglerinvolved through his production companyProximity Media.[28][29]Freshman Yearwas also retitledYour 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 forX-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 beEyes of Wakanda.[36]
Process
editSimilar 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 siblingsPixarandWalt Disney Animation Studioson animated MCU content "under the right circumstances".[37]Spidey and His Amazing FriendsandIron Man and His Awesome Friendsare co-produced with Disney Jr. in association with animation studioAtomic Cartoons,[38][39]andEyes of Wakandawill be produced alongsideProximity Media.[29]
According to Marvel Studios' head of visual developmentRyan 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 forethougth" 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.[40]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
editReleased
edit| Title | Released | Noof seasons |
Production partner |
Animation services | Original network |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What If...? | 2021–present | 2 | — |
|
Disney+ | Part of theMarvel Cinematic Universe;[2][a]renewed for season 3[18] |
| Spidey and His Amazing Friends | 2022–present | 3 | Atomic Cartoons[38] | Disney Jr. | Season 2 onward;[16]renewed for season 4[43] | |
| I Am Groot | 2022–2023 | 2 | — | Disney+ | Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe | |
| X-Men '97 | 2024–present | 1 | — |
|
Revival ofX-Men: The Animated Series;[14]renewed for seasons 2 and 3[46] | |
Upcoming
edit| Title | Released | Noof seasons |
Production partner | Animation services | Original network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man[47] | 2025 | 1 | — | Polygon Pictures[48] | Disney+ | Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe;[a]renewed for season 2[18] |
| Eyes of Wakanda[47] | Proximity Media[29] | TBA | Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe | |||
| Iron Man and His Awesome Friends | Atomic Cartoons[39] |
|
||||
| Marvel Zombies[47] | — | TBA | Disney+ | Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe;[a]spin-off fromWhat If...?[13] | ||
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- ^abcThis series takes place in analternate timelineoutside of the MCU's "Sacred Timeline".
References
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- ^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.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2020.RetrievedDecember 10,2020.
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- ^abcLee, Chris (January 13, 2023)."Inside the VFX Union Brewing in Hollywood".Vulture.Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 1,2023.
Alonso heads up Marvel's dedicated "mini-studio," Marvel Studios Animation, which is behind such shows asWhat If...?[...] and the summer 2022 series of Vin Diesel–voiced original shorts,I Am Groot.
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- ^ab"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.Archivedfrom the original on March 23, 2023.RetrievedApril 29,2022– viaThe Futon Critic.
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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.
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