Common Sense Media Review
By Will Wade , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Entertaining '90s cartoon mixes battles, teamwork.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Professor Charles Xavier (voiced by Cedric Smith) is the founder of a very special school where he trains mutants to become the X-MEN, a team of powerful superheroes. His students -- who have all developed amazing powers -- have a wide range of abilities. There's Wolverine (Cathal Dodd), who can extend a set of razor-sharp blades from his forearms; Jean Grey (Catherine Disher), a powerful telepath; Cyclops (Norm Spencer), who shoots energy beams from his eyes; and Storm (Alison Sealy-Smith), who can control the weather. Under Xavier's guidance, they learn to control their talents and work together to combat evil.
Is It Any Good?
Based on the very popular Marvel Comics series, this anmiated show -- which originally aired from 1992 to 1997 -- places a strong emphasis on teamwork. The X-Men all have amazing, but very specific, powers. None of them is a Superman, and they must cooperate to fight effectively against their toughest enemies.
The show stays true to the comic books, including the original story's strong current of anti-mutant bigotry. The world of the X-Men is filled with mutants, some more powerful than others, some who look quite average, and others who don't even look human. All of them face considerable enmity from some groups of "normal" people who distrust mutants and consider them a threat to humanity. This simple metaphor for racism is a fairly adult theme for a show aimed at young people, but it's presented in a way that even kids will be able to understand.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about bigotry. Why are the X-Men persecuted? Do you think that's fair? Is it at all comparable to racism in the real world? Also, how do you think the violence in this cartoon compares to other animated superhero shows? What about to the live-action X-Men movies? Kids: If you were to become a mutant, what kind of powers would you like?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 31, 1992
- Cast: Cathal J. Dodd , Cedric Smith , Norm Spencer
- Network: Disney XD
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Superheroes , Adventures
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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